Speaker: Maria Manuela Pacheco Ralha. March 27, 2026 - 6 p.m. (PT) / 3 p.m. (BR).

This paper examines the role of social cohesion in contemporary local governance, highlighting it as a central pillar of public policy and territorial governance. It draws on a conceptual framework that defines social cohesion as the capacity to ensure inclusion, equal opportunities, equitable access to resources, and citizen participation, taking into account the multifaceted nature of poverty. A new paradigm of local governance emerges, based on decentralization, proximity, and institutional coordination, with local governments taking an active role in identifying needs and coordinating responses. The Vila Franca de Xira model is presented as an example of integrated, person- and family-centered intervention, featuring multisectoral coordination and continuous monitoring. Benefits such as greater effectiveness, reduced fragmentation, resource optimization, and the promotion of autonomy are highlighted. The use of diagnostic tools and evidence-based decision-making is also emphasized. The paper concludes with a reflection on replicability, decentralization, and the challenges of network governance.

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