The ESF+ Social Innovation + initiative aims to help transfer and upscale innovative solutions to societal challenges, mainly in the fields of employment, education, skills and social inclusion.
With a budget of €197 million for the 2021-2027 programming period, the initiative is managed by the European Competence Centre for Social Innovation set up by the Lithuanian European Social Fund Agency (ESFA).
The Centre has two main areas of work: social innovation grants and knowledge sharing.
Social Innovation Grants
The Centre runs EU-level calls for proposals for transnational projects promoting social innovation.
These projects conceptualise tested approaches, scale up promising models, and help social innovation organisations to build up and expand their capacity across Europe.
Knowledge Sharing
The Centre also supports mutual learning, capacity building and networking activities for ESF+ managing authorities and other relevant stakeholders.
This includes the ALMA Network, the EUROMA Network, and five Communities of Practice on:
- Employment, education and skills
- Social inclusion
- Social innovation
- Migrant integration
- Material support.
The Centre also collects, assesses, develops, validates and disseminates tools and methods for social innovation, such as the Social Innovation Match (SIM).
To achieve these goals, the Centre works in close cooperation with the National Competence Centres for Social Innovation.
