LISBON BIP/ZIP Program

In 2010 the City Council of Lisbon, aware of the urban inequalities in the city, identified seventy-seven Priority Intervention Neighbourhoods and Zones (hereon, BIP/ZIP, original acronym in Portuguese).

The one-year program is a model of participatory government that consists on the development of actions implemented by the civil society itself in the BIPs/ZIPs, with the financial and technical support of the City Council. In these areas there are approximately 150,000 residents, almost one fourth of the city’s population, and they occupy 8% of the territory. Through this program, the City Council is trying to reinforce the socio-territorial cohesion of the municipality by mobilising citizen energy in the search for solutions that can continue into the future. The interventions can be related to the improvement of the appearance of the neighbourhood, the creation of services and activities for the community and visitors, the restoration, re-zoning and occupancy of public space, the promotion of the citizenry, the prevention of risk-related behaviour, etc. To date there have been five editions of the program. One of the relevant successes of the program has been the strengthening of a sense of belonging of the residents to these neighbourhoods.

Further information: http://habitacao.cm-lisboa.pt
Contact: Lisbon Educating City Office
E-mail: lx.cidade.educadora@cm-lisboa.pt