MedTOWN PROJECT
MedTOWN is a social innovation project that supports the role and capacities of the SSE actors in fighting poverty, inequality, social exclusion and environmental unsustainability through the research and experimentation of a SSE based co-production model. It aims at improving the legal and regulatory framework of co-production initiatives and at promoting the use of public complementary e-currencies for the provision of social services and financial aid.
Co-producing social policies with Social Solidarity Economy actors to fight poverty, inequality and social exclusion
MedTOWN is a social innovation project based on support the role and the capacities of the Social Solidarity Economy actors in fighting poverty, inequality, social exclusion and environmental unsustainability through the research and experimentation of a co-production model with the use of complementary public e-currencies for the provision of social services and financial aid to the most vulnerable groups in order to increase the socioeconomic impacts and effectiveness of public policies and expenditures at local level.
6 Countries
Spain, Greece, Palestine, Tunisia, Jordan & Portugal
9 Partners
9 Associated Partners
6 Demostrative actions
6 Pilot projects
Total budget 3,4 million
86,5% EU contribution
36 Months duration
(2019-2022)
The 3 pilars of MedTOWN’s activity
Training & Capacity Building Support
MedTOWN will insure specific technical support and training to mentor and accompany the design of private-public partnerships for the provision of social services fully equipped with effective tools and capacities. Training material will be developed for capacity building & facilitation skills.
Social experimentation Action Research Monitoring & Evaluation
The initiative is based on Action Research to support the design of effective public policies on the provision of social services. To that effect a series of experimental actions deploying a co-production model will be undertaken aiming to increase the effectiveness of social services delivery and as test-monitoring of results for policy design.
Policy Dialogue & Networking
MedTOWN will engage the participating through the MedTOWN Community of Practice, which will host group discussion tables among researchers, policy makers and legal experts, online training sessions for facilitators, SSE actors and NGO practitioners’, strategic conferences, study visits and exchanges, synergies and networking with other relative initiatives and projects to elaborate studies, papers, seminars, workshops and policy recommendations, in order to develop a joint framework approach of co-production of social policies in the Mediterranean basin.
Co-Production, a model for fair and sustainable societies
The main objective of MedTOWN is to promote co-production initiatives for municipal policies in collaboration with Social and Solidarity entities in the Mediterranean basin.
Co-production empowers citizens by collaborating in the development,
design and delivery of a specific public policy, together with public authorities.
Co-production generates more resilient and sustainable societies, as participation enables citizens to include their concerns and and social inclusion as it increases their sense of belonging, improves social cohesion and builds social capital. Meanwhile, the process is more cost-effective for the administration, guaranteeing the traceability of public money, verifying the suitability of the expenditure in a fast and constant way, and at the same time simplifying the administrative work, shortening the circuit in time by saving steps in the procedure between the administration and the people using the service.

MedTOWN encourages a sustainable inclusive growth model that will transform public services from unilateral providers to facilitators of more democratic participatory communities.


Multiplier effect Complementary Currencies
The use of these instruments can turn an aid programme into a programme of economic revival.
Local and citizen currencies amplify the economic impact of a subsidy given to citizens, promoting its use in the local commerce and encouraging recirculation in the local economy itself, which increases the multiplier effect of public spending.
Using municipal e-money payment methods to activate local commerce and to ensure that local public aid not only covers the basic needs of the population, but also multiplies the economic impact of public spending thanks to the recirculation of money in the local economic circuit.
These are our partners
These are our associate partners
MedTOWN allies
Demostrative Actions
PORTUGAL
Help co-producing urban public space regeneration by encouraging active citizen participation in the development of the Campolide Agroforest as a means to promote the social inclusion of vulnerable groups living in low-income neighbourhoods, and to engage with local SSE actors.
ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP, SOCIAL CAPITAL, INCREASED GREEN AREAS, INCREASED LOCAL FOOD
CONSUMPTIONPROMOTION OF THE LOCAL ECONOMY
SPAIN
Co-producing the delivery of first aid subsidies of the Municipality of Seville to the low-income population living in Amate district, seeking to produce socio-economic impacts with the use of a public Complementary Currency (CC) for the empowerment and sustainability of local economy.
FIRST AID SUBSIDIES, PROVIDED BY CITY COUNCIL THROUGH A MEANS OF PAYMENT WITH SOCIAL IMPACT (CC)
PROMOTION OF THE LOCAL ECONOMY
TUNISIA
Co-producing social housing for women survivors of gender violence in transition flats belonging to the MFFES and operated by AFTURD, aiming to ensure that the women involved in the program will be actively engaged in improving their capacities, and collectively generate sufficient income to achieve their economic independence, and wellbeing.
INTEGRATION OF WOMEN SURVIVORS OF GENDER VIOLENCE (WVV).
AFTURD TRANSITION FLATS HELP WVV CREATE SSE BUSINESS
MAINTENANCE, PASTRY… PROVIDED BY WVV’S SSE BUSINESSES
GREECE
Co-producing the delivery of Minimum Guaranteed Income of the Municipality of Paggaio with the the support of SSE actors and the use of a digital card. An open circuit registry of local public-private-social enterprises- beneficiaries will take advantage of a series of bonuses and benefits.
MINIMUM GUARANTEED INCOME PROVIDED BY THE MUNICIPALITY THROUGH A DIGITAL CARD WITH SOCIAL IMPACT
SUPPORT OF LOCAL ECONOMY AND PROMOTION OF SELF EMPLOYMENT THROUGH SSE START UPS
PALESTINE
Co-producing a community solid waste management system based on a circular economy model using a CC, with the support of the Municipality Beni Zeid and the local agricultural cooperatives. The local currency will work as an incentive to both encourage waste separation and as a mechanism to increase the economic capacity of vulnerable economic groups.
CLEAN AIR AND CO2 EMISSION REDUCTION
CITIZEN WASTE MANAGEMENT WITH CC AND LOCAL PROCESSORS OF WASTE.
JORDAN
Co-producing services for disabled people through a Social Business Incubator hosted by the Ministry of Social Development and operated by JOHUD.
INTEGRATION OF INMIGRANTS, PWD AND WOMEN. JOHUD BUSINESS INCUBATOR HELPS THEM CREATE SSE BUSINESS
MAINTENANCE, CLEANING, ETC WHICH ARE PROVIDED BY THESE BUSINESSES