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Our Project

The SIMPLE Project (Social Innovation Models to Promote Learning and Employability) aims to identify and scale up best practices in social innovation to enhance the employability and integration of Ukrainian refugees, focusing on educational interventions and vocational training. We strive to empower vulnerable groups, particularly women and older adults, by providing targeted support to enhance their skills and employability. A key component is to promote stakeholder engagement through the quadruple helix model, ensuring active collaboration between academia, industry, government, and civil society.

Discover Our Approach

Our Approach & Training

Project SIMPLE employs a holistic and innovative methodology designed to enhance the employability and integration of Ukrainian refugees, particularly vulnerable groups such as women and older adults. This approach leverages social innovation, education, and the quadruple helix model to achieve its objectives.

Integrated Training Programs

We develop and implement tailored vocational education and training programs focusing on enhancing the skills and employability of Ukrainian refugees. This includes continuous mentoring and coaching.

User-Centered Design

Actively involves Ukrainian refugees and key stakeholders (private sector, public sector, academia, civil society) in co-designing and implementing project activities through workshops and focus groups.

Evidence-Based Approach

Utilizes comprehensive data collection and analysis to identify needs, challenges, and best practices, building on proven successes from previous EU-funded projects.

Collaborative Networks

Establishes strong partnerships with local, national, and international organizations, facilitating resource sharing and knowledge expertise to maximize impact.

Our Community & Impact

Fostering Systemic Change

At SIMPLE, we believe that true integration requires more than isolated efforts – it demands systemic change. By connecting innovation, collaboration and practical solutions, we work to create lasting impact that strengthens communities and opens new opportunities for Ukrainian refugees across Europe.

Meet Our Partners
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Press Releases

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2025-12-12
SIMPLE concludes Work Package 2 and sets the stage for the next phase of activities

The SIMPLE project has concluded Work Package 2 (WP2), laying the foundation for a scalable and transferable model to support the labour market integration and social inclusion of Ukrainian refugees across Europe. As part of WP2, the consortium conducted a comprehensive mapping of over 80 social innovation initiatives across Europe. The selection included projects supported by EU programmes - such as EaSI, Urban Innovative Actions (UIA), Erasmus+, and Interreg - as well as national and regional initiatives from partner countries. This mapping aimed to identify both inspiring practices and systemic challenges in the fields of integration, employment, and inclusion. The complete repository of mapped initiatives is accessible here:  https://simpleinnovation.eu/repository.php?lang=EN From this broader repository, the consortium extracted 13 best practices that were particularly well-documented, impactful, and aligned with the SIMPLE project’s objectives. These are analysed in depth in another key project deliverable: The Social Innovation Compendium, available at: https://simpleinnovation.eu/assessment.php?lang=EN Among the 13, three model initiatives were selected as the primary inspiration for the development of SIMPLE’s Theory of Change: BSI_4Women (Interreg Baltic Sea Region) – focused on entrepreneurship and economic integration for Ukrainian refugee women. SIREE (Interreg 2Seas) – based on a co-creation model engaging schools, families, and communities to support refugee integration. MiFriendlyCities (Urban Innovative Actions) – emphasising employer engagement and the creation of inclusive employment ecosystems. The Theory of Change, available on the project website, outlines how the SIMPLE model is expected to generate meaningful and sustainable impact. Drawing on selected elements of the three model initiatives, it proposes an adaptable, modular approach that can be tailored to diverse national and local contexts.  This Theory of Change will serve as the foundation for the stakeholders’ engagement activities to be performed in all partner countries under WP3 and pilot actions to be carried out in Poland and Italy under WP4. In these two countries, partners will: Design and deliver targeted interventions for Ukrainian refugees, inspired by the selected model initiatives Engage relevant stakeholders (e.g. employers, training providers, community organisations, public authorities) to test co-designed solutions and build supportive local ecosystems Apply the SIMPLE model in real contexts, testing its feasibility, relevance, and adaptability Collect feedback and monitor outcomes, to evaluate the model’s effectiveness and inform future refinement and scaling. In Poland, the focus will be on employment activation, while in Italy, activities will revolve around empowerment and entrepreneurship pathways. Both pilots will be closely monitored to assess short-term and longer-term changes in participants’ inclusion and integration trajectories. SIMPLE is co-funded by the European Union under the ESF+ programme. The project brings together partners from Italy, Poland, Spain, Belgium, Croatia, and Hungary to co-design, pilot, and promote sustainable models for inclusion, employment, and community empowerment. Stay updated at: https://simpleinnovation.eu Contact: simple.euproject@gmail.com Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Social Fund Agency. Neither the European Union nor the Granting Authority can be held responsible for them.

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2025-12-09
IDP Engages Local Stakeholders in Abruzzo, Italy, to Support Integration through Social Innovation

On 9 December 2025, IDP European Consultants organised a stakeholder engagement event in Montesilvano (Abruzzo region, Italy) as part of the SIMPLE project (Social Innovation Models for the Promotion of Inclusion and Employment), co-funded by the European Union under the ESF+ programme. The event was held in the framework of Work Package 3 (WP3), which focuses on identifying and engaging key stakeholders to support the co-development, dissemination, and future sustainability of the project’s model. The event brought together 13 participants, including representatives of local public authorities and third-sector organisations, two key dimensions of the quadruple helix model, which underpins the SIMPLE project’s stakeholder engagement strategy. Among the public-sector stakeholders were representatives from “Agenzia Speciale per I Servizi Sociali” providing social services for the Municipality of Montesilvano, actively working in the fields of social inclusion, community development, and migrant support. The third-sector was represented by Formula APS, which manages Spazio Mincio, a youth hub promoting professional development and social empowerment for people under 35, including those with a migrant background. During the session, IDP presented the SIMPLE project’s mission, structure, and the outcomes of Work Package 2 (WP2) - including the mapping of over 80 European social innovation initiatives and the development of the project’s Theory of Change. This framework provides a roadmap for how SIMPLE aims to foster the integration and employability of refugees and vulnerable migrants, particularly those displaced by the war in Ukraine. The stakeholders expressed great interest in the concept of social innovation, particularly in how it can be applied and adapted to diverse target groups and operational contexts. Although many participants primarily work with different migrant populations or with youth in general, they highlighted the potential transferability of SIMPLE’s results to other segments. Some participants from the third sector welcomed the SIMPLE model’s emphasis on tailored mentoring, empowerment activities, and modular employability pathways. They noted that many of their beneficiaries would benefit from similar tools, especially those aimed at fostering soft skills, job-readiness, and peer support mechanisms - all of which are components of SIMPLE’s piloting strategy. Representatives of public institutions showed a particular interest in the project’s goal to build local ecosystems of support that bring together service providers, training organisations, and employers. They highlighted the need for stronger coordination between institutional and community actors and recognised SIMPLE as a valuable initiative to bridge that gap with structured, evidence-based methodologies. The event also provided space for open dialogue and feedback, laying the groundwork for future cooperation and potential replication of SIMPLE activities at the local level. For more information, visit the SIMPLE project website: https://simpleinnovation.eu Contact: simple.euproject@gmail.com Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Social Fund Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

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2025-10-29
SIMPLE partners met in Pescara to consolidate the foundation of a new inclusive model

The partners of the SIMPLE project gathered in Pescara (Italy) on 29 October 2025 for the second Transnational Project Meeting (TPM), hosted by IDP European Consultants, to review and finalise the deliverables developed under Work Package (WP) 2 - Assessment of the existing evidence and building the foundation of a new approach/model.   SIMPLE, co-funded by the European Union under the ESF+, aims to design and test innovative approaches to social inclusion and civic participation, building stronger bridges between institutions, communities and citizens to better support the integration and empowerment of Ukrainian refugees. During the meeting, partners discussed the progress made in WP2’s deliverables, focusing on the evaluation of qualitative and quantitative indicators and the fine-tuning of the Theory of Change to ensure readiness for submission to the Agency. The consortium collaboratively validated the main outcomes of WP2, setting a solid foundation for the next project phases. The agenda also included sessions on stakeholder mapping (WP3), pilot planning (WP4), and dissemination (WP5), reinforcing the integrated approach of SIMPLE in linking research, fieldwork and social impact. The meeting concluded with a joint and interactive session on Quality Assurance, followed by a recap of the decisions taken and the planning of upcoming milestones. For more information about the SIMPLE project and upcoming activities, contact the consortium at simple.euproject@gmail.com or visit the website. Stay tuned for further updates.

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2025-07-10
SIMPLE Project launches website to support Ukrainian refugee integration

The SIMPLE (Social Innovation Models to Promote Learning and Employability) project has officially launched its new website. This platform maps existing social innovation initiatives and provides practical resources to enhance the integration and employability of Ukrainian refugees. The website offers detailed information about the project and its results for wider dissemination. Available in multiple languages (English, Polish, Hungarian, Ukrainian, Italian, Spanish and Croatian), it serves as a central hub for updates, resources and engagement with stakeholders working in the field of migrant integration. Visit the website to learn more and get involved: www.simpleinnovation.eu 

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Partners

Collaboration is at the heart of the SIMPLE project. We work with a diverse range of stakeholders from academia, industry, government, and civil society to achieve our goals. Our partnerships are crucial for establishing strong networks, sharing resources, and maximizing the impact of our initiatives for Ukrainian refugees.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Social Fund Agency. Neither the European Union nor the Granting Authority can be held responsible for them.

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Legal description – Creative Commons licensing: The materials published on the SIMPLE project website are classified as Open Educational Resources' (OER) and can be freely (without permission of their creators): downloaded, used, reused, copied, adapted, and shared by users, with information about the source of their origin.

SIMPLE Project, All rights reserved.