27/05/2015
FSG International
The European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN) releases a handbook on how Structural Funds are used for social inclusion.
Compiled by EAPN Members, the handbook “Delivering Social Inclusion through Structural Funds” outlines EAPN’s guiding principles to assess a good practice of SF-funded projects on social inclusion and drawing on examples of NGO-driven projects funded by Structural Funds under the previous programming period.
It aims to help NGOs understand the new opportunities of Structural Funds 2014-2020, to better promote social inclusion/ poverty reduction and to ensure a better involvement in Structural Funds’ processes. It also provides tools for NGOs to build up a project that can match the new requirements of the Structural Funds’ Regulations 2014-2020 on poverty reduction and partnership.
The handbook offers 15 positive examples of NGO-driven projects funded by Structural Funds in the 2007-2013 programming period, and illustrates how they can reach and effectively support the social inclusion of people experiencing poverty, by using mechanisms as technical assistance, transnational activities, global grants, capacity building or the use of intermediary bodies. The selected project use several approaches, as for example a personalized and multi-dimensional approach to social inclusion or a pathway approach to social inclusion and employment with personalized support.
The document highlights that, in the new Cohesion Policy for the period 2014-2020, all Structural Funds should deliver on the poverty reduction target and promote social inclusion in several ways. Therefore, it represents a step forward by giving a higher profile to social inclusion and poverty reduction, as well as a stronger partnership principle by the increased NGO involvement in the new programming period.
The European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN) is the largest European network of national, regional and local networks, involving anti-poverty NGOs and grassroot groups as well as European Organisations, active in the fight against poverty and social exclusion.
You can download it on www.issuu.com / EAPN Europe.
