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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SOCIAL ENTERPRISES: DYNAMIC SPACES FOR INNOVATIVE IDEAS
A work session with social enterprises from Sofia was the very first event that took place in the innovative space of the Bulgarian Center for Non-for-Profit Law, furnished with products from the social enterprises themselves. It is an initiative of the Sofia Development Association and the Bulgarian Center for Non-for-Profit Law and aims to support activities aimed at the development of the city as a place with active communities.
The series of discussions started with social entrepreneurs, the problems and opportunities in expanding and developing social innovations, sharing experiences and coming together in networks to upgrade the innovation ecosystem.
The results from this discussion will be taken into account when designing of the structure and functions of the National Competence Center in the field of social innovation.
The SI PLUS project is funded by the EUROPEAN COMMISSION, European Social Fund and European Programme for Employment and Social Innovation.
CALENDAR OF ACTIVITIES IN NOVEMBER 2022 IN THE BUREAU FOR INFORMATION AND SERVICES FOR THIRD COUNTRY NATIONALS
The Bureau of Information and Services for Foreign Citizens in Sofia presents to your attention the "Program of activities for the month of November". The office is located at 113 Hristo Botev Street and is open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The program, as well as the provided services, have been translated into several languages - Bulgarian, English, French, Russian, Ukrainian, Arabic and Farsi (Persian).
You can find the program for November in Bulgarian HERE.
You can find the program for November in Ukrainian HERE.
You can find the program for November in English HERE.
You can find the program for November in French HERE.
You can find the program for November in Russian HERE.
You can find the program for November in Arabic HERE.
You can find the program for November in Farsi HERE.
The bureau was created with the aim of assisting foreign citizens residing on the territory of our country. Among the most frequently used services are the legal consultations offered by the "Foundation for Access to Rights - FAR" and the Center for legal aid - "Voice of Bulgaria", held on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
CONNECTION project: CONNEcting Cities Towards Integration action, is co-funded by the European Union’s Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund.
PEERS SHARE EXPERIENCES ON SOCIAL INNOVATIONS SUPPORT PROGRAMMES IN BUDAPEST
As part of the SI PLUS project a peer learning took place in Budapest on 24 – 26 October 2022.
Sharing experiences on social innovations support programmes was the focus of the discussions between representatives of ESF+ Managing authorities from Bulgaria and Hungary, SDA and IFKA’s teams and other stakeholders.
Experts from Ministry of Labour and Social Policy presented the social economy and social innovation support programmes and projects that will be launched in the next programme period. The experts from the Hungarian MAs shared information on the best practices from the previous programme that could be scaled up in Bulgaria and mainstreamed in other support schemes.
The role and functions of the future Competence Centre on Social Innovation was also discussed.
Plans for future cooperation were drafted.
The project is funded by the EUROPEAN COMMISSION, European Social Fund and European Programme for Employment and Social Innovation.
CLIMATE CHANGE AND HEALTH IMPACT
On October 25, 2022 a public discussion was held in Sofia on the topic adaptation to climate change and effects on human health in Bulgaria, which is part of the activities of the EIT Climate-KIC Bulgaria RIS Hub. The main focus of the expert presentations and subsequent discussions was climate change and its impact on human health. Prof. Dr. Zoya Mateeva from the National Institute of Geophysics, Geodesy and Geography at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and Asst. Prof. Zornitsa Spasova, National Center for Public Health and Analysis, presented extensive analysis and data showing the link between climate change and its numerous health, social and economic consequences. In the framework of the discussion, SDA presented the INNOAIR project, the main goal of which is to promote ecological electric transport in Sofia, thereby improving air quality and reducing harm to the health of the city's residents.
INNOAIR is co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Urban Innovative Actions Initiative.
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF UMC DIMITAR DILCHEV PRESENTED THE INNOAIR PROJECT AT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE BULGARIAN MUNICIPALITIES
Between October 23rd and 25th, the Annual Meeting of the Bulgarian Municipalities was held in the Albena resort near Varna. Sofia Municipality was represented by a team led by Mayor Yordanka Fandakova. The Executive Director of the Urban Mobility Center Dimitar Dilchev was part of the delegation, taking part in a thematic panel discussion dedicated to the crises affecting municipal transport in the country.
During the discussion, the director of the UMC presented the INNOAIR project. He stated that the idea of the project is innovative and aims, in addition to facilitating citizens, to improve traffic and reduce air pollution in the city. Dilchev also talked about the latest electric “on call” minibuses, which were introduced just over a month ago. They are currently in a trial period, but within a few months the service is expected to officially launch in the southern districts of Sofia.
During the discussion, Dilchev also told the participants about the electronic ticket payment system in the capital. He also commented on the need for innovation and high-tech solutions in the sector. Dilchev pointed out that the aim of the Center is to open the market for different distributors who can get involved in the sale of those kinds of documents through IT solutions.
In November a hackaton named “InnoAirChallenge: Just Green Transition ad Urban Mobility” will be held that is a part of the INNOAIR project. Its main goal is to tackle the main challenges linked to the green transition in the urban mobility sector with innovative solutions.
INNOAIR is co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Urban Innovative Actions Initiative.
ON OCTOBER 25 THE "ADAPRATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE HEALTH SECTOR IN BULGARIA" EVENT WILL BE HELD WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF A REPRESENTATIVE OF SDA
On October 25 at 10 A.M. in the SOHO space in Sofia, the "Adaptation to Climate Change in the Health Sector in Bulgaria" event will be held.
It will last until 12:00 P.M. and it is organized by EIT Climate-KIC Bulgaria Hub, the National Center for Public Health and Analysis, and Climateka, the popular science platform dedicated to climate science.
The topics that will be discussed during the event are related to climate, climate change and human health, the health consequences of climate change in Bulgaria and how to adapt to them, and others.Snezhina Gabova from the Sofia Development Association will also be a participant in the event. She will present the Innoair project and the results achieved so far in the fight for cleaner air in Sofia.
INNOAIR project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund through the Urban Innovative Actions Initiative.