Transcript Advocacy and Policy Dialogues of Bulgarian NG(D)Os in 2005

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
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, 16-17 Dec. 2005, MFA & MEE.
2005: Successes and Problems in
International Development Cooperation

NG(D)Os Sustainability and Advocacy
* Beginning of 2005 - 8,000 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 exchange/trips to Brussels
for mixed groups of governmental,
parliamentary and NG(D)O
representatives.
Presentation:
Evgeni Lestanski, Index Foundation
Bulgarian Central Training Participants:
Desislava Koleva, Save the Children
Bulgaria
Elena Stoyanova, Gender Project for
Bulgaria Foundation
Bojura Pavlova, GERT
Miryana Malamin-Siriyski, Pokrov
Foundation