Fondazione MeSSInA

The MeSSiNa Foundation operates as a “Transformation Steward” or catalyst for local development in marginalized territories, primarily in Sicily.

The Foundation’s approach is grounded in the Capability Approach of prof. Amartya Sen and Complexity Theory: being aware of the complexity and multidimensionality of poverty and inequality of the local context, it works to create inclusive socio-economic ecosystems capable of generating opportunities for everyone, with respect to work, housing, sociality, knowledge, democratic participation, etc.

The Foundation therefore works creating fruitful interconnections among different areas of expertise breaking knowledge silos, and today leads a wide social economy cluster made of foundations, social enterprises, associations, universities, etc., which is active in several fields (see answer 38).The organization’s primary strength lies therefore in its ecosystemic rather than vertical approach, acting as the “backbone” or catalyst for a wide cluster. This structure ensures systemic resilience and adaptability by leveraging a high degree of “biodiversity” among its actors; this diversity allows the network to effectively tackle complex, interdependent challenges that single-issue or vertical organizations often fail to resolve.The main contribution is the development of a generative welfare model that expands the substantive freedoms of the most disadvantaged people and restores fosters their agency.

Mission

The official purpose of the MeSSiNa Foundation is to promote social justice and sustainable economic and human development bydesigning, experimenting with, and promoting new socio-economic policies in marginalized territories

Geographic Focus

The MeSSiNa Foundation’s primary target is the region of Sicily in Italy and more generally Southern Italy. Nevertheless, we consider Sicily as a "natural laboratory" for socio-environmental experimentation that could be adapted and tested in other contexts facing similar issues. Having this in mind, the Foundation operates within a transnational framework through its partnership with international entities, being already member of the European Federation of Ethical and Alternative Banks and Financiers (FEBEA), the European Network Of Cities And Regions For The Social Economy (REVES) and the Foundations Platform F20. It also runs several EU-funded projects with European and MENA partners.

Programme Areas

The cluster led by the Foundation covers several areas:

• Social mediation and personalized social support for disadvantaged people (mentally ill people, low-income families, former prisoners, etc.);
• Energy projects (design and implementation of energy efficiency, production and redistribution interventions, creation of Renewable Energy Communities, etc.);
• Cultural production and events, including the creation and management of museums, digital immersive rooms, international festival of performative arts, etc.;
• Educational activities for students of all ages;
• Business incubation and consolidation of social enterprises, through training, coaching, temporary management, etc.;
• Financial services (through a co-funded microcredit institution, a co-funded asset management company, partner banks, etc.);
• Technological research and innovation on several fields (energy production and distribution, housing, bioplastics, digital immersive rooms, etc.);
• Urban regeneration interventions (regeneration of buildings, urban art, regeneration of green spaces, etc.); etc.

In the cluster, the Foundation does not function as a traditional top-down administrator or a simple service provider; instead, it designs the overall local development strategy for and with the target community, providing a theoretical framework based on complexity science and human development. It then structures the financial and operational relationships and framework that allow the cluster to thrive and implement the policies integrating all different activity areas.