Funding and Management of EaSI
The “Employment and Social Innovation” (EaSI) strand of the ESF+ has a budget of €762 million for the programming period 2021–2027.
Funding is provided through two mechanisms:
- Direct management by the European Commission, via calls for project grants and tenders for service and procurement contracts.
- Indirect management through the ESF+, with the European Social Fund Agency (ESFA) of Lithuania acting as the delegated body for the ESF+ Social Innovation+ Initiative.
What this means in practice
- Organisations can participate in European Commission calls for projects that promote social innovation, employment, and social inclusion.
- Through the Social Innovation Initiative, there is an opportunity to test and pilot new policy solutions that can be scaled up and replicated across Europe.
- The funded actions foster cooperation, knowledge transfer, and networking among Member States and stakeholders.
Who can participate in EaSI
EaSI actions target a wide range of actors engaged in employment, education, social inclusion, and social innovation. Eligible participants include:
- EU Member States and their public bodies.
- Public authorities and services involved in designing or implementing employment, social protection, and social inclusion policies.
- Social partners (employers’ and workers’ organisations).
- Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and social stakeholders.
- Research centres, universities, and educational institutions.
- Social economy actors and social enterprises.
- Cross-border networks and partnerships promoting mobility and innovation.
Why participate
Participation in EaSI means that partners can:
- Access funding for innovative projects.
- Exchange knowledge and best practices with partners across the EU.
- Strengthen transnational cooperation.
- Contribute to the design of new policy solutions addressing contemporary social and employment challenges.