CoP on Social Innovation
The ESF+ Community of Practice (CoP) on Social Innovation aims to enhance the capacity of Member States to efficiently design, manage and implement ESF+ programmes, in particular the Social Innovation priorities, to foster social innovation across Europe, gathering ESF+ Managing Authorities as well as National Competence Centres (NCCs), Social Innovation Match validators, EaSI National Contact Points (NCP), and other key actors of the ESF+ social innovation ecosystem.
Through both online and on-site events, SI CoP members share practical knowledge, experiences, tools, methodologies, and good practices supporting the scaling-up and transfer, call design and implementation, project selection and monitoring, and the impact measurement of social innovation initiatives.
The overall strengthening of the social innovation ecosystem is supported by the SI CoP’s dedicated National Competence Centres for Social Innovation Working Group (NCC WG), established in 2023, which aims to consistently develop and build capacity of NCCs.
The SI CoP activities promote partnership and collaboration with the other ESF+ CoPs to embed social innovation in public policies related to the policy areas of these CoPs.
Events
June
25
Info Session of the Call ‘Implementing the Disability Employment Package – innovative approaches to improve labour market outcomes for persons with disabilities’
June
27
Collaboration and Funding Strategies for the National Competence Centres
July
03
Kick-off online event: ‘Innovative Approaches Tackling Long-term Unemployment’
October
01
Social Innovation Forum 2025
Past event
Study Visit: ‘The Role of NGOs in Upskilling Vulnerable People’
Past event
Advancing and Promoting the Implementation of the European Child Guarantee Through ESF+ Funding Instruments
Past event
The 12th ALMA Network Meeting
Past event
Study visit ‘Labour market paths: synergic use of ESF+ and AMIF for tackling labour exploitation and vulnerable migrants’ integration’
Past event
First Mutual Learning Event for Beneficiaries: Driving Innovation to Address the Societal Consequences of Russia’s War of Aggression Against Ukraine in EU Countries
Past event
Supporting Social Innovation: A Journey Through Two ESF Programming Periods, The Experience of The Czech Republic
Past event
Exploring Diverse Delivery Methods: Distribution of Food and/or Material Assistance, and Voucher Systems
Past event
The CoP on Material Support Steering Group Onsite Meeting in Vilnius
Past event
The 6th ALMA Beneficiaries’ Meeting
Past event
CoP on Social Inclusion: Key Documents and Their Use in the ESF+ Ecosystem
Past event
The 11th Plenary Session of the ALMA Network
Past event
The 1st SKILLS Call Beneficiaries’ Mutual Learning Event
Past event
The First Joint Online Event of the Three Communities of Practice
Past event
National Competence Centres’ Mutual Learning Event’
Past event
Co-Developing the CoP Migrant Integration Journey: Past to Future
Past event
EU Strategies for Reducing Poverty and Promoting Social Inclusion, Leveraging Synergies within the ESF+
Past event
Bridging Gaps in Vocational Training:
The Role of NGOs and the Impact of ESF Support in Europe
Past event
The 10th Plenary Session of the ALMA Network
Past event
Integrated Approach and Multi-Fund Approach for Social Innovation
Past event
Advisory Board Online Meeting
Past event
Online end-of-year meeting
Past event
Living Independently in the Community: What Support Can Be Provided by ESF+?
Past event
Living Independently in the Community: What Support Can Be Provided by ESF+?
Past event
The 9th ALMA Network Meeting
Past event
Social Innovations for the Upskilling of Vulnerable Youth, Especially Young People not in Employment, Education, or Training (NEETs) Kick-off meeting for beneficiaries
Past event
Meeting varying needs: how material support can be tailored to meet the diverse needs of different target groups
Past event
Study visit ‘Partnerships’ Ecosystem developed by Actiris’
Past event
‘ESF+ SI ecosystem, collaboration model between key stakeholders – analysis of a local urban social innovation ecosystem’
Past event
Mutual Learning Workshop for the
National Competence Centres
Past event
EURoma Network Meeting
Past event
5th ALMA Beneficiaries mutual learning event
Past event
Social Innovation Forum 2024
Past event
The 8th Plenary Session of the ALMA network
Past event
6th Migrant Integration CoP event: Responses to people fleeing Ukraine: What can we learn
Past event
On-line workshop: ‘Assessing and measuring social innovation results and impact’
Past event
Follow-up Meeting with the NCCs subgroups assigned during the NCC beneficiaries Kick-off organised by National Competence Centres Working Group (NCC WG)
Past event
Follow-up Meeting with the NCCs subgroups assigned during the NCC beneficiaries Kick-off organised by National Competence Centres Working Group (NCC WG)
Past event
Second Info Session of the Call ‘Innovative Approaches Tackling Long-Term Unemployment’
Past event
Follow-up Meeting with the NCCs subgroups assigned during the NCC beneficiaries Kick-off organised by National Competence Centres Working Group (NCC WG)
Past event
Strengthening accompanying measures and their impact on families and children
Past event
Exploring Inclusive Solutions: Study Visit on Homelessness, Child Poverty, and Community Living
Past event
The Online Matchmaking Platform for Applicants Under the Call “Innovative Approaches Tackling Long-Term Unemployment”
Past event
7th ALMA network Meeting
Past event
Study visit “Nobody is unemployable: the French Approach to Zero Long-Term Unemployment“
Past event
National Competence Centres for Social Innovation (Beneficiaries of the 2023 Call) Kick-off meeting in Brussels, Belgium
Past event
Matchmaking (partner search) sessions for Applicants under The Call “Innovative Approaches Tackling Long-Term Unemployment”
Past event
Study visit “Scaling-up and Transfer: analysing the French Model”
Past event
Info session of the Call ‘Innovative Approaches Tackling Long-Term Unemployment’
Past event
Unlocking Opportunities: Leveraging Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/1676
Past event
Mutual Learning Workshop: Social Innovation calls, from preparation to project selection, implementation and monitoring
Past event
ESF+ for Integrated Pathways: Fostering Social Cohesion: Exploring the mutual benefits of building a two-way inclusive society from the Care and Service viewpoint
Past event
Peer review on managing and financing cooperation between Public employment Services (PES) and NGOs
Past event
The 4th ALMA Beneficiaries meeting for mutual learning
Past event
The 6th ALMA network Meeting and a Joint Activity with the Beneficiaries of Alma Central Call
Past event
2nd virtual matchmaking for the Call ‘Innovative Approaches to Mitigate the Societal Consequences of Russia’s War of Aggression against Ukraine within EU Countries’
Past event
Q&A session of the Call ‘Innovative Approaches to Mitigate the Societal Consequences of Russia’s War of Aggression against Ukraine within EU Countries‘
Past event
Involving the target group: from decision-making to the provision of support
Past event
The interactive online session: Member Sharing of Practices Networking Session
Past event
Towards zero long-term unemployment in the EU: Job guarantees and other innovative approaches
Past event
Workshop for the National Competence Centers to provide the necessary support for the development of NCCs
Past event
Online matchmaking for the Call ‘Innovative Approaches to Mitigate the Societal Consequences of Russia’s War of Aggression against Ukraine within EU Countries’
Past event
Digital solutions for efficient delivery of material support
Past event
Info Session of the Call ‘Innovative Approaches to Mitigate the Societal Consequences of Russia’s War of Aggression against Ukraine within EU Countries’
Past event
Additional matchmaking (partner search) sessions for applicants under the Call “Social Innovations for Upskilling of Vulnerable Youth, Especially Young People not in Employment, Education, or Training (NEETs)”
Past event
Q&A Info session of the Call “Social Innovations for the Upskilling of Vulnerable Youth, Especially Young People not in Employment, Education, or Training (NEETs)”
Past event
Workshop for ESF+ Bodies on “How to manage and adapt ESF+ financial support to social innovation projects”
Past event
The 3rd ALMA Beneficiaries meeting
Past event
The 5th Plenary Session of the ALMA network
Past event
Matchmaking (Partner search) sessions for Applicants under the Call “Social Innovations for Upskilling of Vulnerable Youth, especially Young People not in Employment, Education, or Training (Neets)”
Past event
Migrant Integration CoP event: Advisory Group with Managing Authorities and Desk Officers
Past event
Info session of the Call “Social Innovations for the Upskilling of Vulnerable Youth, Especially Young People not in Employment, Education, or Training (NEETs)”
Past event
Online Webinar: Connect Social Needs in ESF+ Programmes to the Offer from the Social Innovation Match
Past event
Reviewing the Work Programme 2023-2024: Progress Update and Future Plans
Past event
A Future Built on Game-Changing Interventions
Past event
ALMA Beneficiaries Kick-off Event
Past event
The 4th ALMA network meeting
Past event
Study visit: how to target vulnerable youths
Past event
Bridging Communities in Times of Crisis: Providing Material Support for Vulnerable Groups
Past event
The 1st ALMA Beneficiaries meeting
Past event
The 3rd Plenary session of the ALMA network
Past event
Social Innovation Forum 2023
Past event
Competence Centres for Social Innovation Working Group Meeting
Past event
Innovative Approaches Promoting Social Inclusion: What Do They Look Like?
Past event
1st Plenary session of the Community of Practice on Migrant Integration
Past event
Info session of the call „National Competence Centers for Social Innovation: Building-up and Consolidating the Capacity“
Past event
Voucher System Implementation
Past event
Online webinar: Overcoming obstacles to young adults in work-based learning and internships abroad: Promising practices from ALMA and Erasmus+
Past event
Round of consultations with the Managing Authorities
Past event
FEAD becoming a part of ESF+: new developments, opportunities and challenges
Past event
Competence Centres for Social Innovation working group – kick-off meeting
Past event
The 2nd ALMA Network Meeting
Past event
Meeting with Managing Authorities on Implementing Material Support Programmes
Past event
Peer Review on Outreach to Adults in Need of Basic Skills
Past event
EURoma Network meeting
Past event
Mutual Learning Lab session on ESF+ Social innovation calls
Past event
Peer Review on Target Indicators in the ESF+ Projects
Past event
Joint Consortia Event among European and National Competence Centers
Past event
Plenary session of the Community of Practice on Material Support
Past event
Peer Review on Outreach to (Vulnerable) Young Persons
Past event
Social Innovation Match (SIM) induction workshop
Past event
Mapping and Exploration Event on the subtheme of Community Living and Empowering Social Services
Past event
Online event “Mapping and Exploration Event on the subtheme of Homelessness”
Past event
Online event “Mapping and Exploration on the Subtheme of Child Poverty”
Past event
Interactive online workshop “ESF+ programmes: Social Innovation in practice”
Past event
Online Information session for applicants regarding the ESF Social Innovation+ Call for Proposals in support of the ALMA (Aim-Learn-Master-Achieve) initiative