Residents Assembly & Live the Neighbourhood Programme

This project was a finalist in the European Responsible Housing Awards 2025 under the ‘Building strategic alliances, fostering community participation’, organised by Housing Europe, the International Union of Tenants and DELPHIS.

Organisation: BRAGAHABIT | Empresa Municipal de Habitação de Braga

Goals

The Residents Assembly (Assembleia de Moradores) and Live the Neighbourhood Program (Programa Viva o Bairro) aim to empower social housing communities in Braga as active participants in urban and social development. These initiatives provide structured platforms enabling residents to co-design and implement neighbourhood improvements, promote social cohesion, and build strong alliances between residents, municipal authorities, local organizations, and private entities.

Key objectives include:

• Institutionalising participatory urban governance.
• Enhancing community-driven decision-making.
• Fostering social cohesion and intergenerational dialogue.
• Revitalising public spaces and infrastructure.
• Promoting economic empowerment and reducing vulnerabilities through skill-building and education.

Context

Before the launch of the Residents Assembly and Live the Neighbourhood Program, Braga’s social housing neighbourhoods were marked by urban neglect, economic vulnerability, and limited opportunities for civic engagement. Public spaces were often unsafe or underused, youth and elderly residents faced isolation, and local associations lacked the structure and resources to respond effectively.

These challenges led to a disconnect between municipal efforts and residents’ real needs. Recognising this, BragaHabit and the Municipality of Braga introduced a new governance model in 2022. The first Residents Assembly brought together eight neighbourhoods and has since expanded to include 15. The initiative has helped rebuild civic trust, strengthen local organisations, and empower residents as co-creators of neighbourhood development.

What is innovative about this project?

The initiatives introduce an innovative participatory governance model, distinct from traditional municipal programs. Innovations include:

• Structured resident-led assemblies integrated with municipal investment.
• Robust mentorship model pairing neighbourhood associations with BragaHabit mentors for ongoing technical support.
• Comprehensive capacity-building workshops covering budgeting, funding applications, social economy, partnership-building, and impact assessment.
• Transparent, replicable governance mechanisms adaptable to other urban contexts.

The program’s innovation earned international recognition, notably receiving the prestigious UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour Award in 2023, chosen from 80 applications across four continents.

Interventions

• Participatory Governance: Regular Residents Assemblies (7-8 annually) serving as structured spaces for co-designing community interventions, debating priorities, and strengthening governance roles.
• Mentorship Model: Personalised support from BragaHabit mentors assisting with project design, budgeting, resource management, and execution.
• Funding: Annual €200,000 budget supporting community-led projects under the Viva o Bairro initiative.
• Capacity-Building Workshops: Training in project design, financial management, budgeting, funding applications, social economy, and innovation.
• Design Thinking: Workshops to redefine challenges, co-create solutions, and test innovative approaches.
• Monitoring and Accountability: Quarterly reporting system tracking project progress and financial management, reviewed by a dedicated Monitoring Committee consisting of two members from the Municipality of Braga and one from BragaHabit, including semi-annual site visits.
• Collaborative Partnerships: Active involvement of municipal institutions, private sector entities, NGOs, and local parishes providing logistical support and additional resources.

Impact

• Increased Civic Engagement: Resident participation surged, with neighbourhood associations experiencing membership growth between 30% to 150%, some rising from 390 to 965 members.
• Urban Revitalisation: 15 public spaces revitalised, including community gardens, sports facilities, cultural hubs, public art projects, infrastructure upgrades, and safety enhancements.
• Youth Engagement: Initiatives like “Das Ruas para o Ringue” integrating sports training with academic support, benefiting 68 young participants. “Academia Tecl@rt” provided regular music and arts education, serving around 40 students per semester.
• Elderly Integration: The “Viva às Andorinhas” program significantly reduced elderly isolation, benefiting over 400 seniors through community events, health screenings, and workshops.
• Economic Empowerment: Community-driven projects generating additional revenue from member contributions, private support, and other public funding sources, ensuring long-term sustainability.
• Recognition: UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour Award 2023 for significant contributions to inclusive and resilient urban development, highlighting successful strategies in social, economic, and environmental improvements.

Lessons learned

• The jury evaluated this initiative as a strong example of bottom-up governance that gives residents real power in shaping their neighbourhoods.
• It effectively combines funding, mentorship, and public-private collaboration to create lasting impact.
• The project demonstrates how inclusive, community-driven urban policies can improve social cohesion, civic engagement, and local ownership.
• Its well-structured approach, long-term alliances, and strong results make it a replicable model for cities worldwide.