European Programme EuropeAid

Call for Proposals

The Call for Proposals of the European Programme EuropeAid, identfied as EuropeAid/135743/ID/ACT/TR “Improving social integration and employability of disadvantaged persons” has been published by the European Commission, Directorate External relations and foreign affairs.

The purpose of the current “Improving social integration and employability of disadvantaged persons” call published in the framework of  of the European Programme EuropeAid is to contribute to the achievement of the ‘promoting social inclusion’ priority axis of the Human Resources Development Operational Programme (HRD OP) which aims promoting inclusion of disadvantaged persons into labour market by facilitating their access to labour market and social protection, and by eliminating the barriers in accessing the labour market. For the purposes of the current “Improving social integration and employability of disadvantaged persons” call for proposals labour market participation of disadvantaged persons would function as chief instrument towards their social integration. People with disabilities, people who are in poverty or at risk of poverty, internally displaced people, ex-prisoners, ex-convicts, Roma citizens, children at risk of poverty, women suffering from domestic violence, drug addicts, working children and their parents, etc. are considered as disadvantaged persons which require special attention.

The objective of “Improving social integration and employability of disadvantaged persons” Call for Proposals published in the framework of the European Programme EuropeAid is to increase social integration and/or employability of disadvantaged persons, facilitate their access to labour market, and eliminate barriers for their entrance into labour market.

The specific objectives of this Call for Proposals published in the framework of the European Programme EuropeAid are: 
- to increase employability, employment and labour force participation rate of disadvantaged persons and to facilitate their access to labour market,
- to eliminate barriers for disadvantaged persons’ entrance into labour market,
- to increase knowledge about labour market situation of disadvantaged persons,
- to reduce cases of all forms of discrimination (including stereotypes and prejudices) against disadvantaged persons & vulnerable groups in the labour market.

The scope of applications under the current “Improving social integration and employability of disadvantaged persons” call published in the framework of the European Programme EuropeAid is the fulfilment of at least two of the following HRD OP indicators (list is not exhaustive):
- Number of disadvantaged people having participated or directed to public employment, guidance, counselling and rehabilitation services,
- Number of actions for combatting discrimination and elimination of stereotypes and prejudices against disadvantaged persons,
- Number of awareness raising activities for informing disadvantaged people about means to access public services,-
- Number of disadvantaged persons entered into labour market (having the qualification and motivation to seek a job)
- Number of disadvantaged people established their own business,

In addition to the above mentioned, the applications have to address cover one and/or more of the specific added-value elements of the HRD OP, as follows:
- Gender equality,
- Participation of civil society,
- Concerns of disadvantaged persons,
- Sustainable development and environmental protection,
- Good governance.

Under the current “Improving social integration and employability of disadvantaged persons” call for proposals published in the framework of the European Programme EuropeAid the actions must take place in Turkey and the following proposals are eligible (for a larger list and for the list of ineligible actions please consult the link below):
- Active labour market programmes (ALMPs) including vocational and on-the-job trainings, job and vocational guidance services, job-search assistance and job-coaching services for all disadvantaged persons aiming at increasing their employability,
-Vocational training, entrepreneurship training, on-the-job training via adequate arrangements including mobile education/training centres.
- Improving occupational/vocational skills including open and long distance learning where appropriate.
- Developing training and learning materials for the target group.
- Improving professional knowledge and capacity of trainers and other staff dealing/working with the target group.
- Activities for bringing the target group and employers together.
- Internship and apprenticeship in the private sector.
- Return-to-work programmes for those who are far from the labour market for more than 1 year.
- Support for social entrepreneurs and dissemination of social entrepreneurship in fields related to this call for proposals.
- Providing consultancy for access to finance for entrepreneurs.
- Provision of pre-school education and child/elderly care services to the target group benefiting from the activities of a project and activities for reducing early school drop outs in order to increase the employability of women and/or also to help them maintain their current jobs.

The total budget earmarked for the co-financing of the action is estimated at EUR 30 000 000 maximum. The financial contribution from the Commission will be between 80% and 95 % of the total eligible costs. The Commission reserves the right not to distribute all the funds available.
The total budget will be distributed as follow:
- Lot 1 will cover the projects which focus on promoting inclusion of Roma citizens and strengthening of Roma NGOs for this purpose in line with the stated objectives of the call for proposals.
The indicative amount for Lot 1 is EUR 9.000.000 (30% of total funds of this call for proposals).
- Lot 2 will cover the projects targeting all disadvantaged people except those mentioned under lot 1.
The indicative amount for Lot 2 is EUR 21.000.000 (70% of total funds of this call for proposals).
Geographical distribution of both Lot 1 and Lot 2 covers whole Turkey.

The deadline for submitting proposals in the framework of the current “European Policy Network of National Literacy Organisations” call for proposals is 10 June 2014.

Further information on the current call for proposals is available on the European Commission’s web site at: https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/europeaid/online-services/index.cfm?ADSSChck=1399885480567&do=publi.detPUB&AOREF=135743&ORDERBYAD=Desc&NBPUBLILIST=15&CCNT=7573876&ZGEO=35624&ORDERBY=upd&PAGE=1&DEBPUB=&SEARCHTYPE=AS&userlanguage=en