About the event

The European Commission's Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (DG EMPL) and the European Investment Bank are organising the fi-compass thematic workshop ‘Designing and launching ESF+ financial instruments: A hands-on workshop for practitioners and decision-makers’ on 2-3 December 2026, in Brussels.

Financial instruments under the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) are being successfully used in several EU Member States to support EU social policy objectives, helping to expand access to finance for entrepreneurs from vulnerable and disadvantaged groups, social enterprises and other organisations investing in skills, employment and social inclusion. Looking ahead, interest in ESF+ financial instruments is growing as Member States seek efficient ways to support employment, skills, social inclusion and the social economy, while ensuring that scarce public resources can be reused and leveraged to attract additional sources of financing.

The practical workshop will:     

  • Showcase real-world examples of ESF+ financial instruments, presented by practitioners from managing authorities and bodies implementing these instruments from a range of EU Member States,
  • Provide hands-on insights into the key practicalities of the different stages of the financial instrument lifecycle, from identifying needs and market gaps to designing, setting up and implementing a financial instrument,
  • Support participants in developing and discussing their own financial instrument concepts through an interactive workshop format,
  • Facilitate peer-to-peer exchange between ministries, managing authorities, bodies implementing financial instruments and other stakeholders on implementation challenges and practical solutions.

The format is suitable both for practitioners and decision-makers new to financial instruments and for those already experienced in ESF+ financial instruments who are considering expanding their use to new policy areas.

Registration is mandatory and participation is subject to approval.
Seats are limited, please register as soon as possible. 
Registrations close on Monday, 23 November 2026.

Target audience

The workshop is specifically designed for decision-makers and practitioners from:

  • Managing authorities and intermediate bodies responsible for ESF+ programmes,
  • National, regional and local public authorities involved in employment, skills and social inclusion policies,
  • Bodies implementing financial instruments, including national promotional banks and institutions and other financial intermediaries, and
  • other stakeholders with practical experience or an interest in ESF+ financial instruments.

This practical workshop will take place directly after FI Campus 2026, which will be held on 30 November - 2 December 2026 in the same venue in Brussels.

Participants are encouraged to attend both events to benefit from a broader exchange on financial instruments. Participants interested in attending both events are required to register for each event individually.

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