Project “Reducing Poverty and Inequality of Opportunities through Reforms in Social Transfers and Social Services”
Project status: completed
Implemented in: Sofia
Implementation period: 2019 – 2022
Project promoter: Institute for Market Economics
Partner: no
Project summary:
The main goal of IME project is to increase knowledge and understanding of poverty and inequality of opportunity, to evaluate the effectiveness of social transfers and social services, as well as to provoke a debate for a comprehensive reform in social policy in Bulgaria.
The project ended successfully, with impressive quantitative indicators: 10 analytical reports, 12 official statements and positions, more than 140 articles in IME weekly newsletter, 10 infographics, 4 round tables, 2 press conferences and nearly 200 media appearances.
IME efforts contributed to a better understanding of the challenges facing the social protection system in Bulgaria, provoking a broad discussion for reforms both in terms of the focus and scope of social transfers, and in relation to the planning and financing of social services at the local level. The work of IME has contributed to the expansion of the scope of monthly social benefits and heating benefits, which are among the most effective social programs in the country and are directly related to various poverty and inequality indicators.
The expertise gained by the IME team, the developed partnerships and relationships with various stakeholders, including public institutions, civil organizations and NGOs, as well as the good relations with the media contribute to the sustainability of project results. The IME team continues to develop its analytical work on poverty and social policy and to propose reforms, including to uphold the policy proposals made within the project.
IME continues to closely monitor the development of the framework of social assistance, as well as the shaping of the new model of social services. These are the two big policies that are key to the results of the project.
All project materials are available on the website: socialchangebg.info
Related publications (in Bulgarian):
Report: Review and analysis of inequality in opportunities in Bulgaria
Report: Assessment of youth not in employment, education or training and recommendations for integration policies
Report: An integrated approach to social assistance in Bulgaria
Grant amount: 179 507 EUR
Contact: Petar Ganev
email: ganev@ime.bg
phone: (+ 359 2) 952 62 66, 952 35 03
address: 1000 Sofia,10 Patriarh Evtimiy Blvd. 2 floor
web: https://ime.bg/en/
