By Braga Municipality
In November 2024, the Municipality of Braga completed its secondment to Serbia within the scope of the DASH project, aiming to understand the housing models that have been implemented there – particularly of social and affordable housing – as well as the existing public policies and the role of both public and private sectors.
Credit for photo: Braga Municipality
Credit for photo: Braga Municipality
Credit for photo: Braga Municipality
November 5 was marked by a meeting with members of the Geographical Institute “Jovan Cvijić” of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, organised by Zlata Macura (Team Leader | Coordinator for Serbia), who gave a presentation about “Social Housing in Serbia”, covering the size and evolution of the housing stock, with special emphasis on social housing, eligibility criteria, support programmes, and social initiatives. The case of the housing agency in Čačak was explored.
Credit for photo: Braga Municipality
On November 8, World Urbanism Day, the Municipality of Braga team members attended the 33rd International Urban Planner Exhibition held in Bijeljina, Bosnia-Herzegovina. Organised by the Association of Urban Planners of Serbia, the exhibition highlighted key achievements in urban planning and design, fostering the exchange of best practices on an international level.
Credit for photo: Braga Municipality
From November 12 to 19, the Municipality of Braga participated in a series of events organised by Zlata Macura, focusing on urban planning, social housing, and regional development, emphasizing the exchange of experiences and best practices with various European countries.
November 12 was marked by a visit to Novi Sad, focusing on the evolution of the city’s urban planning and the location of social and affordable housing neighbourhoods, guided by Aleksandar Jevtić from the Association of Urban Planners of Serbia. There followed a presentation by Vladimir Pihler from the Urban and Spatial Planning Institute of Vojvodina, covering topics such as regional planning, sustainable regional development, cross-border cooperation, planning legislation, and the involvement of multiple actors in Vojvodina’s planning process.
Credit for photo: Braga Municipality
Credit for photo: Braga Municipality
On November 13, Sónia Alves, a research fellow at the Institute of Social Sciences of the University of Lisbon (Team Leader | Coordinator for Portugal), presented “The Governance of Affordable Housing through Inclusionary Housing Tools: The Cases of England and Denmark vs Portugal”. Afterwards, the Municipality of Braga delivered a presentation on “Spatial Planning and Housing Policy: The Case of Braga”, addressing policies, departmental organisation, regulations, and concerns related to affordable housing. Special emphasis was given to the development of the Municipal Master Plan, which aims to deliver affordable housing and accessible rental options, and implement land-use compensation through equalisation mechanisms.
On November 14, Zlata Macura presented “Social Housing in Serbia: Housing Policy and Practice”, followed by a reflection from the Municipality of Braga on the insights and contributions of the secondment.
On the final days of the secondment, the national report was analysed jointly with Sónia Alves, providing key insights for the Portuguese report. Additionally, the team initiated and developed the local report, defining its major guidelines.
The participation of the Municipality of Braga in these events reinforces its commitment to affordable housing and sustainable urban development, promoting knowledge sharing and international collaboration.
