| Project Detail |
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. Background 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. Objectives 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. Target groups The civil society and public administration in Bulgaria in general Activities The intervention strategy includes three main pillars: • 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. 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 2016) 24 out of the 28 partnerships projects have completed their activities Partnerships between 28 Bulgarian NGOs and 30 Swiss organisation, and between 2 municipalities (Gabrovo-Thun), allowing for transfert of Swiss know-how, innovations and experiences. All projects contributed to local development in Bulgaria in diverse areas like strengthening democracy, transition to market economy, inclusion of marginalized groups, etc. Expected results: • Strenghtening of existing partnerships between Bulgaria and Switzerland. • Creation of new partnerships. • Improvement of local living conditions by projects in infrastructure, training, social area. • Swiss expertise transferred to Bulgaria through the Expert Fund. |
