The Centro de Estudos para a Intervenção Social (CESIS) is a non-governmental, independent organisation of researchers from a range of disciplinary backgrounds concerned to promote evidence-based, policy-relevant research at both national and European level.

Founded in 1992, its working experience dates back from 1986 when its first publications on poverty played a major role in launching this line of research in the scientific community in Portugal and at the same time, by giving a major contribution to public and political awareness of the phenomena of impoverishment in the Portuguese society.

Since then, CESIS' activities have tried to deepen and enlarge this scope of research through the dissemination of results aiming at its wider and better use; a direct action in promoting an evidence-based definition of efficient policies for eradicating processes of social marginalization/exclusion; an increased visibility of the needs and expectations of marginalized and excluded people.

In this perspective, CESIS has defined the following main objectives:

· To contribute, through research, to the understanding of social reality, namely with regard to situations of impoverishment and social exclusion;
· To contribute towards the establishment and implementation of policies of human development and social promotion;
· To stimulate the participation of citizens in the processes of their development and social promotion;
· To promote training programmes with the goal of improving the capability for social intervention at various levels;
· To promote the dissemination of studies and/or innovative experiences in the area of social promotion.

· Research and action-research projects;
· Consultancy and advice by experts;
· Meeting, seminars and other training sessions;
· Training programmes;
· Publishing;
· Documentation and information service.

CESIS activity is based on a multi-disciplinary approach with the regular co-operation of researchers from the different areas of the social sciences: sociology, economy, geography, psychology, anthropology, social service.

Among the areas of research and action-research that have secured a continuity of programmes and projects, giving rise to research reports, seminar exposés, articles and books and pedagogical tools, the following are worth mentioning:

• Poverty in degraded urban areas;
• Ageing and older people;
• Migrants and ethnic minorities;
• Homeless people;
• Work and employment;
• Social enterprises;
• Gender equality;
• Children and youth from disadvantaged environments;
• Social policies.

CESIS has been involved in several European networks, either directly run by European bodies (i.e. European Commission Observatory on Ageing and Older People, European Observatory on Homelessness, European Working Conditions Observatory), or EU funded research Programmes or institutions (i.e. TSER Programme, European Foundation for the Improvement of Working and Living Conditions, European Foundation on Social Quality).

CESIS is one of the founding members of the European Research Network EMES and has participated in the EMES, ELEXIES and PERSE projects.