Since 2014, the Employment and Social Innovation Programme (EaSI) has financed projects that have had dramatic impacts in communities across the EU. EaSI projects promote sustainable and meaningful employment, work to guarantee social protections, combat exclusion and poverty and improve working conditions.
From 10-11 May 2022, the ‘Closing Conference of the EaSI Social Innovation Calls’ provided a forum for best practices, human stories and relevant findings. The high-level exchange enabled Commission experts, project managers, EU Member States and EaSI Participating Country officials, as well as professionals for the future of EaSI projects to share knowledge and address challenges, as well as collaborate on how to advance social innovation under the coming programming period – where EaSI will be part of the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+).
The sessions included guest speakers from across the field of social innovation – including local and regional project promoters. The presentations spotlighted work developed to guide EaSI project promoters and other stakeholders – most notably those responding to ESF+ national and regional calls on social innovation under shared management. Perhaps most importantly, participative sessions worked to raise awareness of policymakers and funding organisations – at all levels – when designing their programmes and calls for proposals, fostering debate, networking, and exchanges among participants.
The conference was very successful, receiving positive feedback from the participants – both regarding its content and its well managed format. The calls conference was a hybrid event, with the possibility of watching sessions via web-streaming, as well as advertised through social media for the public to follow. There was lively exchange between the participants on both the physical and web platforms. Member State, as well as EaSI Participating Country representatives appreciated the opportunity to meet project promoters, allowing for a better understanding of many of the types of projects available through EaSI funding. Many participants emphasized that EaSI projects would greatly benefit from more exchange opportunities like those offered through the conference.
The event highlighted the need to continue to develop Member States’ capacity to deliver on social innovation and experimentation over the 2021-27 period. Projects such as these represent a powerful approach to building stronger, more cohesive and better-educated communities – that can face Europe’s challenges over the coming decades. Moreover, it reflects the EU’s unwavering commitment to delivering on the European Pillar of Social Rights, building a more inclusive and fairer Europe, and supporting equal opportunities and access to the labour market.
A full programme of the event can be downloaded on the dedicated site (the conference proceedings will follow).
