ESF Plus Guideline Gender Equality in Working Life 2021–2027 – A – Projects to Promote Women's Self-Employment
Support women in their self-employment: Grant to strengthen female entrepreneurship in Saxony.
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Grant criteria
Funding objective
The Free State of Saxony promotes projects aimed at strengthening female entrepreneurship and providing gender-equitable support to female founders, entrepreneurs, and business successors in establishing and consolidating their self-employment, using funds from the European Social Fund Plus.
Eligible expenses
- Costs for internal and external personnel
- Residual costs (to the extent eligible expenses)
Non-eligible expenses
- Services of start-up consulting
Eligible to apply
- Founders
Funding requirements
- Submission of a professionally substantiated concept or project outline with a clearly female-specific approach
- Target group: female founders, female entrepreneurs, and female business successors
- Consideration of compatibility with family and caregiving responsibilities
- Proof of continuation of the center or coworking spaces for at least 3 or 2 years, respectively
Documents required for application
- Concept or project outline
- Financing plan
- Curriculum vitae
Evaluation criteria
- Professional quality of the concept
- Clear gender-specific approach for women
- Consideration of compatibility with family and caregiving responsibilities
Description
ESF Plus Directive Equality in Working Life 2021–2027 – A is a funding program in the Free State of Saxony that specifically supports projects aimed at strengthening the independence of women. Through grants covering up to 90 percent of eligible expenses depending on the application, innovative projects are promoted that assist female founders, entrepreneurs, and business successors in establishing and consolidating their self-employment. The funding approach is based on imparting entrepreneurial skills, building networks, and creating spaces that take into account the compatibility of professional and family or caregiving responsibilities. Great importance is placed on a clearly identifiable female-specific approach in the submitted concepts.
The funding includes both measures to expand entrepreneurial skills and projects for the conception and establishment of centers for female founders and entrepreneurs as well as coworking spaces. Eligible costs for internal and external personnel as well as other eligible expenses are funded, taking into account a defined residual cost lump sum. A prerequisite for a successful application is the submission of a professionally sound concept or project outline that explicitly addresses the specific challenges and needs of women in entrepreneurship. Furthermore, the continuation of the funded facilities, such as coworking spaces, beyond the funding period – at least two to three years – must be ensured.
Within the framework of this program, the Free State of Saxony provides funds of up to €150,000 per year, enabling sustainable support for female self-employment. Companies and project sponsors who present a clear concept for the development and financing of their initiative can benefit from this funding. Ongoing application submission and regular evaluation by the approval authority ensure a targeted and transparent decision-making process. This funding instrument represents an important component to promote gender-equitable participation in working life and to sustainably strengthen the entrepreneurial success of women.