Sustainable Local Welfare Production

Semester 1 · 53155 · Master in Social Work and Social Policy · 12CP · DE · IT

The module explores tools and strategies for sustainable local welfare production, focusing on participatory planning and responsible management of third sector organizations.

Lecturers: Federica Viganò, Alessandra Piccoli

Teaching Hours: 72
Lab Hours: 0
Mandatory Attendance: In accordance with the regulation

Course Topics
From local welfare to collaborative welfare The social economy and the National Plan for the Social Economy Welfare mix, co-production and community welfare Co-programming as a social practice Co-design: how working groups operate, partnership agreements, financial conditions and reporting requirements Accreditation: from a selective mechanism to a collaborative instrument Module 2 Piccoli Introduction to the main management and accountability tools for third-sector organizations, including governance, social impact, organizational structures, financial reporting, strategic planning, fundraising, impact finance, and social project design.

Teaching format
Module 1 Viganò Interactive lectures: introduction to analytical frameworks and guided discussion of readings, which students are expected to complete before class. Special Lecture with guest speakers: two sessions with scholars and researchers presenting a case study or critical perspective. Students are expected to prepare questions based on an introductory reading. Case-study analysis: small-group work based on documentary materials (calls for proposals, regulations, research reports and interview excerpts), followed by a plenary discussion. Modul 2 Piccoli The course is delivered entirely online and combines lectures with interactive and practice-oriented learning activities. Sessions include theoretical presentations, guided discussions, quizzes, case study analyses, practical exercises, and group work. Collaborative digital tools are used to encourage participation and peer learning. Particular emphasis is placed on applying theoretical concepts to real-world third-sector organizations through hands-on workshops and the development of a group project that is presented at the end of the course.

Educational objectives
- Understand principles of participatory planning - Analyze tools and methods for community engagement - Evaluate strategies for sustainable development and social innovation - Promote collaboration among local actors - Understand legal and organizational frameworks - Develop skills in governance and financial management - Foster awareness of responsibility and ethics - Analyze best practices in the non-profit sector - analyze participatory planning processes and their impact on local development - evaluate the effectiveness of citizen engagement - develop resource mobilization strategies - reflect on the importance of sustainable development in social planning - apply legal regulations in organizational management - develop transparent governance and financial processes - evaluate ethical challenges and social responsibility - reflect on effective management strategies in the third sector

Assessment
Module Viganò Groups of 3–4 students. Each group will critically analyse a real case of co-programming—or of co-design preceded by co-programming—selected from those proposed by the lecturer or identified independently and agreed upon with the lecturer. The paper should reconstruct and analyse: the territorial context and the need that prompted the process; the actors involved and those excluded or absent, including their respective resources and the asymmetries between them; the process: how it was initiated, how the working-group meetings were conducted and which decisions were actually shared; strengths and critical issues, with particular attention to the gap between how the process was formally presented and how it unfolded in practice; a reasoned assessment of the conditions under which the process could be replicated or improved. Submission requirements: a written paper of 12–15 pages and an oral presentation during the final class (6.11.2026) Module 2 Piccoli Presentation and discussion of a case study (40% of the final grade) Individual oral examination covering the topics discussed during the course (60% of the final grade)

Evaluation criteria
Module Viganò Quality of the reconstruction of the process and the actors involved; ability to identify tensions, conflicts and distributive implications, rather than describing the partnership in normative or celebratory terms; critical engagement with the literature; clarity of argumentation. Module PiccoliQuality of the analysis and presentation of the case study. Ability to apply theoretical concepts to real organizational contexts. Understanding of the course topics and appropriate use of key terminology. Critical thinking and ability to connect different concepts and themes covered in the course. Clarity of presentation and engagement in the discussion.

Required readings

Module Viganò

Fazzi L. (coord.), Marocchi G., Maturo M., Pisani G. (2023), Il nuovo welfare collaborativo in Italia. Coprogrammazione e coprogettazione come strumenti di innovazione del welfare locale, Euricse Research Report n. 25 [scaricabile da euricse.eu]

Maino F. (a cura di) (2023), Agire insieme. Coprogettazione e coprogrammazione per cambiare il welfare. Sesto Rapporto sul secondo welfare, Milano [scaricabile da secondowelfare.it (capitoli 2-3-4)

Fazzi L., Marocchi G., Maturo M., Pisani G. (2023), Costruire i servizi e gli interventi: la co-progettazione in pratica, Euricse Research Report n. 27

Polidori S. (2026), Amministrazione condivisa e valutazione di impatto sociale. Percorsi, strumenti e prospettive, Sinappsi, XVI, n. 1, pp. 83-101

Marocchi G. (2026), Il Terzo settore di fronte all'amministrazione condivisa, Impresa Sociale, n. 2

Antonucci M.C. (2026), Il ruolo dei Centri di Servizio per il Volontariato nei contesti montani: dinamiche di prossimità, reti civiche e governance adattiva, Impresa Sociale, n. 2

Module Piccoli

Slides of the course and further indications provided a the course

Download as pdf

Sustainable Development Goals
This teaching activity contributes to the achievement of the following Sustainable Development Goals.

1 3 5 8 10 11 16

Modules

Semester 1 · 53155A · Master in Social Work and Social Policy · 6CP · IT

Module A — Sustainable Local Welfare and Participatory Planning

Sustainable local welfare planning through participatory approaches: community engagement, resource mobilization, and sustainable development.

Lecturers: Federica Viganò

Teaching Hours: 36
Lab Hours: 0

Course Topics
From local welfare to collaborative welfare Local welfare in Italy: actors, levels and planning instruments (Law No. 328/2000 and local social plans) The social economy and the National Plan for the Social Economy The welfare mix, co-production and community welfare Subsidiarity as a means of expanding opportunities for civil society or as a substitute for public intervention Co-programming as a social practice The regulatory framework Co-design: how working groups operate, partnership agreements, financial conditions and reporting requirements Accreditation: from a selective mechanism to a collaborative instrument Territorial differences in implementation at regional and provincial levels, through cases analysis.

Teaching format
Interactive lectures: introduction to analytical frameworks and guided discussion of readings, which students are expected to complete before class. Special Lecture with guest speakers: two sessions with scholars and researchers presenting a case study or critical perspective. Students are expected to prepare questions based on an introductory reading. Case-study analysis: small-group work based on documentary materials (calls for proposals, regulations, research reports and interview excerpts), followed by a plenary discussion.

Required readings

Maino F. (a cura di) (2023), Agire insieme. Coprogettazione e coprogrammazione per cambiare il welfare. Sesto Rapporto sul secondo welfare, Milano [scaricabile da secondowelfare.it (capitoli 2-3-4)

Fazzi L., Marocchi G., Maturo M., Pisani G. (2023), Costruire i servizi e gli interventi: la co-progettazione in pratica, Euricse Research Report n. 27

Polidori S. (2026), Amministrazione condivisa e valutazione di impatto sociale. Percorsi, strumenti e prospettive, Sinappsi, XVI, n. 1, pp. 83-101

Marocchi G. (2026), Il Terzo settore di fronte all'amministrazione condivisa, Impresa Sociale, n. 2

Antonucci M.C. (2026), Il ruolo dei Centri di Servizio per il Volontariato nei contesti montani: dinamiche di prossimità, reti civiche e governance adattiva, Impresa Sociale, n. 2

Supplementary readings

De Ambrogio U., Marocchi G. (a cura di) (2023), Coprogrammare e coprogettare. Amministrazione condivisa e buone pratiche, Roma, Carocci
Gui L., Salvati A. (a cura di) (2024), Sfide del welfare. Sostenibilità, co-progettazione, innovazione, Milano, FrancoAngeli, open access
Libera (2025), Raccontiamo il bene. Censimento delle esperienze di riutilizzo sociale dei beni confiscati
Eurispes (2026), Dal male al bene: come trasformare i beni sottratti alle mafie
Euricse (2024), I Community hub: spazi multifunzionali tra rigenerazione urbana e rigenerazione sociale (coord. J. Sforzi)
Percorsi di Secondo Welfare (2026), La rigenerazione urbana al servizio del benessere collettivo: l'esperienza di Terraferma a Bolzano

Semester 1 · 53155B · Master in Social Work and Social Policy · 6CP · DE

Module B — Management and Accountability of Third Sector Organizations

Introduction to management and responsibilities of third sector organizations: legal framework, governance, and sustainability.

Lecturers: Alessandra Piccoli

Teaching Hours: 36
Lab Hours: 0

Course Topics
Analysis of third sector legal regulations (e.g., Codice del Terzo Settore), governance structures, financial management, and accountability. Discussion on ethics and social responsibility. Case studies of successful non-profit organizations.

Teaching format
The course is delivered entirely online and combines lectures with interactive and practice-oriented learning activities. Sessions include theoretical presentations, guided discussions, quizzes, case study analyses, practical exercises, and group work. Collaborative digital tools are used to encourage participation and peer learning. Particular emphasis is placed on applying theoretical concepts to real-world third-sector organizations through hands-on workshops and the development of a group project that is presented at the end of the course.

Required readings

Slide, regulatory texts, articles, and book chapters assigned during the course.

Supplementary readings

Nucci, G. (2026), Progettazione, organizzazione e gestione degli enti del terzo settore. Simone editore.

Renz, D. O., Brown, W. A., & Andersson, F. O. (Eds.). (2024). The Jossey-Bass handbook of nonprofit leadership and management. John Wiley & Sons.