Lisbon, Portugal
Portuguese Sandbox for Social Impact
Research • Social Innovation • AI & Digital Transformation • Data & Impact
An independent non-profit connecting researchers, practitioners, and institutions to design, test, and measure innovative responses to complex social challenges in Portugal.
Our Mission
Where ideas become evidence
PSSI exists because Portugal's social sector needs a space to experiment safely. We provide the structure, the methodology, and the partnerships that let bold ideas become proven, fundable, scalable solutions.
We work alongside social innovators, municipalities, funders, and researchers, bridging the gap between a promising idea and a programme with the evidence to back it.
Our purpose, as set out in our founding statutes, is to promote social innovation, community well-being, and the development of human capital in Portugal. We focus on expanding the skills and opportunities available to migrants, young people, women, and older adults, through research, vocational and professional training, capacity-building, workshops, social entrepreneurship, and health and well-being initiatives — always in partnership with public, private, and third-sector organisations.
Test before scale
We pilot new approaches in controlled, well-measured conditions before recommending them for wider rollout.
Evidence, not intuition
Every programme is built around a measurement framework from day one, not retrofitted after the fact.
Communities co-design
The people affected by a social challenge help define the solution, not just receive it.
Methodology
Our approach to change
Social challenges are complex and deeply rooted in local realities. Before launching programmes, we believe it is essential to listen, learn, and understand the ecosystem.
Our methodology draws from design thinking, complexity science, and implementation research. We embrace uncertainty as a feature — using structured experimentation to learn fast and course-correct with integrity.
Deep Problem Diagnosis
We start with the community, not the solution. Our diagnostic phase combines ethnographic research, systems mapping, and stakeholder engagement.
- Community listening sessions and co-inquiry
- Systems mapping and root cause analysis
- Stakeholder ecosystem analysis
- Comparative evidence review
Participatory Solution Design
Co-designing with the people who will be affected is non-negotiable. We facilitate participatory design sprints with rapid prototyping.
- Co-design workshops with target communities
- Rapid prototyping and assumption testing
- Logic model and theory of change development
- Risk assessment and ethical review
Rigorous Real-World Testing
Our pilots are structured to generate reliable evidence, with robust measurement and independent analysis.
- Experimental and quasi-experimental designs
- Mixed-methods data collection
- Independent outcome monitoring
- Adaptive iteration protocols
Responsible Scaling
Scaling is not just growth — it is preserving what works while adapting intelligently to new contexts.
- Scale readiness assessment
- Replication and adaptation toolkits
- Policy integration and systemisation
- Knowledge dissemination and advocacy
Ready to turn your
idea
into measurable impact?
Get in Touch
Let's build something together
Whether you are a social innovator with an idea, a funder looking to invest in impact, a government partner seeking fresh approaches, or a researcher wanting to collaborate — we'd love to hear from you.