European Social Fund (ESF)
2007-2013 ESF Funding Opportunities
ESF funds are distributed through 'Co-financing Organisations' (CFOs). CFOs are public bodies which bring together ESF and domestic funding for employment and skills so that ESF complements national programmes. The Skills Funding Agency, the Department for Work and Pensions Delivery Directorate and the National Offender Management Service are CFOs across the whole of England. A few Regional Development Agencies and local authorities are also CFOs.
CFOs contract with the providers that deliver ESF projects on the ground. Providers can be from the private, public or voluntary sectors. CFOs make ESF available through a process of open and competitive tendering. Successful providers do not have to find their own 'match funding', as CFOs are responsible for both the ESF money and match funding.
During late 2010 and early 2011, CFOs are launching tendering rounds for the second phase of the programme (2011 – 2013). Details of these can be found below.