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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THE FINAL CONFERENCE OF THE GENDERED COALITION PROJECT BROUGHT TOGETHER OVER 140 PARTICIPANTS IN PARIS AND ONLINE
On September 29, 2025, the international closing conference “Disinformation, Gender and AI: The Power of Media and Information Literacy” was held at the Research Center of Sorbonne Nouvelle University in Paris. The event marked the culmination of the GenderED Coalition Project, carried out with the support of the Creative Europe programme, and highlighted the collaboration with the partner project Algowatch.
The conference gathered more than 140 participants – both in person and online – including experts, activists, educators, and representatives of institutions from across Europe. The programme presented the results of both projects: the MOOC, the Community of Practice, media campaigns developed by each partner, and other exhibition materials aimed at enhancing media and information literacy and fostering a more inclusive digital society.
The Sofia Development Association co-organized the event. Among the speakers was Avel Ivanov, a young Bulgarian teacher at a school of philosophy, politics, and society, who joined a panel discussion on the role of education and the media in tackling disinformation.
“Today, young people are thrown into complex technological systems and online worlds that are difficult to navigate. The content that girls and boys receive is fundamentally different and often reinforces ideas about the ‘proper’ type of masculinity and femininity,” Ivanov noted, emphasizing the need for targeted efforts to promote media literacy and critical thinking among adolescents.
During the discussions, experts stressed the importance of combining educational approaches, policies, and technological solutions to counter disinformation and to promote gender equality in the digital environment.
The results and resources developed by the GenderED Coalition Project will remain available to all interested teachers, students, communities, and organizations seeking to advance media literacy and build resilience against disinformation.
CHISINAU AND GALATI REPRESENTATIVES VISIT MUZEIKO AS SOFIA GOOD PRACTICE FOR CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION
As part of a peer review exchange under the Be Ready Project, implemented in the framework of Interreg Danube Programme and co-financed by the European Commission, municipal representatives from Chisinau (Moldova) and Galati (Romania) visited Sofia to explore urban strategies for adapting to rising temperatures and mitigating urban heat.
A key highlight of the exchange was the visit to Muzeiko – Sofia’s Municipal Children's Science Center. The center, designed with sustainability at its core, provided an inspiring look at how educational institutions can contribute to climate awareness. Through engaging exhibitions on climate change, ecology, and sustainability, curated by scientists, educators, and designers, Muzeiko fosters curiosity and environmental responsibility among young visitors.
Muzeiko also presented its green roof, and shared insights on developing climate shelters, rain gardens, and other sustainable urban infrastructure. The center's integrated sustainable management serves as a model for future climate adaptation efforts.
The exchange highlighted strong potential for transnational replication of Sofia’s good practices, contributing to a more climate-resilient Danube Region through shared learning and collaboration.
This project is supported by the Interreg Danube Region Programme co-funded by the European Union.
PEER REVIEW HIGHLIGHTS CLIMATE ADAPTATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN SOFIA
In a collaborative step towards building more resilient cities, representatives from the Municipality of Chișinău and the Association for the Development of Galați visited Sofia for a peer review focused on climate adaptation. Hosted by Sofia Development Association, the visit provided partners with an up-close look at Sofia's pilot project—an innovative initiative aimed at transforming urban infrastructure while fostering community participation. Located near Lion’s Bridge - a densely built urban area particularly vulnerable to the urban heat island effect, the pilot involves the renovation of a municipal building yard into a climate refuge, a public space designed to mitigate heat stress through urban greening, shade structures, water features, and accessible seating. The pilot project is implemented in the framework of Be Ready project, Interreg Danube Programme, co-funded by the European Union.
The site serves not only as a cool zone during extreme heat but also as a model for integrating sustainable urban design with public engagement. The pilot project highlights how rethinking underused municipal spaces can contribute meaningfully to climate resilience.
A key highlight of the peer review visit was the dialogue with local leaders and changemakers. Partners from Chișinău and Galați held fruitful exchanges with Sofia Municipal Councilors Ekaterina Yordanova, SDA board chairperson, Sevdelina Petrova, and Tsvetelina Zarkin, with Serdika District Mayor Momchil Daskalov and Deputy Mayor Dilyana Stoyanova, who shared insights into the local governance and policy efforts enabling such climate adaptation projects. These discussions emphasized the critical role of local political will and cross-sector collaboration in implementing sustainable urban solutions. Decision-makers underscored the importance of aligning municipal priorities with both climate goals and community needs.
The visit also celebrated the contribution of young artists from the Knot studio, whose public artworks now animate the climate refuge space. Their installations not only beautify the area but also serve as storytelling elements that engage the local population in climate awareness.
The project has brought together a diverse network of stakeholders, including B'Cause Foundation, CleanTech Bulgaria, Green Sofia, and JTI, illustrating how the private sector and civil society can support municipal efforts. These partnerships strengthen the pilot’s impact and open doors to future scalability and replication in other urban settings.
Volunteers and local residents have also been involved in shaping the space, reinforcing the idea that community engagement is essential in the success and longevity of climate adaptation efforts. The peer review affirmed that tackling the challenges of urban heat requires more than technical solutions; it demands inclusive planning, artistic expression, political commitment, and cross-border learning.
As cities across Europe face mounting climate pressures, such exchanges highlight the power of shared knowledge and solidarity in building more livable, resilient urban environments.
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.
EXPERTS GATHERED ACROSS EUROPE FOR SUCCESSFUL HYBRID SYMPOSIUM ON INCLUSIVE LABOUR MARKETS
On 18 September 2025, a dynamic hybrid symposium successfully brought together over 90 participants - including European policymakers, researchers, practitioners, and experts - to explore strategies for closing the labour market gap and fostering inclusion for vulnerable groups across Europe. Held as part of the EU Horizon Еurope Synclusive project, the event facilitated rich discussions, hands-on workshops, and cross-European knowledge exchange.
The Synclusive project aims to develop, implement, and evaluate an integrated, interdisciplinary systems approach to support the inflow, retention, and career development of vulnerable populations in the labour market. This symposium served as a key milestone in that effort.
The symposium opened with a keynote lecture by Agnès Parent-Thirion, Senior Research Manager at Eurofound and a leading expert on job quality and working conditions. In her presentation, titled “Job Quality of Vulnerable Groups: Towards Sustainable and Inclusive Employment?”, she explored the structural factors influencing the employment prospects of marginalized populations and emphasized the importance of sustainable job quality for long-term inclusion. The case study of Amersfoort was also presented in-depth.
Following that, participants engaged in one of three parallel online workshops, each focused on sharing best practices and actionable insights drawn from across Europe, including the Synclusive living labs in Netherlands, Finland, Bulgaria, and Portugal.
“Building Strong Local Coalitions” workshop examined how local governments, NGOs, employers, and community organisations have successfully collaborated to implement inclusive labour market strategies at the regional level.
“Developing and Testing Labour Market Interventions” discussed innovative labour market interventions that had been piloted and tested — highlighting key successes, challenges, and lessons learned for future implementation.
“Barriers and Drivers for People Aged 50+” provided new insights into the drivers and barriers affecting labour market participation among vulnerable individuals aged 50 and above, with a focus on tailored strategies to improve engagement and retention.
With over 30 participants on-site and more than 60 attending online, the symposium fostered a collaborative environment where participants exchanged practical tools, shared local experiences, and built connections across borders. The event highlighted the importance of a system-level, inclusive approach to employment and strengthened the European community working toward fairer and more sustainable labour markets.
The symposium was wrapped up by Irma … with EC’s DG Employment, who shared her impressions how Synclusive contributes to the Commission’s current initiatives, including the forthcoming first Anti-Poverty Strategy. She emphasized the importance of tailored approach, of sustainable funding and of success stories, among other factors.
The symposium marked an important step forward in driving inclusive employment strategies and reinforcing European collaboration for systemic change.
For more information about Synclusive and its upcoming activities, visit https://synclusiveproject.eu and follow us on LinkedIn and X.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101094526
POLICY ROUNDTABLE IN BRUSSELS HIGHLIGHTS SYNCLUSIVE’S INCLUSIVE LABOUR MARKET INNOVATIONS
The Synclusive project consortium convened in Brussels on September 18, 2025, for a pivotal policy roundtable, bringing together European Commission officials and project partners to present and discuss innovative pathways for labour market inclusion. Hosted in the heart of EU policymaking, the roundtable provided a platform to reflect on early outcomes and foster dialogue on inclusive employment strategies.
Synclusive, a Horizon Europe-funded initiative, aims to improve access to the labour market for vulnerable groups - including the long-term unemployed, people with low educational attainment, individuals with a migrant background, and those aged over 50. The roundtable marked an important milestone, as consortium members shared preliminary findings from the project’s four Living Labs, operating in Sofia (Bulgaria), Kokkola (Finland), Amersfoort (Netherlands), and three pilot locations across Portugal.
Each Living Lab has developed context-specific strategies tailored to local labour market conditions and the needs of target groups. These real-life testing environments have generated valuable insights into the barriers faced by vulnerable individuals and the policies and practices that can enable more equitable access to employment opportunities.
EU institutional representatives from several Directorates-General participated in the event, including DG Research and Innovation (DG RTD), DG Just, REA, and policy officers working on equality, employment, gender, and poverty reduction. Their engagement underscores the growing EU-level commitment to inclusive growth and social cohesion.
Discussions during the roundtable focused on aligning Synclusive’s grassroots findings with broader EU policy frameworks, including the European Pillar of Social Rights, the Union of Skills and the forthcoming European Ani-Poverty Strategy. Key themes included lifelong learning, creating local coalitions, inclusive hiring practices, cross-sectoral cooperation, and the role of data in identifying and addressing structural inequalities.
As the project moves into its next phase, Synclusive partners emphasized the importance of continued collaboration between research, practice, and policy. The insights generated from the Living Labs will contribute to the development of scalable models that can be adapted across diverse European regions.
For more information about Synclusive and its upcoming activities, visit https://synclusiveproject.eu and follow us on LinkedIn and X.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101094526
GOOD PRACTICES FOR COOLING URBAN SPACES
Be Ready project partnership, coordinated by Sofia Development Association, developed a collection of practical solutions from the Danube region cities how to mitigate urban heat effect and improve outdoor thermal comfort. The examples come from 21 cities in 11 countries and present different approaches: from increased green spaces and vegetation, to using cool and reflective surfaces on buildings and pavements and implementing water features. Diverse practices are presented: creating water surfaces, opening a garden education center, developing “mobile forests”, cooling art installations, parishes open doors and many more. All practices have one thing in common: they involve residents in planning and implementing the cooling strategies to ensure solutions are effective and tailored to local needs.
The Mapping report with good practices is available here.
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.