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Description
The project will aim at boosting the capacity and sustainability of 12 civil society organizations (CSOs) in Bulgaria supporting victims of domestic violence to help reduce the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their work. The project meets the needs of the NGOs working with vulnerable groups to find new approaches and solutions to carry out their work in the situation of restrictions. The project will make the CSOs adapt better to the new conditions of the COVID-19 crisis by providing them with competence to work in a digital environment and use new technology to continue their work. The latter will help solve the issue of victims facing a difficult access to social services when bans and restrictive measures are introduced during and after the pandemic. Over the last months good practices of remote counselling of the victims have been observed at many places in the country. The project will examine, analyse and disseminate these good practices through events for sharing experience and expertise, a Guide and a webinar. The project will make CSOs more resilient to the crisis and will help them continue their activity without any interruption, including the services for the victims of domestic violence. The target group are 12 CSOs from across Bulgaria. The project will benefit the victims of domestic violence supported by the latter NGOs so that they can be provided with ongoing and accessible protection and support.
Summary of project results
The project enhanced the capacity and sustainability of 23 civil society organizations in Bulgaria that support vulnerable groups, including victims of domestic violence, helping them mitigate the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their work and activism.
- The project conducted Bulgaria’s first comprehensive study on various support mechanisms for victims of domestic violence, including:
- Counseling programs
- Hotlines
- Crisis centers
- Mobile services
- The analysis of the study provided practical tools and recommendations for civil society organizations across the country, helping them adapt to the new conditions and maintain accessible, high-quality services despite the challenges of the pandemic.
Good Practices and Knowledge Sharing
- A total of 13 good practices from NGOs across Bulgaria were collected and shared. These practices were introduced after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and helped organizations continue providing effective support to victims despite the crisis.
- An electronic Manual was developed and distributed to 93 organizations and experts, providing guidance on various forms of victim support in Bulgaria. The Manual is available online: https://www.naia-tg.com/?p=1210.
Impact on Victims of Domestic Violence
Ultimately, victims of domestic violence benefited the most from the project’s implementation, as it ensured their continued access to protection and support services at a time when domestic violence rates were escalating and more victims were seeking help.
Organizational Capacity Building
- The project strengthened the capacity of the NAIA team, improving their preparedness to work with new technologies for remote counseling, training, and public presentations.
- Technical equipment was purchased, enabling more flexible and sustainable work arrangements for both the administrative team and consultants.
- In the long term, this investment provides stability and allows NAIA to effectively implement its programs and projects in a more adaptive and resilient manner.
The project has made a lasting contribution to ensuring continuity of services, enhancing the resilience of NGOs, and improving support systems for victims of domestic violence in Bulgaria.