The final partner meeting and closing conference of SIMPLE – Social Innovation Models to Promote Learning and Employability took place in Dubrovnik on 21–22 October 2026. HÉTFA Research Institute is a partner in the project, which focuses on identifying, adapting and supporting the wider uptake of proven social innovation approaches that can strengthen the labour market and social integration of refugees from Ukraine, particularly women.
At the final partner meeting on 21 October, the consortium reviewed the project’s results and reflected on the experience gained during implementation, while also considering how the methods, tools and resources developed through SIMPLE could continue to be used beyond the project period. The conference the following day brought together more than 80 participants and opened the discussion to a wider professional audience, focusing on the project’s approach, the experience of the two pilot programmes and the practical lessons emerging from their implementation.
A central focus of SIMPLE was how social innovation approaches that have proved effective in one setting can be adapted to different institutional and social contexts. The partnership mapped 82 initiatives from across Europe and examined 13 in greater depth. This research informed the selection of models that were subsequently adapted and tested through pilot programmes in Poland and Italy, taking account of local conditions and the needs of the women participating.
At the conference, Evelin Verhás of HÉTFA Research Institute presented this process in “From evidence to action: the SIMPLE approach and tools”, tracing the progression from research and model selection to adaptation, implementation and the practical use of lessons from the pilots.
Each pilot involved 50 women from Ukraine, but the two programmes took different approaches to supporting labour market integration. In Poland, the focus was on entrepreneurship and economic independence, combining entrepreneurship workshops, skills development, individual counselling and practical work experience. In Italy, the pilot adapted a community-based learning model, combining labour market guidance and small-group learning with employer engagement and psychosocial support.
The closing conference also placed the project’s findings and experience in a broader professional and institutional context. Invited speakers examined the role of local and regional actors in supporting women’s labour market integration, with discussions covering inclusive employment, skills development, long-term unemployment and women’s entrepreneurship. The programme also featured a regional example from Bosnia and Herzegovina, drawing on experience from initiatives aimed at improving women’s position in the labour market.
The resources and practical tools developed through SIMPLE will remain available after the project ends at www.simpleinnovation.eu.
SIMPLE was co-funded by the European Union under the ESF+ Social Innovation+ initiative and brought together partners from six countries: Italy, Poland, Spain, Belgium, Croatia and Hungary.
Funding statement
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Social Fund Agency (ESFA). Neither the European Union nor the Granting Authority can be held responsible for them.
