ESF-2022-SOC-FIN

The ESF-2022-SOC-FIN funding program targets financial intermediaries legally established and registered according to national legislation, specifically those involved in social investment. The geographical scope extends across EU Member States, EEA countries, and certain third countries. Its core objective is to strengthen the social investment market and improve access to finance for social enterprises.

The ESF-2022-SOC-FIN program specifically funds activities that facilitate long-term risk capital investments in social enterprises. The eligible costs are strictly those related to the transaction process of these investments, while direct investments into the social enterprise's assets are excluded. The focus is on supporting projects that enable new investments, particularly those in smaller ticket sizes.

The ESF-2022-SOC-FIN program provides financial support in the form of grants, with a maximum co-financing rate of 80% of eligible costs. Applicants must ensure a minimum co-financing of 20%. The overall budget allocated for the 2022 call was 4,000,000 €.

Applicants and beneficiaries under ESF-2022-SOC-FIN must adhere to strict conditions regarding application submission, consortium formation, financial capacity, and budget management. Proposals must be complete, submitted electronically, and comply with page limits. All participants, whether single applicants or consortium members, must be legally established and demonstrate the necessary operational and financial capacity.

The application process for ESF-2022-SOC-FIN is entirely electronic, requiring submission through the Funding & Tenders Portal. Applications undergo an evaluation based on predefined award criteria, with successful proposals being awarded grants up to the available budget.

The ESF-2022-SOC-FIN program is rooted in the broader European Social Fund + (ESF+) framework for the 2021-2027 period. Its operation is guided by a specific call document and the overarching General Model Grant Agreement.