New Call for Proposals: Implementing the Disability Employment Package

The European Competence Centre for Social Innovation has launched a new transnational call: ‘Implementing the Disability Employment Package: Innovative Approaches to Improve Labour Market Outcomes for Persons with Disabilities’ under the ESF+ Social Innovation Plus Initiative (SI+). 

With a grant budget of EUR 10 million, the call supports transnational projects aimed at transferring or scaling up the innovative solutions referenced in the six thematic deliverables of the Disability Employment Package. The ultimate goal is to improve employment opportunities for persons with disabilities, such as recruitment and career guidance, inclusive hiring, reasonable accommodation at work, retention, returning to work, and transitioning from sheltered employment to the open labour market. 

Projects are expected to carry out a range of activities such as building a shared understanding of unmet labour market needs through collaboration among key stakeholders and identifying employment challenges by mapping barriers across sectors and regions. Projects should adapt and scale proven social innovation models from the Disability Employment Package, selecting appropriate methods that are suited to the context. Further activities include embedding continuous learning and evaluation throughout the project, promoting the mainstream adoption of effective practices into policies and services, and participating in mutual learning events organised by the European Competence Centre for Social Innovation. 

Funded projects must produce documented outputs, such as procedures, manuals, guidelines, or other practical tools, which enable broader adoption and promote inclusive employment practices across different contexts. 

Grants will range from EUR 500,000 to EUR 1,000,000, covering up to 80% of eligible costs per project, with a required 20% co-financing. Projects should last between 18 and 24 months and demonstrate tangible outcomes, such as scaled-up innovative solutions referenced in the Disability Employment Package. 

Consortia applications are required and must include at least three entities from two different eligible countries, including at least one public authority responsible for implementing employment or disability policies.  

Eligible participants include a wide range of entities such as ministries, public employment services, authorities at all levels, vocational and educational institutions, NGOs, labour market bodies, trade unions, consultancy services, funders, and both public and private companies, particularly those involved in employment and social inclusion of persons with disability. 

For those seeking potential transnational partners, the Social Innovation Match (SIM) database offers a platform to identify organisations whose work can inspire and contribute to collaborative efforts across the European Union.  

The call opens on 3 June 2025 and closes at 5.00 PM CET on 30 October 2025. 
An online training session for applicants will be held on 25 June 2025. 

For further details and application materials, visit the official call page.