The System of Protection for Asylum Seekers and Refugees (SPRAR) is comprised of local bodies that are grant access, within the threshold of available resources, to the National Fund for asylum policies and services, for the performance of projects for integrated reception.
At a local level, the local bodies, with the priceless support of actors in the third sector, ensure “integrated reception” activities that go far beyond the mere supply of accommodation and meals, for they provide for complementary activities to information, assistance, support and guidance through the definition of customised pathways to socio-economic inclusion.
The main features of the Protection System are:

• The public proceeding of resources made available and of authorities politically responsible for reception, Ministry of the Interior and Local Authorities, under the vision of multilevel governance;
• The volunteer nature of the commitment undertaken by local authorities in participating in the network of reception projects;
• The decentralization of “integrated reception” activities;
• The correspondence of intentions implemented locally with the so-called “managing bodies”, actors in the third sector that essentially contribute to the performance of activities;
• The promotion and development of local networks, involving all actors and selected stakeholders for the success of reception, protection and inclusion measures in favour of international protection seekers and holders.

Sprar local projects are characterized by the active role shared – at the same time – by big cities and small towns, by metropolitan areas and country towns. Unlike other European countries, small to medium sized Sprar projects – designed and implemented at local level, with the direct participation of stakeholders in the region – help to build and strengthen a culture of reception among the urban communities and encourages the continuity of the beneficiaries’ paths to socio-economic inclusion.