Overview

Objectives

Funding under this Call will be provided for projects with the aim to foster the development or scaling up of innovative methods/practices that have proven to be successful in other contexts, in other countries or regions, or within previous experimentations. The objective of the project is skills development of vulnerable youth and in particular NEETs, by re-engaging them into learning and aiming at their (re-)integration into the labour market. Increasing their employability by addressing skills gaps and helping to develop skills needed in labour markets in the context of green transition are particularly relevant for this Call. The funded projects will increase the opportunities of vulnerable young people in the labour market, as well as strengthen their role as active citizens in society.

Activities/actions supported

The present Call offers an opportunity to further develop and properly apply innovative approaches to:

• effective outreach to the target group, leading to a good take-up rate,
• learning models and environments, enabling learners to develop skills relevant for labour market, 
• appropriate arrangements for skills validation and activation in the labour market

Funded projects shall include an innovative approach to at least one of the 3 domains.

Activities can include:

• Activities related to mapping and reaching out to the target group
• Activities related to upskilling and/or skills development
• . Activities related to individual guidance
• Activities related to skills validation and activation in the labour market
• Participating in mutual learning events

Applicants can propose activities that are best suited to pursue the objectives of the Call in their specific context. Applicants must describe how the proposed activities contribute to the expected outcomes as well as to the wider expected impacts of the Call. The expected outcomes should be realistic and defined in measurable terms. Activities should be designed with the needs of vulnerable young people, in particular vulnerable NEETs in mind. They may require more intensive support to start with learning or training activities or to make the transition to employment. They may have personal situations that need to be addressed before they can consider learning, training and/or career prospects.

Anticipated outcomes

As a result of the activities implemented under the projects, the following outputs are expected (with the special emphasis on NEETs):

• Improved employability and competitiveness of vulnerable young people (especially NEETs) by equipping them with the right skills;
• Increased number of young people who have been re-engaged into learning or (re-)integrated in labour market (low skilled persons, persons with disabilities, people from disadvantaged and diverse backgrounds, people living in rural and remote areas and in the outermost regions);
• Enhanced development and/or transition of already existing practices that have proven to be successful in other contexts, in other countries or regions or within previous experimentations;
• Strengthened role of vulnerable young people as active citizens in society;
• Increased awareness and knowledge by society and stakeholders at the local/regional/national and European levels of innovative approaches to foster skills development of young people.

Institution providing the funding

European Competence Centre for Social Innovation

Size of funding

EUR 9 000 000 in total (EUR 200 000 to 700 000 per project)

Conditions

Overview of eligibility criteria

Applicants, co-applicants and associated partners can be:  

• NGOs/third sector/voluntary/youth non-profit entities,  
• local and regional authorities,  
• job centres, public employment services (PES), employment agencies,  
• schools, vocational education and training (VET) providers,  
• companies, social partners, representative bodies linked to the labour market, including chambers of commerce and other trade associations,  
• agencies responsible for skills validation,  
• lifelong-learning research centres and entities,  
• associations and representatives of those involved in VET,  
• guidance, consultancy, and information service providers linked to lifelong learning.  
• public and private funders.

To be considered eligible, a consortium must include an applicant (coordinator) and at least one co-applicant from another EU Member State than the coordinator.

Overview of award criteria

Award criteria are as follows:

• Relevance (Max 40 points, threshold 25 points)
• Quality - project design, implementation, and project team (Max 40 points, threshold 20 points)
• Impact (Max 20 points, threshold 10 points)

Procedures

Application procedures

All applications must be submitted directly online via the electronic portal and data exchange system eSINNIS ((e) Social Innovation Information System) managed by the Granting Authority (hereinafter – ‘the Portal’).

• Get access to the Portal - https://forms.office.com/e/00C1MdpgdU
• Connect to the Portal - https://esinnis.sharepoint.com/sites/eSINNIS

Application support available

For individual questions concerning the Portal, please contact the IT Helpdesk: IThelp@esf.lt.

Non-IT related questions should be sent to the following email address: Skills@esf.lt

Questions related to the submission of an application must:

• Be sent at the latest 7 days before the submission deadline (see Chapter 4 of the Call Conditions);
• Clearly indicate the reference of the Call and the topic to which the question relates.

Call-specific questions must be sent at the latest 10 days before the submission deadline.

Link to funding opportunity

Link to the programme for more info