NGDO platform BPID – Bulgarian “Yes” to Development

Not so long ago, even before becoming a “new kid on the block”, i.e. newest EU member together with Romania, in Bulgaria there was already thinking and speaking concerning its future responsibilities in the development field. So in 2006, thanks to TRIALOG and CONCORD the development NGOs in the country started spelling the new vocabulary and discovering what was it all about. At that very moment the administration was not considering yet its future policy in this field, not to talk about drawing action plans, programmes etc. Everything started really shy and silent – Bulgaria was still getting massive support from abroad and it was really hard to imagine how in a year or two it was about to donate itself to other countries…

In the end of 2008, the situation looks quite different. The state already has its National Strategy, the MFA is creating a task force to deal with these important obligations, there is a constant dialogue with all major actors. Moreover – Bulgaria is already thinking of bigger commitments, adding in the near future more target countries to the initially defined Serbia, Macedonia, Georgia, Armenia and Moldova. Civil society is as well advancing, probably with lower speed one would expect. But still – the Bulgarian Platform on International Development (BPID) is just about to emerge as a formal structure. Its strategy for 2008-2011 is in place; its representatives are having active dialogue with state institutions. The successful implementation of a Presidency Fund project, aiming at formal structuring of BPID is another substantial impetus to the process. The project is getting implemented in partnership with the Austrian Platform and in cooperation with TRIALOG. Upon its completion, Bulgaria would have its active platform, which currently consists of 10-15 active member NGOs. Who claims, Bulgaria is not saying “Yes” to the international development yet?

As a next step, TRIALOG will hold a training on “Development Education and Awareness Raising” in Sofia on December 4-5, 2008, with the aim to prepare NGOs to actively participate in the upcoming EC development education call for proposals.

For more information on BPID, please contact Dimitar Sotirov, Project Manager of the Bulgarian Presidency Fund Project, sotirovdk@gmail.com

Fotos: Platform Strategy Meeting, October 2008

Information provided by Dimitar Sotirov, Bulgarian Platform on International Development