The Territorial Valorisation Network is a municipal public policy in Cascais that strengthens democratic planning in critical urban areas through structured citizen participation and collaborative problem-solving.
PARTICIPATORY POLICYMAKING IN CRITICAL URBAN AREAS
The Territorial Valorisation Network (TVN) focuses on neighbourhoods facing urban challenges by fostering direct collaboration between residents, local organisations, and municipal services. Through a continuous, structured process, participants diagnose local needs, co-create action plans, and implement solutions in working groups. The process follows five key phases: listening and diagnosis; discussion and planning; creation of working groups; coordination with municipal services; and continuous evaluation. Importantly, TVN requires no dedicated municipal budget—actions are funded by reallocating existing and new resources. To date, it has held 39 public sessions, engaged 920 participants, and implemented 70 of 117 planned actions (nearly 60%).
CITIZENS AS CO-CREATORS OF PUBLIC POLICY
TVN replaces top-down decision-making with a participatory model where residents lead the identification of local priorities and shape policy responses alongside public officials. The initiative focuses on four core areas: urban regeneration, environmental education and green spaces, community empowerment, and youth participation. Participation is inclusive, sustained, and embedded into everyday governance. By mobilising cross-sector collaboration, TVN improves coordination across departments and generates practical, citizen-driven solutions to complex local issues.
SCALABLE, INCLUSIVE, AND SUSTAINABLE GOVERNANCE
TVN enhances civic literacy, trust in institutions, and collective ownership of local development. It shows that impactful, participatory governance can be achieved without additional funding—only through structured collaboration and co-responsibility. Unlike many one-off consultations, TVN is continuous, institutionalised, and has already influenced policymaking beyond Cascais. It is now a core element of the city’s long-term territorial strategy, providing stability across political cycles and offering a scalable model for other municipalities looking to integrate citizen participation into local governance.
