ESF+ National Contact Point for Employment and Social Innovation

During the 2014-2020 period, EaSI was a separate Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI) program, consisting of the EURES, PROGRESS, and Microfinance and Social Entrepreneurship programs. For the 2021-2027 period, the EaSI program has become a strand of the ESF+, focusing primarily on evidence-based policymaking and social experiments, support for labor mobility, and non-financial measures related to the previous microfinance and social entrepreneurship strand.

The financial package for the program’s implementation in 2021-2027 amounts to approximately €676 million.

EaSI funds aim to achieve the same policy objectives as ESF+, with the European Pillar of Social Rights serving as the program’s foundation.

Key Policy Priorities of the EaSI Strand:

• Employment and skills enhancement
• Labor market and job mobility opportunities
• Social protection and active inclusion
• Quality of working conditions

The European Commission (EC) manages the EaSI strand and publishes calls for proposals on the EU Funding Portal.

The goal of the National Contact Point (NCP) is to facilitate the participation of Lithuanian applicants in the ESF+ EaSI strand, encourage the meaningful use of allocated funds, and contribute to the implementation of ESF+ EaSI priorities.

Main Functions of the Contact Point:

• Providing impartial guidance, practical information, and assistance to ESF+ EaSI applicants, stakeholders, and beneficiaries on all matters related to the ESF+ EaSI strand.
• Promoting the ESF+ EaSI strand at the national, regional, and local levels.
• Visiting ESF+ EaSI-funded projects and informing stakeholders about the broader application of project results.
• Supporting collaboration between ESF+ EaSI beneficiaries and other stakeholders at the national, regional, and local levels.
• Reporting on its activities to the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs, and Inclusion.

All information regarding the Contact Point’s activities and funding opportunities under the ESF+ EaSI strand can be found at www.easi.lt.

The activities of the Contact Point are co-financed by the European Union and the national budget.