ESF+ finances Age-Friendly projects in France

The Department of Ain, within the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, has launched a new regional funding call aimed at strengthening coordination, mediation, and the direct involvement of companies in labour market integration processes. The initiative, identified as ARA-OI1877, is part of the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) programme and will remain open until 23 December 2025, providing a broad window for public and private entities to structure long-term projects.

This call, promoted by the Département de l’Ain, reflects a forward-looking approach: accelerating access to employment for individuals facing persistent barriers, while positioning companies as active agents of inclusion. The objective goes beyond financing individual pathways; it seeks to build territorial ecosystems where businesses, social organisations and public authorities work together in a coordinated and sustainable manner.

The call prioritises projects focused on labour mediation, personalised support and structured cooperation with the business community. Particular attention is given to initiatives that improve the match between professional profiles and real company needs, as well as those that promote new forms of collaboration to enhance employability among vulnerable groups, including people over 50, long-term unemployed individuals and professionals with disrupted career paths.

Eligible applicants include associations, foundations, public bodies, chambers of commerce, integration structures and companies with proven experience in employment and social inclusion. ESF+ funding allows a substantial share of project costs to be co-financed, provided that proposals align with European objectives on active inclusion, equal opportunities and labour market modernisation.

From a strategic standpoint, this call creates clear opportunities for innovative projects combining assessment, tailored training and direct mediation with companies. Initiatives based on internal generational diversity audits, corporate awareness programmes or hybrid models of support and upskilling naturally align with the priorities set by the Department of Ain. For participating companies, the programme also offers a way to anticipate demographic challenges and strengthen competitiveness in a context of talent shortages and an ageing workforce.

Applications must be submitted exclusively through the official Ma Démarche ESF+ platform, which centralises administrative management, evaluation and project monitoring. This process requires a clear definition of objectives, impact indicators and cooperation mechanisms with the business sector, reinforcing the professional standards of supported initiatives.

At a time when Europe is moving towards a more inclusive employment model adapted to longevity, calls such as this one signal the direction future labour policies are taking. For organisations, companies and social entrepreneurs, the Department of Ain’s initiative represents not only a funding opportunity, but also an invitation to build durable solutions that connect experience, talent and opportunity in a labour market undergoing deep transformation.