"Social added value, partnerships and financing tools"

International Forum in Siena (IT) - June 16&17, 2011

In the Conclusions on the Fifth report on Cohesion Policy, the European Commission underlines the positive role local partnerships involving social partners and civil society can have in achieving the territorial, economic and social cohesion objective. In the same document, the Commission asks how such partnership principle can be improved.

Widening the perspective, the International Forum on Territorial Social Initiatives, organized by FORTES – Fondazione Scuola di Alta Formazione per il Terzo Settore - and REVES – the European Network of Cities and Regions for the Social Economy – will examine ways to fully exploit the potential of territorial social Initiatives in terms of improvement of social cohesion through better quality of life for all citizens.

The Forum will concentrate on three main issues: 1. the social added value generated by territorial social initiatives; 2. the partnership approach; 3. financial tools to support territorial social initiatives.

These three dimensions will be taken into consideration in two phases: a first day debate aimed at exchange and discussion involving territorial experiences, public authorities, international institutions and organizations; a second day dedicated at drafting common guidelines for action.

For more information: see the enclosed programme and the REVES website http://www.revesnetwork.eu