The European Commission has published the final evaluation of the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (FEAD). The findings confirm that FEAD provided clear and lasting benefits for some of the most disadvantaged people in the EU.
FEAD was active during the 2014–2020 programming period, helping Member States respond to both persistent poverty and urgent social needs.
Helping millions through difficult times
With a total budget of €5.2 billion, FEAD supported Member States in providing food, basic material assistance and social inclusion measures to an average of 14.2 million people per year.
It reached groups facing the highest risk of poverty and social exclusion, including children, women, homeless people and newly arrived EU migrants. The fund also proved essential during major crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the energy crisis and the consequences of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
The evaluation shows that every €1 million of FEAD funding helped reduce the number of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion by 2,650.
What made FEAD effective
FEAD was most effective when material assistance was combined with personalised support. This helped people meet their immediate needs while also connecting them to social services.
Key success factors included:
- strong involvement of partner organisations, who used their local knowledge and networks to deliver support efficiently;
- innovative approaches such as centralised procurement, digital tools, voucher systems and simplified procedures, which helped reduce costs and administrative burdens;
- the flexibility to respond to emerging needs and extend support to groups not covered by other national or local measures.
The evaluation confirms that FEAD was highly relevant to the needs of the most deprived. It complemented national, regional and local policies and worked well alongside other EU funds, including the European Social Fund (ESF), the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
In some Member States, FEAD accounted for up to 60% of the total support available for the most vulnerable.
Lessons for the future
The evaluation highlights the value of integrated approaches. Combining food and material aid with longer-term services – for example through ‘one-stop-shop’ models – can lead to more sustainable results.
Other lessons include the need to improve outreach to those who are reluctant to seek help, support locally tailored solutions, and involve end recipients in designing the support. Strengthening community-based networks can also foster innovation in how poverty is addressed.
Continued support under ESF+
Since 2021, FEAD-type assistance has been integrated into the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), to create a more streamlined and comprehensive approach to social inclusion and poverty reduction within the European Union, simplifying funding management, improving access to support, and facilitating the combination of different types of assistance.
Examples of this approach in practice include:
- Austria: Voucher system for school supplies, which helps children from low-income families start the school year on equal footing;
- France: Les Restos du Coeur, Network of food banks and local centres, where ESF+ support continues FEAD’s legacy of EU solidarity in action.
- Germany: Tackling hidden homelessness among women in Germany
- Italia: E-vouchers help Italian city face stigma of poverty
- Sweden: Reaching out with community and social information helps foreigners on the streets of Sweden
