After two years of collaboration and innovation, the European project SOFIGREEN, co-financed by the European Commission’s SMP-COSME programme, has come to a successful close. The initiative focused on advancing the green transition through the social and solidarity economy across the Mediterranean. Led by Fondazione MeSSInA, the project brought together a strong consortium including Fondazione con il Sud, Banca Popolare Etica, Groupe Archer, La Nef, MedWaves, FAECTA, REVES and, FEBEA.

Throughout the project, 86 social enterprises and cooperatives from France, Italy, and Spain received tailored support to strengthen their skills, access financing opportunities, and shift towards more sustainable and circular business models. SOFIGREEN also fostered cross-border collaboration through networking sessions and international meetings that encouraged knowledge exchange, joint learning, and the creation of new strategic alliances in the region.

More than €530,000 in financial support was mobilized to back initiatives that reinforce the social and environmental commitment of Mediterranean enterprises, alongside specialized training and technical assistance.

The project’s final conference took place in two key events — first in Messina, and later in Rome.

In Messina, the meeting brought together project partners and representatives of beneficiary companies for a moment of reflection, evaluation, and forward planning. Participants presented the results achieved, highlighted notable success stories, and shared recommendations at the European level, reinforcing their shared commitment to advancing ethical finance and strengthening social and green ecosystems across the Mediterranean. Within this framework, the Switchers Fund was highlighted as an innovative instrument that will build on the progress achieved through SOFIGREEN, further consolidating the link between the social and circular economy and ethical finance.

The Rome event stood out for its strategic and innovative approach, bringing together high-level stakeholders in impact finance and territorial development. While Messina served as a space for reflection and evaluation, Rome marked a strategic moment of project continuity, gathering key decision-makers in finance and regional development. The meeting provided a platform to address shared challenges, emphasizing the need for a common language, enhanced coordination among stakeholders, and the integration of financial support with technical assistance to strengthen social and green enterprises across the Mediterranean. Panel discussions focused on territorial development, financial instruments for social cohesion, and the Mediterranean’s pivotal role in this context. The Switchers Fund was showcased as a key, innovative instrument, embedded within a broader ecosystem of actors committed to advancing the social and ecological transition in the Mediterranean.

The Switchers Fund, promoted by SEFEA Med, Fondazione MeSSInA, and MedWaves, will combine patient capital, ethical investment, technical support, and collaborative networks to directly meet the needs of social and green enterprises across the Mediterranean. Its flexible and transparent approach ensures that resources reach beneficiary companies effectively, while adapting to potential legal or administrative constraints without compromising social and environmental impact. The Fund will also encourage partnerships with ethical and philanthropic investors to amplify results, establishing itself as a sustainable and replicable financial model.

Building on the foundation laid by SOFIGREEN, this initiative represents a strong commitment to a social and circular economy rooted in local territories, integrating economic development, sustainability, and social justice. The Switchers Fund will be a decisive tool to consolidate this vision, expand its impact, and position itself as a leading model of responsible financing for a greener, fairer Mediterranean.

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