ABOUT

Social Impact Vouchers (SIV) are employment vouchers that have a social impact on the labour market. The innovative voucher system brings together employee seeking companies and job seeking disadvantaged people in a very simple way. 

The innovative international project is financed by a Social Impact Fund (SIF), which is funded mainly by private industry, crowdfunding and foundations.



Non-profit organisations, municipal partners and competence centres in eight countries in Central Europe are testing the innovative project simultaneously and jointly. In their cooperation, they benefit from each other‘s country-specific innovations and special features.

To summarize it in regard to the project's end:

Trained Persons

We achieved 878 trained persons in the project!

In Germany 537: 249 at Social Enterprise Neue Arbeit and 288 at Diakonisches Werk Württemberg. 

In Slovenia Sklad05 3,
in Austria Caritas Vienna 13, 

in Poland 34: Cofund 4 and Rarr 30- and 

in Slovakia Centire 291.  

In total 

In total, we managed to place 300,35 job seekers in the labour market - long-term or short-term with a perspective of reaching 2087,35 5 years after projects end.

Every single case was a valuable lesson, the benefits of which we will use in our future work. The project partners plan to continue these activities, even improved by the experience gained in the project. 

In case of Social Enterprise Neue Arbeit in Germany 29 jobs created in the field of delivery, shop assisting, gardening, cleaning, kitchen helping, clerk and other services.

In Croatia for ZEF: 8 persons as warehouse assistant, gardener, repairs, soap producer and others have been brought into the job.

In Slovenia for Sklad05: 9 tourist worker, digital marketer, care assisting, neurolinguistic programming have been integrated here.

In case of Hungary for IFKA: 40 durable jobs have been created in food processing, storage workers, administration, service support services. 

In Austria for Caritas Vienna, 43 IT – coding jobs created.

In Czech Republic for CpKP 50,35 jobs created in services as call center, hotel, leisure activities, bakery, food processing, agriculture.

RARR in Poland: 9 specialists (order processing, Junior HR and payroll, stationary sales, financial) and medical registration.  

For Cofund in Poland also 9 jobs as specialists (technical, financial, production), teachers assistant, have been created. 

Diakonisches Werk Württemberg in Germany with 83 jobs in delivery, shop assisting, gardening, cleaning, kitchen helping, clerk and other services. 

In Slovakia for Centire: 20 jobs in cleaning, shop assisting, kitchen help and others can be seen. 

& Furthermore:

The connection between these jobs+project results as a consequence of the funds leveraged during+after implementation+the voucher processes are as follows: 2087,35(total) 

In Germany 557 with Social Enterprise Neue Arbeit 414 delivery, shop assisting, gardening, cleaning, kitchen helping, clerk...+ Diakonisches Werk Württemberg 143 cleaning, shop assisting, kitchen-/office help

In Croatia for ZEF: 13 as shop/warehouse assisting, services, production gardener, repairs, soap producer

In Slovenia for Sklad05: 59

tourism worker, digital marketing/marketer, care assisting, neurolinguistic programming

for Hungary/IFKA 1040: retail, manufacturing, food processing, cleaning+construction industries/multinational companies, storage workers, administration, support /service(s)       

In Austria 193 as IT-coding, programming.   

In Czech Republic: 100,35 as services: social care, construction, sales, beauty services, food industry/agricu textile industry, call centre, hotel, leisure activities, bakery, 

In Poland: 73 for Rarr 14  and for Cofund: 59 for both as specialists  and teachers assistant

For Slovakia: 52 cleaning, shop assisting, kitchen/office help

fund leveraged

  4.209.107,79 € have been achieved totally:  

Social Enterprise Neue Arbeit in Germany gained 1.064.116 (private foundation+public fund) & also  302.058 (private+public fund) perspectively for the next 5 years. The transnational fund will be developed further on.  

ZEF in Croatia achieved during the project 75.000. The impact has been & will be on disabled people.    

Sklad05 in Slovenia: in total reached 1.000.000 via Google.org: mentoring, supporting, training /education of unemployed before they get the job or when they start with a new job. All ActImpAct program participants will receive tailored individual support in the form of 60-90 hours training programs, of which 20 hours will be related to Impact. During the program period project partners will be organising study visits, events, co-working + training programs. There will be also support held through mentorship + networking. 

IFKA in Hungary gained 1.390.000 during the project on “Emerging Settlements” Program funded by the Recovery and Resilience Facility for Hungary. "Labor market integration of ca. 1,000 disadvantaged people of labor market services + implementation of the voucher pilot in some of the 300 most disadvantaged settlements of Hungary included in that Program will take place.  

Caritas Vienna in Austria reached 100.000 with AMS Wien (Austrian labor market service) for the everyone codes training programme, with 110.000 from AMS NÖ (Niederösterreich) (100.000) + Microsoft (10.000). So totally 210.000 have been collected. A coding + basic computer skill training for different target groups such as migrants, single mothers & longterm unemployed shall be financed by AMS Vienna as a result of the successful SIV programs . No. of pax p.a.: 250.

CpKP in Czech Republic gained 4.400 through private donors for job creation, early-stage business creation support, retraining etc. in the project. Perspectively 7.100 (private + public sources) are expected within the 5 years after projects end. 

The main benefit of the project is creation of 3 mini voucher programs focused on innovations in business creation + in employment - including preparation activities for work & further re-trainings + development of community innovation projects while integrating disadvantaged groups into society.

Cofund in Poland gained 2.180,79 as an individual donation. A fund implementation is not planned directly. The reason is that due to the ukrain war all the money which can be expected in this regard goes to the refugees support. So thats why for the moment no further activities are planned here. Even though they want to support the activities contained therein by undertaking information +promotional activities.

DW in Germany 463.411,00 (403.411/trust of the Ev.Luth. Church+60.000 Euro, financed from own resource) with perspective 480.000 from that churchtrust out of Member Tax Payments–2023/24. Wholistic approach, consultancy, coaching, child-care (while working), compilation of legal papers/ help to do own CV, organising family-work so that participation in the labor market is possible+ other Needs, that will help to become active on the labor market, including funding salary of the person itself. 

The results of SIV will be used for talks with politician and other stakeholder to promote projects that ease access to the labor market, for groups that have not been in focus in such projects.  

Centire in Slovakia gained a 100.000 perspective by donors (private companies, foundations, holdings,...) to support, especially in the field of career counseling and professional training of job seekers in various fields. 

It is expected to use the used funding for targeted support of job seekers from disadvantaged groups, which is only generally provided by the state. The beneficiaries will not only be job seekers, but also their employers.

STAKEHOLDER

FOR COMPANIES

Test and find motivated employees for your company with us on a new innovative platform. With us you will find exceptional applicants, some with limitations and handicaps. These are people who often fall too quickly through the grid in the usual application process, even though they are highly motivated. Expect authentic and honest applications in which the applicants describe their strengths and limitations. All applicants will be coached and accompanied by us and will apply without the pressure of state job brokers or jobagencies. If you find applicants in our portal who suit you, you can easily get to know them free of charge in a three-month trial phase with the help of a simple employment voucher. During this period, applicants will receive full payment on a minimum wage basis.

If you decide to hire the applicant, the goal is achieved. If you are successful, you are invited to pay the costs for the employment voucher you use into our Social Impact Fund. This enables other companies and applicants to use the voucher model. 

Benefit and become part of an innovative social project. 

>>Applications

FOR APPLICANTS

Are you looking for a job? We will find a job in the company that suits you best. 
We help you with your application and attach importance to an honest and authentic application in which your strengths and possible restrictions are described. We support and accompany you throughout the entire application process and expect motivation and reliability from you. With the help of a free employment voucher and full payment you can test yourself for three months at the workplace of your choice. If the company hires you, we have achieved the goal.

If you decide to hire the applicant, the goal is achieved. If you are successful, you are invited to pay the costs for the employment voucher you use into our Social Impact Fund. This enables other companies and applicants to use the voucher model. 

Benefit and become part of an innovative social project. 

>> APPLY NOW 

FOR DONORS - SOCIAL IMPACT FUND

With the help of private capital, disadvantaged people are placed on a new, innovative path into the labour market, companies are provided with motivated employees and at the same time the structures of community-based actors are strengthened. 

The central element is a new intelligent voucher system (SIV). This enables job-seekers to prove their worth on a minimum wage basis and companies to test and recruit motivated employees on a new additional platform. 

Without the pressure of state job brokers or jobagencies, applicants are placed with open-minded companies in a motivating and authentic placement atmosphere. 

The voucher system is financed by private funds from foundations and sponsors who want to strengthen the project, especially in the start-up phase. Enterprises, which profit from a successful placement, are invited to repay the costs of a coupon into the fund, ensuring a lasting flow of funds. 

The costs for a voucher, which enables a three-month test and probation phase on a minimum wage basis, amount to xxxxx,xx EUR. For the project phase 2019 – 2021 the funds are needed to finance 800 vouchers. 

Become part of an innovative social integration project and help to connect job-seeking disadvantaged people with companies that are looking for motivated employees.

>> Donate now! 

NEWS

SIV – summary at the end of the project

Within the framework of the project, eleven partners from eight Central European countries have developed voucher models for different vulnerable groups affected by unemployment over the last three years and tried to find private donors to participate in the funding.

In the participating countries, the fight against unemployment is very much perceived as a task of the state. So far, there are hardly any business models that make this topic interesting for impact investors. The first steps in this regard are social impact bonds. Attracting philanthropic donors, on the other hand, requires a lot of relationship building, which was very difficult during the COVID-19 phase due to the many restrictions. Legal hurdles were also evident in the establishment of a transnational fund, in part because the tax framework for cross-border donations is not yet well regulated. In view of developments in the labour market and associated social challenges, it is necessary for private and public stakeholders to cooperate and develop innovative solutions in order to continue to combat poverty and exclusion in the future.


Lesson learned is also that strong partnerships are needed for structural changes and their more considerable scale impact, probably from the early start of the project. Later you include the harder it is, ownership of the project and innovation is needed for the sustainability of such projects. 

Also is very hard to build trust with investors and create a need for intermediary role that most of the project partners played (and is often seen only as unnecessary cost).

Therefore, further efforts will be needed in future to assure additional stakeholders' co-operation (trade unions, employers organisations, public authorities, investors and financial institutions) and increase funds available for the fund to operate in this development period.

Please find here the links to our main outputs of the SIV project:

>> Output

For further details contact the Project Partner Section below.

SIF-STARTER-KIT

You can download the documents of SIF STARTER KIT here:
The outputs can be found in the related output section

PILOTS

Pilot Preparation (T1):
The groundwork for the pilot actions was done within the framework of the Preparation Work Package, where the strategies and action plans for the voucher programmes and the social impact funds in each partner country were developed. This served for the partnership as an introduction into the main topics of the SIV project, enabled the partners to become more familiar with their individual backgrounds, expertise and specific roles and set the basis for their collaboration with the SIV project. The careful planning and detailed preparation of the specific steps to be taken within the further course of the project allowed the partner to achieve most of the project objectives and to run successful and impactful voucher programmes within the framework of SIV.


Pilot Fund (T2):
In regard of Fund models we developed models for each country. Finally it has shown that for the croatian partner ZEF, the slovenian partner SKLAD 05, the austrian partner Caritas Vienna and the german partner Social Enterprise Neue Arbeit a platform for the transnational fund was created with a related payment tool. This will be developed further on. The fund will be registered in a form of a partnership agreement (contract) and hosted by SKLAD 05 in Slovenia. It will have a separate bank account and ability to receive donations on the both transaction account from institutional donors as well as through card processing payment gateway from individual donors.
In regard of National funds we reached following results:
In Hungary it is run by IFKA and will be operated by Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta (HCSOM) and funded through national Recovery & Resiliance programme.
In Czech Republic it is run by CpKP and set up as a separate legal entity. Individuals and legal entities, including Non-Profit-Organizations (NPOs), can be the recipients of contributions from the endowment fund.
Recipients of the endowment contribution are obliged to prove, at the request of the fund, how and for what purpose the endowment contribution was used and to account for it to the board of directors. A contract will be concluded for the provision of the contribution.
In Poland it will be run by Cofund and set up as a separate bank account within the company.
In Slovakia it is run by Centire and set up as a endowment fund under the Foundation Nadácia pre deti Slovenska.
More detailed information can be found in the related Fund section in the Outputs also in regard of investments.


Pilot Voucher (T3):
Implementing the project brought valuable experience and findings to all project partners. Despite our support and help, it was not always possible to place the job seeker in the labour market. In addition, there have been cases where it did not work out between job seekers and employers. Employers must be especially prepared for the fact that disabled job seekers have additional needs and potentially require more support and patience - especially at the beginning. 

The individual approach to job seekers proved to be the greatest benefit - devoting sufficient time, identifying their strengths and weaknesses and working on them. In particular, it helped to increase their chances of a successful and especially long-term placement in the labour market.

From a project point of view, it was important to first achieve some results that were presentable to potential supporters. It is important to show a working model, implemented activities and at least a few success stories that will convince potential partners and donors to cooperate. A prerequisite for the success of similar activities is including stakeholders in the project implementation.


The Pilots have been embedded in Evaluation & Scaling (T4) as follows:

Through the implementation of the Evaluation and Scaling activities, we learned the importance of a well-designed, methodologically well-prepared and systematic evaluation system that is embedded in the project implementation process. Having wide range of up-to-date data about the outputs and outcomes of the joint activity helps to follow the project implementation process, keep it on track while keeping in mind the initial objectives, identify intervention needs, make evidence-based decisions and improve the project performance in general.

By using the proper indicators we also became able to evaluate the impacts of the intervention of the project on the employment situation, incomes, social situation, physical and psychological well-being of several vulnerable groups in a disadvantaged situation in the Central-European labour markets. The ability to demonstrate or even to monetize these impacts helped to convince external parties about the “raison d'être” of innovative labour market interventions like social impact voucher programmes are, and to influence labour market policies in Central Europe.

Accordingly, it has to be acknowledged that evaluation activities must be treated as core activities, which require significant efforts, time as well as human and financial resources

Through the implementation of the evaluation and scaling activities, finally we learned that the data collection must be as simple as possible and must adapt to the data providers' social and cultural environment and situation and their lingual abilities. This sometimes is contradicting the huge data need and requirements of evaluation and impact assessment activities. The resolution of these contradictions requires professional preparedness and compromises from those who are responsible for the data collection and evaluation.

>> Outputs

>> SIF-STARTER-KIT

Outputs

Here you can download the output documents:

Links

donation platform
https://impactory.org

Catch someone who falls through the grid. 
next access platform
https://next-access.org

introductory video which was implemented in all 4 webinars  https://youtu.be/4XYDL-Cq23M

Webinar Impact Measurement and Assessment
https://youtu.be/uO3LBgIfoAo

Webinar Social Impact Funds
https://youtu.be/EVdmpFSUpuQ

webinar Employment Voucher Programmes https://youtu.be/Ct69mVKgmnE
webinar Innovative Employment Policies https://youtu.be/A8PhK3JRU8g


 Project in numbers

1

core strategies

1

Infographics with
SROI Analysis

1

Tools

1

webinars
in Starter Kit

Project Partners

Project SIV has 11 partners from 8 central European countries.

Project Duration

Start Date

March 2019

End Date

May 2022


contacts