2. Why partnership? Transfer of knowledge and good practices from the Donor States will strengthen the Civil Society sector in the Beneficiary States. Transfer of legitimacy; Enhanced capacity to respond to new challenges in Europe that require joint actions.

3. Partnership in what areas? In terms of structural issues: Increased sustainability of the NGOs through transfer of knowledge and good practices in areas such as: Linkage of NGOs to local constituencies; Relations between NGOs and state institutions; Financial sustainability of the sector and culture of voluntarism.

4. Partnership in what areas? In terms of increasing NGO impact in areas, such as: Democracy, human rights and good governance; Environmental protection; Minorities integration, etc.

5. Challenges : Lack of well established contacts between the NGOs from the donor states and those in some of the beneficiary states (Bulgaria); Risk of “Empty” partnerships? Transfer of knowledge and exchange of good practices might look as a one-way street. The geography as a challenge.

6. The Programme operator will facilitate bilateral partnerships at programme and project level through the following instruments: Hosting of bilateral workshops Web-based tool for partner search Programme website containing relevant information in English that might be of use for donor countries’ partners Financial support to approved projects Financial support for the development of joint project proposals

7. Organised within the annual meetings with the aim to facilitate: establishment of (new) contacts between Bulgarian NGOs and organisations from the donor states; face-to-face Interaction between organisations that could lead to joint initiatives exchange of knowledge and broadening of the perspective

8. Funds will be available to approved projects within the NGO Programme as an additional source of funding for facilitating partnerships with organizations from the donor states. Grant rate for bilateral activities will depend on the size of the project: up to 2000 Euro for micro and small projects and up to 4000 Euro for medium and large projects. Categories of expenditure: a) Fees and travel costs for participation in conferences, seminars, courses, meetings and workshops; b) Travel costs for study trips; c) Travel and salary costs for visits by experts. The realisation of joint activities in partnership will be financed from the core budget of the project.

9. Seed money facility within the BCF: providing up to 1 500 Euro for the development of partnership project proposals during the application phase where the proposal could not otherwise be developed, and were the requested expenses are justified Application procedure will be described in the Guidelines

10. We wish you fruitful discussions!