The Hague, Netherlands – May 23, 2025 – The Open Business for Community Development (OBCD) project is proud to unveil a comprehensive suite of tools and resources designed to strengthen the social enterprise sector across Europe. Co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union, the initiative is the result of a three-year international collaboration that has reimagined how social entrepreneurship is taught, supported, and sustained.
At the heart of the project is SEntreComp, a new competency framework tailored specifically for social entrepreneurship. Building on the foundations of the European Commission’s EntreComp framework, SEntreComp introduces competencies uniquely relevant to mission-driven enterprises. Developed through in-depth research conducted in Finland, Greece, Italy, and Spain, the framework addresses key gaps in skills and knowledge that have long limited the growth and scalability of social enterprises.
To support the practical application of this framework, the OBCD project has developed two modular training curricula aligned with the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) and the ESCO classification system. One curriculum targets administrative professionals (EQF5) working within social enterprises, while the other focuses on managers and developers (EQF6). Both programmes are freely available through an open-access online learning platform, allowing broad, equitable access across Europe and beyond.
But OBCD goes beyond the classroom. The project also piloted an interactive digital platform and a prototype for a local hub model—tools that empower social entrepreneurs to connect, co-create, and build resilient local ecosystems. By fostering cross-sector collaboration through Knowledge Triangles (linking business, academia, and vocational training), the initiative creates fertile ground for innovation, shared learning, and sustainable impact.
“OBCD is more than a project – it’s a movement,” said a spokesperson for the project team. “We’re creating open, scalable, and inclusive resources that can transform how communities grow their social economies.”
Recently highlighted at a major international academic conference, the OBCD project is now calling on educators, policymakers, ecosystem builders, and social entrepreneurs to explore and adopt its free resources. Whether through training, local hub development, or cross-border collaboration, the tools developed by OBCD offer a clear path forward for scaling social innovation across Europe.
To learn more or access OBCD’s tools and training materials, visit the project website or contact the team at: team@euclidnetwork.eu.
