Note: the texts under all the headings, with the exception of 'Results achieved', describe the situation before the start of the project.
Partnership and Expert Fund Bulgaria
Projet terminé
The goal of the Thematic Fund „Partnership and Expert Fund“ is to promote and enhance institutional partnerships between Bulgarian and Swiss partners as well as to mobilise Swiss expertise. Swiss partners and expertises shall contribute to the solution of specific development challenges, strengthen capacities and structures of the Bulgarian institutional partners and bring Swiss added value.
| Pays/région | Thème | Période | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bulgarie |
Renforcer la société civile
Partenariats bilatéraux
|
01.07.2011
- 30.11.2019 |
CHF 4’000’000
|
- A partnership project in the field of social dialogue aiming at providing a major contribution towards improving the working conditions of employees using Swiss experiences.
- A portfolio of small and medium partnership projects of non for profit and public institutions to be identified and selected after a call for applications (call expected to open end of october 2011).
- Short term inputs of Swiss experts delivered to governmental organisations and non-profit organisations with a legal status in Bulgaria.
- Partnerships between 28 Bulgarian NGOs and 30 Swiss organisations, and between 2 municipalities (Gabrovo-Thun), allowing for transfer of Swiss know-how, innovations and experiences and increasing capacity of the partnering Bulgarian organisations.
- All projects contributed to local development in Bulgaria in diverse areas like strengthening democracy, transition to market economy, inclusion of marginalized groups, etc.
- Autre organisation suisse non-profit
- Secteur privé suisse
-
Secteur selon catégorisation du Comité d'aide au développement de l'OCDE Non Affecté / Non Specifié
Sous-Secteur selon catégorisation du Comité d'aide au développement de l'OCDE Secteur non spécifié
Type d'aide Contribution à l'élargissement
Numéro de projet 7F08058
| Contexte |
With the fall of communism, solidarity’s fervour arose in Europe for supporting a quick socio-economic development in the Eastern Countries. All kinds of associations and public institutions in Europe, including municipalities, schools, hospitals, museum, firemen associations, etc. supported existing Bulgarian institutions or newly created NGOs. With the gradual establishment of the democracy and economical progress, top down supports from abroad evolved towards more equal relations between local and foreign institutions, taking the form of partnerships. This fruitful form of cooperation based on popular solidarity lost momentum with the Bulgarian accession to the EU. Today partnerships, mostly financed by EU or EEA grant programs, are driven by exchanges of professional experience and expertise between Bulgarian and foreign institutions. |
| Objectifs |
The goal of the Thematic Fund „Partnership and Expert Fund“ is to promote and enhance institutional partnerships between Bulgarian and Swiss partners as well as to mobilise Swiss expertise. Swiss partners and expertises shall contribute to the solution of specific development challenges, strengthen capacities and structures of the Bulgarian institutional partners and bring Swiss added value. |
| Groupes cibles |
The civil society and public administration in Bulgaria in general |
| Activités |
The intervention strategy includes three 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. |
| Résultats |
Résultats obtenus: |
| Direction/office fédéral responsable |
DDC |
| Crédit |
Contribution suisse à l'UE élargie |
| Partenaire de projet |
Partenaire contractuel Secteur privé Organisation suisse à but non lucratif Autres partenaires Intermediary Body: Foundation InnovaBridge in Caslano, Neosys Ltd in Berne and the Balkan Institute for La-bour and Social Policy (BILSP) in Sofia; Executing Agency: Various Swiss and Bulgarian |
| Budget | Phase en cours Budget de la Suisse CHF 4’000’000 Budget suisse déjà attribué CHF 4’004’289 |
| Phases du projet |
Phase 1 01.07.2011 - 30.11.2019 (Completed) |
Joint projects strengthening bilateral relations
Switzerland finances a partnership fund in Bulgaria and Romania with over CHF 12 million, providing support for around 60 projects. These projects are implemented by a Swiss organisation or institution along with a Bulgarian or Romanian counterpart respectively. The central focus is the exchange of knowledge, and thus Switzerland is strengthening institutional partnerships and bilateral relations with Bulgaria and Romania.
Bilateral partnership projects contribute to resolving specific problems in Bulgaria and Romania and improving living conditions for local people. At the heart of these projects lies the exchange of knowledge and experience with a Swiss organisation or institution which has extensive experience in the specific area. Through the exchange of visits, project partners, local political representatives and specialists are able to share experiences. They plan and implement projects together. Switzerland supports small projects in the amount of 10,000 CHF to 100,000 CHF, while larger projects can receive a subsidy of 100,000 CHF to 250,000 CHF.
Only non-profit organisations in Switzerland and the partner countries, such as foundations, associations or cultural institutions, may participate in the cooperation programme. Public bodies such as municipalities or cantonal administrative authorities may also access these funds. Among the Swiss partners are renowned institutions and educational establishments such as the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL), Lausanne, and also smaller organisations such as the Stiftung Lebensqualität, a Swiss foundation for improving quality of life, which has been working with Bulgaria and Romania for a number of years.
Projects already at the implementation stage
In Bulgaria already 31 projects have been identified. In Romania, following a first call for projects in 2012, 14 partnership projects have been approved. A second call for projects took place in the spring of 2014.
The projects already started are showing their first results. For example, in the Romanian town of Ghimbav a workshop has been set up to help young people with limited skills find work. The workshop is the result of a partnership between the Swiss association for abandoned children in Romania and the Romanian NGO Pentru copiii abandonati, which is supported through the partnership fund.
Mutual benefits of cooperation
Switzerland too benefits from the mutual exchange of experience, obtaining insights into different approaches at various levels. Through the partnership projects Swiss partners are also playing an active role in reducing the economic and social inequalities prevalent in Bulgaria and Romania. New institutional partnerships are formed, while existing ones are strengthened, which in turn strengthens bilateral relations between Switzerland and the two countries.
Partnership funds in the EU-12
In addition to its funds in Bulgaria and Romania, Switzerland has also set up partnership funds in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia. The projects in those countries were begun back in 2009 and most are now nearing completion. In all, Switzerland supports over 150 partnership projects as part of its EU enlargement contribution.
Partnerships strenghten bilateral relations
The partnership funds set up under the auspices of Switzerland’s enlargement contribution facilitate the exchange of experience between institutions in the new EU member states and Swiss partners - in areas such as non-motorised transport, teacher training and biodiversity, for instance. The Swiss contribution to partnership funds for financing small projects is approximately CHF 25 million.
Switzerland possesses a great deal of knowledge in areas such as research and environmental protection, and in other fields too. Given the lack of experience of the partner countries in a wide range of areas (usually for historical reasons), Swiss organisations can consequently make a significant contribution to active knowledge transfer.
Focus on sharing experience
The partnership funds in Bulgaria, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary and the Czech Republic support and foster institutional partnerships between Switzerland and the respective countries. These partnerships focus on sharing experience in the various fields. As a result, institutions and government agencies in the new EU member states can benefit from Swiss expertise and knowledge. This is also in Switzerland’s interests. Through the partnership funds, Switzerland is supporting around 280 small projects which will help solve concrete problems in the partner countries and improve the living conditions of their citizens. Only non-profit organisations are accepted as partners in both Switzerland and the partner countries, i.e. organisations that do not pursue any commercial interests through their participation in projects, such as foundations or associations. Public authorities such as municipalities or cantonal administrative bodies are also eligible to access these funds. Trade unions can also be admitted as partners. Town twinning is a traditional example of such a partnership.
First partnership projects already completed
For instance, Swiss expertise helped to implement a project to promote non-motorised transport in the Czech Republic. Another project concerned incorporating the rights of children in teacher training. As part of the Slovenian partnership fund, a joint research project to preserve biodiversity was implemented. In Poland the focus was placed on partnerships between towns and municipalities. For instance, Polish cities and municipalities can consult Swiss agencies in areas such as spatial planning and public transport.
Mutual benefits of cooperation
By expanding its horizons through establishing and maintaining long-term partnerships between public agencies and institutions, Switzerland also benefits from the mutual exchange of experience. Partnership projects allow Swiss partners to play an active role in reducing economic and social disparities between the new member states and the EU. Projects are submitted to the national institution nominated to manage the fund. A broad-based selection committee, on which Switzerland is also represented, decides which projects will be financed. The partnership funds set up as part of the Swiss enlargement contribution:
• will co-finance around 280 partnership projects;
• will create and foster institutional partnerships between public bodies in the new EU member states and Switzerland;
• will enable the exchange of specialist knowledge between the new EU member states and Switzerland to the benefit of all parties.
