Community Projects between obligation and reciprocity. Notes from the implementation of Citizenship Income in Northern Italy [I Progetti utili alla collettività tra obbligo e reciprocità Note dall’implementazione del Reddito di Cittadinanza nel Nord Italia]

Community Projects (Progetti utili alla collettività) are one of the relevant new features introduced by the Citizenship Income (CI, Reddito di cittadinanza). Despite their increasing importance, they are still poorly investigated in both the public and scientific debate on the Italian Minimum Income Scheme (MIS). This essay aims at broadening the discussion on Community Projects by presenting the findings of a qualitative research conducted in four regions of Northern Italy in the framework of the project CoPInG - Contrasting Poverty through INclusive Governance. 131 CI recipients and 74 operators were interviewed on the implemented activation measures, with a focus on Community Projects. The results highlight their limits, strengths, and purposes within the Italian MIS. Moreover, they help to reflect on the role of obligation and reciprocity in anti-poverty measures.