The international networks are privileged partners of C.A.R.M.E.N., being essential instruments to ensure the link between the local level and the international level of concepts and activities developed at CA.R.M.E.N. These are in particular the following networks.
TOGETHER International Network
TOGETHER, the International Network of Co-Responsible Territories was formally established in November 2013 with the support of the Council of Europe and has its headauarters in Odemira City Council. This network brings together territorial multi-stakeholder platforms and public authorities (municipal councils, regional authorities, etc.) from more than 400 territories in 20 European and African countries, including Odemira. Its aim is to develop co-responsibility for the well-being of all, defined by the citizens themselves. It is based on the SPIRAL methodology, a methodology for governance and collaborative democracy initially developed by the Council of Europe and developed today by TOGETHER network (more information in https://wikispiral.org).
C.A.R.M.E.N. plays a central role in the development of the TOGETHER network and the SPIRAL methodology: the president of C.A.R.M.E.N. was the designer of the SPIRAL methodology and is coordinating the TOGETHER Secretariat. In addition, since early 2015, the coworking room of C.A.R.M.E.N. is used for the functioning of the TOGETHER Secretariat (in addition to its headquarters in the municipality of Odemira the TOGETHER network has a small office in Odemira, but insufficient for the functioning of the Secretariat). Since 2015, 25 people have worked in the co-working space of C.A.R.M.E.N. including the direction of TOGETHER and trainees.
For this reason, C.A.R.M.E.N. has been the place of conception and implementation of the various projects of the TOGETTHER network since this period, including the CO-ACT project, including the development and testing of its methodologies.
The partnership of C.A.R.M.E.N. with TOGETHER therefore has an important role to achieve the objectives of the association, especially with regard to the international dimension. It allows the link with research-action processes in the territories of twenty countries on issues related to sustainable development, concerted governance, citizenship and societal progress. It also strengthens partnerships with municipal councils and other entities in the region.
URGENCI International Network
The international network URGENCI created in 2006, brings together local and solidarity based partnerships between producers and consumers around the world (Teikei in Japan, CSA in anglophone countries, AMAP in France and Portugal, ASAT Romania, etc.). The partnership between C.A.R.M.E.N. and URGENCI led to the development of several activities at the CARMEN Center, particularly with regard to the dynamics in Portugal of local and solidarity partnerships between producers and consumers and the establishment of a national network.
Slow Doing International Network
The international network Slow Doing is an idea launched by C.A.R.M.E.N. on beginning of 2014 in order to develop production forms based on the quality of manual work and products, preservation of know-how, creativity, pleasure in the work of local production and respect for the environment by valuing objects made with natural resources, such as local crafts and enhance their attractiveness.
The network was launched in partnership with the Cittaslow network and an URBACT project was designed by C.A.R.M.E.N. in 2015 to get funding for its launch. Unfortunately, funding for the project has not been accepted and the launch of this network is currently suspended until another funding opportunity is found.
