The national agency for social cohesion and equal opportunities

The national agency for social cohesion and equal opportunities (Acsé) is a national public administrative establishment responsible for implementing government guidelines relating to the policy for cities, the fight against discrimination and equal opportunities.

Acsé’s responsibilities

Acsé was founded by the Act of 31 March 2006 relating to equal opportunities. The Agency develops actions to support the integration of immigrants or people who come from immigrant families and live in France. It supports the fight against discrimination linked to origin and develops programmes in favour of equal opportunities and diversity. Acsé also implements voluntary civil service (SCV), which enables young people to become involved in missions that are of general interest. Finally, it runs social development programmes for the inhabitants of what the city policy deems to be priority districts and manages the inter-ministerial fund for the prevention of delinquency.

Acsé’s intervention programmes

Acsé develops programmes for the inhabitants of districts that are financed and coordinated as part of urban social cohesion contracts (CUCS) signed between the Government and regional authorities. The main areas of intervention are education, training, access to jobs and economic development, health, the prevention of delinquency, the development of social ties and access to culture. Acsé’s action in favour of districts is closely tied in with that of Anru (National agency for urban renovation). The Agency also supports programmes to promote equal opportunities and diversity. These include both direct action to accompany people exposed to the risk of discrimination and indirect action to raise awareness and qualification levels amongst public and private organisations. Finally, it accompanies associative initiatives in favour of access to rights and citizenship.

How Acsé operates

The Agency may run operations directly or act in partnership with public or private organisations. It then grants financial support, particularly in the form of commitments running over several years with regional authorities, competent public establishments involved in cooperation between communes and public or private organisations – especially associations – involved in the scope of its missions. Agency financing does not replace common-law credits; it is offered as an extra for the benefit of the populations concerned. Acsé aims to help towards training the different organisations involved and to gain a more accurate idea of the impact of interventions.