03-06-2024 09:40
A total of 569 projects with a total value of 210 million euros have received support from the EEA and Norway Grants in Bulgaria. Of these, 244 were implemented jointly with at least one entity from the donors – Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein. These data are contained in the 2023 Strategic Report, presented and discussed during the Annual Meeting to present the program's implementation progress. The day before the annual meeting, a session of the Bilateral Fund Committee was held.
"All participants made serious efforts for Bulgaria to fully benefit not only from the provided financial support but also from the opportunity to gain experience and good practices from our partners. The analysis of the achieved results and the impact of the implemented projects is yet to come for us," said Ivan Ivanov, Director of the "Central Coordination Unit" (CCU) at the Ministry of Finance, who is also the host of the forum. In turn, the head of the donors' delegation, Ms. Toril Johansen, Deputy Director at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Norway, noted the need for more publicity of the results, given the expectations for the approval of a new programming period. "In this final stage of the program's implementation, it is essential to promote the results and effects of the supported projects and the bilateral partnerships created. Therefore, our task on the eve of the new programming period is not only to report the results to the Norwegian parliament and taxpayers but also to improve communication about the program," said Johansen.
Thanks to the EEA and Norway Financial Mechanisms, more than 95,000 people from vulnerable groups in our country have received support through various tools – legal aid, early childhood development, access to culture, scholarships for students studying health specialties, and more. The goal is to reduce economic and social disparities in these communities, which is the main priority of the mechanisms, according to the report's data.
Another 214 projects for the development of civil society have been supported through a specially created fund for this purpose. Thanks to implemented measures for transitioning to ecological practices, Bulgaria has annually reduced carbon emissions by nearly 1,000 tons, the report indicates.
After the annual meeting, the visiting delegation visited the new pilot prison in the village of Samoranovo near Dupnitsa, created for 400 inmates. This is the first prison built in Bulgaria in the last 60 years, and it includes a training center for 100 employees working in the prison system. The project is funded through the EEA and Norway Financial Mechanisms.
On May 30th, the donors' delegation participated in the closing event of the program "Local Development, Poverty Reduction, and Improved Inclusion of Vulnerable Groups." With the participation of beneficiaries and partners, part of the many achieved results of the supported projects were presented:
- The Local Governance Program reaches 92,321 people, over 50% of whom are of Roma origin.
- Over 1,100 are users of home care centers.
- 940 elderly people use the "tele-assistance" services provided by the Bulgarian Red Cross.
- 118 nurses, home helpers, and call center employees were hired for 74 newly created jobs.
- A local strategy was created in 10 pilot municipalities, where 27 projects and 146 new jobs were funded.
- Over 24,400 young people are covered by the activities of Youth Centers.
- Over 230 youth initiatives were implemented.
- Over 360 professionals were trained in the field of youth work, educational mediation, work with vulnerable groups, and the Roma community.
- More than 30 hubs were created, providing early childhood development and care services, with 3,663 children involved in activities along with their parents.
- 9,893 members of the Roma community are users of integrated health, educational, and social services.
- Over 120 people are permanently employed in newly created structures providing integrated services for the Roma.
On the same day, two projects were visited – from the programs "Home Affairs" and "Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, and Energy Security."
