Members of the FEAD Network came together in Brussels on 7 November to discuss synergies between the European Social Fund (ESF) and the Fund for European Aid for the Most Deprived (FEAD). One hundred Network members gathered to meet and learn from other organisations how FEAD and ESF operations can be structured to complement each other.

© Yannick Renuart

Through the Network, those working to reduce the worst forms of poverty in European countries are able to share good practice and work together to develop new ideas. The presentations touched upon ways to help people transition out of poverty through sustainable assistance while stimulating self determination.

Lessons learned

At the meeting, speakers from NGOs across Europe including Italy, France, Malta, Finland, Croatia and Poland presented current and past projects. They presented lessons learned and the challenges they faced in their projects, to help network members build upon and progress work in their own organisations.

Event participants also took part in interactive discussion rounds, where they debated the success criteria for links between FEAD and ESF, the challenges and limiting factors for connections between the two funds and ways to overcome these challenges. Delegates also heard about a recent €100million call for tenders that combines ESF and FEAD funding in Italy and how to apply.

Online community

In addition to regular network meetings, the Network members stay in touch through an animated online community hosted on Yammer. The meeting will be followed by a live chat on the FEAD Network Yammer group, where Network members can have follow up discussions with the speakers online.

Images, presentations and the meeting report are also published in the Yammer group. Sign up to access or to receive alerts from the FEAD Network.