Project PACT: Partnership among CSOs for making an impact on rights and values is implemented in partnership by:
• Foundation “Open Society Institute – Sofia” (OSIS)
• Workshop for Civic Initiatives Foundation (WCIF)
• The European Citizen Action Service (ECAS)
The project is implemented with the financial support of the European Union through the “Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values” (CERV) Programme, in the amount of EUR 4,264,112.97, which represents 90% of the total project budget. The funding authority is the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), acting under powers delegated by the European Commission. The consortium members co-finance the implementation of the project with EUR 258,588, accounting for the remaining 10% of the total budget.
(The) implementation of the project begins on January 1, 2025, and will run until December 31, 2028.
The project aims to bridge the divide between urban centers, which tend to support democracy as a form of governance, and other regions where democratic skepticism and vulnerability to EU values persist.
To achieve this overarching goal, the project has defined the following objectives:
- To raise public awareness of EU values and the Charter of Fundamental Rights, with a focus on their practical implications for daily life, personal choices, and behaviors.
- To enhance the impact of Bulgarian civil society organizations dedicated to fostering a culture of values based on the rule of law, democracy, and fundamental rights.
To meet these objectives, the project partners will carry out the following key activities:
1. Holding two separate contests for two funds to provide financial support for civil society organizations’ initiatives – the “Partnership” Fund and the “Code Success” Fund.
The two funds for supporting initiatives will focus on raising awareness of rights and values; strengthening, protecting, and promoting the Union’s values, including respect for the rule of law; supporting dialogue, transparency, and good governance.
- The Partnership Fund is managed by the Open Society Institute – Sofia (OSIS). The indicative number of partnership initiatives it will support is around 40, with a maximum funding amount of up to EUR 60,000 per initiative. The total value of the fund is EUR 2,400,000. The supported partnership initiatives are expected to foster collaboration between civil society organizations of various scales—from large, well-established organizations to smaller, local ones—joining efforts to embed European values in different communities. Supporting civil society organizations in creating partnerships is a main focus of the Partnership Fund. In this regard, OSIS and the Workshop for Civic Initiatives Foundation (WCIF) will organize: a database on the project website with the possibility to register and search for partners, an event, and meetings to support partnerships between interested organizations.
- The Code: Success Fund is managed by WCIF. The indicative number of initiatives it will support is approximately 30, with funding up to EUR 15,000 per initiative. The total value of the fund is EUR 450,000. The fund will prioritize small organizations operating in remote and rural areas, which typically have more limited capacity and sources of funding. Organizations with approved initiatives will receive additional support through mentoring and other assisting activities.
2. Providing targeted support for building the capacity of civil society organizations to promote and uphold EU values.
The partner ECAS will carry out the core activities for building he capacity of civil society organizations.
The capacity-building process is structured into three consecutive stages, each designed to support civil society organizations depending on the stage of development of their initiatives.
First stage will prepare applicants by clarifying the requirements for initiative proposals while also deepening their knowledge of EU values. Workshops on the topic “European Rights and Values” will be held during the information days, along with webinars providing more in-depth support to organizations in preparing their initiative proposals.
Second stage will focus on co-creation and expertise development by offering targeted support to selected civil society organizations based on the topics of their initiatives, and connecting them to relevant European networks. This will be achieved through various trainings, workshops, and events within the framework of the “European Academy 2026–2028”, which will include workshops and networking events that foster innovation and the co-creation of ideas, as well as summer schools and hands-on workshops dedicated to current topics concerning EU rights and values.
Third stage aims for the project’s long-term sustainability by maintaining and expanding networks, structures, and accumulated expertise through workshops supporting and building the capacity of civil society organizations, and linking them with EU-level networks.
An online repository will be created for each thematic area, based on the results of the supported initiatives, to promote the exchange of best practices, case studies, useful tools, and expert-level knowledge with civil society and other EU member states.
For more information about Project PACT, please visit the webpage of the Project.