“Leaving No One Behind” is the main objective of the Famalicão Mais+ platform
On January 10th, as part of the Social Cohesion Days focused on “Technological Innovation in Social Cohesion,” the Municipality of Famalicão introduced the Famalicão Mais+ platform. This innovative tool, technologically developed by Quidgest, centralizes and provides access to comprehensive information on institutions, social services, support, and incentives available in Vila Nova de Famalicão.
During the event’s opening, Mário Passos, Mayor of Vila Nova de Famalicão, highlighted the importance of more effective and inclusive social management, tailored to the municipality’s specific characteristics, marked by its growing size and demographic diversity: approximately 140,000 residents, significant emigration waves, and 34 parishes. “It would make no sense if we lacked the capacity to assist everyone – leaving no one behind. Our social network doesn’t only cater to our most vulnerable citizens; it aims to support all vulnerable groups,” said Mário Passos. He added, “The municipality currently has one of the largest budgets in our country, which will enable us to materialize various intervention areas, including our social network.”
Emphasizing the Famalicão Mais+ platform as a long-awaited technological milestone, the Mayor stated: “We must leverage this robust resource so that digitalization and technological innovation become tools in service of the social network, connecting us digitally and equipping us with diverse mechanisms to increase efficiency, ensure sustainability, and improve social network management. (…) Because everyone is part of the social network: communities, parishes, social solidarity institutions, healthcare providers, schools, companies, citizens, associations, informal groups, and movements – all are integral to the social network.”
We must leverage this robust resource so that digitalization and technological innovation become tools in service of the social network, connecting us digitally and equipping us with diverse mechanisms to increase efficiency, ensure sustainability, and improve social network management.
Mário Passos, Mayor of Vila Nova de Famalicão
Susana Forte, Coordinator of the Famalicão Mais+ Mission Structure; Isabel Vieira, Head of the Territorial Development and Associativism Division at the Municipality of Famalicão; Augusto Lima, Councilor for Economy and Entrepreneurship, Education and Science, International Relations, and Territorial Development at the Municipality of Famalicão; Pedro Nobre, Municipal Sector Director at Quidgest; Filipa Costa, Health and Science Consultant at Quidgest; and Ademar Carvalho, Head of the Social Solidarity, Family, and Seniors Division at the Municipality of Famalicão.
More than just a digital tool
Filipa Costa, Health and Science Consultant at Quidgest, also took the stage for a guided tour of the functionalities and benefits of the Famalicão Mais+ platform. During the live demonstration, she emphasized: “This platform is much more than a digital tool; it represents the Municipality of Famalicão’s commitment to 360° solidarity, uniting entities, support services, citizens, and professionals to promote efficiency, transparency, and proximity.”
The platform features integrated georeferencing, enabling users to navigate and search for social services quickly and intuitively. “One significant advantage is the digital submission process, eliminating traditional bureaucracies associated with physical documentation,” noted Filipa Costa. She also highlighted other benefits, such as the transparency of the application process for support, which allows citizens to track their application’s status in real-time. Additionally, personalized profiles for each citizen enable professionals to consolidate identification and contact details, social and socioeconomic diagnoses, and records of support already granted or under review, helping “avoid redundancies or identify patterns of need.”
The platform also includes a dynamic dashboard, where users can view registered citizens, covered parishes, and allocated support: “This advanced dashboard allows for filtering and exporting data, ensuring a clear and detailed view to improve management and planning,” concluded the Health and Science Consultant.
The Social Cohesion Days also featured a panel of experts discussing trends and challenges in technological innovation within the social sector. Panelists included Jorge Batista from Fundação Primavera and a broader debate on the role of emerging technologies in promoting social cohesion. This session, moderated by Manuela Guimarães, Executive Director of FORAVE – Escola de Ensino Profissional de Vila Nova de Famalicão, featured speakers such as Delfina Soares, Director of UNU-EGOV; Manuel Lemos, President of the União das Misericórdias Portuguesas; Carlos Neves, General Director of SEVENFORMA and Consultant in Innovation, Knowledge Transfer, Sustainability, Circular Economy, Information Systems, Mobility, Territorial Development, and Smart Cities; and Teresa Carvalho, President of the Central Council of Vincentian Conferences.
Augusto Lima, Councilor for various portfolios, including Territorial Development in the Municipality of Famalicão, summarized the discussions into three concepts: ambition, innovation and technology, and impact assessment. He emphasized that the Municipality of Vila Nova de Famalicão strives for more and better every day across institutions, communities, local governments, and ecosystems. Augusto Lima concluded: “What drives us are people, and it’s with them that we want to work, highlighting the importance of learning to assess and generate concrete data to replace guesswork with objective decisions and new pathways. It’s true that technologies like these encounter resistance. But I appeal to all professionals, managers, and leaders: let us also overcome the changes and challenges we face. If a new technology emerges, let us make the most of it to address our people’s and ecosystem’s needs. In the end, we all stand to benefit.”
The Famalicão Mais+ platform is available here.