Center "Amalipe" received a congratuations letter from the Embassy of the United States in Sofia, Bulgaria, regarding the Polish Prize "Sergio Vieira de Mello"
OPINION OF THE GROUP NGOs working on social inclusion and integration of marginalized groups FORUM "Citizenship" and National Network for Children as an organization, representatives of organizations working on child welfare
On Draft Indicative annual work program for forthcoming calls for grants under OPHRD 2014-2020 2015
In our capacity as representatives of civil society organizations working with the most vulnerable groups in Bulgarian society, we believe that the proposed Draft Indicative annual work program for forthcoming calls for grants under the Operational Programme "Human Resources Development" 2014-2020 2015 was unsatisfactory and should be supplemented and amended.
I. Our specific objections to the draft indicative annual work program are as follows:
1. There are only four upcoming procedures, which is unacceptable for a small number of a year - and at the beginning of the programming period;
2. The project continues a worrying trend from the previous planning period the majority of the operational program funds to be distributed to institutions through direct provision of funds and to underestimate the competition start, particularly work-up procedure for competitive selection of projects: four proposed Indicative Annual work program procedures for direct financing.
It should be noted that this alarming trend started from the meeting of the Monitoring Committee of 01.12.2010 was criticized by representatives of all groups of NGOs and the European Commission. It left the impression among many organizations that HRD OP is used to systematically finance major systems of the labor market, education and social services, replacing the commitment of the state budget, and that the program has become a mechanism for redistribution of funds between major government additional financing institutions and their work. We continued this trend unacceptable and insist on searching and finding the right balance between the procedures for direct financing and competitive selection of projects submitted by various stakeholders - municipalities, NGOs, etc .;
3. Much of the proposed procedures under Priority Axis 1 are activities that fall within the main field of activity of the Employment Agency and its employees: eg. analyzes, studies, assessments and more. It is not clear why this needs to be duplicated with procedures OPHRD at that - a high financial cost.
That does not apply to the proposed procedure under Axis 2, which is implementing the commitment made by the Partnership.
II. Proposals to address the identified weaknesses:
1. The proposed Axis 1 procedures to be optimized so that they remain activities that fall outside the main field of obligations of employees and that I have a clear added value;
2. The indicative work program for 2015 to include procedures for competitive selection of projects. Therefore, we suggest:
2.1. Be included procedure "Creating a favorable social environment for the implementation of local integration policies": offer the procedure to provide support for projects of a wide range of beneficiaries (municipalities, NGOs, etc.) For activities aimed at strengthening the Roma community development local communities, overcoming negative stereotypes and other preparatory activities to improve access to employment, education, and development of integrated social, educational and health services to children, adults and families at risk including children in conflict with the law.
Those projects should be seen as a continuation of the reforms on the Implementation of the National Reform Programme, the National Strategy for Integration of Roma, National Strategy "Vision no institutionalized children in Bulgaria" and plan for its implementation, and training and the first stage of implementation of municipal plans for Roma integration, local development strategies of social services 2011 - 2015 and implementation of the concept of reform in the field of child and juvenile justice and roadmap for implementation of the concept.
The competitive selection of projects to be approved in early 2015 and launched in the first half of 2015. We offer it require partnership with NGOs, as in the case of support to projects supporting the implementation of municipal plans for Roma integration organizations are working in the Roma community and in partnership with the municipality / municipalities on whose territory will realize concrete projects.
2.2. Procedure to include "Innovative integration multisectoral interventions for marginalized communities such as the Roma": provide the procedure to provide support for projects of a wide range of beneficiaries aimed probed / develop and standardize interventions combining improved access to employment, education, social and health services. They should complement the toolbox of standardized "soft measures" in the implementation of integration policy at local and national level.
2.3. Procedure to include "Assessment of the capacity and efficiency of existing services for children at risk and the development of standards for quality of service." Currently in the country there are many services for children who function as centers, departments, etc., As the existing system of monitoring and control is primarily oriented to the documentation and reached number / s users, rather than the end result for them. A change from reporting the resources invested in services to measure the effectiveness of services 'output'.
2.4. Be added procedure "Develop and implement innovative service models for children in conflict with the law." For the last three years, annual average 7100 children pass through youth correctional facility delinquents. Research has shown that many of these children lacked secure attachment and emotional support in the first years of their lives. Experience shows that lack of specialized services to meet the needs of these children and there is a need to develop innovative and integrated services that are specifically targeted to meet their specific needs.
2.5. It should be ensured the continuation of reforms in Implementation of the National Strategy "Vision for deinstitutionalization of children in Bulgaria" and plan for its implementation, the main objectives and measures are incorporated in all subsequent strategic documents, including the National Reform Programme. Currently the major projects completed and if not addressed emerging needs of their performance and the challenges derived from the annual monitoring reports, the reforms will remain fragmented interventions without sustainable and comprehensive results, including may lead to suspension of reforms with a serious risk to being of children and families who are the target groups.
A priority action in this direction, we propose to include a procedure for "Ensuring concurrent and advanced training, supervision and support" of the presently constructed services project "Childhood for All" and the project "Direction: Family" aimed at supporting the process deinstitutionalization and development of alternative services and care for children and youth with disabilities as centers for family homes, sheltered housing and more.
The competitive selection of projects to be approved in early 2015 and launched in the first half of 2015 as demand NGOs may be eligible beneficiaries.
We urge the development of operations that are to be discussed at the meetings of the Monitoring Committee of the OP HRD, to be attended by representatives of civil society organizations and other interested parties in accordance with Article 5 "Good governance and partnership" of the Regulation on the European Social Fund.
