Support EU networks active in the areas of social economy and social finance (3-year action grants)

Support EU networks active in the areas of social economy and social finance (3-year action grants)

TOPIC ID: ESF-2025-AG-NETW-MF-SE

Type of grant: Call for proposals

General information

Programme: European Social Fund + (ESF)

Call: Action grants to support EU networks active in the areas of social economy, social entreprise finance and microfinance (ESF-2025-AG-NETW-MF-SE)

Type of action: ESF-PJG ESF Project Grants

Type of MGA: ESF Action Grant Budget-Based [ESF-AG]

Status: Forthcoming

Deadline model: single-stage

Planned Opening Date: 06 March 2025

Deadline dates: 19 June 2025 17:00 (Brussels time)

Topic description

The expected results are:

(a) Increased dissemination of EU policies and initiatives in the area of the call and improved EU outreach activities at national and local level;

(b) Improved capacity and awareness about EU policies and funding opportunities among the members of the networks and their beneficiaries;

(c) Increased awareness about the potential of social economy, social enterprises and microenterprises, their needs and challenges at EU, national and local levels;

(d) improved availability of research and data about the fields in which the beneficiaries operate.

This call aims to support the development of social economy and social finance in Europe.

The action grants will contribute to building up the institutional capacity of stakeholders, delivering support to social economy actors (e.g. cooperatives, social enterprises), as well as those supporting the development of social finance (i.e. microfinance, social enterprise finance and social impact investing) in Europe. The beneficiaries under this call are expected to:

(a) support the Commission in its outreach activities at national and local levels, with the aim of ensuring awareness, contribution to and implementation of EU level policies and initiatives in the areas of the call,

(b) increase the beneficiaries and their members’ capacity to contribute to policy design at EU, national and local levels, and

(c) provide expertise and data as regards the potential, needs, barriers and opportunities faced by organisations active in the areas of the call.

Social economy entities, social enterprises and microenterprises 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 principles:

01. Education, training and life-long learning,

02. Gender equality, 03. Equal opportunities,

04. Active support to employment, 05. Secure and adaptable employment,

09. Work-life balance,

11. Childcare and support to children,

17. Inclusion of people with disabilities,

18. Long-term care and 20. Access to essential services.

To support the developments in this field, the Commission cooperates with EU level networks in its analytical and outreach activities at EU, national and local level.

Start submission

The submission system is planned to be opened on the date stated on the topic header.

Get support

Please read carefully all provisions below before the preparation of your application.

For individual questions on the Portal Submission System, please contact the IT Helpdesk (see link below).

Non-IT related questions should be sent to the following email address:

− general questions on ESF+: EMPL-EaSI@ec.europa.eu

− call-specific questions: EMPL-SOCIAL-ENTERPRISE@ec.europa.eu

Details of support sources:

• Online Manual :

This step-by-step online guide through the Portal processes from proposal preparation and submission to reporting on your ongoing project. Valid for all 2021-2027 programmes. (roles & access rights, proposal submission and evaluation, grant management, amendments, etc.). Each explanation leads to the corresponding “IT How to” page (see here after).

1. IT How to - IT How To - Funding Tenders Opportunities (europa.eu) :

Detailed instructions on how to apply for EU funding, from how to register your organisation,how to manage the roles and access rights to your organisations, proposals andto how to submit your proposal. It gives also detailedinstructions on and on how to manage your grant if you are selected.

1. Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ:

FAQ on submission of proposals

1. IT Helpdesk:

Contact the IT helpdesk for questions such as forgotten passwords, access rights and roles, technical aspects of submission of proposals, etc.