The Skill-Pro project strengthened the capacity of social economy organisations to access finance, facilitating their recovery from the pandemic and consolidating their role in generating employment and opportunities in Europe. Specifically, the project had two key objectives: 1) raise awareness on the solidarity initiatives taken during and post- crisis, as well as the key role played by social economy enterprises and organisations and encourage dialogue and co-planning of measures with public authorities to address the needs of social economy organisations to help in the recovery process; 2) to increase the skills of Social Economy actors in securing and managing funds.
The Skill-Pro project emerged from the need to address the challenges faced by social economy organisations due to the COVID-19 crisis. This crisis highlighted the essential role of these entities in supporting communities, promoting inclusion and generating opportunities. However, it also showed their vulnerabilities, especially in terms of financial sustainability, adaptation to new realities and capacity to respond to the demands of their beneficiaries. One of the main challenges identified was the need to raise awareness among public authorities and society about the contribution of these entities in building more resilient societies. In addition, a lack of competencies in fundraising and strategic resource management was identified. To respond to these needs, the project was based on three pillars: strengthening cooperation with public authorities, raising awareness of the importance of the sector and training professionals in accessing funding. Through these actions, Skill-Pro has strengthened the sector's capacity to address financial challenges and contribute to Europe's economic recovery.