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.
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EUROPEAN STUDY TO INVESTIGATE HOW THE ENVIRONMENT AFFECTS PEOPLE'S HEALTH IN SOFIA
Air pollution, heatwaves and changing weather patterns with longer periods of sunshine are becoming increasingly familiar to residents of Sofia. Researchers now want to better understand how these everyday environmental exposures affect people's health over time.
To answer this question, Sofia Development Association, Health and Life Sciences Cluster and Virtech are preparing to launch the local phase of ENACT (Environmental Effect on Healthcare and Wellbeing), a Horizon Europe research project bringing together experts from across Europe to investigate how the environments in which we live, work, and move influence the development of non-communicable diseases.
Over the past 18 months, the ENACT consortium has laid the foundations for this next stage of the project. Researchers have compiled scientific evidence on environmental exposures and health and have developed the digital tools needed to combine environmental and health data securely. The consortium has also designed sensors and wearable monitoring technologies capable of measuring a person's exposure to factors such as air pollution, temperature, noise, and ultraviolet radiation throughout the day, alongside physiological data.
These advances now make it possible to begin prospective studies in five pilot sites across Europe, and Sofia is one of them. Although each pilot focuses on different health challenges, they all share the same objective: to better understand how environmental conditions contribute to disease and how this knowledge can support healthier communities and more effective prevention strategies.
In Sofia researchers will investigate how weather conditions affect patients with cardio-vascular diseases. The study will involve adults, who have cardio-vascular problems, who will contribute information through health assessments, questionnaires, and environmental monitoring over a defined period. The results will help researchers understand how everyday environmental exposures influence cardio-vascular conditions in the local population.
The information collected across the five pilot sites will contribute to the development and validation of new AI-based models capable of identifying relationships between environmental exposures and health outcomes. In the future, this knowledge could support healthcare professionals, public authorities, and policymakers in designing more targeted prevention measures and healthier living environments.
Recruitment for the study is expected to begin September 2026 Further information about participation will be available from Sofia Development Association and Health & life science cluster.
About ENACT
ENACT (Environmental Effect on Healthcare and Wellbeing) is a Horizon Europe research project involving partners from across Europe. The project combines environmental science, medicine, digital health, and artificial intelligence to improve understanding of how environmental exposures influence health and to support future disease prevention strategies.
More information at https://enact-he.eu/
The proejct is a HORIZON Research and Innovation Action.
HACK THE HATE, RENEW DEMOCRACY
SDA shares good practices on promoting migrant and refugee inclusion and countering anti-migrant narratives in the 2026 No Hate Speech Week in Strasbourg.
This year’s event has brought together representatives from 44 countries to discuss how democratic institutions, public authorities, civil society, media and technology actors can better prevent and combat hate speech. The conference took place against the backdrop of growing concerns about the spread of hate speech online. In his opening address, Alain Berset, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, underlined the global impact of the exponential spread and proliferation of hate speech and urged for multi-level actions to combat hate speech.
SDA was invited to lead a workshop on inclusive practices and designing public campaigns to counter anti-migrant narratives, together with the city of Barcelos (Portugal) and CEAR (Spain). S. Gabova presented SDA’s initiatives, including the LEAD Online project, GenderEd, and the UNHCR-funded project focused on integration of refugees and building inclusive communities in Sofia. The experience of engaging youth in designing counter-narratives addressing migrant hate through hackathons and leading public awareness campaign attracted great interest from practitioners and civil society organizations in Strasbourg.
SDA’s participation in this year’s No Hate Speech week solidifies its leading position on the topic of migrant inclusion and countering hate speech online in Sofia. We are motivated to continue our work and engage young innovators, experts and practitioners to develop real solutions capable of responding to the challenges of hate speech and discrimination in the digital age.
FIRST CIVICACT CITIZENS PARTICIPATION LAB ORGANIZED IN SERBIA
TUS gathered an intergenerational group of participants to discuss drivers and barriers to citizen participation
On 13 June 2026 in Bajina Bašta the Teacher’s Union of Serbia (TUS) held the first citizen participation lab from the CIVICAct project entitled “Social Dialogue in Education and Strengthening Democracy.”
The event gathered nearly 40 participants, including teachers, school principals, representatives of local authorities, and NGO representatives from Serbia, Croatia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The lab focused on the results of the online CIVICAct survey about the history and present of civic activism in Belgrade. Participants, divided in groups, debated the differences and similarities in civic activism prior to the 1990s and today, the role of education in a broader societal context, and the importance of civil society organizations for the development of social dialogue, community engagement, and intergenerational cooperation. The first lab set the stage for reflection and analysis, thus building the basis for the second lab which will be held in September. During the second event, participants will delve into co-creation and developing a forward-looking agenda for citizen participation in Belgrade.
The lab encouraged participants to reflect on democratic values and promoting active participation within local communities.
The project is funded by the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), CERV Programme.
BE READY POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS URGE FOR MULTI-LEVEL COORDINATION AND LONG-TERM ACTIONS FOR URBAN HEAT ADAPTATION
Addressing urban heat islands requires coordinated action across all levels of governance, from municipalities to national governments and transnational regional frameworks. Local authorities play a pivotal role in implementing place-based adaptation measures, while national governments can provide the regulatory, financial, and strategic support needed to scale effective solutions. At the same time, the Danube Region offers a valuable platform for cross-border cooperation, knowledge exchange, and the development of harmonized approaches to climate resilience.
The following policy recommendations, developed by the Be Ready partners in synergy with other Interreg Danube projects, outline complementary actions for local, national, and Danube Region authorities to reduce urban heat risks, strengthen adaptive capacity, and foster healthier, more sustainable, and climate-resilient cities. Together, these measures can help ensure that urban development is better equipped to respond to rising temperatures and the increasing frequency of extreme heat events.
This project is supported by the Interreg Danube Region Programme co-funded by the European Union.
THE FIRST SOFIA CLIMATE FESTIVAL “HEAT FEST” BROUGHT TOGETHER CITIZENS, INSTITUTIONS AND EXPERTS IN A SHARED CONVERSATION ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE CITY
Between 4 and 6 June 2026, Banski Square in front of the Regional History Museum – Sofia became a stage for ideas, art, science and civic engagement during the first edition of the Sofia Climate Festival “HEAT FEST”. Organized by the Sofia Development Association and Sofia Municipality, with the support of Oborishte District, the festival focused on one of the most important challenges facing modern cities – climate adaptation and the creation of a healthier, greener and more resilient urban environment.
Over the course of three days, hundreds of Sofia residents and visitors explored the festival spaces, took part in dozens of workshops, demonstrations, exhibitions and discussions, and met organizations, institutions, universities and companies working towards a better future for the city.
Official Opening with European Participation
The festival officially opened on 4 June with a performance by the Representative Guards Brass Band and an opening ceremony hosted by Sevdalina Voynova from the Sofia Development Association.
Welcoming remarks were delivered by Vasil Terziev, Mayor of Sofia Municipality, Vyara Mincheva, National Coordinator of Bulgaria for the EU Strategy for the Danube Region, and Ekaterina Yordanova, Chair of the Board of the Sofia Development Association. In their speeches, they emphasized the importance of sustainable urban development, climate adaptation, and cooperation between institutions, organizations and citizens in building a greener and more resilient Sofia.
A special guest of the first edition of HEAT FEST was Jessika Roswall, European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy. During her visit, she toured the different festival zones, explored the projects and initiatives presented by participating organizations and institutions, and spoke with their representatives about the challenges and opportunities facing European cities in the context of climate change.
Other official guests at the opening included Nikolay Nedelkov, Deputy Mayor of Sofia Municipality for Environment, and Tsvetelina Simeonova-Zarkin, Municipal Councillor of Sofia, who also visited the festival areas and met with participants.
The Waters of Sofia – Theme of the First Edition
The first edition of HEAT FEST was dedicated to the Waters of Sofia. It was no coincidence that the festival took place around the Central Mineral Baths – a location where the city’s history, mineral water heritage and urban memory intersect.
In the dedicated “Waters of Sofia” zone, visitors learned about initiatives for the restoration of fountains and micro-wetlands, explored best practices from Bulgaria and across Europe, and discovered innovative approaches to using water as a tool for cooling urban environments.
Particular interest was generated by the presentation of the innovative “Rain Zone” from the City of Kranj, Slovenia – an installation developed within the Be Ready project that combines climate adaptation, urban design and public art. Visitors also explored the exhibition “The Importance of Fountains and Micro-Wetlands”, organized by the Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation, as well as the “Drop by Drop” programme of BCause Foundation.
New European Bauhaus and the Sustainable Cities of the Future
The “New European Bauhaus” zone showcased successful examples of sustainable urban development, regeneration of urban spaces and nature-based solutions.
Among the featured initiatives were the NEW INHERIT and Common Grounds projects, the Christo and Jeanne-Claude Center in Gabrovo, the University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy, and the LIFE BauhausingEurope project. The Sofia Development Association and the Bureau for Integration and Social Innovations presented the Climate Shelter in Draz Mahala – a pilot transformation of an underused urban space into a green area for cooling, social interaction and community life.
Workshops, Demonstrations and Activities for the Whole Family
During the first two days, the festival offered a rich programme of educational and interactive activities. Children took part in workshops on water birds, seed bombs and recycling, while learning more about pollinators, urban gardening and biodiversity.
The Bulgarian Red Cross organized demonstrations of first aid and rescue techniques, including the participation of a specially trained rescue dog. The National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology presented early warning systems for heatwaves and methods for measuring thermal comfort in urban environments.
Visitors also explored Sofia Municipality’s mobile air quality monitoring station, participated in seed exchanges and sustainable product initiatives, and discovered innovative digital tools for adapting to rising temperatures.
Culture, Creativity and Urban Imagination
HEAT FEST demonstrated that climate-related topics can be communicated not only through data and expert analysis, but also through culture and art.
A special highlight of the programme was “Fairytale Tram No. 83”, organized by the Sofia City Library and the Sofia Tourist Information Centre. Over two days, dozens of children joined storytelling sessions dedicated to nature and the environment.
The festival concluded with an interactive improvisational performance by EXP ART LAB, where audience suggestions were transformed into spontaneous dance miniatures created on the spot.
HEAT FEST and Green Transition Forum
As part of the festival programme, the Sofia Development Association also organized a special roundtable discussion within Green Transition Forum 6.0, dedicated to cooling cities and addressing the urban heat island effect.
The event brought together representatives of European institutions, research organizations, local authorities, businesses and civil society to discuss best practices and future solutions for helping cities adapt to increasingly frequent heatwaves.
Looking Ahead
The festival concluded on 6 June with a birdwatching walk and the initiative “Take a Plant and Make Sofia Greener”, organized by the Sofia Development Association in partnership with GBM Commerce Ltd. Dozens of visitors received flowers and seeds to take home as a symbolic contribution to a greener and more sustainable urban environment.
More than 40 organizations, institutions, universities, companies and civic initiatives took part in the first edition of HEAT FEST.
HEAT FEST 2026 was organized by the Sofia Development Association and Sofia Municipality, with the support of Oborishte District, within the framework of the Be Ready project, supported by the Interreg Danube Region Programme, co-funded by the European Uninon. The festival was a partner event of EU Green Week and part of the programme of Bulgaria’s Presidency of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region.
This project is supported by the Interreg Danube Region Programme co-funded by the European Union.
CITIZENS LABS HELD IN PODGORICA TO BOOST COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION UNDER THE CIVICACT PROJECT
As part of the CIVICAct project - partnered by the Capital City of Podgorica and implemented by the Secretariat for Local Self-Government and Cooperation with Civil Society - two interactive "Citizen Labs" took place in Podgorica during the first week of June. These workshops focused on enhancing public involvement in decision-making and fostering a stronger dialogue between residents, civil society organizations, and local institutions.
The first workshop was held on June 2, 2026, at the "Radosav Ljumović" Library. Bringing together participants from various generations, alongside local government officials and civil society representatives, the session examined past experiences with civic activism. Through intergenerational dialogue and interactive exercises, attendees analyzed the barriers to public involvement and co-created solutions for more active citizen engagement. Participants identified key hurdles, including a lack of trust in public institutions, public apathy, limited opportunities for specific social groups, and difficulties accessing public services.
To address these issues, the group developed concrete proposals. These included creating independent bodies to monitor city services, using digital tools to keep the public informed, scheduling local community meetings at more convenient times, and empowering neighbourhood hubs to act as primary spaces for local decision-making.
The second lab, held on June 5, 2026, drew more participants from NGOs, local communities, and the general public. This session looked to the future, focusing on innovative new participation models. Attendees evaluated the current landscape, envisioned an ideal setup, mapped out existing roadblocks, and drafted recommendations to improve civic engagement.
The consensus was that while formal channels for public input exist, their success depends on building institutional trust, improving public communication, and ensuring greater inclusion for youth, women, people with disabilities, and other marginalized groups. The highest priorities moving forward include strengthening ties between government and civil society, launching promotional campaigns for civic engagement, and leveraging the EU integration process to foster a stronger participatory democracy.
Both events proved that residents are eager to help shape public policy when given the right tools, clear information, and a platform for open dialogue. Participants stressed that building long-term trust, transparency, and inclusivity is vital to creating a vibrant civic culture and strengthening local democracy.
The CIVICAct project is funded by the European Union’s European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) under the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) program.
The project is funded by the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), CERV Programme.