EU-LAC Social Accelerator selects 15 social innovation initiatives across 10 countries

The EU-LAC Social Accelerator has completed the selection process for its first Call for Proposals, launched on 19 January 2026 to support social innovation initiatives addressing structural inequalities in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The call received 1,033 applications from across the region. Following the initial eligibility and assessment stages, 437 proposals were admitted for concept note evaluation, and 49 applicants were invited to submit a full proposal.

At the end of the evaluation process, 15 initiatives were selected to move forward with contract formalisation. The available funding was increased from EUR 1.8 million to EUR 3.6 million, allowing the programme to support a broader group of initiatives.

The selected projects will be implemented in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Peru, and the Dominican Republic.

The initiatives cover a range of areas, including social and economic inclusion, employment and entrepreneurship, the green transition, circular economy, territorial development, care, health and digital transformation. They also address the needs of vulnerable groups in different national and local contexts.

The selected initiatives are linked to projects or priorities under the EU-LAC Global Gateway Investment Agenda, connecting social innovation with broader investment and development priorities in the region.

The evaluation was carried out by an international panel of independent evaluators proposed by the organisations participating in the consortium, with DG INTPA taking part as an observer.

The first call provides a useful picture of the growing demand for social innovation support in the region and of the diversity of organisations working on practical responses to social, economic and environmental challenges.