The Operational Programme (OP) “Employment, Human Resources and Social Cohesion” is co-financed by the European Social Fund (ESF) and the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI)* and is one of the two Programmes prepared for the effective utilisation of the resources of the Cohesion Policy in the period 2014-2020. The other Operational Programme is the “Competitiveness and Sustainable Development”, which is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund and the Cohesion Fund.

The OP “Employment, Human Resources and Social Cohesion”constitutesa programming document that includes specific priorities and indicative categories of interventions which will be implemented during the period 2014-2020, contributing towards the strategic objective of the Partnership Agreement for the restructuring of the Cyprus economy, the preservation and creation of new jobs and the safeguarding of social cohesion.

The total budget of the Programme amounts to €163 mln, out of which €129 mln will be financed by ESF, €11.5 mln by YEI, whereas the remaining amount will be financed from national resources. The co-financing rate from ESF reaches 85%, while YEI co-financing is 100%.

Within the framework of the OP “Employment, Human Resources and Social Cohesion”, interventions planned will contribute to the promotion of employment, the preservation of social cohesion, the improvement of vocational education and training aiming at the matching of the skills with the labour market needs, the promotion and certification of lifelong learning and the enhancement of the administrative capacity of public authorities and stakeholders.

The interventions will include investments of the broader public sector, as well as grant schemes/incentives addressed to the private sector.

The OP “Employment, Human Resources and Social Cohesion” 2014-2020, was approved by a European Commission’s Implementing Decision on 25th February2015.

• Central Government
• Chambers
• Educational Institutions
• Large Enterprises
• Local Authorities
• NGOs
• Researchers/Research Centers/Institutions
• Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
• State-owned Enterprises
• Trade Unions

Managing Authority for the Operational Programmes (OP) for Cohesion Policy:
Address: Directorate General for European Programmes, Coordination and Development (DG EPCD), 1409 Nicosia
Telephone: +357 22 602820

Contact Point:
Socrates Melis
Telephone: +357 22 602876
Email: smelis@dgepcd.gov.cy

[OP Employment, Human Resources and Social Cohesion]