1 Bulgarian Association of Regional Development Agencies 30 August Sofia , Vitosha Blvd. Tel: ** Fax: **

BARDA 2 What is BARDA (1) 33 Regional Development Agencies and SME Support Centres (RDAs) B A R D A General Member Assembly Board of Directors Executive Member Secretariat in Sofia Executive Director

BARDA 3 What is BARDA (2) BARDA is a legally independent, non- governmental and decentralized SME support structure with NGO status. It is being carried solely by its membership base. BARDA as an umbrella organization is working according to an annual operational working plan agreed upon by the General Member Assembly.

BARDA 4 Our Mission Improved Economic Environment in Bulgaria through Increased Entrepreneurial Initiative and Employment, in Concert with Economic Development Strategies of Regions A Viable Network of Sustainable Local Entities that Foster Regional Development in Bulgaria Agencies for Regional Development and Business Centres B A R D A Operational Objective

BARDA 5 BARDA History BARDA was established in 1997 on request by the different regional SME support initiatives as a non-governmental, decentralized and independent NGO with the assistance of EEC/ILO/GOPA (through the GTZ Program: “Vocational Training and Active Employment Measures”)

BARDA 6 Main Co-operation Partners EU Commission (through PHARE Programmes) National SME Agency USAID British Know-How Fund UNDP ILO GTZ (through the program “Vocational Training and Active Employment Measures” implemented by GOPA) Bulgarian Ministry for Trade and Tourism Bulgarian Ministry for Regional Development and Public Works National Employment Agency National Chamber of Commerce Foreign Investment Agency Bulgarian Export Promotion Centre Bulgarian Association for Partnership, etc.

BARDA 7 Funding Schemes The Co-financing principle is the basis for BARDA’s financial means. The BARDA Executive Member Secretariat is financially supported by:  membership fees,  generation of its own financial equity through the acquisition of SME support programs and regional development activities (e.g. PHARE programs) and to some extent through donors seed funding but under clear face-out-concept.

BARDA 8 The BARDA Network  Sofia Pazardjik Plovdiv Razlog Smolian Bourgas Dobrich Rousse Kustendil Blagoevgrad Sandanski Haskovo Stara Zagora Sliven Varna Shumen Targovishte Pleven Vidin full members  associate members  Montana  Vratsa  Lovech  Pernik  Samokov  Karlovo  Gabrovo  Razgrad  Silistra  Yambol  Kardjali  Devin  G. Delchev  Veliko Tarnovo

BARDA 9 Membership Base and Structure (1) The following RDAs are full members of BARDA: RDA Burgas RDA Blagoevgrad RDA Vidin RDA Varna RDA Dobrich RDA Kjustendil RDA Pazardjik RDA Pleven RDA Plovdiv RDA Razlog RDA Rousse RDA Sandanski RDA Sliven RDA Smolyan RDA Stara Zagora RDA Shumen RDA Haskovo RDA Targovishte

BARDA 10 Membership Base and Structure (2) BARDA General Member Assembly Board of Directors Executive Member Secretariat

BARDA 11 Structure of Executive Secretariat in Sofia On behalf of BARDA members, the Executive Member Secretariat in Sofia has entered into a number of cooperation agreements with the objective to: (a)document a broad national acceptance and (b)promote SME and regional development activities to its members. Board of Directors Executive Director Executive Member Secretariat Information ManagerTraining ManagerResearch Assistant

BARDA 12 RDA Structure Example (1) Municipalities Local Chamber of Commerce Local Industrial Chamber Local SME Association Technical University German-Bulgarian Vocational Training Centre Lions Club Club of the Young Entrepreneurs

BARDA 13 RDA Structure Example (2) The RDA is legally an independent, non- governmental and decentralised local structure with NGO status. The RDA is a registered member of BARDA. The RDA is working according to an annual operational work plan agreed upon by the General Member assembly. The co-financing principle is the basis of RDA’s financial means. Different levels of financial support/contribution are being provided by its members. The RDA has a service and support catalogue with agreed prices through which the RDA is generating its own financial equity input to sustain its operation and sustainability.

BARDA 14 RDA Field of Interest

BARDA 15 RDA Range of Services RDA SME Support Services SME Info Seminars Bulgarian to Bulgarian SMEs Production Business Management Submitting Business Proposals Qualification Courses Intermediate Support InformationConsultancyResearch SME Support Programs SME Issues Workshops SME Checking Services SMEs Technical Capacity Registration Procedures Seminars for Entrepreneurs Foreign to Bulgarian SMEs Internet info Business Planning Pre-planning Research Exhibitions and Fairs Participation Note: Services may differ and range according to the specific needs of the target group in the region. Basic Courses short 1-5 days long 6-40 days Bulgarian to Foreign SMEs Economic, Tax info Quality Management Marketing Participation in National & International Programs

BARDA 16 BARDA Assistance to Its Members Producing training and information materials based on identified best practice Training for staff in the regional development agencies Hiring Bulgarian advisors and trainers for regional development agencies Providing equipment for regional development agencies Creating an information network including initiatives publicising SME best practice, interactive discussion on policy and legislative proposals Key information on implications of EU accession for SMEs

BARDA 17 BARDA Network Highlights Twinning Networking High quality of services Competitiveness SME and Regional Development

BARDA 18 BARDA Assessment (1) BARDA members and candidate members were evaluated according to a set of criteria determining the organisational life-cycle stage The evaluation included various aspects of organisational life

BARDA 19 BARDA Assessment (2) Management Planning Human resources Work environment Contacts with clients Market and customer knowledge Public involvement Public relations Financial management Business results

BARDA 20 BARDA Assessment (3) BARDA members were provisionally classified according to the organizational life cycle stage of each agency: Stage 1. START-UP Stage 2. DEVELOPMENT Stage 3. CONSOLIDATION Stage 4. STABILITY

BARDA 21 BARDA Assessment (4) Assessment results:  Full Members were at Stages 2, 3, and 4  Candidate Members were at Stage 1

BARDA 22 BARDA Twining Concept (1) Twinning Principles:  According to the level of institutional development  According to regional location

BARDA 23 BARDA Twining Concept (2) FULL MEMBERSSUPPORTASSOCIATE MEMBERS Dobrich  Silistra Rousse  Razgrad Pleven  Lovech, Vratza Vidin  Montana Stara Zagora  Gabrovo, Veliko Tarnovo Pazardjik  Samokov, Pernik Haskovo  Kardjali Smolyan Devin Bourgas Gotze Delchev Varaa Karlovo Razlog Sofia Blagoevgrad Sandanski Plovdiv Slven Kjustendil Shumen Targovishte

BARDA 24 BARDA Training System (1) Three Target Groups for implementing institutional strengthening measures:  Target Group 1 (TG1) The organisations at Stage 1  Target Group 1 (TG2) The organisations at Stage 2  Target Group 1 (TG3) The organisations at Stages 3 and 4

BARDA 25 BARDA Training System (2) The Training and Technical Assistance System envisages a Three Phase Approach to influencing the institutional development of BARDA members and creating a homogenous association structure.

BARDA 26 Start-Up Development Consolidation Stability The Three Phase Approach TG1: Associate members Stage 1 14 Agencies TG2: Agencies at Stage 2 current: 8 agencies after Phase 1: 22 agencies TG3: Agencies at Stage 3 and Stage 4 current: 10 agencies after Phase 2: 32 agencies Phase I Phase II Phase III Phase I Support: TG3 and TG2 to TG1 Phase II Support: TG3 to TG2

BARDA 27 BARDA Assistance to Municipalities (1) Municipal Development Strategies Legal Framework (Regional Development, Local Administration, Municipal Budgets, Territorial and Spatial Planning, public procurement, etc.) Economic information (industry, unemployment, etc.) National and International Programmes for SMEs and Regional Development Statistical Data Information for Project Financing of SMEs and Starting entrepreneurs Regional Information SME Database at National and Regional Level Export and Import Information Information on Credit Lines Business Opportunities (Investments, Cooperation, Joint Ventures, etc.)

BARDA 28 BARDA Assistance to Municipalities (2) Municipal property, enterprises, finances, taxes and fees, administration Territorial and Spatial Planning Education Health Services Culture Regional Development and Public Works Social Support – Social Welfare and Social Assistance, Housing Needs, etc. Environmental Protection and Rational Use of Natural Resources Maintenance and Protection of Cultural, Historical and Architectural Monuments Sports, Leisure and Tourism Development

29 Bulgarian Association of Regional Development Agencies 30 August The End