Problems and Purpose

The BIP/ZIP Programme was established in 2011 by Lisbon City Council as a municipal public policy instrument. Its main objective is to foster partnerships and small-scale local initiatives aimed at improving the living environment of areas deemed to be priorities, by supporting projects carried out by parish councils, local associations, community groups and non-governmental organisations. It aims to contribute to strengthening socio-territorial cohesion within the municipality. In this way, in addition to effectively improving the neighbourhood, the goal is to promote local development, encouraging active citizenship and the creation of a favourable environment for personal and social development. It is thus hoped that the resilience, mobilisation and self-organisation capacities of the communities involved will be strengthened, as these are essential tools for swift and effective responses to new challenges or emergencies [1]. The Programme aims to operate in areas such as health, education, employability, the elderly and other vulnerable groups, amongst others.

Background History and Context

Lisbon is the capital and largest city of Portugal. With a population of around 545,000 residents, according to the 2021 national census, spread across an area of 100 km², it is a city of neighbourhoods. Having completed the eradication of shanty towns, Lisbon City Council is now focusing on those areas with the worst social, economic, environmental and urban indicators. It is in this context that the Programa de Parcerias Locais (Local Partnerships Programme), commonly known as the Programa BIP/ZIP - Bairros e Zonas de Intervenção Prioritária de Lisboa (BIP/ZIP Programme – Lisbon’s Priority Intervention Neighbourhoods and Zones) has emerged, as part of a broader programme: the BIP/ZIP Strategy.

The Strategy, designed during the drafting of the Lisbon Local Housing Programme and subsequently incorporated into the Lisbon Municipal Master Plan, is a municipal policy with a dual purpose: local development and urban regeneration. In addition to the Programa BIP/ZIP, it encompasses three other instruments: the BIP/ZIP Charter, the Support Offices for Priority Intervention Neighbourhoods (GABIP), and the Collaborative Networks. It builds on participatory practices such as the Serviço de Apoio Ambulatório Local (SAAL) – a community-based programme developed between 1974 and 1976, the early years of democracy in Portugal, which were marked by a surge of popular enthusiasm – or the Participatory Budgeting.

The first step taken was to identify the socio-territorial divide in Lisbon, based on a detailed analysis of socio-economic, environmental and urban planning indicators. The overlay of these indicators, carried out block by block, made it possible to identify the neighbourhoods requiring priority intervention. This process, following public consultation, resulted in the BIP/ZIP Charter, a tool defining a set of 67 neighbourhoods and recording the reality and experiences of each one. Through close engagement with the communities and their respective organisations, an assessment was drawn up setting out the needs and perceptions, as well as the potential of each neighbourhood. At the time, these areas comprised around 150,000 people.

It was following this initial initiative that, in 2011, the BIP/ZIP Programme launched its first edition. This is an annual programme designed to spark social and collaborative networks, aiming to support local projects that enhance the quality of life in priority areas. It is now in its 15th edition, having funded hundreds of projects, addressing a wide range of themes in various ways, from sustainability to the integration of vulnerable populations.

Organizing, Supporting, and Funding Entities

The BIP/ZIP Programme is run by Lisbon City Council. It is funded by the council, although project organisers may raise additional funds from other sources.

Participant Recruitment and Selection

Formally registered non-profit organisations may apply for funding under the BIP/ZIP Programme as project promoters or partners. Informal groups and parish councils may also apply, but only as partner organisations. Each project must involve at least two organisations. The participation of local communities in the BIP/ZIP areas is encouraged throughout the project’s design, development and evaluation.

Methods and Tools Used

Each year, the BIP/ZIP Programme publishes a document entitled “Cycle and Rules” which sets out the framework within which the programme will operate in the forthcoming edition. The rules are therefore subject to change from one edition to the next. The rules envisaged for the 2025 edition are set out below [1].

The BIP/ZIP Programme comprises two dimensions: the Ignition Dimension and the Ecosystem Dimension, enabling the promotion of projects tailored to the reality of the area in which they will operate, as well as to the current or structural needs of the communities. Support is provided for activities and projects carried out exclusively in the Priority Intervention Neighbourhoods and Zones listed in the BIP/ZIP Charter.

It is structured as a cycle comprising seven stages: i) Preparation – updating of the rules, budget allocation, formal approvals and the appointment of the evaluation panel and technical teams; ii) Publicity and Capacity Building – delivery of capacity-building activities, public promotion of the Programme and the launch of the online platform for the pre-registration of interested institutions; iii) Submission of Applications – opening of the application period and formalisation of proposals; iv) Assessment of Applications – verification of compliance, technical and legal evaluation, hearing of interested parties and final approval of lists, contractualisation and budgetary adjustments by Lisbon City Council; v) Formalisation of Support – opening ceremony and formalisation of contracts for approved support; vi) Project Implementation; vii) Evaluation of Programme Implementation – preparation of interim and final evaluation reports, conducting case studies and systematisation of best practices for future cycles of the Programme.

Projects under the Ignition Dimension last for 12 months and are eligible for funding of up to €50,000. Those under the Ecosystem Dimension last for 36 months, with a maximum total funding of €150,000 (€50,000 per year). Projects must fall within one of five themes: Improving Neighbourhood Life, Promoting Skills and Entrepreneurship, Community Space, Promoting Inclusion and Prevention, and Promoting Community Engagement and Citizenship. They must also primarily target one of the following groups: children, young people, adults, older people, families, or vulnerable groups.

What Went On: Process, Interaction, and Participation

Over a period of 12 or 36 months, depending on the Dimension of the project, the organisations forming the partnerships carry out a wide range of initiatives in the local area with the target communities. For example, 364 activities are planned for the 2025 edition alone. Ideally, these should involve the local community in their design, implementation and evaluation.

Influence, Outcomes, and Effects

Over the course of its 15 editions to date, the BIP/ZIP Programme has involved more than a thousand organisations across the city, establishing a vast network of partnerships that have made a decisive contribution to the city’s collaborative fabric. More than 600 projects have been supported with funding of over 30 million euros [2].

The Programme also served as inspiration for another, the nationwide Programa Bairros Saudáveis (Healthy Neighbourhoods Programme). Created in 2021, Bairros Saudáveis was designed to support vulnerable communities and areas, funding projects across the country. It involved a total of 1,180 organisations and reached over 140,000 beneficiaries [3].

References

[1] CML. (2023). Ciclo e Regras do Programa BIP/ZIP Lisboa 2023 - Parcerias Locais. Câmara Municipal de Lisboa. Available at https://bipzip.cm-lisboa.pt/imgs/ciclo_regras_2025.pdf

[2] CML. (n.d.). Programa BIP/ZIP Lisboa - Parcerias Locais. https://bipzip.cm-lisboa.pt/

[3] Bairros Saudáveis. (n.d.). Bairros Saudáveis. https://www.bairrossaudaveis.gov.pt/

External Links

https://bipzip.cm-lisboa.pt/

https://bipzip.lisboa.pt/conhece-os-bipzip/apresentacao/index.htm