Joining efforts is the motto behind the launch of the Ibérica Network, presented this Thursday in Lisbon, which aims to strengthen relations between Portuguese and Spanish institutions with regional impact. The initiative of the Mapfre Foundation, which Expresso joined as media partnerwill start in the first phase with five entities.
“This project is essentially intended to train foundations. It is a very interesting purpose”, considered José Liberato, president of the Portuguese Center for Foundations and one of the partners involved. The official also assured that the Secretary of State for Planning and Regional Development “offered to follow these steps” and coordinate efforts “with the Spanish government”.
Julio Domingo Souto, specialist consultant at Rede Ibérica, challenged foundations with a cultural and social purpose to join the movement, remembering that the five-decade experience of the Mapfre Foundation, with a strong presence in Europe and America, can be a catalyst to enhance the reach of other institutions in the Iberian Peninsula. “Foundations, both in Portugal and Spain, have many limitations and many of them prevent them from properly carrying out the projects they have in the territory. It is important to establish collaboration and synergies with other institutions”, he assured.
Elvira Vega, general director of the Mapfre Foundation, highlighted that “the initiative is an invitation to collaboration and joint innovation”
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The event, which took place at the Fundação Cidade de Lisboa, also brought together António Carmona Rodrigues (Fundação de Cidade Lisboa) and Elvira Vega (Fundação Mapfre), as well as several national institutions from North to South. “We have half a century dedicated to improving people’s lives and we want to work together to generate a more solid impact”, he highlighted Julio Domingo Souto.
Discover the main conclusions below.
Empower, collaborate and empower
- The Ibérica Network project is aimed at all foundations that work with the community, as long as they are outside the large urban centers of Lisbon and Porto. “We thought about prioritizing regional action. The foundation may have its headquarters in Lisbon, but it is eligible if it operates regionally in another area of the country. These are the areas that need the most help”, said Julio Domingo Souto.
- There are three pillars of support: one directly provided by the Mapfre Foundation, another that comes from partner companies and institutions that will help, pro bonofoundations, and a third party that helps with access to external specialized services.
- As financing is one of the challenges common to most IPSS, José Liberato recalled the importance of using available community funds, which represent “great opportunities for foundations to obtain financing for their activities”.
- After the pilot phase that is now beginning, the Ibérica Network will launch, in the first quarter of next year, a call for support to the first batch of national and Spanish foundations. “There will be an analysis and appreciation of the problems that foundations have – whether those who know they have them or those who don’t -, but the main criterion will be that they generate an important impact on their communities”, concludes Julio Domingo Souto.
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