Strengthening Public Employment Services Through Strategic Partnerships: The Actiris Approach
On the 6th and 7th of November, the study visit, ‘The Partnership Ecosystem Developed by Actiris’, was organised by the Community of Practice on Employment, Education, and Skills (CoP on EES) and hosted by Actiris, the Public Employment Service of the Brussels-Capital Region, in Brussels, Belgium. This two-day event brought together 19 participants from 10 EU Member States, including representatives from ESF+ Managing Authorities,the European Commission, Public mployment services (PES), regional managers, government experts, and members of the CoP on EES. The event also featured visits to partners, La Ligue Braille and OrientaEuro.
The primary aim of this study visit was to provide an in-depth understanding of the structured management of partnerships developed by Actiris. Through its partnership ecosystem, Actiris collaborates with more than 150 field partners to address the increasingly diverse needs of jobseekers and employers in the Brussels region. This comprehensive partnership approach has become essential in meeting the specific and evolving demands of the labour market.
‘Actiris promotes the exchange of best practices at all levels of the organisation. This enables our collaborators to take a step back from their habits, draw inspiration or find innovative solutions to shared challenges. Involving partner organisations in the study visit gives visibility and credit for the efforts they make alongside Actiris to help reduce unemployment in the Brussels-Capital Region’, explained Laura-Gaëlle Lemetayer, International Relations Officer at Actiris.
The structure of the Actiris partnership ecosystem
Actiris employs a sophisticated approach to partnership-building with a diverse range of organisations. During the study visit, the Actiris expert team provided presentations that highlighted the management practices underpinning this partnership ecosystem. The origins of this system trace back to 2006, when the control of employment services was transferred to the regional government, leading to the establishment of Actiris as the PES provider for the Brussels-Capital Region. Recognising the expertise and resources of various public and private organisations already engaged in employment-related services within the city, Actiris sought to forge partnerships for the mutual benefit of all stakeholders.
Actiris acts as the central case manager, welcoming jobseekers, assessing their proximity to the labour market and their level of independence, and devising a tailored action plan. For jobseekers who are sufficiently independent to pursue employment unaided, Actiris provides support as a service provider. For others, Actiris refers jobseekers to specialised partners in cases where they face specific, well-identified barriers to employment, such as language difficulties, lack of vocational training, or the need for childcare to enable employment, or when they require specialised support that demands additional resources and time.
Actiris also engages external partners to meet new or highly specific needs, where these partners can offer rapid, customised solutions. Currently, Actiris collaborates with 58 project partners, of which 27 are public entities and 31 are non-governmental organisations (NGOs), indicating that approximately one-third of Actiris’ service capacity is provided through external partners.
For collaborations with NGOs, Actiris typically issues competitive service contracts lasting between two and five years. These contracts are not automatically renewed; providers must compete in each new funding cycle. Service quality is assured through careful partner selection, competitive processes, and continuous service monitoring. The tender process is transparent, with fair and predictable conditions, ensuring a level playing field for all participants and facilitating effective NGO involvement. Funding mechanisms are adjusted to the nature of the activity; in ESF+ projects, they typically employ unit cost financing.
To maintain high standards across all services, Actiris organises regular multi-stakeholder meetings – at least twice a year – to review compliance, address any challenges in implementing measures, and promote the exchange of information and best practices. Non-governmental partners working with Actiris are required to participate in compulsory training sessions, which cover an introduction to Actiris and its partnership ecosystem, a comprehensive overview of Actiris services and how they complement each other, GDPR requirements for handling and transferring jobseekers’ personal data, and the use of Actiris’ online monitoring platforms, including logs of activities recorded in each jobseeker’s file and records of achievement indicators.
As Hanne-Lise De Valck, Partnerships Officer at Actiris, noted: ‘For public employment service providers, bridging the gap to some of the most vulnerable target groups can be more effectively achieved through partnerships with private organisations and NGOs that have developed specific expertise and can provide customised, flexible, and innovative solutions. Successful collaboration requires a foundation of trust, which the PES itself must actively cultivate. This involves clear communication of expectations and objectives, ongoing dialogue, regular evaluations, and adjustments – all undertaken with a consistent focus on the best interests of the beneficiaries. To support this, Actiris ensures that each project operator has a dedicated point of contact who provides guidance throughout the partnership agreement.’
How does Actiris make use of the ESF+ in professionalising the network?
The European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) plays a key role in supporting Actiris’ efforts to professionalise its network of partners. Through ESF+ projects, Actiris provides substantial support to its external partners, particularly those with limited administrative resources, by covering co-funding requirements and offering structured administrative guidance.
Each project partner is assigned a dedicated project manager within Actiris, ensuring consistent support throughout the ESF+ financing period and beyond. This guidance not only assists partners in navigating the complexities of funding but also enables Actiris to monitor project implementation closely, promoting effective and compliant service delivery.
Actiris’ collaborative approach contributes to the growth of a dynamic, competitive environment among service providers. The organisation actively seeks to reduce barriers for new entrants by simplifying administrative processes, supported by the development of user-friendly digital tools. One of the most significant of these innovations is the My Actiris Partners (MAP), a digital system that ensures secure data exchange both within Actiris and between Actiris and its partners. MAP supports efficient documentation and compliance tracking across all projects, both ESF+ and non-ESF, ensuring that formal documentation is securely stored and readily accessible.
Laurens Hoedaert, ESF+ Programme Manager at Actiris, highlights the value of ESF+ controls: ‘ESF + controls should be appreciated for their advisory function. These controls give operators the opportunity to strengthen their administrative capacity. The ESF controls are essentially a free audit, enabling project operators, whether large or small, to improve their overall functioning and enhance the effective implementation of ESF+ funded projects.’
The European Social Fund, alongside EU regulations and audits, serves as an essential catalyst for continuous improvement within Actiris. Recommendations from audits conducted by the Audit Authority not only refine Actiris’ internal practices but also set a higher standard across the organisation, impacting non-ESF projects as well. This comprehensive approach ensures that Actiris remains at the forefront of best practices, contributing positively to the social and professional landscape.
In conclusion, this study visit proved to be a valuable platform for exploring an innovative approach to partnerships between public agencies and non-governmental organisations, which can improve the quality and flexibility of services for individuals facing long-term unemployment. The Actiris model represents an inspiring practice for PES across Europe aiming to establish effective, sustainable collaborations with external service providers.
