Call for proposals

European Programme for Employment and Social Innovation "EaSI" –

European Solidarity Corps – Occupational Strand - VP/2016/018

 

Objectives and description

This call is part of a series of actions planned for the European Solidarity Corps first phase launched on the 7 December 2016 and it targets cross border placements for the purpose of the occupational strand. The action under the call aims to offer remunerated work opportunities in line with the values of the European Solidarity Corps to young nationals within the age bracket 18 – 30 in EU countries other than their country of residence.

 

Through the European Solidarity Corps, the EU aims to contribute to alleviate the difficult conditions endured by the most disadvantaged people in society and offer young people, and in particular those having a difficulty in getting a foothold in the labour market, the opportunity to put their personal commitment and skills at someone's service. All young people should be able to participate, irrespective of their background, education, level of skills, or disability.

 

The occupational strand of the European Solidarity Corps aims at providing young people with the opportunity of a job, traineeship or apprenticeship in sectors that are engaged in solidarity activities and have a demand for highly motivated and socially minded young people. In this context, the overall objective is to test and apply selection and matching processes to secure cross border placements of such young people.

 

This call has three specific objectives:

i.              to establish one large-scale consortium which is able to collect and offer occupational opportunities to European Solidarity Corps participants in a broad range of solidarity activities throughout the Union;

ii.             to implement the activities necessary for matching to and placing European Solidarity Corps participants in such opportunities in an EU country other than their country of residence and to help the participants and the employers concerned address the related mobility obstacles.

iii.            to report on targets and results achieved and identify recommendations, where appropriate, in the interest of the development of the European Solidarity Corps.

 

Eligible activities

The action will ensure the provision of customised employment and mediation services for the placement and integration of young mobile workers in the host country(ies), combined with financial support. To this end, the consortium (i.e. the Lead Applicant and co-applicants) will implement the following activities addressed to the target audience of the action:

 

a) Carry out outreach and information activities towards stakeholder organisations and employers involved in solidarity activities to share opportunities, offers or job vacancies eligible for the Solidarity Corps participants with the consortium.

b) Provide information on the opportunities under the occupational strand of the European Solidarity Corps to young people.

c) Provide guidance and support with selection, matching and placement for European Solidarity Corps participants who have registered on the registration tool built into the European Youth portal.

d) Promote and develop for this action practical cooperation with Public Employment Services, for instance through an operational link with the PES network at EU/EEA level

e) Work with employers to identify opportunities under the occupational strand for European Solidarity Corps participants and develop concrete offers for placement suitable to such participants, involving training, integration and other support measures.

f) Manage direct financial support for participants and the organisations with a view to facilitating the placement and its outcomes.

g) Ensure appropriate certification detailing what the participants have done during their placement.

h) Accompany participants and employers throughout the duration of the placement and in particular ensure follow up during the placement by offering mentoring support to the selected European Solidarity Corps participants.

i) Assist participants with the return formalities at the end of the contract and, where appropriate, provide information on access to further job search assistance, including for new intra-EU job opportunities.

 

Eligible participants - Minimum conditions

a) Place of establishment

Legal entities properly established and registered in the following countries are eligible as lead applicants and co-applicants:

-       EU Member States

 

b) Consortia

To be eligible, applications must:

-       be presented by a consortium composed of a minimum of five organisations established in at least five different Member States;

-       include in the consortium at least two Public Employment Services at central level with responsibility in the area of cross border matching and placement in the EU territory, being either the National Coordination Office or the PES appointed as a Member of the EURES network in accordance with Article 10 of the EURES Regulation.

Other members of the consortium could include other member organisations in the EURES network (Members and Partners according to the EURES Regulation), Private Employment Services, humanitarian NGO's, employers' organisations, public bodies, third sector organisations with a social mission and international organisations such as the Red Cross, (international organisations whose registered office is outside the EU Member States are also eligible).

 

Funding conditions and duration

The total budget earmarked for the EU co-financing of projects under this call is estimated at EUR 8.243.895. The Commission plans to increase the budget for this call up to EUR 14,243.895. The final decision is expected by the end of January 2017 and will be announced in a corrigendum to the present call. The Commission intends to fund a single proposal covering the entire budget.

 

The EU grant is limited to a maximum co-funding rate of 95% of eligible costs.

 

The indicative starting date of the action is set for 2 May 2017.

 

The indicative duration of the project should be 24 months.

 

Deadline of proposals' submission

The deadline for the submission of proposals is on 17 March 2017.

               

Once the application form is filled in, applicants must submit it both electronically and in one hard copy (put in a two-hole A4 folder), before the set deadline.

 

Further information

Please find attached the call documentation.

 

All enquiries must be made by e-mail only to: empl-vp-2016-018@ec.europa.eu

 

More information: http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=629&langId=en&callId=503&furtherCalls=yes

 

 

Kind regards,

 

 

 

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE GREEK TRANSLATION OF THE CALLS IS PROVIDED AT REQUEST OF ANY INTERESTED MEMBER (based on the decision of 22.12.2016 of the EOC Administrative Council).