Resolution of the Council of Ministers No. 52-A/2020 creating the Healthy Environment Programme.

In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to highlight the need to promote health resilience and improve social cohesion, habitat, environmental conditions and the quality of life of local communities. Thus, this Resolution creates the Healthy Environment Programme, as a participatory instrument that promotes health, social, economic, environmental and urban initiatives among the local communities most affected by the pandemic, or other factors affecting their health and well-being. The Programme aims at promoting partnerships and local interventions for the health and quality of life of territorial communities, through the support for projects presented by associations, collectives, non-governmental organizations, civic movements and residents' organizations, in collaboration with municipalities and health authorities. The Programme has the following objectives: a) create a favorable climate for the initiative and capacity building of local communities, providing institutional support for the self-organization of the population and their participation in the improvement of their living and health conditions; b) transform social capital, active citizenship and networking into living and influential forces in local development, enabling fast and effective interventions that create more resilient, inclusive and healthy communities; c) create conditions for the construction of safe, inclusive and healthy public spaces, promoting participatory design and management and promoting environmental protection; d) contribute to a positive image of the most deprived or excluded communities, enhancing their integration, eliminating barriers and discrimination in access to goods and services.