TOUCH Project

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Torino Social Impact

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Tackling Outcome-Based Finance Challenges: a Replication Model for the Social Economy (TOUCH) is a 24-month project that began in December 2024. The project is funded by the European Commission under the ESF 2024-2026 call “Actions to boost the development of finance markets for social enterprises.”

The project aims to create the first outcome fund in the Piedmont Region of Italy, with the intention of replicating it in other Italian and European regions.

The project consortium seeks to structure an outcome-based financing mechanism (Outcome Fund), focusing on employment integration and skills development to support NEETs, with particular attention to women and migrants within this group.

The project objectives include a pilot initiative in the Piedmont Region and dissemination and replication activities in Italy and Europe aimed at:

strengthening the outcome-based financial ecosystem in Italy;
improving the skills of social enterprises in the Piedmont Region through a training and capacity-building program;
implementing outcome measurement approaches for all stakeholders involved in outcome-based contracts;
providing, through the evaluation of achieved results, concrete insights into the most effective solutions for tackling the NEET issue.

Project activities will take place over two years and will involve the design of the financial mechanism; the selection of service and capacity-building providers; and the dissemination of the model in Italy and Europe, including four roadshows in Italy and one in the Baltic region of Europe.

TOUCH CAPACITY LAB

The consortium partners are launching TOUCH CAPACITY LAB, a capacity-building programme designed to strengthen the skills of organisations that support the labour-market integration of NEET young people.

The initiative was presented on 24 October during a webinar dedicated to innovative social finance tools developed to unlock new opportunities for the social economy and to build solid partnerships with public and private stakeholders.

If you were unable to attend, you can find the full recording of the webinar here.

Following the closure of the call, 25 organisations operating in the Piemonte region and supporting NEETs have been selected to participate in the TOUCH Capacity Building Programme. The initiative will run from mid-March to mid-May, with weekly sessions every Thursday morning.

The training pathway is designed to combine strategic reflection, practical tools and peer exchange, supporting participants in strengthening their ability to design, manage and communicate outcome-oriented initiatives.