On 6 March 2025 the European Commission has published a new call for proposals "Support EU networks active in the areas of social economy and social finance (ESF-2025-AG-NETW-MF-SE)" under the ESF+.
The action grants will cover 3 years.
Expected Outcome
The expected results are:
(a) Increased dissemination of EU policies and initiatives in the area of the call and improved EU outreach activities at national and local level;
(b) Improved capacity and awareness about EU policies and funding opportunities among the members of the networks and their beneficiaries;
(c) Increased awareness about the potential of social economy, social enterprises and microenterprises, their needs and challenges at EU, national and local levels;
(d) improved availability of research and data about the fields in which the beneficiaries operate.
Scope
This call aims to support the development of social economy and social finance in Europe.
The action grants will contribute to building up the institutional capacity of stakeholders, delivering support to social economy actors (e.g. cooperatives, social enterprises), as well as those supporting the development of social finance (i.e. microfinance, social enterprise finance and social impact investing) in Europe. The beneficiaries under this call are expected to:
(a) support the Commission in its outreach activities at national and local levels, with the aim of ensuring awareness, contribution to and implementation of EU level policies and initiatives in the areas of the call,
(b) increase the beneficiaries and their members’ capacity to contribute to policy design at EU, national and local levels, and
(c) provide expertise and data as regards the potential, needs, barriers and opportunities faced by organisations active in the areas of the call.
Social economy entities, social enterprises and microenterprises are instrumental in the implementation of many of the European Pillar of Social Rights principles. In particular they play a key role in delivering the following principles:
01. Education, training and life-long learning,
02. Gender equality, 03. Equal opportunities,
04. Active support to employment, 05. Secure and adaptable employment,
09. Work-life balance,
11. Childcare and support to children,
17. Inclusion of people with disabilities,
18. Long-term care and 20. Access to essential services.
To support the developments in this field, the Commission cooperates with EU level networks in its analytical and outreach activities at EU, national and local level.
Available budget: 13 300 000 EUR (indicative number of projects: 8-10)
Project duration: Project duration should normally range between 30 and 36 months.
Opening date: 6 March 2025
Deadline for applications: 19 June 2025 17:00:00 Brussels time
Info session: 28 March 2025, at 14 CET. Register here.
Indicative timeline:
Evaluation: July - October 2025
Information on evaluation results: November 2025
Grant Agreement signature: November - December 2025