All the details on the fund managed by ACRI and the government to finance digital training projects aimed at young people, the unemployed and women
The Fund for the Digital Republic is also active in 2024. This fund finances courses that aim to increase the digital skills in Italy of young people, women, the unemployed, the inactive and NEET to guarantee them better opportunities and conditions for entering
the world of work.
What is the Digital Republic Fund
The Fund for the Digital Republic is a project born from the innovative partnership between the public sector and the private sector in the social field. It is managed by the Minister for Technological Innovation and Digital Transition, the Minister of Economy and Finance, and ACRI, the association of Foundations of banking origin. The initiative was created to achieve the digitalization objectives set out in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) and the Complementary National Plan
.
With a budget of 350 million euros, the fund finances and supports digital reskilling and upskilling projects with particular attention to NEET, women, the unemployed and the inactive. The “Digital Social” call is currently active, which provides 15 million euros for 2024. Let’s see below who these initiatives are aimed at and how they work
.
Who is it for
The Fund for the Digital Republic is aimed at different categories of people who can benefit from the resources provided:
- NEET: young people between 15 and 34 years old who do not have a job or are included in an education or training path. The goal is job placement.
- Women: between 18 and 50 years old, to promote female participation in the labor market and correct asymmetries that hinder equal opportunities.
- Unemployed and inactive: residents on the margins of the labor market over 34 years old. The goal is the return and increase of the active workforce
- Workers at risk: those who have jobs at high risk of replaceability due to automation and technological innovation. The goal is the acquisition of digital skills and soft skills necessary to reinvent oneself in the world of work
.
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How does the Digital Republic Fund work
The fund operates within the framework of the National Strategy for Digital Skills, whose implementation is governed by the Operational Plan for Digital Skills. The 350 million euros made available up to 2026 are fueled by payments made by foundations of banking origin, which will receive a contribution in the form of a
tax credit.
The fund places a strong emphasis on the impact assessment of funded projects and aims to identify the most effective and efficient training initiatives for the growth of digital skills and the employment of the beneficiaries.
Calls funded by the Fund for the Digital Republic
Currently, only one call is active from the Digital Republic Fund, namely the “Digital Social” Call.
2024 Social Digital Call
The “Digital Social” call invites public and private non-profit entities operating in the social economy to submit proposals to promote the development of workers’ digital skills and to develop digital solutions to improve internal efficiency and the quality of services provided to the community.
Proposals must be submitted by a partnership consisting of at least two entities, i.e. a ‘responsible entity’ and at least one partner. Within the partnership, there must be
:
- A formal network or group of private non-profit entities that have a common need to empower the digital skills of their employees and permanent collaborators, including volunteers.
- A non-profit public or private entity with proven experience in carrying out projects in the digital field.
The proposed interventions may include actions of:
- Digital training, basic and/or advanced, for employees, permanent collaborators and volunteers.
- Integration of training sessions for the development of non-cognitive skills, complementary to digital ones.
- Implementation of a digital solution to improve the internal and external efficiency of the organizations involved.
Projects must be submitted by 13:00 on 19 July 2024.
Objectives of the Digital Republic Fund
The 350 million euros currently allocated to the fund will make it possible to train at least 100,000 beneficiaries by 2026. The objective is to finance valid and innovative initiatives that guarantee the concrete involvement of the target audience in quality training programs, transferring digital skills and greater awareness of the importance of digital
technology in working life.
The Fund for the Digital Republic represents an important opportunity to increase digital skills in Italy, encouraging job placement and improving employment prospects for different categories of citizens. With its focus on young people, women, the unemployed and at-risk workers, the fund aims to reduce the digital divide and promote digital inclusion in the labor market
.