This Annex presents 16 good practice cases of social innovation supported under the European Social Fund (ESF) during the 2014–20 programming period. Spanning across 11 countries, these cases were selected among a sample of 96 project evaluations provided by the European Commission. While social innovation was not a primary focus in most Member States during this programming period, these projects stand out for their forward-thinking approaches in addressing a wide range of issues and policy areas, such as employment, social inclusion, women’s participation in the labour market, service provision, care and migrant integration, through social innovation. They demonstrate how new methods, cross-sector collaborations, multi-stakeholder engagement and innovative use of technology can generate meaningful social impact. Each case highlights how communities were engaged and inclusion was fostered, going beyond conventional solutions to societal challenges. The Annex also includes country-specific organigrammes, based on information provided by respective Member States, illustrating the national and regional-level roles and responsibilities in managing the ESF.
Starting, Scaling and Sustaining Social Innovation
Evidence and Impact of the European Social Fund
