The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria, through the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Tirana, announces a procedure for the acceptance and selection of proposals for projects that will be implemented with grant-in-aid within the framework of the official development assistance of the Republic of Bulgaria with an initial implementation period of 2025 year.
The priority areas and directions for the implementation of projects on the territory of the Republic of Albania are:
Ensuring inclusive and quality education incl. and by improving the educational infrastructure;
Environmental protection incl. and through the development of mountain tourism;
Promotion of economic growth and sustainability;
Encouraging entrepreneurship;
Increasing the administrative capacity of central and local authorities on topics related to the negotiation process for joining the EU (including with a focus on protecting and guaranteeing human rights, as well as the rights of national minorities);
Preservation and preservation of the cultural and natural heritage.
Goals and Scope of the Projects
Comply with the UN Sustainable Development Goals as follows:
No. 3 – good health;
No. 4 – quality education;
No. 8 – secure work and economic growth;
No. 16 – peace and justice.
Funding Information
The minimum allowable value of a project is BGN 20,000/EUR 10,000.
The recommended maximum value per project is:
for projects whose main purpose is delivery of goods and/or provision of services – up to BGN 150,000;
for projects whose main purpose is to carry out repair and/or construction activities – from 70,000 to 300000 BGN
for projects whose main purpose is the implementation of the so-called soft components of ODA /conferences, seminars, colloquiums, creative workshops, etc./, the amount of aid cannot exceed 30000 BGN , as well as the term of execution is not allowed to exceed 9 months.
Duration
Project proposals must contain an indicative start date for project implementation after January 15, 2025 and no later than November 30, 2025.
The deadline for project implementation cannot be later than December 31, 2027.
Expected Results
confirmation of the good name and international authority of the Republic of Bulgaria;
improvement of socio-economic development;
improvement of management;
building administrative and institutional capacity;
protection of human rights and deepening of multicultural dialogue;
increasing the quality of the education system;
increasing the quality of social and health services;
Eligible Activities
Development of new/updating existing training modules;
Organization and conduct of trainings for the employees of the administration of Albania;
Conducting trainings on specific topics in Bulgarian institutions for the exchange of good practices and increasing the qualifications of the employees of the administration of Albania;
Organization and holding of seminars, forums, conferences;
Developing research and strategies;
Activities to raise awareness of citizens’ rights;
Activities to promote multicultural dialogue and to limit racism, xenophobia, hate speech, discrimination and intolerance in society;
Activities to improve dialogue between non-governmental organizations and local, regional and national authorities;
Activities related to improving the quality of social infrastructure /educational/health/, for example: Delivery of equipment and materials intended for state or municipal property – schools, hospitals, kindergartens, homes for the elderly, etc.; Construction and repair works to improve the condition of objects that are state or municipal property – schools, hospitals, kindergartens, homes for the elderly, etc.
Mandatory activities that must be provided in the project:
preparation of an audit report by an independent financial auditor
activities to ensure publicity and visibility of the provided financial aid, according to the Guidelines for Publicity and Visibility of Bulgarian Development Aid, worth from 3 to 5% of the total value of the grant for the implementation of the project.
Target Groups
young people and youth organizations
civil associations and organizations;
socially vulnerable groups;
local population in cities and villages;
state and local administration.
Eligibility Criteria
Primary and secondary budget managers – legal entities of the Republic of Albania;
Municipalities and their associations;
Educational, health and social institutions;
International organizations;
International and local non-governmental organizations;
Others.
Ineligible
Ineligible candidates for the upcoming 2025 procedure:
Individuals and legal entities for whom there are circumstances under Art. 23, para. 3-8 of Resolution No. 234 of the Council of Ministers of 01.08.2011 on the policy of the Republic of Bulgaria on participation in international development cooperation
Beneficiaries whose project(s) from previous years are not/were not successfully completed within the term of the contract/annex and without final reports accepted by the MFA by June 30 of this year.
Beneficiaries who have not submitted interim reports on projects from previous years within the term of the contract/annex.
Current beneficiaries who have not reimbursed due funds from previous projects financed under the Development Cooperation Program.
Applicants without a sustained project history of less than 2 years.
Applicants with a registration period of less than 2 years.
Applicants who have received advance funding at the end of 2022 and with ongoing project implementation in 2024, and have not submitted and approved an interim report at the time of the announcement of the campaign to receive project proposals for funding in 2025.
Applicants may not submit more than one project proposal under this announcement. In the event that an applicant submits more than one project proposal, all of their submitted project proposals will be excluded from subsequent evaluation.
