As part of the EaSI programme, the European Commission launched in 2019 the Business Development Services (BDS) Pilot, to further strengthen the provision of such services to refugees and migrants, and therefore contribute to their financial and social inclusion. Funding is still available to eligible financial intermediaries through the programme's implementing partner, the European Investment Fund (EIF).
The present call for applications lays down the detailed specifications to apply for Bilateral Cooperation Initiatives.
The EaSI Guarantee Instrument is funded from the EaSI Programme and is specifically dedicated to microfinance and social entrepreneurship. One of its key objectives is to increase the availability of and access to finance for vulnerable groups wishing to launch their own enterprises, micro-enterprises and social enterprises, both in their start-up and development phases.
The European Investment Fund (EIF) and the European Commission recently announced a new initiative to help micro-credit and social enterprise finance providers develop their businesses under the EU Programme for Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI).
The objective of this instrument is to build up the institutional capacity of selected financial intermediaries that have not yet reached sustainability or are in need of risk capital to sustain their growth and development.
As part of the policy response to address the economic disruption caused by COVID-19, certain measures are made available to Financial Intermediaries to provide dedicated support to micro-borrowers, microenterprises and social enterprises. These Support Measures enhance the availability of finance to EaSI target final recipients. The COVID-19 Support Measures shall consist, in principle, of an increase in the risk taking capacity of EaSI Guarantee through the amendment of certain terms of the instrument.