Integration

Mission

Promote social cohesion, integration, and cultural appreciation in the Portuguese-speaking world and in the city of Lisbon.

Sustainability

Vision

Lisbon, a city of cultural and social reference for the construction of a fairer and more sustainable world.

Commitment

Values

Valuing multicultural integration. Commitment. Transparency.

Fachada da sede da Fundação Cidade de Lisboa, edifício amarelo de três andares com estilo clássico e bandeira comemorativa dos 35 anos.

From Past to Present: Lisbon City Foundation

The City of Lisbon Foundation arose from the initiative of engineer Nuno Krus Abecasis and the civic commitment of twenty-three prominent figures, who accepted the task of building, promoting and publicising the city, its links with Portugal and other cities around the world, making it, increasingly a large and open centre for socialising and personal fulfilment, bringing together all speakers of the language of Camões, not only through expression, but also through the deep humanitarian feelings shared and manifested by all.

Our history

Three decades of commitment to a better future

“This Foundation relies on your understanding and assistance, on your spirit of citizenship, on your sense that it is necessary to build without delay a better world, where people are happier and where they do not live in fear of the destruction of the Universe. It was your sense of urgency to build humanity that gave us the means to take on such great, historic, national and humanitarian responsibilities. We will do everything we can to bring it to fruition […]”

Nuno Krus Abecassis, Engineer

From the outset, we have believed that changing the world begins with caring for the city and its people.
Three decades later, we continue on this path, with the same purpose.

Main historical milestones of the City of Lisbon Foundation

  1. 1989 – Establishment of the City of Lisbon Foundation

    Establishment of the Lisbon City Foundation. First President: Nuno Krus Abecasis (1929–1999). He was a civil engineer, politician, and visionary dedicated to the city of Lisbon, leaving a legacy of public service, urban innovation, and commitment to the community.

  2. 1989 – Public presentation by FCL

    Public presentation of FCL: Fundação Cidade de Lisboa was inaugurated on 20 June 1989, at a formal ceremony in Lisbon attended by the President of the Republic, the Cardinal Patriarch, the Prime Minister and other prominent figures. The event was led by its founder, Nuno Krus Abecasis.

  3. 1990 – Nuno Krus Abecasis University College of Cooperation

    Start of the University College of Cooperation programme.

  4. 1990 – Collection of Prints

    First acquisitions for the City of Lisbon Foundation’s collection of engravings.

  5. 1990 – Memorandum of Understanding with the Árpád Szenes-Vieira da Silva Foundation

    Protocol with the Árpád Szenes-Vieira da Silva Foundation.

  6. 1991 – Memorandum of Understanding with the Vianna da Motta International Music Festival

    Protocol with the Vianna da Motta International Music Festival.

  7. 1991 – Lisbon City Foundation Music Festival

    Lisbon City Foundation Music Festival.

  8. 1991 – The City of Lisbon Foundation’s Publishing Project

    Start of the City of Lisbon Foundation Editorial Project.

  9. 1991 – Lusíada Business Forum

    Lusíada Space Business Forum.

  10. 1992 – João Barata Painting Prize

    Start of the João Barata painting prize, with editions until 2006.

  11. 1992 – Portuguese language and culture courses in Goa

    Start of Portuguese language and culture courses in Goa, with editions until 2015.

  12. 1993 – Memorandum of Understanding with the National Civil Engineering Laboratory (1993–2001)

    Start of the agreement with LNEC for the awarding of scholarships to engineers, with editions until 2001.

  13. 1999 – Inauguration of the 2nd President – João Corrêa Nunes

    Inauguration of the 2nd President: João Côrrea Nunes.

  14. 2000 – Opening of the new headquarters building

    Inauguration of the new FCL headquarters building.

  15. 2000 – Inauguration of the 3rd President – Álvaro João Pinto Correia

    Inauguration of the third President: Álvaro Pinto Correia.

  16. 2007/2008 – The 1st and 2nd Series of Conferences organised by the City of Lisbon Foundation

    Conference cycles I, II, and III, from 2007 to 2011.

  17. 2010 – Accredited as a training provider by DGERT

    Certification with training entity – DGERT.

  18. 2010/2011 – Formar no Feminino Project I and II

    Formar no Feminino Project in Cape Verde, Editions I and II, in 2010 and 2011.

  19. 2011 – 3rd Series of Lectures by the Lisbon City Foundation

    It explored the theme of ‘Identity and Values’ at a time marked by profound changes and challenges, both in the country and across Europe and the world. It brought together a group of experts who addressed the subject from a variety of perspectives.It explored the theme of ‘Identity and Values’ at a time marked by profound changes and challenges, both in the country and across Europe and the world. It brought together a group of experts who addressed the subject from a variety of perspectives.

  20. 2013 – Establishment of the Projects Department

    Creation of the projects department.

  21. 2014 – Celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the FCL

    Celebration of the 25th anniversary of the City of Lisbon Foundation.

  22. 2014 – Launch of the Local Centre for Migrant Integration (CLAIM)

    Launch of the Local Center for Migrant Integration Support.

  23. 2015 – 1st edition of the Passaporte para a Cidadania project

    First edition of the Passport to Citizenship project.

  24. 2015 – Start of the Academia CV.pt project

    Start of the Academia CV.pt project: empowering and valuing in Portuguese.

  25. 2017 – 1st edition of the Escola para Cidadania project

    1st edition of the School for Citizenship project, for the rights of all.

  26. 2017 – Dicionário do Desenvolvimento Project

    Development Dictionary Project: Everyone counts for global citizenship.

  27. 2017/2018 – Big Ideas Conferences I and II

    Big Ideas in Lisbon conferences.

  28. 2018 – Inauguration of the 4th President of the FCL

    Inauguration of the 4th President of FCL: António Carmona Rodrigues. Civil Engineer and Doctor of Environmental Engineering (UNL), Professor of Hydraulics and Water Resources Management. He was President of the Portuguese Water Resources Association, Minister of Public Works, Transport, and Housing, and Mayor of Lisbon. In 2024, he was appointed by the Government to chair the Board of Directors of AdP – Águas de Portugal. Since 2018, he has been curator and president of the City of Lisbon Foundation, continuing his mission of service to the city.

  29. 2019 – Celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Lisbon City Foundation

    Celebration of the 30th anniversary of the City of Lisbon Foundation

  30. 2020 – Start of the Puxar pela Língua project

    Start of the Puxar pela Língua project: learning and communicating in Portuguese.

  31. 2020 – Tod@s ON Project

    Tod@s ON Project: socio-educational support in crisis situations.

  32. 2021 – Foco na Inclusão Project

    Focus on Inclusion Project.

  33. 2022 – AprendEu: FCL in Europe

    AprendEU: FCL in Europe. Training courses in Finland, Italy, Belgium, Spain and Prague.

  34. 2022 – Exhibitions by Gonçalo Malato, Gilda Carmona and José Carlos Trindade

    Exhibitions by Gonçalo Malato, Gilda Carmona and José Carlos Trindade.

  35. 2023 – European project: Exchange programme on the SDGs in Portugal and Spain

    European project Exchange for SDGs in Portugal and Spain.

  36. 2023 – Poentes Olisiponenses Cycle of Conferences

    FCL Poentes Olisiponenses conference cycle.

  37. 2023 – Lisbon at the Crossroads of Sustainability Conference Series

    FCL conference cycle – Lisbon at the crossroads of sustainability.

  38. 2024 – 35 years of FCL

    We are celebrating three and a half decades of dreams, determination, hard work and public service to Lisbon, to Portugal, and to the countries that share Camões’s language with us, not forgetting the Indian state of Goa – a daily endeavour that translates into an immeasurable and deeply rewarding sense of a mission accomplished. A journey undertaken at times in solitude, away from photographers and cameramen, yet of great value; at other times shared, helping to alleviate, if not resolve, problems of various kinds.

About the Lisbon City Foundation

"In fact, the Foundation proposes to provide effective assistance in researching, studying and deepening understanding of this unique cultural reality that is Lisbon, shaped around human dignity as the centre and justification of all efforts to promote development, understanding and the resulting solidarity among all, so that social justice, the balanced sharing of the world's goods and the joint space for collective and shared enrichment, conditions that are indispensable for peace to be established on Earth and for the future to be contemplated with confidence."

Nuno Krus Abecassis, Engineer

See the original document of the speech given by Nuno Krus Abecasis at the public presentation of the City of Lisbon Foundation.

Corporate bodies, certifications and affiliations

Public Utility Institution

The Lisbon City Foundation is a public utility institution, as declared in the Official Gazette, Series II, No. 166, of 21 July 1989.

Articles of Association

Its statutes were published in the Official Gazette, Series III, No. 104, dated 6 May 1989, and subsequent amendments were published in the Official Gazette, Series II, No. 66, dated 19 March 1997.

Patronage Law

Its activities have been recognised as being of outstanding cultural interest by the Ministry of Culture and are therefore covered by the Patronage Law.

ONGD

It is a Non-Governmental Development Organisation, recognised as such by the Portuguese Institute for Development Support.

Certified Training Organisation

It has been a DGERT-certified training entity since June 2014 (certificate no. 1161/2014).

Representations

She is represented on the Board of Directors and Patrons of the Arpad Szénes-Vieira da Silva Foundation, on the Board of Trustees of the Manuel Cargaleiro Foundation, and is a founding member of the Portugal-Africa Foundation.

Affiliations

He is a member of the Portuguese Centre for Foundations, the European Foundation Centre and the Platform of Portuguese NGDOs.

Honorary President

Its Honorary President is His Excellency the President of the Republic.

Team
Team

Team

The Lisbon City Foundation currently has seven permanent employees, who make up the permanent team responsible for ensuring the continuity of its activities. These professionals cover the institution's various areas of intervention, contributing in a stable and dedicated manner to the fulfilment of its mission. Through their daily work, they promote the quality of the services provided and support the development of cultural, social and educational projects, reinforcing the Foundation's commitment to the community.

Partnerships and Protocols

Faculdade de Letras da Universidade de Lisboa

This protocol, which aims to promote and disseminate the Portuguese language through joint actions, remains in force. In 2024, under this protocol, a Goan student will be able to attend an intensive course in Portuguese language and culture at the Department of Portuguese Language.

Lisbon City Council

The protocols signed under the BIP-ZIP programme were continued, with sustainability actions under the Good Practices – CV.pt Academy Schools Network project, the Lisbon Municipal Plan for the Integration of Migrants, and the new project approved this year, Todos IN – Social inclusion through education in a post-pandemic context.

Order of Engineers

Signed in 2021, this protocol formalised the intention of the two institutions to collaborate in the joint organisation of initiatives that contribute to the prestige of Portuguese engineering and the promotion of the cultural heritage of the city of Lisbon.

Lisbon School of Education

Signed in 2021, this protocol aims to develop cooperation actions of mutual interest, namely joint organisation and participation in initiatives in the areas of education, training, pedagogy, culture, promotion of the Portuguese language and integration and inclusion of vulnerable groups, as well as the hosting of curricular internships.

Portuguese Association of Private Historical Archives (APAHP)

Signed in 2023, the protocol with the Portuguese Association of Private Historical Archives (APAHP) establishes the joint implementation of cultural and historical research initiatives through lectures, seminars, and other events. This protocol also provides for the temporary storage of historical documents belonging to APAHP members at the Foundation’s premises so that they can be processed by specialised technicians and consulted by researchers.

Networking

Participation in collaborative networks

Portugal/Africa Foundation

Portugal/Africa Foundation

The Foundation has been monitoring the progress of ongoing projects in its capacity as a co-founding member and is represented at the Founders' Meeting by its President.

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Portuguese Platform of NGDOs

Portuguese Platform of NGDOs

The Lisbon City Foundation was represented at the General Assemblies of the NGDO Platform and participated in various information and training activities promoted by the platform.

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CPLP - Advisory Observer

CPLP - Advisory Observer

The Lisbon City Foundation has had Consultative Observer status with the CPLP since July 2021 and is a member of the Thematic Commission for the Promotion of the Portuguese Language.

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Portuguese Centre for Foundations

Portuguese Centre for Foundations

The Lisbon City Foundation is a member of CPF, which represents the foundation sector in Portugal, actively participating in various initiatives and events promoted by the institution.

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DLBC Lisbon Network

DLBC Lisbon Network

FCL is part of this network, established in 2015, which aims to build a local development strategy that addresses the city's vulnerabilities and challenges.

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Social Networks of the Municipality of Lisbon

Social Networks of the Municipality of Lisbon

We are part of the Lisbon Social Network, the Local Social Action Council, and the Social Committees of the Parishes of Alvalade (CSFA) and Santa Clara (CSFSC).

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Municipal Council for Interculturality

Municipal Council for Interculturality

Since 2014, FCL has been part of CMIC – Municipal Council for Interculturality and Citizenship, an advisory body of the Municipality of Lisbon.

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Municipal Plans for the Integration of Migrants

Municipal Plans for the Integration of Migrants

FCL has also participated in the Municipal Plans for the Integration of Migrants in the City of Lisbon. It is part of the Monitoring Committee for the IV PMIML.

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Official Documents

Public Deed of Incorporation

Articles of Association

Public Utility Recognition / ONGD

Cultural Patronage Recognition

Training Organisation Certification

Initial Assets

Public financial support for projects