About the MAP
In Portugal, Consulai coordinates the Multi-Actor Platform Southwest Alentejo (SW). This is a newly established platform focusing on the social issues associated with Alentejo’s development: social disadvantage and exclusion.
This region is marked by agricultural activities developed in the Mira Irrigation Perimeter (public irrigation), which was “overlapped” by a Natural Park. Agricultural activities are mainly focused on the production of vegetables and berries (in plastic greenhouses), with a strong foreign investment and with a high need of labour. This labour has been mainly obtained through immigrants from Asian countries (Thailand, Nepal, India, Bangladesh, etc.), which has created a set of new challenges for the region. Despite the recent exposure of several situations of improper accommodation of people, the region has been an example in the integration of immigrants.
The platform will provide a unique opportunity for stakeholders to engage, deepen the discussion on the main social issues and find ways forward in a comprehensive manner.
Objectives
The activities of this MAP are designed to achieve the following specific objectives:
- MAP objective 1: Creation of a platform that is seen by the actors as a meaningful and useful tool to discuss rural policies.
- MAP objective 2: Identification of concrete policies with influence into the Southwest Alentejo (SW) region and solutions for their implementation.
- MAP objective 3: Determine how research can influence policy-making and society.
Composition
Local citizens and businesses, science representatives, regional and national government.