Special and Cross-cutting Initiatives

Special Initiatives
American University of Bulgaria

Roma Micro Finance: USAID in partnership with Catholic Relief Services, MicroFund, and Ustoi will offer microfinance loans and technical assistance to develop business skills for Roma entrepreneurs.

Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Every Classroom: With USAID assistance, Junior Achievement Bulgaria creates an understanding of the entrepreneurial spirit in school age Bulgarians through public - private partnerships that merge classroom studies with real world experiences in the business community.

Response to Avian Influenza in Bulgaria: The goal of the program is to provide a sustainable mechanism for surveillance, crisis management and increase of public awareness regarding Avian Influenza. USAID has channeled $1,100,000 to enhance the Avian Influenza preparedness of Bulgaria. Working in close collaboration with the Bulgarian National Veterinary Medical Service and the Ministry of Health, USAID provides various trainings, technical assistance and specialized equipment to Bulgarian veterinary doctors throughout the country. In addition, USAID equipped a new laboratory of the National Veterinary Medical Service in Varna, which will help detect and lessen the effects of a possible Avian Influenza outbreak in the northeastern part of Bulgaria.

Cross-cutting Programs
Advocacy and Public Awareness through Media: A viable democracy and rule of law cannot be sustained without a strong, independent media that informs the public on economic and political developments. USAID supports the development of a strong journalistic cadre that raises public awareness and increases its investigative capabilities in order to hold economic and democratic institutions accountable to citizens’ concerns. USAID is working to transform Bulgaria’s government-operated journalists’ training facility into an independent NGO that is both independent and financially viable. USAID is ensuring that Bulgaria’s national investigative television program “Na Chisto” increases the number of affiliate station programs and expands viewership. USAID is expanding the reach of journalists as it encourages partnerships between television entities and local NGOs and law enforcement entities to bring public awareness to such conditions as human trafficking, ethnic tension, and other community concerns. In spite of the success of “Na Chisto” and other public-interest programming, subjects of media scrutiny still exert pressure on journalists and their media entities. USAID's work with Bulgaria’s Journalism Legal Support Center will coordinate enhanced protection for investigative reporters against prosecution and harassment. As Bulgaria’s journalistic capabilities develop, economic and democratic institutions will come to expect public scrutiny and awareness.

Participant Training Program: The most effective economies and democracies of the world look beyond their own borders to find practices that work best in other nations. USAID wants Bulgarian practitioners to continue to learn best practices from other countries via in-country field visits, about everything from municipal wastewater management to implementing public procurement procedures. USAID plans to create a legacy mechanism that will sustain its successful World Learning project. Part of this effort is to establish and maintain an active Alumni Association along with a network of participatory training program trainees, which can both mobilize financing and raise awareness of the value of best-practice visits. USAID is monitoring the achievements and effectiveness of each of these in-country visits, while working on developing the capacity of local training institutions and providers.

Small Project Assistance (SPA) Program: This program combines Peace Corps Volunteers’ knowledge of local conditions with the financial resources of USAID to increase the capabilities of local communities to conduct low-cost, grassroots sustainable development. The program supports small projects that enhance the ability of communities to organize, plan and implement group decisions and make responsible choices. The focus of projects is often on helping groups with no access to capital, equipment or markets secure resources to start small income-generating activities. Supported projects are in the areas of teaching English as a foreign language, environmental protection, small business development, community economic and organizational development, and youth development.

^{Last updated: 12 February 2007}