WUNRN
"A
gender approach is still missing from Bulgarian development co-operation policy.
This is despite the fact that women´s NGOs have been monitoring the process
from the beginning, to explain the need for a gender approach, to exert
pressure to include it in all coming policy documents, future frameworks and
concepts around development co-operation, and to explain the need for having it
integrated in all existing and future mechanisms for promoting gender equality
in Bulgaria."
EU-CIS Gender Watch Reports: Gender Concerns Marginalised in New EU Member States´ Development Policies - BULGARIA
By Tania Tisheva
BULGARIA ESTABLISHING ITS AID STRUCTURE
Bulgaria will start to allocate later this year the funds for the development aid budget 2009, which should be granted along with a separate line of the national budget. As one of the newest Member States that joined the EU in January 2007, the country can build on its previous experience of co-operation with third countries and contribute to solving challenges in the globalising world.
Bulgaria is in the initial phase of debates on the issueof allocating a percentage of GNI (Gross National Income) to ODA (Official Development Assistance). The main challenges in the forthcoming years will be the building of the legal framework[1], the administrative capacity and relevant structures for ODA policies,and fulfilment of its commitments to achieving the MDGs. Raising public awareness on the country´s new donor role and involving civil society organisations in this process are also of crucial importance.
Bulgaria´s ODA in 2005 amounted to 0.008% of GNI, or (BGN 3.3m). In 2006, the figures increased to 0.06% of GNI, or BGN 28.6m ( euro 14.6m), of which BGN 1.05m ( euro 0.54m) was committed to multilateral development co-operation and BGN 27.5m ( euro 14.1m) to bilateral co-operation. In2007Bulgaria set aside for ODA just 0.08 per cent of its GNI.[2] This data includes Bulgaria's contribution to multilateral institutions (0.04%of GNI).
Priority countries for Bulgarian ODA are Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, Macedonia and Serbia. The second group of recipients of ODA are those countries for which Bulgaria has undertaken international commitments within the framework of internationalbodiesor coalitions (such as Iraq and Afghanistan).Angola is the only targeted African beneficiary country. Bulgarian ODA commitments, as outlined in the adopted Concept on Bulgaria's policy on participation in international development co-operation(adopted in 2007), refers to the MDGs and, more specifically, to the eradication of poverty.
The focus of sectoral priorities for Bulgarian bilateral assistance will be sectors where the country has a comparative advantage in granting assistance, expertise and capacity for activities, such as:
A gender approach is still missing from Bulgarian development co-operation policy. This is despite the fact that women´s NGOs have been monitoring the process from the beginning, to explain the need for a gender approach, to exert pressure to include it in all coming policy documents, future frameworks and concepts around development co-operation, and to explain the need for having it integrated in all existing and future mechanisms for promoting gender equality in Bulgaria. As an EU Member State, Bulgaria is committed to respecting the directives and treaties of the European Community, which implies engagement for the elimination of gender inequalities and promotingequal treatment of women and men in all its actions. This means also including the issue of gender equality in Bulgaria´s foreign and development policies.
The inclusion of gender priorities in ODA will depend on the evolution of national developments on gender equality. Strengthening the Bulgarian gender equality mechanism and adopting new legislation in the field will be of a great importance for improving the situation of women. Gender-disaggregated statistics, gender budgeting, new laws and regulations and new gender equality bodies will help,and common efforts from many actors at national level are required for any real improvements to emerge.
Last but not least, civil society organisations and Bulgarian institutions must ensure the creation of a national strategy on development education.Implementation of information and awareness raising activities, aiming at increasing public support for the Bulgarian ODA policies is crucial. The country is in the process of transformation from a recipient to a donor, and this transition requires strong public support.
About the author:
Tania Tisheva is an officer for the Bulgarian Gender Research Foundation, which is coordinating the WIDE Bulgarian Platform, and she is the author of the Bulgarian report within the Gender Watch series.
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