The process started with the creation of the Coordination Team and a network of partners.

A Stakeholder analysis (“Perfil da Comunidade”) was prepared, summarising conclusions from interviews with approximately 50 institutions. The study provided information on the institutions´ interests and expectations relating the process and also the appropriate forms for their active participation.

A Status Report (“Pré-diagnóstico de Sustentabilidade”) compiled information from social, environmental and economical indicators.

Two workshops were organized, the first one for the presentation of the above mentioned reports (April 2005) and the second for formulating the Sustainable Vision Statement (June 2005). In the second workshop, called “Santo Tirso in 2010”, about 50 participants were split into seven groups. Each group defined a vision on how the municipality should be like in the future and identified three essential actions to accomplish it. Different contributions were presented, debated and finally voted by the participants.

In September 2005, the Coordination Team identified the priority issues, based on the conclusions from the wide variety of public participation methods used in the process. The issues considered the most relevant for future sustainable development of the municipality were: governance and public participation; sustainable development (waste, energy, air quality, water and green public procurement); training and employment.

From September 2005 to March 2006, a focused status report was developed for each issue and presented in a third workshop (May 2006). The documents are now under final revision for approval.

Unemployment in Santo Tirso is very high comparing to the national level, especially concerning women. An effort was made to raise entrepreneurship using microcredit as a way to accomplish it (microcredit is a scheme for low income especially for youth who do not have any source of income and want to generate their own income). The role of the network of partners was crucial to spread the idea and selecting the individual projects presented. The microcredit campaign was integrated in the diagnosis-action phase, allowing an active and effective participation from citizens. It also reinforced the process since it allowed concrete and early results from the implementation of the Local Agenda 21.

More information is available in www.agenda21-stirso.org