PHOTO:  SKYE STUDIOS | UNSPLASH

 

In response to Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine, the European Union has announced a new open call designed to tackle the challenges faced by societies and public services in EU Member States. The initiative focuses on supporting the integration and social inclusion of individuals who have fled Ukraine, aligning with the key objectives of the ESF+ Social Innovation + Initiative.

 

The call aims to foster transnational cooperation and mutual learning among EU Member States, promoting the development of innovative approaches to societal challenges that empower citizens and enhance welfare systems. With an estimated budget of €22 million, the initiative encourages the transfer and upscaling of social innovation to contribute to the dissemination of successful models, turning pressing social problems into opportunities.

 

The initiative will support transnational projects with a duration of 12-18 months. Projects are expected to address two primary objectives:

 

Integration and Social Inclusion of Ukraine Refugees:
Projects under this objective should propose a multi-layered approach to the integration of refugees in host countries across the EU. This includes tailored solutions in areas such as employment, skills development, housing, and access to social and care services.

 

Mitigation of Crisis Consequences on Member States:
Projects under this objective should develop innovative models to address broader challenges resulting from the crisis. This includes tackling issues like energy poverty, easing the purchasing power crisis, and developing more inclusive social services.

 

Grant amounts for each project are estimated to be between €200,000 to €700,000, constituting not more than 80% of the project’s total budget. A co-financing of at least 20% is required from sources other than the EU budget. The form of the grant will be a lump sum.

Eligibility is restricted to consortia, with the consortium needing to include an applicant (the coordinator) and at least one co-applicant. Members of the consortium must represent at least two different EU Member States. Paper applications will not be accepted, and all applications must be submitted before the call deadline of 30.05.2024, at 5:00 PM CEST.

 

For more information on this call please visit the Call Website and have a look at the call documents.