This wrap-up has been compiled by the Programme
PROGRAMME 2021-2027
Priority   1 Innovative societies
Objective  1.1 Resilient economies and communities
Prosper BSR:
Wrap-up of project achievements
Many refugees and immigrants struggled to enter labour markets across the Baltic Sea region. The Interreg project Prosper BSR brought together Business Support Organisations and NGOs with public authorities to share knowledge and open doors to employment and entrepreneurship for refugees while addressing skilled labour shortages.
Highlights
Prosper BSR
The project Prosper BSR successfully connected Business Support Organisations (BSOs), public institutions, and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), to improve and coordinate their support for the employment of refugees and immigrants into the labour markets of the Baltic Sea region, providing them with knowledge, tools and spaces for exchange.
In a nutshell, the project delivered:
- Training Programme for BSOs staff
- Four networks for the integration of refugees in Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and BSR-wide
- Prosper Mobile App
Project
Details
Project type
Small project
Project duration
October 2022 – September 2024
Contribution to the EUSBSR
PA Education
Budget in million
EURO
Involved
Countries
Lead partner
Project partners
Training programme for BSOsÂ
Prosper BSR developed a comprehensive Training Programme to equip BSO staff with the knowledge and skills needed to support refugee integration across the regions’ labour markets. The programme was prepared and tested together with BSOs in Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Germany, enabling strong exchange of experience and closer ties between organisations.
Eight training modules form a curriculum that covers complementary aspects of refugee labour market integration, balancing theory with practical tools. Build on practitioner experience and exemplary integration models from several countries, the programme serves as a scalable approach for organisations across the Baltic Sea region.
In numbersÂ
5 organisations cooperating across borders
49 organisations directly benefitting from project solutions
Interreg pays off
Programme in use
Prosper BSR developed a comprehensive Training Programme to equip BSO staff with the knowledge and skills needed to support refugee integration across the regions’ labour markets. The programme was prepared and tested together with BSOs in Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Germany, enabling strong exchange of experience and closer ties between organisations.
Eight training modules form a curriculum that covers complementary aspects of refugee labour market integration, balancing theory with practical tools. Build on practitioner experience and exemplary integration models from several countries, the programme serves as a scalable approach for organisations across the Baltic Sea region.
Get inspired
Networks for refugees in Poland, Lithuania, Latvia & BSR-wideÂ
Prosper BSR developed three regional networks for BSOs, NGOs, public authorities and labour market entities to support refugee integration and entrepreneurship in Poland, Latvia and Lithuania. These networks function as transnational, cross-sector ecosystems where organisations exchange knowledge, develop joint initiatives, and support each other in responding to labour market needs.
Altogether, 24 organisations – BSOs, NGOs, public authorities, and labour market organisations from Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Germany – came together to strengthen the economic and social integration of refugees. The greatest value of working transnationally was the exchange of practices, streamlining support services, and joint initiatives. They enable NGOs and BSOs to engage directly with labour market actors, while public authorities and BSOs cooperate more effectively, building a strong alliance for refugee employment.
Interreg pays off
Impacts of networks
This joint effort resulted in a shared vision for inclusive labour markets across the four countries and the wider Baltic Sea region. It led to the signing of 24 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with chambers of commerce, ministries, NGOs, state revenue services, welfare associations, diversity development groups, innovation centres, charities, municipality and city representatives, committing them to continuing cooperation and engagement beyond the project’s lifetime.
The transnational alliance remains active and is already feeding into future initiatives.The WIN4SMEs project, funded by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture, builds directly on Prosper BSR results and is establishing Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs) in the region, including opportunities for refugees.
Prosper BSR has also expanded its impact through its work with the Interreg Baltic Sea Region project BSI4Women, particularly in the field of refugee entrepreneurship.
Get inspired
Prosper BSR Mobile App
ProsperBSR developed a free and user-friendly mobile application supporting refugee integration into labour markets in Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland. Available in German, English, Latvian, Lithuanian, Polish, and Ukrainian, the app combines information on four Prosper BSR networks, the training programme, 20 refugee and enterprise success stories, and entrepreneurship resources. It helps refugees navigate procedures, legislation, and support systems, while equipping BSOs and public authorities with tools to match businesses with refugees and connect to relevant networks.
Thanks to developing this app transnationally, the tool is useful region-wide while adapting to local conditions. Its novelty lies in connecting diverse organisations into a dynamic support ecosystem for refugees, both as employees and entrepreneurs.
Download links
Interreg pays off
App in use
The project expects the app to provide long-term value for refugee integration. The app is already used by 49 institutions involved in Prosper BSR, 24 organisations that signed MoUs, and 85 member organisations of the Hanse Parliament. Its 20 success stories from Lithuania, Latvia, and Poland inspire refugees and motivate BSOs and local authorities to take a more active role in supporting refugee participation in the labour market.
The project has already strengthened links between NGOs and BSOs, especially in Lithuania, Latvia, and Poland, where many actors had previously worked separately. The app will continue to be maintained and updated, its adaptable structure allows and expansion to new countries and resources, ensuring long-term value.
Project Wrap-Up
Thanks to Interreg funding and transnational cooperation, this project ProsperBSR was a game changer in refugee integration in the Baltic Sea region, bridging gaps between BSOs, NGOs and public authorities, and substantially advancing refugee entrepreneurship opportunities.
Now, refugees can finally access essential resources to better integrate into the labour market of Lithuania, Latvia, and Poland or establish their own enterprises there. Now, BSOs can access a training programme to enable their consultants to better support refugee employment and entrepreneurship and, in this way, help their member enterprises fill labour shortages. Now, various institutions engaged for refugees´ economic integration can be part of networks in the Baltic Sea Region and coordinate their efforts in a more effective way.
