Urban CLLD – The case of FatorC in Cascais, Portugal

CLLD

Community Led Local Development (CLLD) is a territorial bottom-up approach, through which Local Development Strategies (LDS) are implemented. Local communities are encouraged to participate in the decisions about the implementation of community funds, by identifying the needs and challenges faced with in its area, proposing solutions and defining projects.

The community is represented by Local Action Groups (LAG) composed of local authorities, private and public entities, social organizations and groups of citizens – representatives of local socio-economic interests. CLLD, supported by community funds, is focused on the development, diversification and competitiveness of local economy and on improving life conditions of population.

FatorC

FatorC is a CLLD developed in the municipality of Cascais, which aims at increasing the employability and employment rates among residents of Alcabideche and São Domingos de Rana – two parishes in Cascais. To do so, FatorC has three goals:

1. Promoting local based market initiatives that enable employment and self-employment opportunities
2. Contributing to the promotion of equal opportunities in accessing the labour market
3. Building initiatives that facilitate the transition of young people to active life

Until the end of 2020, FatorC is managing 2.5 million of euros from European Social Fund (ESF) and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) in order to support businesses and projects that generate impact and are aligned with the goals of FatorC.

Through the financial instrument SI2E (System of Incentive to Employment and Entrepreneurship), 15 local private entities are already being supported and therefore creating workplaces for the community and investing in the territory.

SI2E – System of Incentives to Employment and Entrepreneurship

SI2E intends to stimulate the emergence of enterprise initiatives and employment creation in territories with low population density and in this way to promote the development and socio-economic cohesion of the country.

As promoter of SI2E in Cascais, FatorC’s LAG undertakes specific tasks such as communicating the financial opportunity to the community, clarifying doubts regarding the application process and other technical issues, providing training sessions to candidates, analysing the applications, as well as supporting the beneficiaries in the implementation of its businesses.

Up 2 YOUth

The other dimension of FatorC’s strategy is related to the promotion of initiatives that facilitate the transition of youngsters to active life. Supported by the City Council of Cascais and Parish Councils of Alcabideche and São Domingos de Rana, the Up 2 YOUth programme was recently created  for youngsters that enables them to apply for funding in order to develop their own projects and hence their soft skills.

The LAG approved 10 projects that will start being implemented by the young candidates this month of June in the territory, with the support of local organizations and involving the