In order to contribute to the development of a social finance market by enabling more social enterprises to take on repayable finance for developing and scaling up their innovative business model, the European Commission has launched a Call for Proposals under the framework of the European Programme for Employment and Social Innovation “EaSI” 2014-2020.

Objectives of the  Call and Types of actions

This call for proposals is intended to contribute to the development of a social finance market by enabling more social enterprises to take on repayable finance for developing and scaling up their innovative business model.

Therefore, the actions to be funded are expected to contribute to realising the potential of social entrepreneurship, such as:

• to develop and establish feasible, suitable and reliable financial instruments (Strands A and B);
• or hybrid finance packages (Strand C);
• to build capacities to use such instruments (Strand D);
• or to reinforce the capacity of social enterprise support organisations (strand E).

Applicants Profile

The call for proposals is addressed to social finance or support partnerships for social enterprises that have the potential for realising innovative solutions with a clear societal impact, or scaling their innovative approach through growth, as well as for replication or adaptation.

EU Funding

The total budget allocated for the co-financing of actions is estimated at EUR 2.150.000 million. The indicative grant amount per action will be:

• for strand A: EUR 85 000
• for strand B: EUR 130 000
• for strand C: EUR 130 000
• for strand D: EUR 100 000
• for strand E: EUR 150 000

Applications are obliged to indicate the Strand under which they should be evaluated.

Under this call for proposals, the applicants must guarantee their co-financing as the EU grant may not exceed 80 % of the total eligible costs of the action.

Submission deadline: 13 June 2016.

MORE INFORMATION ON THIS CALL CAN BE FOUND ON THE DEDICATED WEBPAGE OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION’S DG FOR EMPLOYMENT, SOCIAL AFFAIRS & INCLUSION.