Advocacy and Policy Dialogue of Bulgarian NG(D)Os in 2005 and 2006 Seminar for NGDO Platforms of New Member States Budapest, Thursday 9 – Friday 10 of March 2006 TRIALOG Central Training TRIALOG Central Training

2005: Successes and Problems in International Development Cooperation  National ODA Policy Formulation * Since the middle of 2004 some work has been carried out at the MFA and line ministries, esp. at the MEE. It refers mainly to a very early stage of defining approaches to a National ODA Policy. * A number of meetings and study visits, mainly through diplomatic channels, organized. An initial, largely coherent, vision surfaced at the Workshop on ODA of Republic of Bulgaria, Gabrovo, Dec. 2005, MFA & MEE.

2005: Successes and Problems in International Development Cooperation  NG(D)Os Sustainability and Advocacy * Beginning of ,000 NG(D)Os, approx. 2,000 active. * The sector continues to expand its scope to represent citizen interests and provide needed services, as well as developed stronger partnerships with the government, business community, and media.

2005: Successes and Problems in International Development Cooperation * The increased focus of the sector on community development in the more marginalized, poorer regions of the country has continued. Efforts weakened by the withdrawal of foreign funding. * Advocacy groups active in lobbying the legislature and monitoring the executive and judicial branches. –In general, the public continues to perceive lobbying activities as a form of corruption. –The largest obstacle for developing future advocacy efforts is that donors prefer to invest in community service projects rather than advocacy projects.

2006: Main Issues in International Development Cooperation at National and International Level  MFA and MEE, the Gabrovo Seminar: * Elaboration of a Conceptual Framework for Bulgaria’s Development Cooperation Policy - within six months. A medium term strategy 2007–2011 taking into account the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) to follow. * Legislation on ODA - within the next two years. * Provisional ODA Council at deputy-ministerial level to be created. * Multilateral Aid, Bilateral Aid and NGO work * First installment of 0,03 % Gross Domestic Income (GDI), around 15 Mil. Euros from 2007

2006: Main Issues in International Development Cooperation at National and International Level  Implications for the NG(D)Os: * Partnership with state bodies and other CSO: –New approaches from the NG(D)Os. They may vary but should continue to be permeated by the perspective of partnership within all sectors. * Organizational Change –Internal capacity building to strengthen NG(D)Os by introducing strategic planning, sound financial management systems and transparency. Where necessary, adopt changes in missions and goals. Prepare for participation in EU ODA projects via consortia or utilize the new options in financing.

2006: Main Issues in International Development Cooperation at National and International Level –National Platform needed for representation at national and international level.  Its creation = a purely voluntary act of the internal actors as a response to the existing situation, to their needs and agenda.  Principles: transparency, equal rights and interaction. * Public Awareness raising: –Gradual efforts to be made to explain international development cooperation to the public and to promote acceptance. NG(D)Os involvement is essential, as well as of other CSO, the state bodies and media.

2006: Main Issues in International Development Cooperation at National and International Level  Possible key political messages: * To the state institutions: –Adopt a coherent and effective National Policy on IDC; –Continue with the established partnership practices; further invite NG(D)Os to participate in initiatives for capacity building within state bodies. * To NG(D)O sector: Build your organizational capacity. –Implement internal changes where necessary to meet EU membership challenges and the redirection of funding. Aim to secure financial sustainability; –Support the creation of an official Forum for information exchange, discussions and member capacity building which could lead to the setting up of a national Platform;

2006: Main Issues in International Development Cooperation at National and International Level –Continue with the creation of direct links with your counterparts in the NMS and across the EU. * To CSO: Partnership for development. –Prepare to promote national priorities in ODA policy via projects and consortia formation; –Identify areas where government and the EU should do more to mobilise public support for development issues; –Build links across the EU to allow your fair access to EC funds for CSO financing; –Fight corruption practices within organizations; and –Maintain autonomy and provide innovative approaches to international development cooperation as “seekers” for development.

2006: Main Issues in International Development Cooperation at National and International Level  Activities at the national level: * Collaboration within the NG(D)O sector to officially set-up a Forum for information exchange, discussions and member capacity building. To be followed by the setting up of a National Platform. * Production of a cross-sector research report and/or collection of materials on MDG & Future Bulgarian ODA Policy. –Dissemination and discussion through own website; –Present the findings to the MFA and line ministries within our partnership rounds.

2006: Main Issues in International Development Cooperation at National and International Level * Organization of trainings in cooperation with TRIALOG on: –building up the capacity for obtaining EU funding - EU funding possibilities, project cycle management and applications for EU Calls for Proposals; –organizational capacity building; –co-financing measures and in private fundraising; –development education and the increasing of public awareness of development issues; and –advocacy and policy dialogue * Dissemination of research, articles, results from workshops on EU and National ODA policy through own Website and to national media.

2006: Main Issues in International Development Cooperation at National and International Level  Activities at the European level: * Lobbying for the inseparable link between internal and international development issues (MDG) with regard to poverty reduction as the case currently stands for Bulgaria. * Support the lobbying activities of TRIALOG and CONCORD towards the EC in order to achieve weakening of the eligibility criteria for NMS and AC NG(D)Os for a transition period of some years by identifying and making contacts with Bulgarian decision-makers.

2006: Main Issues in International Development Cooperation at National and International Level * Support the building of regional NG(D)O partnerships and networks in South Eastern Europe in order to benefit from different experiences and synergies, as well as to strengthen civil society. Website & Electronic publishing. * Support the building of regional NG(D)O partnerships and networks in South Eastern Europe in order to benefit from different experiences and synergies, as well as to strengthen civil society. Website & Electronic publishing. * Support exchange/trips to Brussels for mixed groups of governmental, parliamentary and NG(D)O representatives.

Presentation: Evgeni Lestanski, Index Foundation Index FoundationIndex Foundation Bulgarian Central Training Participants: Desislava Koleva, Save the Children Bulgaria Desislava Koleva, Save the Children BulgariaSave the Children BulgariaSave the Children Bulgaria Elena Stoyanova, Gender Project for Bulgaria Foundation Elena Stoyanova, Gender Project for Bulgaria FoundationGender Project for Bulgaria FoundationGender Project for Bulgaria Foundation Bojura Pavlova, GERT Bojura Pavlova, GERTGERT Miryana Malamin-Siriyski, Pokrov Foundation Miryana Malamin-Siriyski, Pokrov FoundationPokrov FoundationPokrov Foundation