The aim of this study is to create a system of indicators for the minimum income scheme in Portugal (Rendimento Social de Inserção), serving as a basis for the creation of a model for evaluating the service provision of this policy by local authorities. The research question that will guide our work is to what extent does the decentralisation of competences to the local level contribute to alleviating the causes of poverty and improving the quality of the services provided? The decentralisation of competences has been seen as a mechanism for combating poverty. Several international organisations, such as the World Bank, the OECD and the European Union, refer to the potential of decentralisation to enable local authorities to develop sustainable development processes. Several authors such as Von Braun and Groot (2000) and Crawford and Hartmann (2008) argue in favour of decentralisation, pointing out that local governments are better informed about the needs of their populations than the central state. Proximity makes it easier to monitor the citizen-beneficiary and can also allow for easier and more effective evaluation of social workers. However, some questions arise, namely the fact that these positive impacts of decentralisation depend on two factors, namely the resources that are made available to local authorities (Jütting e Corsi, 2005 and Harris and Posner, 2022) and also how local authorities themselves implement programmes (Harris and Posner, 2022). In the Netherlands, for example, during the process of decentralisation of competences (2003 and 2015), the problem that emerged was related to the way social workers acted in the execution and monitoring of social assistance recipients, who adopted a welfare philosophy. And it was through the initiative of the municipalities that they were open to changing the paradigm of the social intervention model (Oliveira, 2024). In Portugal, there were those who opposed decentralisation on the grounds that local authoriti...

The Coordinated Humanitarian Response, Health and Displacement action-research project aims to implement an international master's degree, including European and African universities - HumanResponse Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree. The programme aims to provide a unique multidisciplinary programme in teaching and research about life-saving assistance and displacement in volatile contexts. The Erasmus Mundus project provides 60 scholarships for students, teacher mobility and lectures by Visiting Scholars from various countries.  In addition, it contributes to research with articles on innovative topics. The programme is jointly developed by Iscte-University Institute of Lisbon, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Makerere University (MU), University of Cape Verde (UniCV), University of Santiago (US), University of Athens (UAthens) and University of Rovuma (URovuma). The first semester is spent in Lisbon, Portugal, the second semester in Trondheim, Norway, and the third semester in Kampala, Uganda, before the students move to one of the seven partner institutions to work on their master’s thesis. In the fourth-semester students may collect dissertation data in humanitarian contexts with 23 institutions (associated partners) in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, South America or Asia. The curriculum is taught by both academics and practitioners, emphasizing problem-based learning and knowledge application opportunities in summer schools and internships.   HumanResponse tackles both research and teaching to address the pressing need for professionalisation of humanitarian workers through: fostering South-North collaboration and multi-stakeholder cooperation, strengthening localized leadership, and articulating theory and practice to navigate organizational complexity in humanitarian action.

1. The Emigration Observatory (OEm) is an independent technical and research structure integrated in the Centre for Research and Studies in Sociology (CIES-Iscte) of Iscte - University Institute of Lisbon where its headquarters are located. 2. The Observatory functions on a partnership basis between the following university institutions of research: the Centre for Research and Studies in Sociology (CIES-Iscte) of the Iscte - University Institute of Lisbon, which ensures the coordination of the partnership; the Centre for Geographical Studies (CEG) of the Institute of Geography and Spatial Planning of the University of Lisbon (IGOT-UL); the Centre for Research in Economic and Organizational Sociology (SOCIUS/CSG), of the Institute of Economics and Management of the University of Lisbon (ISEG-UL); the Institute of Sociology (IS-UP), of the Faculty of Arts of University of Porto.  3. The Observatory was created on the basis of a protocol signed in 2008 between the Iscte - University Institute of Lisbon and the Directorate-General for Consular Affairs and Portuguese Communities (DGACCP), supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under a cooperation agreement achieved in 2016. 4. The Observatory initiated its activity on January 2009, with three main goals: collect, harmonize and analyse information on the evolution and characteristics of Portuguese emigration and Portuguese emigrated population, in particular by collecting data from the statistical institutions of the emigration destination countries; Disseminate all the compiled information, promote its availability and discussion with the general public, in particular with researchers, students, policy makers and journalists;  contribute, through its activity, for the definition and evaluation of public emigration policies based on information and knowledge about this domain of intervention.  5. The Observatory has as its main daily public interaction instrument its web page. The website is regul...

This action is organized around the general objective (G.O.) to strengthen the mechanisms for the integration of immigrants into Cabo Verde society, while reinforcing the contribution to the priorities defined in the cooperation framework between Portugal and Cabo Verde. This objective is achieved by carrying out several activities oriented towards practical and accurate results, based on the exchange of experiences between both countries to improve the services provided, considering the following specific objectives/outcomes: • S.O.1. – To improve instruments and operating procedures regarding immigrant integration in Cabo Verde, by implementing four local units for immigrant support, a multichannel platform to support and strengthen public services available to immigrants and developing instruments for local approaches. • S.O.2. – To develop capacity-building actions for Cabo Verdean authorities (at national and local level), civil society organizations and ACM key staff, in legal migration management and integration. • S.O.3. – To provide certified professional training of immigrants to promote their professional qualification. • S.O.4. – To produce and disseminate knowledge about migration in Cabo Verde, by developing studies, awareness-raising campaigns, and setting up a Migration Observatory in the country.

HumAct is a 3-year project funded by the Erasmus + Program Capacity Building for Higher Education and is coordinated by ISCTE – Instituto Universitário de Lisboa., with partners: the National and Kapodistriana University of Athens, the University of Cape Verde and the University of Santiago, Cape Verde and the Pedagogical University, University of Pungué and University of Rovuma, Mozambique. The main objective of the project is to increase the capacity of higher education institutions in the area of ​​Humanitarian Action (HA) in relation to climate change and displacement in partner countries, specifically in Cape Verde and Mozambique, in collaboration with institutions in program countries, such as Greece and Portugal. The specific objectives are: • Increase the response of higher education with regard to content relevant to HA • Promoting research by teachers and students regarding HA • Develop teachers' pedagogical strategies • Strengthen community involvement

Emigration to the UK of nurses from Portugal and other Eastern and Southern European countries began in 2008 to replace the older flows from India and the Philippines. The importance of this topic is due to the growing relevance, in the 21st century, of public policies for attracting qualified immigrants and recruitment processes from the destination, in general, and in the emigration of nurses from peripheral European countries (Portugal, Spain, Italy and Romania) to those from the centre and north (England and Germany), in particular. This emigration, although following the trends of recent emigration from these countries, is, however, distinguished by its intensity. The project will also analyse the impact of Brexit on this new migratory dynamic. In methodological terms, it will combine the analysis of international statistical data from the Emigration Observatory with those from intensive (ethnographic) and extensive (survey) research.

The migration of workers, both geographically and in terms of occupational activities related to agriculture, is one of the largest transformations in this sector in the 20th century. The Portuguese countryside has been characterized by a high rate of depopulation, as well as by the aging of its population. At the same time, agriculture, the main economic activity in rural areas, observed a substantial decline in terms of preponderance in the labour market and in the national economy. The combination of the lack of manpower and the high levels of competition has encouraged a process of restructuring of the agricultural sector, betting heavily on internalization. The integration of foreign workers and the expansion of the demand for manpower in the Portuguese agricultural sector constitute a paradox, given the rural decline observed in the 20th century. This paradox serves as the starting point for this research project, which has four main dimensions: 1. Identify the characteristics, intensity and determinants of the demand for foreign labour in the agricultural sector in the Alentejo region; 2. Analyze the sociological and demographic profile and the expectations of the foreign workers in the labour market of the agricultural sector in the Alentejo region

The project focuses on the migration of Nepalese to work red fruit agriculture in the south of Portugal and the relationship with trafficking for labor exploitation. It has two main objectives, i) the research of the experiences and ii) the contribution for actions of prevention and fight against the traffic. In order to do so, it initially intends to conduct interviews in the country of origin to  Nepalese immigrants before they leave Nepal and to those who have since returned from Portugal, as well as to the Nepalese immigrants in the country of destination (Portugal), in order to understand the specific role of recruitment companies and trafficking throughout the migratory process. The research will be published in two scientific papers. For the contribution of actions the team members intend to discuss with the different agents related with the Nepalese migration process (recruiters, managers of agricultural companies, municipalities, SEF, ACT, Human Trafficking Observatory, etc.) to create initiatives to prevent and combat trafficking in human beings for labor exploitation, as well as greater visibility and articulation for the activities already implemented, as it is the case of "New Generation of Local Security Contracts "in Serpa, Ministry of Internal Administration. The discussion of actions will focus on three points. Firstly, the way in which seasonal agricultural work can be regulated should be based on Directive 2014/36 - EU of 26/02/2014 on the entry of third country nationals into seasonal work, which is still to be transposed to Portugal. Secondly, initiatives for a greater participation of Nepalese in Portuguese language courses, already existing in municipalities in the south of Portugal (AA.VV. 2015), as one of the main resources of integration and qualification of immigrants. Thirdly, the translation of Portuguese labor legislation selected for English and Nepalese, to empower Nepalese workers and entrepreneurs of recruitment agencies.  Team: ...

  The action-research project in social work with families and children aims to implement an international master's degree, including European and African universities - MFAMILY Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree. The programme enhances the knowledge and the skills needed for working internationally with interventions for vulnerable children and marginalized families. The Erasmus Mundus project provides 139 scholarships for students, teacher mobility and lectures by Visiting Scholars from various countries.  In addition, it contributes to research with articles on innovative topics. The programme is jointly developed by Iscte-University Institute of Lisbon, University of Gothenburg (UGOT), University of Stavanger (UiS) and Makerere University (MU). The first semester is spent in Lisbon, Portugal, the second semester in Stavanger, Norway and the third semester in Gothenburg, Sweden before the students move to one of the four partner institutions to work on the master’s thesis. The language of instruction is English. The aim of the programme is for students to graduate having a sound practical foundation in: understanding the diverse and varied contexts, life situations and challenges faced by children and families in Europe and selected international settings; applying skills to work appropriately in and with these contexts; using and developing research to inform knowledge and practice for working with vulnerable children and families; and applying the values of international social work.    

This project aims to examine the role of civil society in supporting vulnerable members of the community within the context of social welfare reform, neoliberal policy and new public management initiatives. Pressures of marketization, austerity and statutory intervention are challenging policies to reducing poverty, social inequality and social exclusion and promoting social cohesion and developing social capital. The project involves EU and associated countries that are undergoing significant social and economic change, namely England, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Turkey, whilst non EU countries, Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa are newly advanced economic development countries. The project will enhance the understanding and knowledge based models of global sustainable social welfare service delivery.

O projeto focou-se na relação entre o impacto da crise financeira e a emigração qualificada para Londres. Começou por identificar e caracterizar as motivações e expectativas dos emigrantes antes de partirem, ainda em Portugal, para se poder observar as suas transformações durante o percurso migratório. Combinou a análise de dados estatísticos internacionais, no Observatório da Emigração, com os resultados da pesquisa intensiva e extensiva. Neste sentido, foi realizada etnografia multi-situada, através de observação participante e entrevistas a portugueses qualificados em Lisboa, antes de deixarem a cidade, e depois em Londres, por um período de cinco meses. No total, em 2013, foram realizadas 80 entrevistas em profundidade e semiestruturadas a emigrantes portugueses qualificados. A pesquisa etnográfica evidenciou que estavam a ocorrer novas dinâmicas na migração qualificada portuguesa, como a aparente maioria de enfermeiros por comparação com as restantes profissões.