"The fund targets civic participation at grassroots level, seeking to empower and enable citizens to stay keen and monitor the activity of governmental structures and other institutional actors," said Irena Boneva, project manager at the Foundation for Local Government Reform, which manages the Bulgarian NGO fund.
In July 2008, the €2 million NGO fund was established under the EEA Grants in Bulgaria to provide funding for civil society organisations that would otherwise operate under unstable or poor financial circumstances. "We would like to focus the attention of the civil organisations to bring together more people in order to make their voice and impact more legitimate and well-heard", Boneva said, adding: "Hopefully, this pushes the state agencies and institutions to better perform their services to the citizens and ensure democratic space for the visibility of civil interests".
A complete list of all supported projects can be found on the website of the Fund.
Encouraging civic participation
"SOS families at risk" is one of the NGOs that have already been awarded support. Through organised information activities, the project seeks to prevent trafficking of women and children. Volunteers will be trained to educate staff at child care institutions about the potential risk of human trafficking among children living in institutions. A number of projects are also ongoing under the NGO fund to increase civic participation and transparency, such as the project "The village takes the floor," which encourages civil monitoring of local authorities and public institutions.
The Youth Volunteer Club in Kjustendil is one of the projects supported by the Bulgarian NGO fund. Photo: Bratstvo Community Center.