Major Support for the Social Economy: €96 Million Available for Impact Investments
In a time when social and economic challenges demand immediate and lasting solutions, the Ministry of Investments and European Projects (MIPE) is opening an important opportunity: the de minimis scheme “Support for the Social Economy”, funded through the Education and Employment Program (PEO) 2021-2027, under the priority axis Entrepreneurship and Social Economy.
The Ministry of Investments and European Projects (MIPE) has approved, through Order no. 5,413 published in the Official Gazette no. 845 on September 15, 2025, the de minimis aid scheme “Support for the Social Economy”, financed under the Education and Employment Program (PEO) 2021–2027 – European Social Fund Plus (ESF+). The measure is active until the end of 2028 and has a total budget of over €96 million.
A financial product created in partnership
The scheme represents a strategic step in the development of the social economy in Romania, being the result of a co-creation process directly contributed to by ADV Romania, AFIN, and Social Finance Association (SFA). The three organizations provided technical assistance to the National Credit Guarantee Fund for SMEs (FNGCIMM), the scheme’s administrator.
“It is very important that this product becomes available as soon as possible to social enterprises, helping them to grow and be competitive in the market so they can maximize their social impact,” said Angela Achiței, President of ADV Group & RISE Romania.
How the scheme works
The financial instrument is a combined one and includes:
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portfolio guarantees – covering up to 80% of the loan value;
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grants – for interest, capital rebates, and technical assistance, awarded based on the achievement of specific social indicators.
Social enterprises and work integration enterprises across the country will be able to access funding of up to €500,000, for:
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investments,
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working capital,
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digitalization,
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green transition
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the labor market integration of vulnerable people.
The commitment of ADV Romania and AFIN
Această schemă este menită să ofere instrumente reale de creștere și sustenabilitate pentru întreprinderile sociale, consolidând ecosistemul de finanțare etică și responsabilă din România.
ADV România, alături de AFIN și SFA, reconfirmă prin acest demers angajamentul de a sprijini sectorul economiei sociale și de a crea soluții financiare adaptate nevoilor întreprinderilor cu impact.
What the scheme entails
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Total budget: €96,159,977.30 (\~ RON 478.7 million) – divided roughly equally between guarantees (\~ €46.45 million) and grants (\~ €49.7 million).
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Objectives: development, innovation, scaling, and expansion of social enterprises and work integration enterprises; fostering digitalization, the green transition, and the inclusion of vulnerable groups.
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Timeline: the scheme is active until December 31, 2028, and payments can be made until December 31, 2029.
Who can access the funds and key eligibility conditions
Eligible beneficiaries include:
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Social enterprises and work integration social enterprises, in accordance with Law no. 219/2015; cooperative societies, agricultural cooperatives, associations, foundations, credit cooperatives, etc.
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In the case of work integration social enterprises, at least 30% of the staff must come from vulnerable groups, relative to the total working time.
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A minimum of 1 year of activity at the time of submitting the loan application; possession of a social enterprise or work integration enterprise certificate; proven repayment capacity; financial and legal standing without insolvency or major outstanding public debts.
What type of support is offered: guarantee + grant
The instrument combines two components:
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portfolio guarantee: up to 80% of the loan value; the financial intermediary will bear a minimum own risk of 20%; portfolio-level risk limits apply.
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grant: may cover interest, capital rebate, and technical assistance. For example:
• Interest subsidy: for investments, for working capital.
• Capital rebate: up to 25% of the grant, conditional on achieving certain social indicators (creation of new jobs, maintaining existing jobs, etc.).
• Technical assistance: eligible appropriate costs.
The maximum value of the credit/grant per beneficiary can reach €500,000 (RON equivalent), in compliance with the de minimis ceiling.
Social obligations and implementation best practices
As a beneficiary, once accepted into the scheme:
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Existing jobs at the time of application must be maintained, and the scheme sets objectives for creating new jobs; the involvement of people from vulnerable groups counts as a social indicator.
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The capital rebate is linked to social performance: the more jobs are created or the greater the social impact achieved, the larger the grant can be.
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Failure to comply with social obligations may lead to full or partial repayment of the grant and to other sanctions, in accordance with de minimis legislation.
Why this matters for AFIN and its community
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The opportunity opens access to significant resources for NGOs, social cooperatives, social enterprises, and community initiatives that generate not only economic but also social value.
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It promotes sustainability, inclusion, and social responsibility as central elements of local development.
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It facilitates projects that would otherwise be limited by the lack of guarantees or by excessively high financing costs.
How to apply and what you need to prepare
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Contact an authorized financial intermediary – banks or non-bank financial institutions selected under the scheme; check whether the intermediary transparently passes on the benefits of the guarantee/grant to the final beneficiary.
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Prepare the documentation: a solid business plan, financial projections, declarations regarding previously received de minimis aid, proof of legal status as a social enterprise, certificates/attestations, staff structure, and a social impact plan.
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Make sure that the activities you propose are eligible – investments, working capital, digitalization, ecology/green transition, inclusion, etc. Avoid excluded activities.
Conclusion
The “Support for the Social Economy” scheme is an opportunity to transform socially driven projects into sustainable, well-funded initiatives with real impact. For the AFIN community, this means not only the chance to access funds but also to strengthen the social role of its members and partners.
If representatives of NGOs, cooperatives, or other social economy entities are reading this: prepare your plans, check the conditions, involve vulnerable communities – the chance to access this funding is significant, and the impact can be long-lasting.
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