More information
Description
The growing concern with waste production and pollution has led in recent years to the emergence of many citizen initiatives with the aim of promoting better waste management and a reduction in waste. However, recent data show that national waste production has been increasing since 2014, which reflects the lack of impact of these citizen initiatives. Thus, the project intends to create a platform capable of generating the missing links between the various civil society movements. This platform, which hopes to bring together more than 100 organisations, will operate mainly in a virtual environment with four main spaces: a space for presenting members, a library where relevant bibliographic resources will be made available; a training section, partnership matchmaking and idea mentoring; and a space for workgroups. The networking will result in a policy paper that is intended to have an impact on public policies governing waste management and prevention in Portugal and a cycle of public discussions and an awareness campaign on the importance of reducing waste in Portugal.
Summary of project results
The project aimed to unite and empower civil society for the transition to a zero-waste society. It addressed the need for better access to funding and the consolidation of efforts in the zero-waste area. It overcame challenges related to political awareness and visibility by providing a virtual environment that fostered cohesive movements. It facilitated direct communication among members, the sharing of information, and the formation of partnerships.
The project, conceived between June and October 2022, utilized the community management software Circle.so. It was organized into five distinct webpages/spaces: Community, Library, Working Groups, Training, and Agenda. These spaces were designed to create a virtual environment for sharing news and discussions, collaborating on projects, maintaining a constantly evolving virtual library, hosting dedicated workshops/training sessions, and providing a collective agenda open to events from both the platform and its partners.
After the platform''s creation, a communication plan was developed for its launch, including the creation of an Instagram page (@liga.acao) and informative posts. In the last two months of 2022, efforts were focused on member recruitment through partner channels, internal databases, and the project itself. In December, a second communication plan was outlined to energize the platform, introducing monthly dynamics such as "Networking Liga-Ação" and non-disposable conversation cycles on Instagram, featuring entities like Fashion Revolution, Peggada, and reCloset.
The first meetings of the working groups on reuse, repair, and bulk buying began. These meetings not only recruited members but also defined each group''s objectives: advocacy campaigns on reuse and repair in Portugal and raising awareness about bulk buying. The bulk buying group launched the "March, Bulk Month" campaign, which included over 60 multimedia contents, 30 ambassadors, 100 adherents, nearly 100 events across the country, 80 new platform members, 30 media mentions, and over 500 Instagram mentions. The final event at the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation featured the participation of the Minister of Environment and Climate Action and the Secretary of State for the Environment, celebrating the first International Zero Waste Day proclaimed by the United Nations.
The working groups on reuse and repair created the "Manifesto for Reuse and Repair in Portugal" and the policy paper "Towards the Reuse and Repair Revolution!: Policy Recommendations for the Circular Transition." The latter was made available through media and social networks in June, targeting policymakers, organizations, and institutions in the field. To celebrate the platform''s first year, the "1st National Meeting of the Liga-Ação Platform" was held in Lisbon in November 2023, bringing together 27 civil society actors, companies, and activists to share results and outline a future vision for the platform.
As part of the project, an internal capacity-building process was conducted. In the project''s early months, with the help of an external consultant, Sair da Casca, a diagnosis and action plan were developed to improve the internal operations of Zero Waste Lab (the project''s promoter). As a result, a request for NGO and public interest status was submitted and approved in November 2022. This plan also enabled consultancy for capacity building in internal and external communication, leading to a more specific strategic plan to be implemented in 2024.
In quantitative terms, the following was achieved:
- 1 civic initiative led by supported NGOs;
- 1 awareness raising campaign carried out;
- 2 NGOs engaged in monitoring public and private decision-making
- 1 NGO-produced evidence-based report on public/private policies reported in the media;
- 46% share of target group showing civic concerns.
Regarding capacity building, the promoter carried out a needs assessment and prepared an action plan. This led to the development of an institutional communication plan.
All proposed targets were met and exceeded.
Summary of bilateral results
Naturvernforbundet Norway demonstrated a strong commitment to supporting new training initiatives and sharing experiences. The proposal to create a National Swap Day was a concrete example of this collaboration. Given the relevance and effectiveness of this partnership, it was intended to be maintained, ensuring it continued to add value to the project despite budgetary constraints. The continuation of these partnerships reflected mutual recognition of the positive impact and the importance of working together to achieve common goals.