Participation of the Bulgarian civil society in the EU Development Co-operation

Total Costs: 47.189 euros
Request from the Fund: 44.989 euros

On its accession to the EU in 2007 Bulgaria became obligated to incorporate the EU international development cooperation policy- a complex new challenge for the Government and an important opportunity for Bulgarian NGOs interested in international development. Bulgaria has little experience as a donor and is not yet ready to assume this responsibility. In this respect, the Bulgarian development policy requires public support and partnership with NGOs working or willing to work on development issues. Following the successful models of similar platforms established in other NMS a group of over 30 Bulgarian NGOs established an informal coalition to collaborate with state institutions and other EU national platforms and federations like CONCORD, in order to influence Bulgaria’s policy on development cooperation and the EU policy for Development Co-operation. Since the establishment of the Bulgarian NGDO Platform, ECIP Foundation (CARE Bulgaria) has been one of the three coordinating organisations of the Platform.

While the Bulgarian NGDO Platform is still an informal coalition of organisations, which, albeit enthusiastic, have had little or no experience in development cooperation so far. This project will provide the opportunity to develop a strategy/ action plan for building the capacity of the Bulgarian National NGDO Platform and its member organizations to engage in policy work. The platform and its members will advocate for a National Development Policy  aligned to the the EU Development Policy and to fulfill the commitments on the ODA. This will be done through the participation in the Council for International Development Cooperation and other national forums regarding the ODA policy.

Concrete lobbying actions will follow the immediate tasks of the national Development Policy agenda. Presently, the  Concept Paper on Bulgaria's policy on participation in international development co-operation was adopted by the Council of Ministers in July 2007. However, the national ODA policy needs to be further elaborated both on the strategic level and in terms of an action plan with concrete steps for the next couple years. The Bulgarian government has already identified the focus countries for its ODA policy.  Bulgarian NGOs shall lobby for addressing particular development issues in the focus countries. In this respect, we will seek to achieve a closer cooperation with the ODA unit at the MFA.

The general public awareness of the EU Development Policy needs to be enhanced. In order to do this, various media will be used to provide examples of development assistance in the spheres of social and environmental protection, healthcare, democracy and human rights, humanitarian aid, fair trade etc.

As a result of these activities it is expected that the following results will be achieved:
•    The Bulgarian NGDO Platform will be strengthened while the role of  civil society as partner in the Development Co-operation is recognised.
•    The Platform will have an enhanced capacity in  the areas of development education and public awareness campaigning, advocacy, lobbying, networking, and fund-raising.  It is expected that 50 NGO representatives trained
•    Increased public and media awareness of EU development policy and MDG achievement - public promotion of the National Platform of NGDOs and their activities
•    Improved collaboration between the Bulgarian NGDOs and the state institutions responsible for ODA – the Platform takes part in the EU Development policy debate
•    Established co-operation channels of the Bulgarian NGDO Platform with more established EU Platforms and Europe-wide networks