The InvestEU Advisory Hub is one of the three pillars of the InvestEU Programme, operating alongside the InvestEU Fund and the InvestEU Portal. As a comprehensive assistance service, the Advisory Hub serves as a centralised platform connecting project promoters and financial intermediaries with advisory partners to facilitate the transformation of business concepts and project ideas into viable investment ventures. 

The advisory support is delivered in the policy priorities of the InvestEU Programme, such as sustainable infrastructure; research, innovation, and digitalisation; small and medium-sized enterprises; and social investment and skills window - the most relevant window for social investors. Moreover, the service offers support for cross-sectoral and horizontal investment areas that show a clear market gap.

Who can apply for advisory support?

Public authorities, private project promoters, and financial intermediaries can get advisory support and technical assistance in identifying, preparing, developing, structuring, and implementing investment projects across the European Union, including financial capacity building.

Good to know 

The InvestEU Advisory Hub offers support to social investors, irrespective of their application to the InvestEU Fund. Although many advisory initiatives are tied to specific InvestEU financial products, independent applications are also welcomed.

Please note that social investors who apply to the Advisory Hub services do not receive automatic financing support from the InvestEU Fund. Separate applications for financing need to be submitted and assessed based on the specific eligibility criteria established for the fund.

Applying for advisory support

Social investors can access support by applying through the InvestEU Central Entry Point. To apply, you must register and log in via EU Login. The central entry point offers targeted questions to assess your advisory needs and match you with the most appropriate advisory partner.

Partners delivering the InvestEU Advisory Hub 

The European Commission is responsible for implementing the InvestEU Advisory Hub and selecting its advisory partners from a diverse pool of organisations. The European Investment Bank Group (EIBG) is the main InvestEU Advisory Hub Partner implementing 75% of the budget. The other partners include National Promotional Banks and Institutions (NPBIs), International Financial Institutions (IFIs), executive agencies, or external service providers, such as consultancy companies, and sectoral associations among other organisations active in the EU.

Becoming an Advisory Partner: Entities interested in becoming advisors have to apply for calls for expression of interest that are published on the regular Communication platforms of the European Commission. A second Call for Expression of Interest for the InvestEU Advisory Hub is currently planned to take place during the year 2024.  
 

InvestEU advisory services for social investors

The European Investment Bank (EIB)

1. Social Inclusive Finance Technical Assistance (SIFTA)

The Social Inclusive Finance Technical Assistance (SIFTA) is the Technical Assistance programme that provides a broad range of services for microfinance and Social Enterprises finance providers.

• Services open to all Microfinance and Social Enterprises finance providers.
• Tailored services upon request from the consortium composed of Frankfurt School of Finance & Management GmbH, European Microfinance Network and the Microfinance Centre.
• Microfinanza Rating Srl also provides other specialised services related to European Code of Good Conduct evaluations, Institutional Assessments, ESG Assessments, Institutional Ratings, and Impact Assessments.

Who can apply? Financial intermediaries registered in the EU27:

• Microfinance Providers (Microfinance Institutions, Licensed Banks, Guarantee granting entities, etc.)
• Social Enterprises finance providers (Incubators, Accelerators, Private or Public Investment Funds, etc.) 

More information or sifta(at)eib.org.

2. Improving social infrastructure and services

The EIB is providing project support as well as technical and financial advice to public administrations and financial intermediaries for the delivery of affordable housing schemes, social services infrastructure (including health care), accessibility to help vulnerable groups and support to public-private collaborations at the local level.

Among these services, EIB provides:

• Technical assistance throughout the whole project lifecycle, such as preparation, procurement, financial structuring, and project implementation.
• Advisory support to facilitate public-private collaboration. 
• Capacity building and implementation support for public and private entities, including intermediaries participating in InvestEU financial products.
• Market development activities to support the development of project pipelines.
• Dissemination of best practices.

Main beneficiaries: Public and private project promoters, in the social sector, social and affordable housing providers, health authorities, education providers, universities, higher education and vocational training institutions, not-for profit institutions, civil society organisations, financial and non-financial intermediaries, investors in social infrastructure and services in the social sphere.

More information or eib-advisory(at)eib.org.

3. Advancing the gender agenda

Aiming to empower female entrepreneurs and reduce gender inequality, the EIB provides advisory support with the goal of improving access to finance for female-led companies, and consequently increasing women’s representation in the investment community across the European Union.

The EIB offers: 

• Support for female entrepreneurs to improve their business development strategies and access to finance.
• Providing advice in identifying barriers and developing responses.
• Facilitating knowledge and good practice sharing.
• Qualitative and quantitative assessment of the economic & financial costs and benefits related to the implementation of gender equality measures.

Main beneficiaries: Managing authorities of EU shared managed funds and other public bodies, private project promoters, financial and non-financial intermediaries, and National Promotional Banks and Institutions (NPBIs).

More information or eib-advisory(at)eib.org.

4. Bringing education and skills to the next level

Aligned with the European skills agenda, the EIB provides a wide range of non-financial services to support the preparation and deployment of projects fostering investments in human capital, such as reskilling and upskilling or training and education projects.

Services provided:

• Technical assistance throughout the whole project lifecycle, such as assistance in preparation, procurement, financial structuring, and implementation.
• Financial structuring.
• Capacity building services including support for intermediaries and non-financial intermediaries (e.g. eligibility, reporting, etc.) using InvestEU Fund resources.

Main beneficiaries: Public and private project promoters, providers of vocational education and training, reskilling and upskilling, SME clusters or Digital Innovation Hubs, universities and other organisations developing education, and financial and non-financial intermediaries.

More information or eib-advisory(at)eib.org.

5. Innovating the way we deliver social services

To further develop social impact market and outcome-based approaches across Europe, the EIB offers a wide range of non-financial support services to support public authorities and financial intermediaries in developing and establishing national or/and local Social Outcomes Contracting initiatives.

The services provided are: 

• Project preparation and implementation advisory support.
• Help with identifying social impact objectives and strategies to achieve them.
• Support the development of platforms that facilitate social impact investment and innovative financing approaches. 

Main beneficiaries: National, regional and municipal authorities, NGOs, foundations and not-for-profit organisations, private sector entities acting as investors, financial intermediaries, and impact investors.

More information or eib-advisory(at)eib.org.

The Council of Europe Bank

The Council of Europe Bank (CEB) provides advisory services through the InvestEU Advisory Hub, focusing on the InvestEU program's policy goals. CEB aids the advancement of investment projects in the "social investment and skills window" and the "sustainable infrastructure window."

CEB advisory services: 

• Provides advisory services for project identification, preparation, development, planning, and implementation, as well as financial structuring.
• Supports capacity building for microfinance institutions through training, coaching, knowledge sharing, and specialised consulting services.
• Assists with the impact of displacements from Ukraine, offering advisory and technical support for early migrant integration challenges, employment, and access to finance.
• Collects and shares information, research outputs, and data from market assessments in priority segments such as affordable social housing, healthcare, universities, lifelong learning and vocational training centres, student housing, elderly housing, and early childhood education.

Applying for CEB advisory support: To apply for advisory support through the InvestEU Central Entry Point, register and log in via EU Login. You can indicate the CEB as your preferred advisory partner when submitting your request. Click here for more information or contact the CEB directly at InvestEU-CEB(at)coebank.org  
 

Links

• InvestEU Advisory Hub Central Entry Point
• European Commission’s page on the InvestEU Advisory Hub.
• EIB Group’s page on the InvestEU Advisory Hub.