The Strategic Projects for Economic Recovery and Transformation (PERTE), funded by the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge of the Spanish state, are strategic initiatives aimed at transforming the economy across different key areas. One of these lines focuses on the social economy and care, seeking to strengthen and consolidate alliances among research centers, organizations, cooperatives, and entities across the country that work within the social economy and the care sector. The Innova Cuidados group—made up of the cooperatives Mujeres Pa’ Lante and Metzineres (located in Barcelona) and La Comala (located in Madrid)—received support from this PERTE from February 2024 to September 2025, enabling them to strengthen their capacities, weave alliances, and generate practical tools to improve care, enhance management within each cooperative, and reinforce inter-cooperation efforts.
At Metzineres, this has resulted in significant institutional strengthening. This process allowed us to develop key tools to consolidate our organization: the Metziverse and the 5-year Strategic Plan, the pilot Plan for Internal and External Training, Human Resources Policies, the draft of the Equality Plan, and the Volunteer Plan. In this way, we move towards a more solid, well-cared-for, and sustainable cooperative. In terms of technological innovation, we have reinforced processes related to internal ICT infrastructure as well as the Metzintranet project (our own internal database). The outcome in terms of transformation, modernization, and innovation is highly satisfactory, rooted in the use of free/libre software tools, locally based technological services, and a shared techno-ethical awareness.
La Comala, in turn, also concludes this process strengthened. The support from PERTE helped clearly define its structure, governance, and organizational communication. It also enabled the development of the second viability plan, which supports economic, social, and environmental sustainability. Digital tools have strengthened the administrative management system. Training in ICT, life skills, professional certification, and occupational risk prevention, among others, has contributed to team consolidation and personal and cooperative growth. It has also strengthened key alliances within the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE). We have progressed greatly, and still have work ahead to fully consolidate what has been achieved.
For the Mujeres Pa’lante Cooperative, this grant provided the momentum needed to reach the next level and continue growing: expanding the workforce, opening a new business line, and creating more employment. It also enabled the updating of equipment and tools, the renewal of the organization’s website, and the strengthening of the communications area. In the words of one of its members, “today we are a stronger, more visible brand with greater impact in a highly feminized sector.”
As a collective conclusion, we can say that the 2024–2025 PERTE has contributed to a qualitative leap for the Innova Cuidados grouping, made up of the cooperatives Mujeres Pa’ Lante, La Comala, and Metzineres. Overall results show that we strengthened our internal processes and management. At the same time, we improved equipment, services, and staffing to take better care of one another. We innovated by creating or enhancing new business lines and digital tools adapted to our realities. We conducted assessments that allow us to move towards more agile and resilient cooperatives. We promoted awareness-raising and advocacy efforts by organizing the national conference on a new model of care, held in Barcelona in June of this year and titled “Caring in Community,” which brought together sector-based organizations from different parts of the Spanish state.
In the face of current global challenges and adversities, this shared journey demonstrates the power of cooperation and the Social and Solidarity Economy. We continue to weave alliances to transform care from a community-based perspective.
