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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FINAL CONFERENCE OF THE BE READY PROJECT HELD IN CHIȘINĂU, ADVANCING CLIMATE RESILIENCE IN EUROPEAN CITIES
On April 22, 2026, the city of Chișinău hosted the final conference of the Be Ready project, organized by our partners from Chișinău Town Hall—an important European initiative focused on helping cities adapt to climate change and address the urban heat island effect. The event brought together nearly 80 participants from 14 countries and 20 European cities, creating a dynamic platform for exchanging ideas, experience, and best practices.
As the project’s lead partner, we see our involvement not only as an honor, but as a meaningful step toward shaping more resilient and sustainable urban policies. Be Ready demonstrated that urban transformation is not an abstract ambition, but an achievable goal—when driven by collaboration, a shared vision, and practical solutions.
One of the conference’s central themes was the “urban heat island” effect—a phenomenon in which cities retain more heat than surrounding areas, leading to significant environmental and social challenges. Participants discussed both the need for more accurate measurement and understanding of this issue, and practical responses such as expanding green spaces, using sustainable materials, and improving urban planning, supported by real-world examples.
Ion Ceban highlighted the importance of the project and the city’s commitment to active climate policies, while Ilie Ceban emphasized the value of a pragmatic, step-by-step approach—starting with available resources and building over time. This demonstrates that even cities with limited capacity can achieve tangible progress.
International cooperation emerged as a key driver of sustainable development. The Be Ready project has built a strong network for sharing knowledge, innovation, and practical solutions among participating cities. Yulda Kiylite from the European Union Delegation to Moldova noted that such initiatives are vital not only for technical advancement, but also for fostering collaboration and a shared sense of purpose. Marina Lungu further emphasized their role in accelerating climate adaptation and supporting informed decision-making.
Behind every successful project are people with vision and dedication. Special recognition goes to Sevdalina Voynova, project manager and program director at the Sofia Development Association, whose leadership and professionalism were key to the project’s success.
We also extend our thanks to Nadezhda Bobcheva, Advisor at the Ministry of Energy of Bulgaria, for her active participation and valuable contributions to the expert discussions of the final conference.
Although the Be Ready project is now in its final phase, its impact is only beginning to unfold. The partnerships built, knowledge shared, and solutions developed will continue to support European cities on their path toward a more sustainable future.
The project’s conclusion will be marked in Sofia during the city’s first climate festival, taking place from June 4 to 6, 2026. The event will bring together citizens, experts, and organizations to explore climate innovation, sustainable art, and practical solutions for urban environments.
Be Ready may be formally concluding, but its mission continues—through new partnerships, shared ideas, and concrete actions that shape greener, more resilient, and better-connected cities across Europe.
This project is supported by the Interreg Danube Region Programme co-funded by the European Union.
BE READY MULTIPLIER EVENT IN SOFIA SHOWCASES SOLUTIONS FOR URBAN HEAT
Sofia Be Ready multiplier event, organized by Sofia Development Association and the Bureau for Integration and Social Innovation on April 20, 2026, brought together stakeholders to present the project’s results, tools, and pilot actions to a wider audience beyond the project consortium.
The event gathered local authorities, experts, civil society, and citizens to share knowledge on urban heat island mitigation and climate adaptation, promote tested solutions (e.g. “green, blue, and white acupuncture”, UHI assessment methodology, digital tools, online training platform, etc.), and encourage their replication in other cities and by other stakeholders.
The multiplier event also served as a platform for discussion, co-creation, and policy dialogue, helping translate project outcomes – Sofia action plan, pilot intervention and policy recommendations - into practical measures for improving urban resilience and preparedness to climate change.
The multiplier event in Sofia aimed to amplify the impact of Be Ready by transferring knowledge, engaging stakeholders, and supporting the uptake of climate resilience solutions at local and regional level.
This project is supported by the Interreg Danube Region Programme co-funded by the European Union.
MARKING HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS’ DAY WITH A DISCUSSION ON THE IMPACT OF THE ENVIRONMENT ON HUMAN HEALTH
On April 7, on the occasion of Healthcare Professionals’ Day, the Sofia Development Association organized a discussion titled “The Impact of the Environment, Air Pollutants, and Human Health.”
The topic is a key focus of the international ENACT project, which brings together 21 partners from across the European Union. The Bulgarian partners in the project are Virtech Ltd., the Sofia Development Association, and the Biotechnology and Health Cluster.
The event welcomed representatives from relevant standing committees of the Sofia Municipal Council. A productive discussion was held with Vanya Tagareva, Deputy Chair of the Sofia Municipal Council, and Ekaterina Yordanova, Municipal Councillor and Chair of the Board of the Sofia Development Association. The participants discussed upcoming activities and opportunities for collaboration in the context of urban policies related to health and the environment.
Within the framework of the ENACT project, an innovative artificial intelligence–based platform is being developed to assess and analyze environmental risk. The platform will process large volumes of data and provide forecasts aimed at preventing the impact of exposome-related risks on the development of chronic vascular and non-vascular non-communicable diseases.
The Sofia Municipal Council has traditionally supported a range of initiatives and targeted programs for the prevention and limitation of the spread of serious diseases. The ENACT project contributes to these efforts by testing innovative technologies, including solutions in the field of personalized medicine.
A clinical study is set to begin in the next two months, in partnership with the Invasive Cardiology Department of UMHATEM “N. I. Pirogov”.
More information about the project is available at: https://enact-he.eu/
The project is a HORIZON Research and Innovation Action.
FINAL BE READY CONFERENCE IN CHIȘINĂU
Cities across Europe are facing increasing pressure from rising temperatures and the growing impact of Urban Heat Islands (UHI). On 22 April 2026, policymakers, climate experts, and urban resilience practitioners will gather in Chișinău, Republic of Moldova, for the Final Be Ready Conference, hosted by the City of Chișinău.
The conference will highlight the outcomes of the Be Ready project, an initiative focused on helping cities better understand and respond to extreme heat in urban environments. As climate change intensifies heat risks, the event will serve as an important platform for sharing knowledge, presenting practical tools, and discussing strategies that support climate adaptation in cities.
Participants will explore the project’s key findings and learn about innovative solutions and pilot actions developed to mitigate urban heat. The program will also feature real-life experiences from cities already implementing adaptation measures, offering valuable insights into effective urban planning and policy approaches.
Beyond presentations and discussions, the conference will provide opportunities for networking and collaboration among city officials, researchers, and practitioners working on urban resilience across Europe. By bringing together diverse expertise, the event aims to strengthen cooperation and accelerate the adoption of practical solutions to address rising urban temperatures.
The Final Be Ready Conference will take place in person in Chișinău and marks the concluding event of the Be Ready project.
Interested participants can register here: https://forms.gle/Ni9ykgpvfQpYLTvn6
This conference is supported as part of Be Ready, an Interreg Danube Region Programme project co-funded by the European Union.
SPRING HOPES AND ASPIRATIONS FOR MIGRANT WOMEN
Supporting women migrants’ socioeconomic and cultural integration has been SDA’s long-term commitment. On the first day of spring – 20 March – 2026, together with Caritas Sofia and the Bureau for integration and services, we invited Ukrainian women to celebrate, share their life stories and dream of new, better futures ahead. The event gathered employers and civil society organizations, representatives of the Embassy of Ukraine in Sofia, and over 20 Ukrainian women who have settled with their families in Sofia.
Ekaterina Yordanova, a municipal councilor in Sofia Municipal Council and chairperson of SDA’s governing board, greeted the women and confirmed the city’s continued ambition and efforts to facilitate access to employment, daycare and housing to migrants and refugees. She also underlined the importance of following a whole-of-family approach to designing and offering integration services in the city, recognizing the varying needs of younger and older migrants, ensuring that integration efforts promote gender equality and intergenerational fairness.
The event is part of a new initiative of the Bureau to build a migrant business leaders club in Sofia, to support intercultural business exchange and migrant employment.
KULTINCLUSION LAYS THE FOUNDATION FOR SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES IN THE CULTURAL SECTOR IN SOFIA
The KultInclusion project has contributed to the development of sustainable policies in Sofia’s cultural sector through the creation of practical guidelines and their pilot implementation.
Within the project, handbooks were developed to support cultural operators in integrating environmentally sustainable practices. As part of this process, a pilot event was carried out in partnership with “Helios” – Sofia, testing the applicability of these approaches in a real-life setting.
As a result of the experience gained and the achieved outcomes, the “Green Sofia” team at the Sofia Development Association developed a handbook for the sustainable management of cultural events. It provides practical guidance and tools for applying sustainability principles in the cultural sector.
The handbook will be implemented within the Culture Programme of Sofia Municipality, aiming to encourage long-term sustainable practices and support organisations in their transition towards more environmentally responsible activities.
The KULTInclusion project is funded by the Erasmus+ program, priority area KA220-ADU - Cooperation partnerships in adult education.
