ESF Plus Guideline for Gender Equality in Employment 2021–2027 – D – Projects to Promote Women's Access to Career Advancement

This funding program is aimed at project sponsors and adult individuals residing in Saxony who wish to become self-employed. The funding aims to strengthen the equal participation of women in professional life and support career advancement, with special consideration for specific target groups and regional peculiarities in the Free State of Saxony.

Various projects and measures that promote gender equality in employment are funded. This includes supporting self-employment, career advancement, and reducing gender-related stereotypes in career choice. Both conceptual activities and concrete offers and consultations are supported, with a focus on knowledge transfer, potential development, and network building. The funding areas also include specific infrastructures such as women founders' and entrepreneurs' centers and coworking spaces.

The funding program offers financial support in the form of grants, whose amount and duration vary depending on the funding item. Funding rates range from up to 80% to 95% of eligible expenses, with specific maximum amounts per project and year. The duration is generally up to two years, with the possibility of extension in justified individual cases. For the women founders' premium, there are fixed monthly flat rates.

To be granted funding, applicants and their projects must meet specific requirements. These include the necessary gender competence of the sponsors, the submission of a professionally sound concept, and compliance with state aid regulations. There are also specific requirements for project content, which must consider the reconciliation of work and family life and include mentoring and coaching offers.

The application procedure is carried out via the SAB funding portal. For some funding items, deadlines for application submission are set and published by the approving authority, while others allow for continuous application. Project selection is carried out by Sächsische Aufbaubank (SAB) with the involvement of relevant expert bodies and takes into account an appropriate regional distribution. Positive evaluation points are awarded, among other things, for the involvement of regional networks and the consideration of sustainability aspects.

The funding is based on the specific guideline of the Saxon State Ministry of Justice and for Democracy, Europe and Equality, which is co-financed by the European Social Fund Plus. The implementation is also subject to the EU Framework Guideline of the Saxon State Ministry of Economy, Labor and Transport, as well as various European state aid regulations.