Note: the texts under all the headings, with the exception of 'Results achieved', describe the situation before the start of the project.
Thematic Fund Civil Society Participation Bulgaria
Project completed
Promoting civil society is important for democracy in Bulgaria © SDC/Seco
DEZA/SECO
The goal of the Thematic Fund „Civil Society Participation“ is to empower the Bulgarian civil society organizations as important actors in development and democratic process. Specific objectives are to bring concrete solutions for specific environmental and social challenges as well as to build capacities of the various implementation partners.
| Country/region | Topic | Period | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bulgaria |
Protecting the environment Strengthening civil society
Biodiversity
Non-governmental organisations
|
01.07.2011
- 30.11.2019 |
CHF 8’000’000
|
- One large project in the field of sustainable development implemented in cooperation between 4 Swiss and 5 Bulgarian partners: see specific achieved results for the Linking Nature Protection and Sustainable Rural Development project.
- 35 small scale projects completed, 12 in the environnement, 23 in social services. The participation of the non-governmental sector in development issues has been strenghtened in Bulgaria through the 47 involved NGOs (including 2 Swiss).
- 1 project - jointly funded by the Thematic Fund Civil Society Participation and the Thematic Fund Partnership (Network it SMART) - contributed to the visibility of the achievements under both TFs as well as to the strenghtening of the networking capacities of the supported NGOs.
- Other Swiss Non-profit Organisation
-
Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation Unallocated / Unspecified
Sub-Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation Sectors not specified
Cross-cutting topics The project promotes biodiversity.
The project also supports partner organisation improvements
Aid Type Enlargement contribution
Project number 7F08057
| Background |
Bulgarian NGOs have similar development agenda as the government and the general public; they all equate it with the EU accession and post accession process. At the local level, NGOs call for economic development that encourages small and medium-sized business, overcomes territorial discrepancies, achieves sustainability and cares about ordinary people. A big concern for NGOs is the ineffectiveness and corruption in state institutions. The main source of funding for the NGOs is still project funding. |
| Objectives |
The civil society in Bulgaria in general, the NGOs and the vulnerable population in particular. |
| Target groups |
The civil society in Bulgaria in general, the NGOs and the vulnerable population in particular. |
| Activities |
The intervention strategy includes two main pillars: A managing and capacity building body (Swiss Intermediate Body) will guarantee the good use of funds, the link to Swiss partners and the sustainability of the Swiss support activities. |
| Results |
Achieved results: (by the end of 2018) Expected results: • one large project in the field of sustainable development implemented as cooperation between Swiss and Bulgarian partners |
| Directorate/federal office responsible |
SDC |
| Credit area |
Swiss Contribution to the enlarged EU |
| Project partners |
Contract partner Swiss Non-profit Organisation Other partners Intermediary Body: Foundation InnovaBridge in Caslano, Neosys Ltd in Berne and the Balkan Institute for Labour and Social Policy (BILSP) in Sofia; Executing Agency: Various Bulgarian NGOs |
| Budget | Current phase Swiss budget CHF 8’000’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF 7’999’270 |
| Project phases |
Phase 1 01.07.2011 - 30.11.2019 (Completed) |
Strenghtening Civil Society in Bulgaria and Romania
Switzerland funds social and environmental projects in Bulgaria and Romania for a total amount of CHF 24.8 million. The projects promote and enhance the involvement of civil society in the economic and social development of their respective countries.
NGOs have become increasingly important in Bulgaria and Romania in the past 20 years. But they still face major challenges, including very low membership and scant influence on political decisionmaking processes. Moreover, the financial and economic crisis of recent years has weighed heavily on the NGO sector in Bulgaria and Romania.
NGOS – The Key Player
The problems facing the NGO sector are particularly worrying, as socially disadvantaged groups rely on their support for social services. Furthermore, NGOs contribute to an active civil society, which in turn fosters democracy, a strong civil society having an important control function over state authorities.
Switzerland supports over 120 individual social and environmental projects in Bulgaria and Romania through its NGO fund. In certain cases, including Swiss project partners enables the NGOs to benefit from expertise and experience specific to Switzerland.
Cooperating with organisations in the partner countries allows Swiss organisations to expand their networks and their specialist knowledge. What is more, Switzerland itself benefits from the NGOs’ work, as it frequently has an international or even global impact, for example in the areas of migration or environmental protection.
Active civic involvement in environmental protection and nature conservation
The NGO fund in Bulgaria and Romania comes under the thematic fund civil society which Switzerland uses to support other projects aimed at strengthening civil society, in addition to its support for the NGO funds. Most of these projects are in the area of environmental protection.
In Bulgaria for example CHF 4.2 million goes to supporting the project entitled Linking Nature Protection and Sustainable Rural Development. The aim of this project is to get the civil society more actively involved in the sustainable development of agriculture, nature conservation and environmental protection. It involves working closely with Swiss partner organisations, for example Pro Natura and the Réseau Echange Développement Durable (REDD), both of which bring invaluable experience to the table. The sustainable cultivation, distribution and marketing of organic produce also make up an important part of the project. The project leader, Dr Stoilko Apostolov, sees the project as an important example of how nature conservation and sustainability can bring added value to local products and services.
Strengthening Civil Society
The Swiss enlargement contribution finances a support fund for non-governmental organisations (NGO fund) in all partner countries except Malta. The purpose of these funds is to promote and strengthen the participation of civil society in the socioeconomic development of the respective countries. The total contribution to all NGO funds amounts to around CHF 66 million.
In the new member states of the EU, civil society is significantly more developed than it was at the beginning of the 1990s, but it is not yet as well developed as in the older member states. NGOs suffer from various shortcomings: for example, they are poorly integrated in society and have a weak financial and institutional base.
A strong NGO sector is essential for civil society
The funds for non-governmental organisations in all new EU member states except Malta provide essential support for civil society in these countries. This will result in the strengthening of the NGO sector and civil society in the respective countries. In particular, it is often the poorer and socially disadvantaged sections of the population who benefit from a well-developed range of services provided by NGOs.
NGOs – indispensable players
By formulating concepts and taking action (in relation to vulnerable groups, minorities, the environment and culture), civil society strengthens the democratisation process. It also helps make government agencies more efficient by ensuring that they take better account of the concerns of the population.
This applies both to specific action taken at a local level and to advocacy at the regional and national level. NGOs thus often deal with a wide variety of issues in daily life. The NGO funds will be used in particular to support social welfare and environmental projects. More than half the approved projects will come under one of these two headings. Switzerland will however also fund projects in other areas, for instance the increased involvement of citizens in political decision making processes and cooperation between NGOs and local government. In some countries, the NGO fund programmes have already been completed or are about to be completed.
Swiss organisations offer valuable experience
Involving Swiss partners in projects enables NGOs to benefit from Swiss expertise. Overall, just under 20% of the projects will be implemented with Swiss involvement. Swiss expertise and experience is extremely valuable on a number of fronts for NGOs in partner countries which are often working in a new environment and therefore lack experience. For instance, Swiss NGOs can help their partners cooperate with the government, encourage young volunteers, or even help with bookkeeping. Swiss know-how enables organisations in the partner countries to implement efficient and effective projects directly, while making optimum use of their financial and human resources.
Targeted support for civil society is also in Switzerland’s interest
Thanks to partnerships with organisations in the partner countries, Swiss organisations are also able
to extend their networks and expertise. The mechanisms of the NGO funds favour these partnerships. Moreover, Switzerland also benefits from the activities of NGOs, as many aspects such as economic exchange, migration and environmental protection are interrelated and are of international and even global relevance in some cases.
The NGO funds set up as part of the Swiss enlargement contribution
• co-finance some 700 projects totalling CHF 66 million
• strengthen the NGO sector in the respective countries and consequently support civil society
• have also resulted in the creation of partnerships between foreign and Swiss organisations for around 150 small NGO projects
• is enabling projects primarily addressing social welfare and environmental issues, as well as other problem areas, to be implemented.
