The call is titled “Actions to boost the development of finance markets for social enterprises” (ESF-2023-SUPPLY-DEMAND).
The expected result is the cooperation between public and/or private entities of any type with the aim to ease access to finance for social entrepreneurs and to develop the investment readiness of social enterprises to ensure social enterprises are able to take on repayable finance.
The objective is to contribute to the development of feasible, suitable and reliable schemes or funds providing finance to social enterprises as well as support structures providing business development services and networking facilities to improve social enterprises’ investment readiness. The objective of the call is also to identify, develop, promote and disseminate good practices in supporting social enterprises in accessing finance. Social enterprises are instrumental in the implementation of many of the European Pillar of Social Rights principles. In particular they play a key role in delivering the following European Pillar of Social Rights (‘EPSR’) principles: 3. Equal opportunities, 4. Active support to employment, 5. Secure and adaptable employment, 11. Childcare and support to children, 17. Inclusion of people with disabilities, 18. Long-term care and 20. Access to essential services.
The expected result of the call is the improved cooperation between public and / or private entities of any type with the aim of setting up financial instruments that respond to the needs of social enterprises. Ultimately this should enable more social enterprises to get access to repayable finance for developing and scaling their business model, and to reduce their dependence on grants. Moreover, investors and business development organisations are expected to increase their awareness of the needs of social enterprises and improve their capacity to design and manage financial products that respond to these needs. Market facilitators such as qualified intermediaries are expected to be put in place where they do not exist.
Budget
The available call budget is EUR 3 400 000. Between 8 to 10 projects are expected to be funded. Project budgets (maximum grant amount) are expected to range between EUR 300 000 and EUR 400 000 per project. The grant will be a budget-based mixed actual cost grant (actual costs, with unit cost and flat-rate elements). This means that it will reimburse ONLY certain types of costs (eligible costs) and costs that were actually incurred for the project (NOT the budgeted costs). For unit costs and flat-rates, you can charge the amounts calculated as explained in the Grant Agreement. The costs will be reimbursed at the funding rate fixed in the Grant Agreement, which is 85%.
The deadline for submission is on March 14th 2024.
You can find more details on the Commission’s website.
To learn more about current calls for proposals or Eurodiaconia’s funding events, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our Projects and EU Funding Officer Giorgia Signoretto at giorgia.signoretto@eurodiaconia.org and our Research and Projects Assistant Alice Widerberg at alice.widerberg@eurodiaconia.org.