The Universidade Católica Portuguesa has launched the 360º Capacitar programme – Management Training for IPSS, an initiative aimed at Private Social Solidarity Institutions (IPSS) that seeks to strengthen these organisations’ management, innovation and sustainability skills. The project is funded by BPI and the ‘la Caixa’ Foundation, with the collaboration of the Confederação Nacional das Instituições de Solidariedade (CNIS). Applications are open until 10 April 2026.

The programme is designed to support managers and technical teams within IPSS in developing strategic and operational skills, helping to strengthen these institutions’ capacity to respond more effectively to current and future social challenges.

With a practical and multidisciplinary approach, the 360º Capacitar – Management Training for IPSS programme promotes an integrated view of management in the social sector, addressing topics such as leadership, financial sustainability, social innovation, impact and organisational transformation. The initiative includes sessions of specialised training, knowledge sharing and support for participating institutions.

According to the programme coordinators, Filipe Pinto and Raquel Campos Franco, the initiative aims to address the capacity-building needs of organisations in the social sector, strengthening their ability to operate on the ground. “IPSSs play an essential role in responding to increasingly complex social challenges. The ‘360º Capacitar’ programme aims to support these organisations in strengthening their management skills, promoting models that are more sustainable, innovative and future-proof,” emphasise the project coordinators.

Those in charge also add that the initiative aims to create a space for learning and collaboration between institutions: “This programme has been designed to provide practical tools and applied knowledge, enabling private social solidarity institutions to strengthen their institutional capacity and expand the social impact of their work in communities.”

The project is funded by BPI | Fundação ‘la Caixa’, an organisation that has been supporting social impact initiatives in Portugal, and supported by the Confederação Nacional das Instituições de Solidariedade (CNIS), which will encourage IPSSs to apply for the programme.

Applications for the “360º Capacitar” programme are now open, aimed at IPSSs interested in strengthening their institutional capacity and developing more sustainable and innovative management practices.

By investing in the capacity-building of third sector organisations, the UCP seeks to contribute to the strengthening of the social ecosystem in Portugal, promoting more effective and lasting solutions to contemporary social challenges.