The European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) is the EU’s main instrument for investing in people. With a budget of almost € 99.3 billion for the period 2021-2027, the ESF+ aims to provide an important contribution to the EU’s employment, social, education and skills policies, including structural reforms in these areas.

ESF+ funding focuses on the following objectives:

Objective 1: Social inclusion

• • Active inclusion
  • Socio-economic integration of third-country nationals
  • Socio-economic integration of marginalised communities, such as Roma people
  • Equal access to quality services and modernising social protection systems
  • Social integration of people at risk of poverty and social exclusion
  • Addressing material deprivation

Objective 2: Education and skills

• • Better education and training systems at all levels
  • Equal access to quality education and training
  • Upskilling, reskilling and lifelong learning for all

Objective 3: Employment

• • Access to quality employment for all, including youth employment
  • Modernising labour market institutions and services
  • Gender-balanced labour market participation
  • Adaptation of workers, enterprises and entrepreneurs to change

The Fund is also one of the cornerstones of EU socio-economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. The pandemic has reversed gains in labour participation, challenged educational and health systems and increased inequalities. The ESF+ is one of the key EU instruments helping Member States to address these challenges.

For more information on the open and upcoming calls for proposals, please contact Tetra Solutions’ team.