Community-led regeneration is gaining momentum as a transformative approach to fostering more inclusive, sustainable, and caring cities. In contrast to top-down urban development strategies, this approach centers the knowledge and agency of residents in the revitalization of their own neighborhoods. As urban pressure reshape territories, the ability of local communities to participate meaningfully in regeneration processes is increasingly critical. Central to this participation is the use of co-creation tools that structure, support, and legitimize engagement in planning and implementation processes. This paper examines the importance of such tools in supporting community-led regeneration, focusing on methodologies that strengthen collective decision-making and democratic governance. It draws on the example of Lisbon’s BIP/ZIP program—an urban instrument launched in 2011 to address socio-spatial inequalities in priority neighborhoods through participatory budgeting. By funding local partnerships involving civil society organizations, NGOs, and parish councils, BIP/ZIP operationalizes co-creation at the neighborhood scale. More than a financing mechanism, it provides a governance framework that values local knowledge and encourages long-term collaboration. Beyond funding schemes, co-creation and co-governance tools—including participatory mapping, digital platforms, and regeneration toolkits—play a crucial role in capturing and mobilizing community-based knowledge. These instruments help communities document shared needs, negotiate priorities with institutional actors, and articulate their own visions for sustainable development. They also facilitate transparency, mutual learning, and accountability across stakeholders, making regeneration more resilient and adaptable in the face of tourism-related and urban pressures. By critically reflecting on tool-supported practices, this paper argues that the efficacy of community-led regeneration is strongly mediated by the nature and design of the tools employed. When well-aligned with local capacities and aspirations, such tools foster inclusive engagement, empower residents, and contribute to the production of urban environments that are not only sustainable but also rooted in care and social justice. This contribution aims to enrich ongoing discussions on how caring for cities involves rethinking the governance infrastructures that underpin urban development.

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Community-Led Regeneration,Toolkits,Caring Cities,collective decision-making,co-creation tools,BIPZIP,neighborhood scale,urban design,public space