SOFIA DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION was founded as non-profit organization with the decision 348
of the Sofia Municipal Council to work for the sustainable development of the capital.
Shortcuts
PLOUTOS PROJECT FINAL EVENT: BUILDING COMMUNITIES TOGETHER
On December 6, in Brussels, was held the final event of the project. The conference brought together project partners, civil society representatives, policy and decision-makers to discuss the challenges to the integration of third-country nationals as well as to showcase good practices from Ploutos for building stronger and inclusive communities.
An AMIF-funded initiative that gathers a consortium of 11 partners from 7 EU member states, PLOUTOS aims to support migrants and promote social and financial inclusion throughout Europe. The conference offered an opportunity to present the project outputs, among them a business language course, a financial literacy course, a practice business program and an online support platform for would-be entrepreneurs.
Ekaterina Yordanova, a municipal councilor in Sofia Municipality and a chairperson of the Governing Board of SDA, was an invited speaker in the panel focused on policies and strategies for integrations. In her presentation, she emphasized the challenges that local authorities – and not just in Sofia – face in designing meaningful, resource-backed pathways for integration: a dynamic process of migration that makes long-term planning difficult, changing political priorities at EU and national levels, financial constraints to implement wide-scale integration measures, and shifting public support to local initiatives. At the same time, she also stressed that integration is a multisectoral issue and requires a multi-stakeholder approach and constant communication to society, to convey the benefits of integrating migrant talents in the local economy.
Anna Zurek from the European Investment Bank shared similar insights; she focused on EIB’s current work for introducing financial instruments for the integration of migrants, in three key areas: microfinancing, housing and social impact investing. Establishing one-stop-shops to support the coordination of such initiatives and the offer of business development services to migrants is a good practice, Zurek said. Sofia is proud to have established the first in Bulgaria such one-stop-shop, a bureau for integration and information to third country nationals.
Though PLOUTOS comes to an end, we at SDA will continue to collaborate with Sofia Municipality and local organizations to support integration initiatives. The resources created in PLOUTOS will enrich the database of knowledge, good practices, learning and training resources that we have gathered over the past five years, working on integration. Supporting the migrant communities in Sofia is an essential part of ensuring that we live in an open and inclusive society, built on dialogue and shared values.
PLOUTOS is implemented with the support of the European Union’s Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund.
FIRST LOCAL WORKSHOP OF THE GENDERED COALITION PROJECT HELD IN SOFIA
On November 29, SofiaLab hosted the first local workshop within the framework of the international GenderED Coalition Project. The Bulgarian project partners – the Sofia Development Association and the Bureau for Integration and Social Innovations – welcomed students and teachers from the Public Administration program at the University of National and World Economy (UNWE).
The workshop brought together 24 young participants who engaged in dynamic activities focused on the topic of harmful gender-based stereotypes. This initiative is part of the GenderED Coalition Project's efforts to raise awareness and promote active measures against stereotypes that impact society and hinder gender equality.
What Happened During the Workshop?
The participants worked in four teams on practical and interactive tasks. They identified key stakeholders who could play a role in an upcoming initiative under the project and discussed strategies for effective communication with them. Additionally, the young people practiced their skills in challenging widespread gender stereotypes using examples from everyday life and various professional contexts.
The campaign the participants worked on will be implemented as part of the GenderED Coalition Project in the coming months. Its goal is to reach a broader audience and encourage a shift in attitudes regarding gender roles.
The workshop concluded with group presentations and a discussion of their results. The work on the project continues, and the Bulgarian team is already planning the next stages of its implementation.
The project GenderED Coalition is funded by the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), Creative Europe Program (CREA), under the call CREA-CROSS-2023-MEDIALITERACY.
FOSTERING INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION IN RESEARCH AND INNOVATION
Sofia Development Association team hosted in an inspiring meeting with professors from Universite Abdelmalek Essaasi, Marocco and Arab Academy for science, technology and maritime transport, Egypt. The working meeting was initiated by the University for National and World Economy, Bulgaria. The discussion focused on sharing experiences and best practices in research, innovation, and digitalization.
During the event, Sofia Development Association presented its diverse portfolio of initiatives and projects implemented over the years, showcasing its commitment to driving digital transformation and innovation locally and internationally.
Together, we’re building bridges for impactful global partnerships!
VIENNA SHARES WITH SOFIA ITS EXPERIENCE IN TACKLING URBAN HEAT
On November 27, 2024, an online workshop titled "How to Tackle Urban Heat?" was held, organized by the Vienna City International Office in Sofia in cooperation with the Sofia Development Association. The event brought together experts and stakeholders to discuss the challenges of climate change and innovative solutions for adapting urban environments.
Dr. Johannes Luther, Head of International Relations and Strategic Partnerships at Urban Innovation Vienna – the Climate and Innovation Agency of the Vienna City Administration, presented the city’s strategies for addressing the increasing frequency of extreme weather events. He highlighted that urban heat significantly impacts quality of life, public health, biodiversity, and tourism, while also increasing the demand for cooling.
According to the agency’s estimates, the cost of inaction in this area could reach:
- Between €300 million and €1 billion annually by 2030;
- Between €490 million and €2.7 billion annually by 2050.
Vienna is implementing an integrated strategy that includes:
- Climate-sensitive neighborhood planning;
- Heat-resistant (re)design of urban spaces for all residents;
- Returning rainwater to the natural water cycle;
- Developing tools to address the climate crisis.
Gottfried Strugl, Head of Operational Organization and Management at Vienna Parks and Gardens (Department MA 42), couldn’t join the event but shared presentation comprehensive insights with participants on the role of Vienna’s parks in combating urban heat. He emphasized the importance of green spaces for improving the microclimate and mitigating the effects of overheating in urban environments.
In the context of the Sofia Development Association and Sofia Municipality's work on the Be READY project, which aims to raise awareness and develop strategies for addressing urban heat effects, the discussions and shared experiences proved extremely valuable.
To stay informed, please visit the website and the social media accounts of the BeReady project: website (https://interreg-danube.eu/projects/be-ready ), Facebook https://www.facebook.com/bereadyprojecteu, LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/beready-project/.
Be Ready is an INTERREG Danube Region project co-financed by the European Union.
ON NOVEMBER 25TH, WE UNITE TO STAND AGAINST VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND LAUNCH THE 16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM AGAINST GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE
The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is celebrated every year on 25 November. It is an initiative of the United Nations to eliminate violence (rape, domestic violence, etc.) against women. The day was first observed in 1999.
In order to support the public debate on the issue and on the initiative of Ms. Ekaterina Yordanova, a round table was held on November 25 at the Sofia Development Association with the participation of experts, civil activists, representatives of ministries. The participants addressed a number of important issues and outlined necessary future measures to improve the work of the responsible institutions.
The event symbolically marked the beginning of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, a global initiative aimed at raising awareness and combating all forms of violence against girls and women. The campaign starts on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and concludes on Human Rights Day, December 10.
In 2023, a number of changes were adopted in Bulgaria, including a Bill to amend and supplement the Protection from Domestic Violence Act (PDVA), which provides for the creation of a central register of cases that would give a real picture of the scale of the problem and serve as a starting point for future policy-making; the establishment of a National Council to coordinate the bodies responsible for addressing violence and to develop public policies; the extension of the deadline for filing an application for immediate protection, which would allow
Violence against women and girls is a growing phenomenon that knows no geographical boundaries, age limit or ethnicity. It can take many forms, including online violence, which has been on the rise since the Kovid pandemic. A January 2024 survey by the Trend Agency shows that four in ten people in Bulgaria have acquaintances who are victims of domestic violence; 18% of Bulgarians say there are cases where domestic violence is deserved. According to 13%, slapping does not constitute domestic violence. One in ten people (11%) in Bulgaria believe that there are forms of domestic violence that can be justified. The survey recorded a high sensitivity towards domestic violence - 82% of the participants believe that it is a serious problem for Bulgarian society. Over two thirds (69%) are of the opinion that there are forms of aggression in the family that are accepted as normal in our society.
These data signal the need for even more intensive and sustained work to expose the truth about violence against women, in particular domestic violence, as a gross violation of human rights and a pattern of coercive behaviour aimed at controlling a partner's freedom through coercion, intimidation and emotional manipulation. Violence against women also occurs online, and has equally severe consequences for the physical and mental health of victims.
An extremely important component of violence against women prevention is understanding the negative role that stereotypes and prejudice have on people's attitudes and behaviour. Many of these stereotypes are based on and fuel multilayered social, cultural, and economic inequalities between men and women. Their exposure and critical reflection is part of the process of drawing attention to the problem and prevention efforts. SDA is part of the GenderEd Coalition, an international project funded by the European Commission's CREA programme, which focuses on the causes and consequences of gender-based misinformation and, in particular, against women. The project analysed the levels of misinformation and the dominant themes in each of the partner countries (Bulgaria, Italy, Greece, France), which were then also formulated as challenges in an innovative feminist hackathon. In the next few months, social media campaigns will be launched in each country, involving influencers and subject matter experts, to focus public attention and debate on different aspects of gender-based misinformation, and to encourage the active involvement of civil society organisations, volunteers, and policy makers.
The project GenderED Coalition is funded by the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), Creative Europe Program (CREA), under the call CREA-CROSS-2023-MEDIALITERACY.
THE FIRST COURSE OF THE "CAREER OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE 50+" PROGRAMS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED
On November 22, 2024, the first training course of the "Career Opportunities for People 50+" program, which was dedicated to personal skills and competencies, was successfully completed. The course ended with an award ceremony in SofiaLab, during which participants received their course certificates by Ekaterina Yordanova, Municipal Councilor at the Sofia Municipal Council and Chairperson of the Governing Board of Sofia Development Association (SDA).
The program is organized by SDA in partnership with the Young Talents Bulgaria platform and offers solutions to improve the employment of people over the age of 50. Created within the framework of the Syncusive project, the initiative includes a series of trainings on digital and green skills, personal skills and competencies, and provides career and psychological counseling to job seekers and people who aim to change their professional path. In 2025, the program will offer training to 100 people over 50 years of age to support their professional development.
The program is free of charge and is open to people on the territory of Sofia Municipality. The next course will be focused on digital skills, which will begin with face-to-face sessions from January 24, 2025, until February 7 (a total of 30 hours). Interested participants can register on the website of Sofia Development Association. For additional questions, please contact the SDA team at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
The Bulgarian partners in the Synclusive project are SDA and the Applied Research and Communications Fund.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101094526.