Against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, the EU Commission has developed the "REACT-EU" initiative, among other things. The EU is thus providing additional funds to mitigate the consequences of the pandemic. To this end, the ESF operational program in Baden-Württemberg is being expanded to include the new priority axis "Supporting crisis management in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and preparing a green, digital and resilient economic recovery" with three specific objectives:
"Digitalization in the social, health and care sectors",
"Combating poverty and exclusion" and
"Supporting employment, the economy and culture".
Regional implementation is based on the previous specific objectives of two other priority axes:
"Improving the employability and participation opportunities of people who are particularly at risk of poverty and exclusion" and
"Preventing early school leaving and improving employability".
The working group has formulated the following objectives for the regional REACT-EU call for proposals:
Measures are to be taken to counteract the poorer labor market situation in order to improve the social and professional participation opportunities of the (long-term) unemployed. This also applies to access to support and advice services, which has changed as a result of the pandemic.
For young people with or without a migration background, the most innovative measures possible should be introduced to prevent young people from dropping out of school or to provide intensive support for young people affected by dropping out of school to improve their chances on the labor market.
Pupils should be offered measures that close knowledge gaps that have arisen during homeschooling, e.g. digital tutoring services or learning spaces that enable undisturbed learning. This applies in particular to pupils from educationally disadvantaged households.
Furthermore, the direct transition of particularly weaker and disadvantaged school leavers with or without a migration background is to be supported. By offering EQ company coaching in the Ludwigsburg district, these graduates are to be placed in training at an early stage and without having to wait in line at school. At the same time, companies in the district are to be provided with suitable and motivated interns who will later become trainees. The offer of EQ company coaching is part of an individual ESF call: funding at district level is also possible if the offer is not already covered by offers from the higher-level individual call.
The aim is also to support women and men who are raising children and who, due to serious problems, are only able to (re-)enter working life with intensive care and support.
In addition to the two specific labor market policy objectives, implementation also takes into account the ESF's cross-cutting objectives of "equality between women and men", "equal opportunities and non-discrimination" and "environmental sustainability". In addition, a high degree of innovation in the implementation of the measures is desired.
Project sponsors can send their applications in writing to L-Bank Baden-Württemberg, Financial Aid Division, Schlossplatz 10, 76113 Karlsruhe, by 31.03.2021. The electronic application form ELAN, available on the website www.esf-bw.de in the "Apply for and implement funding" section, can be used for this purpose. The ESF working group of the Ludwigsburg district evaluates and selects the funding applications received in a ranking process. Private individuals benefit from their participation in ESF-funded projects and funding programs and therefore cannot submit their own funding application.
Information on the ESF, the call for proposals and the application process can be found on the Ludwigsburg district website at https://www.landkreis-ludwigsburg.de/de/landratsamt-landkreis/kreisverwaltung/dezernat-iv-arbeit-jugend-und-soziales/fb-43-soziales-pflege-und-versorgungsangelegenheiten/. If you have any questions, please contact the ESF office at Ludwigsburg District Office (Kathrin Falke, phone 07141 144-48600, e-mail: kathrin.falke@landkreis-ludwigsburg.de).
The European Social Fund (ESF) is an important labor market policy instrument of the European Union (EU) for promoting employment in Europe. Since the European Economic Community was founded in 1957, it has improved employment opportunities, supported people through training and qualifications, helped to reduce disadvantages in the labor market and combated poverty and social exclusion. The Baden-Württemberg Ministry for Social Affairs and Integration is supported in its regional funding by the regional ESF working groups, which are based in the city and district authorities.
