The pandemic finds us at a time of crisis of the neoliberal system and climate emergency, further aggravating the health, social and economic situation worldwide. All over the world, civil society and local governments are demonstrating leadership in the response of the crises, developing both emergency responses to the most urgent needs and initiatives that move towards the needed structural transformation. Strengthening horizontal and democratic collaboration between actors and institutions (government, communities, civil society) and at different scales (neighbourhood, city, national, international) must be at the core of the response to these global challenges.