ESF Plus Guideline for Gender Equality in Employment 2021–2027 – C – Projects to Promote Labor Market Participation

The funding program "ESF Plus Guideline for Gender Equality in Employment 2021–2027" of the Free State of Saxony aims to strengthen the equal participation of women in employment and support specific target groups with particular challenges. This includes promoting women's self-employment, increasing the labor market proximity of migrant women, facilitating access to career advancement, and implementing measures against gender stereotypes in career and study choices. Funding is directed at implementing bodies of measures as well as directly at women interested in starting a business in Saxony.

The program funds diverse projects that serve gender equality in employment. These include measures to strengthen women's self-employment, founders' premiums, contact points for women and careers, initiatives to increase the labor market proximity of migrant women, and projects that counteract gender stereotypes in career and study choices. Eligible expenses include personnel and residual costs, with certain further education or startup consultations being excluded.

Funding is provided as a grant (project funding as a co-financing or fixed amount) and is tied to specific maximum limits and funding rates per project. Project durations are generally up to two years but can be extended in justified individual cases.

Applicants must submit professionally sound concepts and demonstrate gender competence. Specific rules apply to application deadlines or continuous submission, consortia, aid, and budget planning. Provisions exist for regional distribution and avoidance of double funding.

Applications are submitted via the SAB funding portal by set deadlines or on a rolling basis, depending on the funding objective. The selection of applications is carried out by the SAB with the involvement of relevant expert bodies, focusing on regional distribution. The procedure includes an advance payment principle and specific reporting obligations.

The basis of the funding program is the specific guideline of the Saxon State Ministry of Justice and for Democracy, Europe and Gender Equality, supplemented by the general EU Framework Regulation of the Saxon State Ministry for Economy, Labor and Transport as well as other EU state aid regulations.