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Open Society Institute Sofia Open Society Institute - Sofia 2015 Annual Report OPEN SOCIETY INSTITUTE SOFIA 2015 ANNUAL REPORT CONTENTS Mission 3 1 Report of the Executive Director 5 2 Financial Profile 6 NGO Programme in Bulgaria under the EEA Financial Mechanism 2009- 3 11 2014 4 European Policies Programme 23 Governance and Public Policies Programme 26 5 Project Generation Facility - 29 Making the Most of European Union Structural Funds for Roma Inclusion 6 Legal Programme 31 7 Public Debate Programme 33 8 Emergency Fund of the Open Society Institute 34 Roma Programme 35 9 Scholarship Programme for doctors and post-graduate medicine students 36 of Roma origin Traineeship Programme at the US Embassy “Bridging Roma and Career 36 Opportunities” with the financial support of the US Embassy 10 Project Design Unit 37 2 MISSION To develop and support the values and practices of the open society in Bulgaria - To support the democratization of the public life - To work for the extension and guaranteeing of civil freedoms - To support the strengthening of civil sector institutions - To support the European integration and regional cooperation of Bulgaria 3 Founder George Soros Board of Trustees Pepka Boyadzhieva, Chair Ivan Bedrov Lachezar Bogdanov Milena Stefanova Petya Kabakchieva Aleksandar Kashamov Executive Director Georgi Stoychev Financial Director Veliko Sherbanov Programme Directors Boyan Zahariev Valentina Kazanska Ivanka Ivanova Dimitar Dimitrov Marin Lesinsky Elitsa Markova Anita Baykusheva Senior Economist Georgi Angelov Sociological Analyses Unit Aleksey Pamporov Dragomira Belcheva Petya Braynova Project Design Unit Elitsa Markova Teodora Ivanova 4 1. REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR In 2015, the Open Society Institute – Sofia continued working on four main priorities: good governance, rule of law and human rights, European policies and civic participation. The activity of the Institute was carried out through the following programmes: European Policies, Governance and Public Policies, Public Debate, Legal Programme, Roma Programme and NGO Programme. During the reporting period, a total of 175 projects were supported, of which 161 fundings of non-governmental organizations and 14 operational projects implemented directly by the Institute. 291 trainees and scholarship holders of Roma origin were supported, of whom 3 directly by the Institute, and other 288 scholarship holders obtained support under programmes within the Open Society network administered by the Institute. The total amount of the programme costs of the Institute during 2015 reached EUR 3.3 million. The main part of the supported projects and of the amount of the provided grants is associated with the Institute’s role as an operator of the NGO Programme in Bulgaria under the EEA Financial Mechanism. In its capacity of operator of the NGO Programme in Bulgaria under the EEA Financial Mechanism (in partnership with Workshop for Civic Initiatives Foundation), the Institute organized open calls for proposals for granting of financial support to projects of NGOs in four areas: Democracy, human rights and good governance; Social inclusion and empowerment of vulnerable groups; Sustainable development and protection of the environment; and Capacity building for NGOs. The involvement of the Institute’s human resources in the management of grantmaking schemes limited its ability to implement operational projects, as well as its flexibility to respond to changes in the environment. These circumstances will affect the Institute’s operations in 2016 as well. Using its own funds and funds from other sources, the Institute continued to carry out research and monitoring initiatives and to encourage the informed public debate in the fields of education, justice, human rights, inclusion of Roma and other disadvantaged groups, integration of Bulgaria to the European Union, public attitudes towards the functioning of democracy and the state of public policies and reforms. The Institute continued providing advisory and consulting services as part of its efforts to guarantee its long-term sustainable development. In this respect, along with the management of grantmaking schemes, during the year the Institute was also involved in the carrying out of a series of analytical and research activities in the field of education and social integration, which were assigned by national and international institutions and organizations. One of the key activities of the Institute was its role in the development and maintaining of the Bulgarian Universities Ranking System, as well as the conducting of surveys in cooperation with the World Bank. Georgi Stoychev Executive Director 5 2. FINANCIAL PROFILE І. Revenues The total amount of the revenues in 2015 comes up to EUR 4 191 thousand as compared to EUR 7 897 thousand in 2014. The revenues from grants during 2015 are to the amount of EUR 3 223 thousand as compared to EUR 6 666 thousand in 2014. 7000 6666 6000 5000 3223 3949 4000 3000 2900 2000 1702 1000 0 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Fig. 1 Revenues from grants for the period 2011-2015, in thousand EUR In 2012, the Open Society Institute - Sofia was selected as operator of the NGO Programme in Bulgaria funded under the European Economic Area Financial Mechanism 2009-2014 (EEA FM), whose budget comes up to EUR 11.8 million. In 2015, the amount of the recognized revenues1 from EEA FM comes up to EUR 2 883 thousand as compared to EUR 6 201 thousand in 2014. In 2015, the amount of the recognized revenues from the network of Open Society Foundations comes up to EUR 314 thousand from the following donor institutions: Open Society Institute - Budapest EUR 312 thousand Open Society Institute - Zug EUR 2 thousand For the purposes of comparison, in 2014, the revenues originating from the network of Open Society Foundations came up to EUR 353 thousand. Thanks to the funding from the Open Society Institute - Budapest, in 2015, there continued the implementation of the programme scheme Project Generation Facility – Making the Most of European Union Structural Funds for Roma Inclusion and the amount of recognized 1 These revenues include funds associated with the scheme for granting of financial support for the implementation of projects in 9 thematic priorities under the NGO Programme to the amount of EUR 2 813 thousand. The financial support is granted directly from a bank account especially opened by EEA FM. For the purposes of comparison, in 2014, the amount of recognized revenues associated with the scheme for granting of financial support came up to EUR 6 127 thousand. 6 revenues in 2015 came up to EUR 185 thousand, as well as of the Scheme for supporting of the education in medicine, mentorship and training in advocacy of Roma students to the amount of EUR 93 thousand. In 2015, there were also realized certain programme activities, which were funded by other donors, to the amount of EUR 26 thousand as compared to EUR 111 thousand in 2014. Donor Name of the project Funding in thousand EUR Organization of student Roma Education Fund 21 scholarship scheme Other donors 5 Total 26 Revenues from the Management of the Reserve Fund In 2015, there were realized interests to the amount of EUR 142 thousand. In the end of 2015, the deposited funds amounted to EUR 6.89 million. Business Activity In 2015, the Institute realized revenues from business activity to the amount of EUR 826 thousand from the following activities: Management of the NGO Programme in Bulgaria under the EEA FM EUR 300 thousand Administration of activities of the Open Society Institute - Europe EUR 82 thousand Public procurement contract awarded by the Ministry of Education EUR 134 thousand Sociological survey assigned by the World Bank EUR 277 thousand Survey assigned by America for Bulgaria Foundation EUR 26 thousand Revenues from exchange rate differences associated with EUR 7 thousand the business activity For the purposes of comparison, in 2014, the realized revenues came up to the amount of EUR 997 thousand. Net Assets As at the end of 2015, the amount of the net assets remained EUR 8.3 million as compared to EUR 8.4 million as at the end of 2014. The decrease is due to the funding of activities out of the Institute’s reserve. The balance sheet of the Institute as at 31 December 2015 contains buildings and land to the amount of EUR 368 thousand and investments in subsidiaries to the amount of EUR 491 thousand. The Institute has an office at 56 “Solunska” Street with 35 computerized work-places and 2 rooms for business meetings. 7 II. Costs In 2015, the total amount of the costs, including corporate tax costs, came up to EUR 4 280 thousand as compared to EUR 7 917 thousand in 2014. The programme costs came up to EUR 3 320 thousand as compared to EUR 6 767 thousand in 2014, EUR 1 796 thousand in 2013, respectively EUR 1 325 thousand in 2012 and EUR 2 729 thousand in 2011. Amount of the programme costs during the period 2011-2015 by programme areas, in thousand EUR 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 Programme area In thousand EUR Share Costs in thousand EUR NGO Programme 2 883 86.8% 6 200 998 32 Emergency Fund 26 0.8% 10 33 79 658 Governance and Public Policies 171 5.2% 268 369 296 608 European Policies 53 1.6% 62 39 152 377 Legal Programme 38 1.1% 39 53 61 185 Public Debate 44 1.3% 31 46 45 96 Roma 102 3.1% 155 253 398 458 Education and Youth Programmes 3 0.1% 2 5 8 64 Public Heath 16 23 East-East 118 135 Others 120 125 Total 3 320 100% 6 767 1 796 1 325 2 729 8 Distribution of the programme costs under the NGO Programme during the period 2013- 2015 by thematic priorities,
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