EU Structural Funds as an instrument for social EU Structural Funds as an instrument for social innovation: Closing down Bulgarian orphanages innovation: Closing down Bulgarian orphanages

with ERDF and ESF support with ERDF and ESF support

Tomislav DonchevTomislav DonchevMinister for EU Funds ManagementMinister for EU Funds ManagementBulgariaBulgaria

The need: Placement of children in institutions violates their rights guaranteed with

international conventions and leads to establishment of discrimination models in education and access to quality care and services;

Unsolved problem that led to “reforms” and “restructuring”, which are often understood as a building refurbishment and do not lead to a significant change;

Insufficient number of services for children and families, combined with uneven distribution of services on the territory of the country;

Lack of developed system of community-based alternatives to institutional care; Overwhelming medical model to the child disability according to which the

institution offers the best care for children; Lack of supportive social and architectural environment; Changed models of family behavior which lead to out of wedlock births and

single parents.

The strategic means:

National Strategy “Vision for Deinstitutionalization of Children in the Republic of Bulgaria” - political document based on the best interest of the child policy ;- outlines the process of preventing placements of children in institutions, creation of new opportunities for children and families to receive support in the community;- defines the main principles and approaches in the deinstitutionalization process.

Action Plan for the Implementation of the National Strategy (incl. Communication Strategy)- specific steps for the implementation of the deinstitutionalisation projects;- specific measures and activities for the achievement of the objectives of the National Strategy;- aimed at integrated complex policy for children and families and amendments in the sectoral policies.

High Level Interdepartmental Working Group

The Instruments:

ESF, through OP Human Resources Development - funding for a wide range of social services for children and families at risk;

ERDF, through OP Regional Development - targeted support via two grant schemes („Support for renovation and modernization of state healthcare and medical institutions in urban agglomerations” and “Support for deinstitusionalization of social institutions providing care for children in risk"

Rural Development Programme - Measure 321 “Main services for the population and the economy in the rural area”;

Financing from the state budget for all specialized institutions mentioned in the documents and social services recognized as delegated state activity, introducing the principle “money follow the child”.

Other Donors – UNICEF, LUMOS Foundation, Oak Foundation

Programmed funds (EF + NF)Programmed funds (EF + NF)

2007 - 20132007 - 2013

ERDF 58 930 196 € ERDF 33 970 858 €

ESF 58 256 505 € Further need 5 372 270 €

ESF 26 921 043 €

RDP – M.321 8 659 202 € RDP --

2014 - 20202014 - 2020

The Challenges:

The main part of the reform is related to the change of the deep-seated stereotypes, incl. the substantial risk of reproducing the old models into the new services;

Ensuring of good, effective and coordinated project management and decision-making;

Timely impact assessment of the real effects on the customers, answering the existing needs, real closure of the “entry” to the institutional care;

Taking into account possible displacement effects – e.g. loss of jobs of the staff of the institutions; additional municipal financing of the running costs for the newly opened services.

The Future:

Introduction and enforcement of child-friendly legal system; Reform of the educational system which has the capacity and resources to

support the different needs of all children; Introduction of modern approach to healthcare which supports mothers before,

during and after birth; Guaranteeing resources for support of the community services, incl. timely

planning of the interventions for the new programming period; Elaboration and implementation of concrete plans for transfer of the movable

property and support funds from the institutions to the new residential services.

Thank you for your attention!

More information: www.eufunds.bg

minister.eufunds@government.bg