AGIR Award will honour social innovation in the fight against COVID-19

REN - Redes Energéticas Nacionais opened up applications for the eighth edition of the AGIR Award, which will focus on 'Social Innovation in the response to COVID-19' this year. Entities interested in applying may do so until April 30th.

Since March 2020, the pandemic has made it possible to perceive some weak points in the response of the approximately 65,000 Social Economy organisations existing in Portugal, but, above all, has highlighted their capacity to adapt and overcome. These new solutions, which have enabled continuing to support their beneficiaries, need to have the recognition they deserve, greater visibility, and to be even more accessible to more people so that their effects can be maximised and their social impact increased.

The AGIR Award is part of REN's policy of engagement with the Community and Social Innovation and seeks to support projects developed by associations, companies and non-profit organizations that provide answers to social issues. In its first seven editions, the AGIR Award allowed the winning organizations to support more than 9270 people throughout the country. 655 applications have been received up to the 2020 edition.

Every year, the AGIR Award chooses an area of social intervention and awards three projects. The most recent editions were dedicated to the topics of 'Promoting employment and professional integration of people in situations of vulnerability' (2020), 'Promotion of Academic Success and Combating Early School Leaving' (2019), 'Natural Heritage Preservation' (2018), 'Labour Inclusion of People with Disabilities' (2017), 'Fighting Poverty and Social Exclusion' (2016), 'Active Aging' (2015), and 'Job Creation' (2014).

Organisations wanting to apply for this year's edition may submit their application at www.stone-soup.net between 1 March and 30 April. The announcement of the selected projects will take place in September 2021. REN is responsible for the selection of the three best projects, in partnership with Stone Soup Consulting, which accompanies and monitors the use of the funds donated to each supported project, while assessing the actual social impact of REN's support to each project. The winner of the first prize receives a monetary sum of thirty thousand euros, the second receives fifteen thousand euros and the third receives five thousand euros. 

For more information visit AGIR Award's webpage at www.ren.pt