Vastus

Dear Olga

The theme of the event/study visit matches the aims of PC4 so we do not see a reason to decline.

Dear Sandra,

Dear Evelin,

I am writing to request your approval for the participation of the implementer of Component 4 in study visit to Portugal. You can find the application below.

In addition, I have just received the information that Evelyn Valtin will probably have the opportunity to speak on a panel about Estonia's existing SI financing resources (on 04.06 at 16.00 | Innovative Financing Instruments III).

Thank you in advance for your feedback,

Olga

Dear all,

Hereby I’m sending a request regarding participation at a coming study visit to Portugal on June 4th – 5th, 2025 which I got special invitation on Monday (invitation is in the end of this email).

Please consider the following request for approval of work assignments abroad suitable for the program:

Participant: Evelyn Valtin, Swiss-Estonian Cooperation Program Social Innovation component project manager

Date and place: 04.-05.06.2025, Portugal, Lisbon

Event: study visit “Innovative financing instruments for social innovation“, organized by the Portugal Social Innovation from BIRDS consortia which is a transnational collaboration project between the National Competence Centres for Social Innovation of France, Portugal, Spain and Sweden.

Overview of the event:

This study visit is a part of workstream of “Innovative Financing for Social Innovation”, led by the Portuguese National Competence Centre. The objective of this workstream is to contribute to the development of a long-term, sustainable strategy to finance all stages of the social innovation lifecycle, from ideation to scaling. It aims to enhance the financial sustainability and systemic impact of social innovation initiatives by focusing on three core goals:

• * Strengthening the social innovation ecosystem

• * Supporting improved public policy design and delivery

• * Mainstreaming social innovation across relevant funding frameworks

National Competence Centres play a critical role in this regard by diversifying and reinforcing financing models. This requires an up-to-date understanding of advanced financial mechanisms, including Social Impact Bonds (SIBs), social outcomes contracting, and blended finance instruments. Portugal (AD&C / Portugal Social Innovation) pioneered the use of a blended finance model using ESF funds during the 2014–2021 programming period. This model combined grants, outcomes-based funding, and financial instruments offering access to loans and equity investment. Under the ESF+ framework, Portugal is continuing to promote social innovation financing through a mix of grants, results-based payments, and non-cost-linked finance.

Purpose for participating:

The main aim of participating is to gather valuable knowledge for the sustainability of our actions and future in supporting social innovation ecosystem as regarding changing . As well, to gather good practises regarding several of our programme activities, mainly:

• * Support on Social Innovation Network activities in Estonia

• * Interaction with policymakers

• * Social innovation incubation programme

Also,

• * Learning about financial solutions for the sustainability of the activities, as well as with the support of European Funds and the ways to use blended finance model

• * The impact investment perspective and ESF+ Financing Models for Social Innovation

• * Various case Studies from Portugal, Spain, France, and Sweden regarding these topics

Three major challenges regarding the Estonian social innovation ecosystem are: raising the awareness and involvement of local governments, policymaking and funding. As Portugal is a pioneer in terms of social innovation, the expected value of participating in this study visit is to learn from Portugals’ experience and practices regarding networking, policymaking and financing support to social innovation. Additionally, to Portugal, more through Spain, France, and Sweden experiences are to be shared at the event (see more from the agenda attached).

There might also be an opportunity to meet one-on-one with representatives of other organisations involved in social innovation and with social integration, in order to get more specific input into our projects’ activities. Good practices, methods and approaches regarding social innovation serve as input into awareness-raising materials (depending on the input, either an article, podcast episode, newsletter content etc).

Costs: Accommodation, travel insurance, flight tickets, daily subsidies, travelling to and from airports around 800-1000 euros. 

Warm regards,

Evelyn Valtin

Swiss-Estonian cooperation program project manager on Social Innovation

Social Innovation Competency Centre in Estonia

Mob: +372 513 3656

National Foundation of Civil Society

kysk.ee/en

Vabaduse plats 2, room 309, Viljandi 71020, Estonia

--------------------------

Saatja: Sofia Amandio <[email protected]>
Saatmisaeg: esmaspäev, 19. mai 2025 17:36
Adressaat: Evelyn Valtin <[email protected]>
Teema: BIRDS Study Visit

Dear Evelyn,

It was such a pleasure seeing you in Prague!

Following up on our conversation, I’d like to formally invite you to participate in the upcoming BIRDS Study Visit as a guest.

Although the agenda is now closed and all speaker slots are confirmed, we would be delighted to have you join us as a participant. Your presence would be a great opportunity for mutual learning, and I believe the visit could offer useful insights for the development of Social Innovation in Estonia. It would also give us a chance to hear more informally about your valuable experience.

Please find the agenda attached.  

Warmest regards,
Sofia

Sofia Lai Amândio

Strategy and International Relations Advisor

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