The document provides 5 recommendations for improving learning from European Social Fund (ESF) programs: 1) Clearly distinguish evaluation from learning to avoid an intrinsic contradiction between accountability and learning. 2) The European Commission should provide a platform for social innovation to explore new ideas and share learning across countries and departments. 3) Separate instruments are needed for experimentation to allow innovation and testing of new solutions without the pressure to immediately show success. 4) Member states and managing authorities must build learning mechanisms into ESF programs, including partnerships, self-evaluation, and investing in experience transfer. 5) More attention and support is needed for mainstreaming innovation to transform experimental designs into standard practices.