Project Overview

“D&Q, Culture of Rights for Social Quality Strategies” is an EQUAL project carried out in Italy. It aims to improve the relationship between public and private social sectors in the Campania region—particularly in the provinces of Naples and Benevento—by promoting integration in the management of complex social and healthcare services, in accordance with Law 328/00, the framework law for the implementation of the integrated system of social services and interventions.

The project includes a broad survey of research, studies, and experiences at both national and international levels. It also carries out field research to frame developments in the social sector within a broader context, especially concerning the evolving professional profiles in Campania. The goal is to define a possible intervention model capable of enhancing the competitiveness of social sector professionals based on the current landscape.

The project—whose partnership already includes numerous beneficiaries—is aimed directly at first-level beneficiaries: workers, whether employees or on contract, in public sector bodies (local authorities) and in the private social sector (social cooperatives). Indirectly, second-level beneficiaries include organizations active in the social field, both public and private.

The initiative is linked to the French project “Medocs” and the Spanish project “Calidad del Empleo, formación, adaptación, organización y conciliación”. To learn more: A – B – C

Project Phases

The project unfolded in four macro-phases: 1. Problem analysis (sector analysis and action research); 2. Model development (establishment of participatory design workshops); 3. Experimentation (support projects); 4. Social communication (dissemination of results) and project activities targeted public entities, third-sector actors, and social enterprises.

In particular, the first phase included a thorough investigation of the regional context and the selected territorial area regarding the implementation of Law 328/00. This enabled an exploration of participatory planning methods, management approaches in area plans, legal and technical profiles of third-sector actors involved in service delivery, selection processes for these actors, and tools formalizing relationships between public entities and private social organizations.

The project tested the inclusion of quality criteria in public procurement tenders, emphasizing the added value generated by the social economy.

The EQUAL Community Initiative

The EQUAL Community Initiative, part of the European Employment Strategy and co-funded by the European Social Fund from 2000–2006, promotes the testing of innovative approaches and policies to combat discrimination and inequality in the labor market.
EQUAL aims to innovate and integrate social and employment policies, fostering stable synergy between these systems.

Experiments—featuring strong transnational dimensions—focus on five thematic priorities: employability, entrepreneurship, adaptability, equal opportunities, and asylum seekers. To learn more: A – B - C

Funding

The European Project IC EQUAL “D&Q Culture of Rights for Social Quality Strategies” (ID Code PS. IT-G2-CAM-061.2006) received a total funding of €535,000.00 from the Ministry of Labor and Social Policies, under the European Social Fund (ESF).

Partnership & Role of Cittadinanzattiva

• CLESS (Consortium Against Social Exclusion and for Development) – lead organization

• ANCI Campania – National Association of Italian Municipalities/Campania

• SSPAL – Higher School of Local Public Administration

• ARSAN – Regional Health Agency/Campania

• Sannio Europa – Local Development Agency

• Department of Economic Theory and Applications – University of Naples Federico II

• Cittadinanzattiva

Cittadinanzattiva contributed to the project through its national and Campania regional offices. It participated in social research activities, led thematic workshops, and significantly contributed to the main project outputs described below.

Main Project Outputs

• Publication “Development of Service Systems and Social Quality. Reflections on the Campania Case” (IT)

This book, co-authored by Cittadinanzattiva's Head of European Policies as researcher, presents the research findings from the project. It explores the relationship between public and private social sectors in Campania's social and healthcare services. The publication includes empirical observations and theoretical discussion of the social services sector. To know more, click here.

• Social Services Charter. The Naples 1 Territorial Area (consisting of the municipalities of Calvizzano, Melito, Mugnano, Qualiano and Villaricca, as well as Health Districts no. 61 and 62 of ASL Napoli 2), has decided to adopt a Services Charter to provide citizens with a real 'compass' to help them navigate the diverse and fluctuating landscape of projects, news and rights pertaining to Territorial Social and Socio-Health Services. Therefore, it is not merely a fulfilment of a regulatory obligation, but rather a 'citizen-friendly' communication tool that is complete, colourful and easy to consult. In July 2007, as part of the EQUAL project 'D&Q: Culture of Rights for Strategies of Social Quality', the Naples 1 Territorial Area took part in a series of thematic workshops promoted by Cittadinanzattiva Onlus. This enabled the Charter to be 'tested' in advance with Associations and Social Cooperatives in the area. They verified the comprehensibility and accessibility of the information contained within, as well as the adequacy of the identified standards. They also elaborated on valid alternative proposals, which were integrated into the document. To download the document, click here.

European-Level Follow-Up

Thanks in part to its involvement in the D&Q project, Cittadinanzattiva was later invited by the European Commission’s DG for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (EMPL) to support the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights. This initiative aims to improve living and working conditions in the EU through 20 key principles and rights to foster social justice and equality. For further information: : A - B – C.

As of January 2020, Cittadinanzattiva is officially recognized as an Ambassador of the European Pillar of Social Rights, tasked with supporting communication initiatives to promote its 20 principles and the importance of a social dimension in Europe. To know more, click here.