ESF+ (21-27): Empowerment for Life and Career Orientation

ESF+ (21-27): Empowerment for Life and Career Orientation represents a continuous grant program for Salzburg that, from September 1, 2025, until the budget is exhausted, supports projects aimed at strengthening employable individuals facing placement barriers. The goal is to build employability and enable individual career orientation through psychosocial support, case management, and targeted skills development. By deploying interdisciplinary networks with experts from social and labor market sectors, a sustainable development of perspectives is pursued, empowering participants to make independent career choices ("empowerment"). The funding offer includes measures in the areas of work, social affairs, education & training, as well as counseling and business financing.

Eligible for funding are companies, non-profit organizations, public institutions, interest groups, and other associations implementing projects for Salzburg residents of working age. A prerequisite is the residence of the target group in Salzburg, proof of placement barriers, and participation in the selection process (call/tender). For the application, among other documents, a concept with a financial plan, annual financial statements, commercial register/association register extract, clearance certificates from the tax office and social insurance, reference projects, as well as an overview of personnel including qualifications must be submitted. The funding is provided as a grant and offers a unique opportunity to sustainably strengthen professional integration and social participation.