Camões, I.P., is the central Portuguese co-operation body whose mission is to propose and implement the co-operation policy and co-ordinate the activities carried out by other public entities that participate in the implementation of that policy. In this context, priority actions are the direction, co-ordination and supervision of the various national partners.
Camões, I.P. must gradually and progressively delegate the responsibilities for direct implementation of the Programmes, Projects and Actions (PPA) to the Portuguese co-operation partners, taking into account their comparative, technical and/or financial advantages and reinforcing the partnerships at this level.
The state's external representation network participates actively in the information gathering phase and in the follow-up phase of applications or other expressions of interest by the entirety of relevant players in the area of co-operation. In the partner countries, Portuguese co-operation will have a more effective presence and greater capacity for intervention, with the following overall objectives:
- Active participation in local debates on the international agenda and identification of joint actions to be developed with other donors;
- Permanent dialogue with local authorities, promoting the use of national country systems;
- Identification and proposal of innovative partnerships and programmes;
- The identification of local co-financing opportunities for which Portuguese co-operation partners (NGDOs, municipalities and universities) can apply.