CALL FOR PROPOSALS - VP/2013/017 Supporting the demand

EUROPEAN COMMISSION
DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion
Europe 2020: Employment Policies
Sectorial Employment Challenges, Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship
BUDGET HEADING 04 04 18
Preparatory action
Social innovation driven by social business and young
entrepreneurship
CALL FOR PROPOSALS - VP/2013/017
Supporting the demand and supply side of the market for social enterprise
finance
In view of the large number of enquiries, please do not telephone.
Questions should be sent by e-mail only to: EMPL-VP-2013-017@ec.europa.eu.
To ensure a more rapid response it is helpful if applicants send their queries
in English, French or German.
The English version of the call is the original.
1
Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION – BACKGROUND ................................................... 3
2. OBJECTIVES – THEME – PRIORITIES............................................... 6
3. INDICATIVE TIMETABLE ................................................................. 10
4. BUDGET AVAILABLE ....................................................................... 10
5. ADMISSIBILITY REQUIREMENTS .................................................. 11
6. EXCLUSION CRITERIA ..................................................................... 11
6.1. Exclusion from participation ......................................................... 11
6.2. Exclusion from award.................................................................... 12
6.3. Supporting documents ................................................................... 12
7. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA..................................................................... 12
7.1. Eligible applicants ......................................................................... 12
7.2. Eligible activities ........................................................................... 13
8. SELECTION CRITERIA ...................................................................... 14
8.1. Financial capacity .......................................................................... 14
8.2. Operational capacity ...................................................................... 15
9. AWARD CRITERIA ............................................................................. 16
10. OTHER REQUIREMENTS .................................................................. 17
11. DEFINITIONS ....................................................................................... 17
12. LEGAL COMMITMENTS ................................................................... 18
13. PROCEDURE FOR THE SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS ............... 18
13.1. Electronic submission.................................................................... 18
13.2. Submission on paper ..................................................................... 18
13.3. Presentation of applications........................................................... 19
13.4. Contacts ......................................................................................... 20
ANNEX ......................................................................................................... 21
2
1.
INTRODUCTION – BACKGROUND
Social enterprises as drivers of social innovation
An important pillar of the European Union’s ambitious socio-economic strategy for the
next decade Europe 2020 is social innovation, which in essence is the process of
developing new approaches or practices for resolving societal challenges through
mobilising civil society actors to further inclusive, socially fairer and environmentally
sustainable economic development and social change. This includes re-designing and reengineering business models and value chains, new relationships or collaborations
between public, private and third sector organisations, and delivery mechanisms for
public policies.
In this context, social entrepreneurs and social enterprises1 are drivers of change that
operate on the basis of viable business models. They also generate jobs through activities
that meet social needs in the context of sustainable and inclusive development.
The financial, economic and fiscal crisis has drastic social consequences on Europe’s
young generation, which not only has been deprived of employment opportunities and
lacks social security, but also is experiencing a crisis of values and a lack of confidence
in the capacity of established institutions to tackle pressing social and environmental
issues. Therefore, young people are particularly interested in engaging in civil society
initiatives and in alternative business models such as social enterprises, which aim at
generating social impact and social value.
A specific barrier to developing and implementing social innovation initiatives is access
to finance that suits the specific needs of social entrepreneurs and social enterprises as
their driving forces. This is in particular relevant for organisations created or managed by
young or early stage social entrepreneurs,
Social entrepreneurship support under the EaSI programme
On 6 October 2011, the Commission proposed a Programme for Social Change and
Innovation2, now named Programme for Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI),
which will among other things provide support for social enterprises in the programming
period 2014-2020.
One of the objectives of the EaSI proposal is "to promote employment and social
inclusion by increasing the availability and accessibility of microfinance for vulnerable
groups and micro-enterprises, and by increasing access to finance for social enterprises."
In introducing a specific financial instrument for social enterprises, the EaSI proposal
translates into practice the action of the 90m euro European financial instrument
announced under the Social Business Initiative: in the Commission proposal, within the
Microfinance and social entrepreneurship axis, EUR 92.28 million were earmarked for
social enterprise support for start-up and existing social enterprises. The final figure
depends on the outcome of the negotiations on the Multiannual Financial Framework
2014-2020.
Under the EaSI, the Commission aims at supporting the development of the impact
investment market and facilitating access to finance for social enterprises by making
1
For the purpose of this Preparatory Action, the following terms are used synonymously:
 social business, social enterprise and social venture;
 social finance and impact investment
 Structural Funds and European Structural and Investment Funds
2
COM(2011)609 final
3
available hybrid financing for social enterprises which could take the form of a
combination of equity, quasi-equity, loan instruments and grants. The total amount that a
social enterprise can receive is EUR 500 000 (state aid rules to be respected). Support
under the programme will be limited to enterprises, not listed on the stock market, with a
maximum of EUR 30m turnover (most social enterprises are smaller).
For the implementation of the financial instrument, the Commission will cooperate with
a financial institution. The selected organisation could provide funding to social
enterprises directly or indirectly through intermediaries such as impact investment funds.
Social entrepreneurship under the European Social Fund (ESF)
The European Social Fund (ESF)3 was established by the Treaty of Rome and is the
longest existing Structural Fund. It is the main financial instrument through which the
EU translates its strategic labour market, human resources development and social
inclusion policy aims into action.
The implementation takes the form of Operational Programmes (OPs) defined in
coherence with national strategic reference frameworks. The OPs are drawn up by the
Member State or any authority designated by the Member State. They include
information on the priority axes and their specific targets (Article 37 of Regulation
1083/2006). For each OP, the Member State designates a number of authorities,
including a Managing Authority. The responsibilities of the Managing Authority
include ensuring that operations are selected for funding in accordance with the criteria
applicable to the operational programme (Article 60 of Regulation 1083/2006).
On 6 October 2011, the Commission proposed the new Regulations that will govern the
European Social Fund in the period 2014-20204. One of the foreseen investment
priorities reads "Promoting the social economy and social enterprises" (Article 3) 5. Title
IV of the proposed general regulation6 widens the scope for the use of financial
engineering instruments under the structural funds. Thus the new ESF can be expected to
provide possibilities for the promotion of social entrepreneurship through financial
instruments.
Barriers in the social finance market
Barriers to develop and strengthen the market for social finance have a different weight
across Europe, the most relevant being:
 On the supply side: lack of suitable financial instrument in place; few investors
prepared to invest; scarcity of significant public sector initiative; little experience in
specifying a sustainable investment strategy and risk/return profile of a social
finance fund; lack of capacities and tools to assess the viability of business plans and
social impact, insufficient quality of investment propositions, absence of market
facilitators (such as qualified intermediaries and market places) or business angels
etc.
3
In the programming period 2007-2013 the ESF is governed by the following Regulations: Council
Regulation (EC) No 1083/2006, Regulation (EC) No 1081/2006, Commission Regulation (EC) No
1828/2006, available at: http://ec.europa.eu/esf/main.jsp?catId=33&langId=en
4
COM(2011) 607 final /2,
5
Ibid.
6
COM(2011) 615 final/2
4
 On the demand side: insufficient orientation on capital markets, but on the grant
economy; legal structures which discourage the attraction of (quasi-) equity; lack of
transparency of the market for social finance; insufficient experience in making
proposals for external financing, or for combining different sources and types of
finance (e.g. grants/loans); costs of getting investment ready; insufficient
infrastructures /business development services/ incubators, etc.
European Parliament Preparatory Action
The European Parliament recognised the need to overcome these barriers through smart
action and asked the Commission to implement this preparatory action, “working with
potential finance providers (in particular managing authorities for structural fund
programmes, notably those financed by the ESF) and financial intermediaries in a limited
number of pilot regions”. The preparatory action is aimed at helping “develop and
establish feasible, suitable and reliable schemes or funds providing equity or mezzanine
funding (including venture philanthropy)”. The European Parliament expected the results
of these learning pilots to be beneficial for the implementation of the relevant Europe
2020 flagship initiatives, notably “Youth on the Move”, “An agenda for New Skills and
Jobs”, “Innovation Union” and the “European Platform against Poverty and Social
Exclusion”, and for preparing the ground for an effective use of the ESF and other funds
after 2014.
The preparatory action will be implemented within the meaning of Article 54(2) of
Regulation (EU, Euratom) No. 966/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council
of 25 October 2012. A total budget of EUR 1 million has been earmarked for this
purpose.
5
OBJECTIVES – THEME – PRIORITIES
2.
General objectives
The objective of the preparatory action is to identify, develop, promote and disseminate
the good practice of national, regional or local governments and of financial
intermediaries in assisting young social entrepreneurs at times of high youth
unemployment. As such, the preparatory action will contribute to realising the potential
of young and social entrepreneurship, emphasised also in the Commission’s Social
Business Initiative 2011, Annual Growth Survey 2011, as well as in the Communications
’Towards a job-rich recovery’ 2012 and ‘Social Investment for Growth and Cohesion’
2013.
More precisely, this preparatory action aims to support the development of an impact
investment market that would enable more social enterprises to take on repayable finance
for developing and scaling their innovative business model:

Through institution and capacity building with committed actors to boost the
supply of social finance, and

By facilitating and preparing access to finance for social enterprises through
capacity building that generates effective demand for social finance by
developing their “investment readiness”.
The main task will be to develop and establish feasible, suitable and reliable financial
instruments (schemes or funds providing equity or mezzanine funding, including venture
philanthropy). In doing so, the beneficiary will explore and test effective ways of
establishing, consolidating, sustaining and linking social finance schemes and
instruments, organize learning on what works and how, as well as what does not work,
and why.
The Preparatory Action is addressed to social enterprises in their early stages, and to
social enterprises started or developed by young people that have the potential for
 realising innovative solutions with a clear social and environmental impact,
 scaling their innovative approach, or for
 transferring their approach for replication in particular to young entrepreneurs.
Thus, the preparatory action will pave the way for
 a swift uptake of EU social finance instruments after 2014 (notably the EaSI
instrument and financial instruments under the European Structural and
Investment Funds) by the creation of a pipeline of demand of impact investment
actors for partnerships with the EaSI instrument to share risk, improve
capitalization, and build capacity, in particular from Member States with less
developed impact investment markets;
 experimenting with different models to develop the supply and demand side of
the social finance market, which will provide a sound basis for fine-tuning the
capacity building component of the EaSI instrument to promote social
entrepreneurship;
 learning from good practice in developing and enhancing social finance across the
Union, through organized sharing and disseminating of expertise and experience,
and through presenting practical examples that demonstrate how (public-private)
partnerships can effectively boost the supply of social finance through investing
6
in or complementing suitable financial products, as well as the demand through
assisting social enterprises in getting investment ready.
In order to achieve these objectives, the Commission will have to work together with
potential finance providers and financial intermediaries in a limited number of pilot
regions. The preparatory action will show ways in which support for young and social
entrepreneurship can be most effectively incorporated into regional, urban or local
development strategies. Special focus will be on the use that could be made, in the 20142020 period, of EU financial instruments, in particular the Structural Funds.
Specific objectives
In order to take into account the variety of market situations in different Member States,
the call offers several strands. Each of them addresses a specific configuration of barriers.
Strands A, B and C act on the supply side of social finance, strand D on the demand side.
For all strands, the focus should be on social ventures that aim at social impact, are
financially sustainable, want to scale up (including through franchise) and, for that
purpose, want to raise between EUR 100 000 and EUR 500 000.
Strand A: Establishment of social finance partnerships
This strand is particularly relevant for actions in countries in which the social finance
market is not developed yet. It aims at addressing situations in which no suitable social
finance instrument is in place, with a lack of investors prepared to launch or participate in
a financial instrument. Although there is little experience in specifying a sustainable
investment strategy and risk/return profile of a social finance instrument, there is some
openness amongst potential investors and/or public bodies to contribute to establishing a
suitable finance instrument.
In order to explore options to close the gap in supply of social finance for innovative
social enterprises and to mobilise and commit potential investors and stakeholders to
cooperate, the grant aims at reducing the risk of engaging in the first steps towards a
social finance instrument by facilitating the development of a consortium and
commitment to act. It is also meant to encourage learning from good practice examples
and expertise that can guide the formation of this partnership.
Strand B: Establishment of social finance instruments and mechanisms
This strand is particularly relevant for actions in countries with a relatively low level of
development of the social finance market. It aims at addressing situations in which there
is no suitable social finance instrument in place and potential investors and
intermediaries lack expertise that can guide the drafting of contractual agreements needed
for setting up a financial instrument.
In order to mobilise and commit potential investors and stakeholders to act and to
cooperate with a view to setting up a financial instrument, the grant is meant to reduce
the risk of innovation in the social finance market by facilitating the acquisition of
specific expertise in this field.
Strand C: Establishment of collaborative funding models for social enterprises
7
This strand is particularly relevant for actions in countries in which different types of
actors are already operating in the social finance market, but in isolation. As a result,
these different types of social finance providers (foundations, social investors, public
authorities, notably ESF managing authorities) apply a broad range of incoherent and
unrelated eligibility criteria return expectations, conditions for repayment, requirements
for accounting and reporting etc. In addition, there is a lack of transparency which makes
it difficult for social entrepreneurs to develop an efficient mix of funding sources. The
absence of suitable platforms, market facilitators (such as qualified intermediaries and
market places) or business angels has prevented cooperation between investors, donors
and public authorities.
In order to improve the availability and effectiveness of suitable and needs-oriented
financial instruments for social enterprises, this strand aims at mobilising and committing
potential investors, donors and providers of business development services to co-operate
with a view to finding innovative approaches to providing finance to social enterprises.
Strand D: Development of investment readiness support for social enterprises
This strand addresses the insufficient investment-readiness of social enterprises. Even in
countries where there is a large pool of capital willing to invest in social enterprises,
investments often remain complicated as social enterprises are not "investment ready".
This can be explained sometimes by their low interest in repayable financial instruments
due to an orientation towards the so-called grant economy, but also by a lack of
necessary documents such as impact reports or business plans and insufficient experience
in making proposals for external financing, or for combining different sources and types
of finance (e.g. grants/loans). In many countries, the quality and quantity of start-up and
business development services for social enterprises (incubators etc.) is unsatisfactory.
In order to generate a pipeline of social enterprises prepared to access social finance,
including under the EaSI programme and the future structural funds, this strand aims at
improving the offer of specialised, experienced quality assistance and advice that help
address social enterprises' weak capacity in acquiring external financing or for combining
different types of finance.
8
Expected results
Strand A: Establishment of social finance partnerships
A mobilisation of potential investors and intermediaries that would sign a Memorandum
of Understanding between private, public and not-for profit-partners documenting
-
the commitment of the partners (including their roles and contributions) to contribute
to, and to collaborate in, establishing a financial product providing access to finance
for social enterprises,
-
the outline of an investment strategy for this financial product (objectives, action
plan, resources, risks/return profile etc.); and
-
a description of the strategy and actions planned for achieving this as well as the links
and synergies with start-up and business development services for social enterprises.
Strand B: Establishment of social finance instruments and mechanisms
An activation and commitment of investors and intermediaries that would sign a set of
legal documents required by EU and national rules to establish a financial instrument,
and necessary agreements between private, public and not-for-profit-partners,
documenting:
-
the legal agreement of the partners (specifying their roles and contributions) to
finance, set up and manage a financial tool providing access to finance for social
enterprises
-
the detailed investment strategy, governance structures, obligations and benefits of
investors, management rules and procedures as well as monitoring and evaluation
arrangements
-
all contractual arrangements needed for the registration of the financial instrument,
for fundraising, for investments, lending or underwriting and for the conduct of
management.
Strand C: Establishment of collaborative funding models for social enterprises
An innovative model of cooperation between investors and intermediaries that would
sign a Memorandum of Understanding between private, public and not-for-profit partners
(notably strategic philanthropic investors) documenting
-
the agreement of the partners (including theirs roles and contributions) to collaborate
in financing social enterprises
-
the detailed cooperation agreements for implementing the joint strategy, and for
ensuring synergies and added value; and
-
describing the actions planned to test (for a defined period – up to 9 months) a finetuned mix of financial products that facilitates investments in social enterprises.
Strand D: Development of investment readiness support for social enterprises
An improved (in particular in terms of the quality, quantity or geographical outreach)
provision of:
-
integrated assistance to social enterprises in delivering a realistic, but effective
investment readiness plan.
-
assistance in the contacts and negotiations with potential investors.
9
3.
INDICATIVE TIMETABLE
Stages
Date and time or
indicative period
a)
Publication of the call
b)
Deadline for submitting applications
c)
Evaluation period
d)
Information to successful applicants
January 2014
e)
Signature of grant agreement
January 2014
f)
Starting date of the action/ work programme
g)
Information to unsuccessful applicants
4.
October 2013
15 November 2013
November – December
2013
Between December 2013
and March 2014
January 2014
BUDGET AVAILABLE
The total budget earmarked for the co-financing of actions is estimated at EUR 1 million.
The maximum grant will be
-
for strand A: EUR 75 000
-
for strand B: EUR 125 000
-
for strand C: EUR 125 000
-
for strand D: EUR 100 000
The EU grant is limited to a maximum co-funding rate of 80% of the total eligible costs
taking into account the maximum grant amounts above.
The Commission reserves the right not to distribute all the funds available.
10
5.
ADMISSIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
To be eligible, applications must:
 Be sent no later than the deadline for submitting applications referred to in section 3.
 Be complete and include all the documents indicated in the checklist and the text of
the call.
 Respect the EC co-financing percentage as stipulated in chapter 4 (budget available).
Applications must be submitted in writing (see section 13), using the application form
and
electronic
submission
system
available
at
https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/swim/external/displayWelcome.do and be sent in two
copies as a paper application.
Applicants are invited to submit their project proposal preferably in English, French or
German, in order to facilitate the treatment of the proposals and carry the evaluation
through as quickly as possible.
Failure to comply with those requirements will lead to the rejection of the application.
6.
EXCLUSION CRITERIA
6.1. Exclusion from participation
Applicants and co-applicants must be in conformity with Articles 93(1), 94 and 96(2)(a)
of the Financial Regulation, Applicants will be excluded from participating in the call for
proposals procedure if they are in any of the following situations:
(a)
they are bankrupt or being wound up, are having their affairs administered by the
courts, have entered into an arrangement with creditors, have suspended business
activities, are the subject of proceedings concerning those matters, or are in any
analogous situation arising from a similar procedure provided for in national
legislation or regulations;
(b)
they or persons having powers of representation, decision making or control over
them have been convicted of an offence concerning their professional conduct by a
judgment of a competent authority of a Member State which has the force of res
judicata;
(c)
they have been guilty of grave professional misconduct proven by any means
which the contracting authority can justify including by decisions of the EIB and
international organisations;
(d)
they are not in compliance with their obligations relating to the payment of social
security contributions or the payment of taxes in accordance with the legal
provisions of the country in which they are established or with those of the country
of the RAO or those of the country where the grant agreement is to be performed;
(e)
they or persons having powers of representation, decision making or control over
them have been the subject of a judgment which has the force of res judicata for
fraud, corruption, involvement in a criminal organisation, money laundering or any
other illegal activity, where such an illegal activity is detrimental to the Union's
financial interests;
(f)
they are currently subject to an administrative penalty referred to in Article 109(1).
11
6.2. Exclusion from award
Applicants will not be granted financial assistance if, in the course of the grant award
procedure, they:
(a)
are subject to a conflict of interest;
(b)
are guilty of misrepresentation in supplying the information required by the
Commission as a condition of participation in the grant award procedure or fail to
supply this information;
(c)
find themselves in one of the situations of exclusion, referred to in section 7.1.
Administrative and financial penalties may be imposed on applicants or co-applicants
who are guilty of misrepresentation.
6.3. Supporting documents
Applicants and co-applicants must sign a declaration on their honour certifying that they
are not in one of the situations referred to in articles 106(1) and 107 to 109, filling in the
relevant form attached to the application form accompanying the call for proposals (cf.
no. 3 of check list in annex).
7.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
7.1. Eligible applicants
To be eligible,
- Applicants and co-applicants must be legally established in one of the Member States
of the EU
-
Applicants and co-applicants must be public, private or not-for-profit entities.
-
For actions dealing with the supply side of social finance (strands A, B and C),
applicants must implement the action in cooperation with at least two co-applicants
with a view to working towards the access of finance for social enterprises and in
particular young entrepreneurs7. For strand B, the applicant or one of the coapplicants must be an investor committed to invest/co-invest in the financial
instrument to be established. Both applications under strands A and C are encouraged
to involve investors in the consortium (as applicant, co-applicant, associate or
affiliated organizations).
In order to assess the applicants and co-applicants' eligibility, the following supporting
documents are requested:
-
Legal entity form accompanied by the relevant supporting documents (see no. 6 of
check list in annex)
-
A letter of mandate from each co-applicant (cf. no. 4 of check list in annex)
-
A signed letter of commitment (in English, French or German) from each coapplicant explaining the nature of the co-applicant's involvement (technical and
financial) in the activities described in the work plan with the aim to achieve the
required results (cf. no. 7 of check list in annex).
7
The term "young" refers to both the age and/or the early-stage experience as entrepreneur.
12
-
In addition, applications under strand B should include a signed letter of
commitment from a private and/or public investor (applicant or co-applicant) that
has committed itself to invest in / co-invest with the financial instrument to be
established (cf. no. 7 of check list in annex).
-
Applications under strand C should provide a letter of intention from a potential
investor willing to invest or co-invest in the financial products (cf. no. 7 of check list
in annex).
7.2. Eligible activities
To be eligible, actions must be fully carried out in the EU Member States (one or
several).
Strand A: Establishment of social finance partnerships
Under this strand the following types of activities are eligible:
-
Assessment of the potential demand (e.g. through a workshop with stakeholders and
social enterprises)
-
Identification and building commitment of potential investors and financial
intermediaries
-
Identification of suitable managers for the financial product envisaged
-
Knowledge and know-how transfer from other Member States (e.g. study visit, expert
workshop)
-
Assessment of the suitability and feasibility of setting up a sustainable social finance
mechanism;
Strand B: Establishment of social finance instruments and mechanisms
Under this stand, the following types of activities are eligible:
-
Work of financial experts, lawyers etc. to draft the legal documents for setting up the
social finance instrument or mechanism required by EU or national legislation
-
Professional work to draft the strategy for the operations of the financial instrument
(including fund raising and developing capacities for managing investments)
-
Translations of legal documents in case proven models can be replicated or adapted
-
IT services in case the financial instrument uses web-tools or is based on a web
platform
Strand C: Establishment of collaborative funding models for social enterprises
Under this strand, the following types of activities are eligible:
-
Design, assessment of the feasibility and test (for a period of up to 9 months) of
innovative models of cooperation between investors, donors and public authorities in
fields such as syndicate investments, revenue share agreements between social
enterprises and investors, pooling of donations of foundations to provide new
instruments such as guarantees or repayable grants, crowd funding, social impact
bonds, joint procedures and resources for due diligence procedures, etc.
13
Strand D: Development of investment readiness support for social enterprises
Under this strand, the following types of activities are eligible:
-
Investment readiness services (to individual social enterprises or groups of social
enterprises) that aim at assisting, developing, strengthening and articulating an
investment case to typically raise between EUR 100 000 and EUR 500 000 of capital.
These services include advice and consultancy, mentoring and coaching, dedicated
capacity building, training and peer learning to social enterprises from across
different industries and defined geographical locations.
Key service areas in support of investment readiness include, but are not limited to
the following:
o Strategy (strategic objectives, strategy review and development of sustainable
business models for social enterprises, values, model of change and commitment
to change, stakeholder involvement)
o Business planning (business model assessment, business plan review and refining,
market analysis, options analysis, implementation of the plan, measuring
progress, evaluation and improvement)
o Social impact (social value and impact measurement, methods and capability
development to articulate, measure, assure and report on social impact)
o Finance (Financial modelling, cash flow and financial forecasts, accountancy,
finances, tax planning)
o Sales & contracting (marketing strategy and customer base development, unique
selling point, branding, public sector procurement processes, payment by results)
o Governance & performance (legal structures, governance models, risk
assessment, quality management, social franchising)
o Investment (capital structure, fundraising strategies and practices, identifying and
engaging with potential investors, investor panels and showcasing events)
Implementation period
Projects should start between the 2nd of December 2013 and the 3rd of March 2014.
Expenditure incurred before the signature of the grant agreement is at the applicant's risk.
Therefore, applicants should note that if their project is approved they will not
necessarily receive the grant agreement prior to the start date of the action and should
take this into account in programming the timing of their project.
The maximum duration of projects is 12 months. Applications for projects scheduled to
run for a longer period than that specified in this call for proposals will not be accepted.
8.
SELECTION CRITERIA
8.1. Financial capacity
Only organisations with the necessary financial and operational capacity may be
considered for award.
Applicants and co-applicants must have stable and sufficient sources of funding to
maintain their activity throughout the period during which the action is being carried out
or the year for which the grant is awarded and to participate in its funding. The
14
applicants' financial capacity will be assessed on the basis of the following supporting
documents to be submitted with the application.
All applicants and co-applicants have to submit the declaration on their honour, as well
as the profit and loss account and the balance sheet for the last financial year for which
the accounts were closed (cf. no. 10 of check list in annex). For newly created entities,
the business plan might replace the above documents.
The verification of financial capacity does not apply to public bodies.
8.2. Operational capacity
Applicants and co-applicants must have the professional competencies as well as
appropriate qualifications (relevant experience and expertise) necessary to complete the
proposed work programme. In this respect, applicants have to submit:
 A written declaration attesting professional competencies and appropriate
qualification of the team carrying out the activity proposed (cf. no 13 of check list
in annex),
 Curriculum vitae of the project manager indicating clearly the current employer
with whom there exists either a permanent or temporary contract of employment
as well as the curriculum vitae or description of the profile of the people primarily
responsible for managing and implementing the operation (cf. no 14 of check list
in annex).
 References to related work or similar work undertaken over the past three years
by the applicants, co-applicants, affiliated organisations or by experts that will be
in charge of the action. Please identify for each project the objectives, location,
results, organisation's role and degree of involvement, cost etc. (cf. no 15 of check
list in annex).
In addition, applicants have to submit the following documents in the annex of the online
application and by post (cf. no 16 of check list in annex), depending on the strand they
are applying for:
Strand A: Establishment of social finance partnerships
-
No additional documents required
Strand B: Establishment of social finance instruments and mechanisms
-
An investment strategy (specifying objectives, action plan, resources, risks/return
profile etc. for the financial instrument to be established) agreed between the
partners,
-
A sound (internal or external) feasibility assessment of the investment strategy,
-
An identification of an organisation that could potentially manage the financial
instrument.
These documents should not exceed 45 000 characters in total.
Strand C: Establishment of collaborative funding models for social enterprises
15
-
A joint strategy (specifying objectives, action plan, collaboration fields and
mechanisms etc.) for aligning resources and investments agreed between the partners,
and its advantages over current approaches and practices.
This document should not exceed 30 000 characters in total.
Strand D: Development of investment readiness support for social enterprises
-
A description of skills, experience and track record in investment readiness support of
the applicants (and co-applicants, if applicable),
-
A description of the organisations (co-applicants, if applicable) providing access to
capital (such as impact investment funds, angel investors or fund managers) the
applicant intends to cooperate with,
-
Three references from social enterprises and at least one reference from a funder or
investor which the applicant or the co-applicant has worked with on investment
readiness within the last two years including details of the services provided, the
investment targets and achievements.
These documents should not exceed 40 000 characters in total.
9.
AWARD CRITERIA
Eligible applications/projects will be assessed on the basis of the following criteria:
- Relevance of the proposal to the call (25%).
In this respect, the application should present how the proposed activities of the
applicant organisation and/or co-applicants enlarge the size, extend the scope (by
covering other Member States or regions) or complement the type of established
services beyond the operations in the last years.
-
Quality of the proposal, including in terms of potential sustainability (30%)
In this respect, proposals should include a description of the geographical coverage
and the type of social enterprises targeted, activities, deliverables, milestones,
assumptions, risks and how these will be managed, as well as an outline of alternative
plans.
o For the supply side (strands A, B, C) proposals should also include a description
of the state of play regarding social finance supply (including stakeholder and
problem analysis), potential demand (including assessment of potential demand
and barriers to consolidate and scale).
o For the demand side (strand D), proposals should include an assessment of
barriers to securing impact investment, potential of social enterprises to innovate
and grow, and of their investment needs, and description of the content of the
proposed investment readiness programme for social enterprises, including the
key services to be provided (as outlined in section 6.2 D above) and the
methodology for their delivery.
-
Impact of the proposal (25%)
In this respect, proposals should include a brief description of the envisaged results.
-
The cost / efficiency of the operation (20%).
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With consideration of the budget available for this call for proposals, the proposals with
the highest evaluation scores will be selected for award. Proposals with a total score of
less than 65% of the maximum score will not be considered for award.
10.
OTHER REQUIREMENTS
-
Participation in a platform for exchange of experience: the selected organisations
have to participate in a platform for the exchange of experience. This will involve
participation in four workshops as well as contributions to the common web-based
learning platform to share the experience gained under this call. The costs of the
participation of at least one participant for each organisation to the workshops should
be included in the budget of the proposal (one night/workshop). The participants will
be organisations supported under this call and other competent organisations.
-
Reporting: The selected organisations have to submit quarterly reports (in English)
describing the activities undertaken, problems faced and how these were overcome,
tools used, results achieved, learning needs, plans for the next steps.
11.
DEFINITIONS
Financial
instrument
Financial
intermediary
Investment
readiness
Social
enterprise
Social
innovation
Impact
investment
Financial product that may take the form of equity or quasi-equity
investments, secured or unsecured loans, guarantees, or other risk-sharing
instruments, grants and other type of participation in an enterprise
A financial instrument of the European Union seeks to address specific
policy objectives of the Union.
A financial institution or contractual arrangement that facilitates the
channelling of funds between savers/investors/lenders/donors to social
enterprises in the form of financial instruments
The capacity and capability of a social enterprise to seek and utilise
investment. Key elements that help to make a social enterprise investment
ready include effective leadership, business planning and strategy,
methods and capability to articulate, measure, assure and report on social
and environmental impact, risk assessment, quality management
An undertaking, regardless of its legal form, which:
– has as its primary objective the achievement of measurable, positive
social impacts rather than generating profit for its owners, members
and shareholders
 uses its profits first and foremost to achieve its primary objective
 is managed in an entrepreneurial, accountable and transparent way, in
particular by involving workers, customers and/or stakeholders
affected by its business activities.
The process of developing new (combinations of) approaches or practices
for resolving societal challenges through mobilising civil society actors to
further inclusive, socially fairer and environmentally sustainable
economic development and social change. This includes re-designing and
re-engineering business models and value chains, new relationships or
collaborations between public, private and third sector organisations, and
delivery mechanisms for public policies
Financial activity which has an expectation of both a specified social
outcome and an explicit financial return for its investors (usually below
“market-rate”). This could include a wide range of financial products.
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12.
LEGAL COMMITMENTS
Successful applicants will receive two original copies of the grant agreement for
acceptance and signature. Both these copies must be signed first by the beneficiary and
then sent back to the Commission, which will then return one to the applicant once it has
been signed by both parties.
The grant agreement may include corrections and deletion of ineligibility costs or
activities made by the Commission – therefore the applicant should carefully read the
whole agreement, and the budget and work programme sections in particular, before
signing and returning the copies to the Commission.
Please note that the award of a grant does not establish an entitlement for
subsequent years.
13.
PROCEDURE FOR THE SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS
Proposals must be submitted in accordance with the formal requirements and by the
deadline set out under sections 3 and 5.
Eligible organisations can apply for more than one activity under each of the four strands,
and for more than one strand. No modification to the application is allowed once the
deadline for submission has elapsed.
13.1. Electronic submission
The compulsory on-line grant application form is an electronic form which must be filled
by using the Internet Web system "SWIM" at the following internet address:
https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/swim/external/displayWelcome.do
This system allows the introduction, edition, validation, printing and submission of the
grant application form. Once the application is submitted electronically, a print out of an
exemplar has to be signed by the legal representative of the organization submitting the
proposal and be sent to the Commission as per point 4.2. After submission of the
application electronically no changes are possible.
At the above quoted web site other requested forms, the financial guidelines for
applicants and other useful documents can be found.
13.2. Submission on paper
Please send your covering letter of application, together with all the documents listed in
the checklist (annex to this document), as signed originals as well as one copy of all these
documents (in total: 2 sets of documents), either:
a) by post (date of postmark serving as proof of timely shipment) to the following
address
Call for proposals VP/2013/017
European Commission
Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion Directorate-General
Unit EMPL-C.2 - J-27 06/062
18
1049 Brussels
Belgium
or
b) by courier service (date of deposit slip serving as proof of timely shipment) to
the following address
Call for proposals VP/2013/017
European Commission
Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion Directorate-General
Unit EMPL-C.2 - J-27 06/062
Service central de réception du courrier
Avenue du Bourget, 1-2
1140 Brussels
Belgium
or
c) delivered by hand, in person or by an authorised representative (date of
acknowledgement of receipt by the Commission service serving as proof for
timely submission) to the following address
Call for proposals VP/2013/017
European Commission
Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion Directorate-General
Unit EMPL-C.2 - J-27 06/062
Service central de reception du courier
Avenue du Bourget, 1-2
1140 Brussels
Belgium
In case of hand-delivery, please keep a receipt as proof of submission, signed and dated
by the official in the Commission’s central mail department who took delivery. This
department is open from 08.00 to 17.00 from Monday to Thursday and from 08.00 to
16.00 on Friday; it is closed on Saturdays, Sundays and on Commission holidays. Please
note that for security reasons, hand deliveries (including courier services) are not
accepted in other Commission buildings.
The European Commission will notify applicants once the evaluation procedure is
completed. Requests for information concerning the progress of dossiers sent before
the end of the evaluation procedure will not be answered.
Applicants will be informed in writing about the results of the selection process.
Unsuccessful applicants will receive a letter stating the reasons for refusal.
13.3. Presentation of applications
Regarding the presentation of the application file, it is recommended to:
-
follow the order of documents as listed in the checklist in Annex;
print the documents double-sided, where possible;
use only 2-hole folders (please do not bind or glue).
If an applicant submits more than one proposal, each one must be submitted separately.
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13.4. Contacts
Contacts between the awarding authority and potential applicants can only take place in
certain circumstances and under the following conditions:
a) Before the submission deadline
At the request of the applicant, the Commission may provide information solely
for the purpose of clarifying the nature of the call.
Any requests for additional information must be made in writing by e-mail only
to the address given below. Requests for additional information should reach the
Commission at the latest 5 days before the deadline for submission. After this
date, the Commission does neither commit to provide a timely answer nor to
publish the corresponding information.
The Commission may, on its own initiative, inform interested parties of any error,
inaccuracy, omission or other clerical error in the text of the call for proposals.
Any additional information including that referred to above will be published on
the Internet in accordance with the various call for proposal-documents.
b) After the submission deadline
If clarifications or not substantial adjustments are requested or if obvious clerical
errors in the proposal need to be corrected, the Commission may contact the
applicant provided the terms of the proposal are not modified as a result. This is
generally done by email. It is entirely the responsibility of applicants to ensure
that all contact information provided is accurate and functioning. In case of any
change of contact details, please send an email with the new contact details to
EMPL-VP-2013-017@ec.europa.eu.
Contact address:
EMPL-VP-2013-017@ec.europa.eu
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ANNEX
Checklist: The Evaluation Committee will not examine applications lacking one or more
of the following documents:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Official covering letter of application quoting the reference number of the call for proposals (VP/2013/017) with
the original signature of the legal representative of the applicant organization.
Print-out of the duly completed and submitted on-line application form, dated and with the original
signature of the legal representative.
NOTE: The on-line form must first be electronically submitted before printing. After the electronic submission no
further changes to the application are possible. The detailed and signed print-out must be submitted as set in
section 13 of the specifications.
A signed declaration of honour (to be found on-line as an annex to the application form) to be provided by all the
applicants (lead applicant, and each co-applicant) and the affiliated entities, certifying that the entity is not in one
of the situations listed in Article 106 §1 and 107 to 109 of the Financial Regulation as well as the financial and
operational capacity. This must have the original signature of the legal representative of each entity,
A letter of mandate from each co-applicant. This mandate must follow the template provided, be written on the
official letterhead paper of the organisation and have the original signature of the entity's legal representative. It
must also be submitted electronically in annex to the on-line application form.
"Financial identification" forms duly completed by the lead applicant only with the original signature of the
account holder and the original signature and stamp of the bank. The financial identification form can be found
annexed to the on-line application form.
NOTE: The bank account must be held in the name of the applicant. Applications cannot be accepted with an
account held in the name of an individual.
"Legal entity" forms for the lead applicant and each co-applicant, duly completed with the original signature of
the legal representative of the entity. The legal entities form can be found annexed to the on-line application form.
The lead applicant and co-applicants must also provide:
 a copy of the certificate of official registration or other official document attesting to the establishment of the
entity (for public bodies, a copy of the law, decree or decision establishing the entity in question);
 a copy of the articles of association/statutes or equivalent (if available), proving the eligibility of the
organisation;
 a copy of a document confirming the applicant's tax or VAT number, if available.
A signed letter of commitment of each co-applicant and affiliated entity, explaining the nature of their
involvement (technical and financial).
Associate organisations should provide a signed letter of commitment, explaining the nature of their
involvement in the action or any other type of support to it. No letter of mandate is required.
Applications under strand B should include a letter of commitment from a private and/or public investor
(lead applicant, co-applicant) that has committed itself to invest / co-invest in the financial instrument to be
established.
Applications under strand C should provide a letter of intention from a potential investor willing to invest or
co-invest in the financial products
These letters of commitment shall be annexed to the on-line submission form and shall be submitted in English,
French or German.
8
9
10
11
13
14
15
A letter of commitment from a third party that has committed to make a cash contribution to any action
applying under any strand (if such contribution is available).
Legal or capital link with the parent organisation - only for Affiliated entities.
The profit and loss account and the most recent balance sheets of the lead applicant and each co-applicant (not
applicable for public bodies). The balance sheet, by definition, must include assets and liabilities. The entity shall
specify the currency used. For newly created entities, the business plan might replace the above-mentioned
documents.
A detailed description of work for the proposed action, including the time-table and the distribution of roles and
responsibilities between partner organisations (see also section 9 award criteria), signed by the legal representative
of the lead applicant. This document must also be provided as an annex to the on-line application. The detailed
description of the work program and should not exceed 25 000 characters.
Written declaration on professional competence of the team.
CV of the Project Manager and CV or description of the profile of people primarily responsible for managing and
implementing the action.
References to related work or similar work undertaken over the past three years by the applicants, co-applicants,
affiliated organisations or by experts that will be in charge of the action. (max. 20 000 characters)
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16
Additional documents requested for each strand under section 8.2 in the call.
22