Apply for funding from the ESF Plus program "Education, Work, Economy in the Neighborhood - BIWAQ"

The ESF Plus funding program "Bildung, Wirtschaft, Arbeit im Quartier - BIWAQ" ("BIWAQ" for short) of the Federal Ministry of Housing, Urban Development and Building (BMWSB) supports the qualification of people and the local economy in disadvantaged urban districts. BIWAQ is co-financed by the European Social Fund Plus (ESF Plus).

BIWAQ is a partner program of the urban development program "Social Cohesion - Shaping Neighborhoods Together". It has a complementary effect in selected disadvantaged urban districts. The structure of urban development funding was fundamentally overhauled in 2020. The previous "Socially Integrative City" partner program will be continued and further developed in the new "Social Cohesion" program.

BIWAQ supports projects in 2 fields of action:

• Field of action 1: Sustainable integration into employment
• Field of action 2: Strengthening the local economy

Examples of funded projects in field of action 1:

• Skills and potential analyses and tailored measures aimed at training participants
• Company and work-related practical assignments with a focus on the construction industry, trades and services in the neighborhood
• Training measures that also visibly benefit the neighborhood, for example projects on architectural heritage and local identity
• Qualification measures that deal with the neighborhood structure and specific job profiles and tie in with urban development measures
• Neighborhood-related measures to qualify and support the employment of people with a migration background
• Development of digital skills and resources and support in eliminating skills gaps for the target groups
• Socio-educational support for taking up employment
• Health promotion activities, coaching in individual and group work to activate and participate in working life
• Advice and counseling services for integration into employment
• Support in closing low-threshold skills gaps, especially for refugees in light of the war in Ukraine
• Neighborhood-based integration support

Examples of funded projects in field of action 2:

• Formation and consolidation of local business networks to advise small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and solo self-employed persons
• Identification of problems and stabilization of the local economy in the neighbourhood, for example
  • Vacancy management
  • Temporary use projects
• Activities in the area of digitalization of local companies, e.g. online trading and setting up internet presences for SMEs as part of networking events
• Activation of companies as economic partners in neighborhood development
• Mediation of cooperation between companies (also in neighboring districts) and chambers and job centers, among others
• Promoting local employment as well as developing and securing skilled workers
• Low-threshold qualification of people through practical activities in companies, also against the background of refugees fleeing the Ukraine war and the associated integration into neighborhood structures

Private individuals interested in participating are asked to contact the projects in the program directly. Participation requirements include coming from the BIWAQ area. Participants must also generally be of legal age. A list of funded projects can be found on the BIWAQ website.

The BMWSB is responsible for the guidelines of the program. Applications are approved by the German Pension Insurance Knappschaft-Bahn-See (DRV KBS). In the future, the program will be supported by a management office.