As of November 2018, the Institute for Regional and International Studies (IRIS) starts a new 34-month project that aims at mobilizing and advocating for local business communities to utilize the available human potential of retired people and to look for new models of labor mobility.
От ноември 2018 г. Институтът за регионални и международни изследвания (ИРМИ) стартира нов 34-месечен проект, насочен към мобилизиране и подкрепа на местните бизнес общности да използват наличния човешки потенциал на пенсионерите и да търсят нови модели за трудова мобилност.
Основната цел на проекта на ИРМИ е да овласти бизнес общностите с умения по застъпничество, работа в мрежи и стратегическо планиране, за да се справят с предизвикателството на намаляващия потенциал на човешки ресурси чрез изработване на жизнеспособни алтернативи за наемане на работа.
Citizens′ Network for Peace, Inter-communal Reconciliation & Human Security (CN4HS) is cross-border project supported by the European Commission and launched in November 2012 by six non-governmental organisations and research institutes from the Balkans and Turkey: the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly – Turkey; the Institute for Regional and International Studies – Bulgaria; SeCons – Serbia; the Youth Resource Centre Tuzla – Bosnia and Herzegovina; the Association for Democratic Prosperity Zid – Montenegro; and the Centre for Research, Documentation and Publication – Kosovo.
The project initiative aims to develop and put in practice a “bottom-up” approach to regional development by identifying and engaging the natural leadership potential of Bulgarian regions within a coherent framework of debate and collective action.
The current project aims to contribute to more efficient citizen participation in this process and more broadly - to develop sustainable forms of dialogue between citizens and public officials.
The main goal of the project was to support IRIS’s institutional development and its capacity to participate, on the basis of its experience and expertise, in the formulation of new civic strategies for organisation, participation and raising accountability in decision-making – strategies reflecting the powerful and profound transformative processes in society that are in play over the last year or so.
This project aims to support participation via capacity-building for strategic planning and advocacy in NGOs in three Bulgarian cities where protesters in 2013 were especially active: Varna, Veliko Tarnovo and Blagoevgrad. Its outcome was a raised know-how and capability of NGOs to conduct advocacy campaigns and thus participate in a more organised and efficient manner in decision-making.
The project aimed to support the already gained momentum in the reform processes in the Balkans and affirm their irreversibility via analysis, publication, advocacy and networking aiming at accelerated European integration in times when the economic crisis and the return to power of nationalist/populist factors in the region jeopardise the progress achieved and cause disaffection among the populace.
The project is part of the European Commission’s support to regional thematic networks within the framework of the Civil Society Facility Partnership Programmes for Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).
The project aimed to support new, effective public policy strategies for regional development in the Balkan societies and a better understanding of and ways to overcome the failures of post-communist Balkan states to provide quality public services to their citizens in their embrace of liberal democracy and the free market since the 1990s and in light of the ongoing economic and Eurozone crises via research, analysis, policy products and advocacy.
The main goal of IRIS in assessing the NPP Belene project is aimed at developing a comprehensive picture of the liabilities and the effects which the construction of this facility will have on Bulgaria’ energy market, on the sustainability of the energy system and the energy consumption in the country for the next 3-5 decades and on the functioning of the Bulgarian political and public administration system in mid-term perspective. The IRIS analyses will also particularly focus on the larger strategic and security context that NPP Belene will create in completing the monopolization of the Bulgarian energy system by Russia – bringing it under total Russian control.
The overall goal of the proposed project was to assure the continuity and sustainability of the larger BSYRF effort by establishing an Alumni Association of the programme’s graduates, allowing them to meet on a regular basis, discuss current issues and take common action to solve those issues by means of joint advocacy efforts and project development.
The overall goal of the project is to enhance and institutionalise interaction among the most influential think tanks in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine in order to arrive at common positions and launch common initiatives on improving international security and cooperation in the Black sea region as well as to support all major efforts by national governments and international organisations to this end.
The overall goal of the project was to extend and empower the network of young reformers of the Black Sea countries, launched by the pilot BSYRF project in 2010, as an instrument to serve a double-edged purpose: first, to provide a platform for the young reformers to communicate and advocate to the institutions of the EU the interests of their countries for closer cooperation with Europe; second, to open new channels of influence for the European policy makers to develop and implement an overall strategy for multilateral cooperation between the EU institutions and the policy communities of the Black Sea countries.
The overall goal of this project is to devise a framework for a new, flexible strategy for an accelerated European integration of the Western Balkans based on research, analysis and interaction among leading think tank and civil society activists and policy-makers from Bulgaria and the countries of the region. Bulgaria’s accession experience should play a key a role in devising such a strategy – some aspects of Bulgaria’s integration proved not so smooth, while others proved effective, and the new framework should dwell on that.
The project is an effort at supporting reformist thinking and reformist activities across the region of the Black Sea through identifying and encouraging reform-oriented, influential young policy-makers, civil servants and civil society activists from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine into an effective and viable network.
The goal of the project was to help devise and implement common strategies for minimising the effects of the global economic crisis on the political, institutional and social development of the Western Balkan countries – Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia.
Институтът за Регионални и Международни Изследвания (ИРМИ), със съдействието на Тръста за гражданско общество в централна и източна Европа, проведоха през 2009 г. проект на тема: „Тренинг и социализация на млади ромски активисти в позиции на политическо и гражданско лидерство в българската държава и общество“ с продължителност една година.
In April 2006 IRIS started the implementation of a 12-month project entitled The Mid-Term Policy Agenda of the Balkans. The objective of the project is to develop and advocate regional policy solutions with EU perspective to remedy the Balkans’ problems.
There are two important issues, dominating the agenda of the Balkans in 2007. The first one is the blockade of the Kosovo status promotion, with its local, regional and international implications. The second one is the silent postponing of EU accession process for the Western Balkans, which is widely considered as a condition sine qua non to cope with regional maladies.
In November 2006 IRIS initiated a 9-month project for comparative study of the Turkish and Roma minorities in Bulgaria in the years of democratic transition (1989 – 2006).
In October 2006 IRIS initiated the project Bulgaria in the Euro-Atlantic Security System with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria.
The project is aimed at improving the participation of civil society in Bulgaria in public policy formation through the ‛budget advocacy‛ approach.
The major goal of the proposed project was to strengthen the process of democratic reconstruction of local decentralized government through establishing and supporting working models for public and private partnerships in Macedonia and BiH.
IRIS advocacy program envisages facilitating the process of forming active groups at local governmental level that will involve the representatives of business communities, civic activists and decision makers in community development planning.
Between July 2005 and December 2005 IRIS International Security and Democratization Program implemented the project on The Process of Decentralization in Macedonia: Prospects for Ethnic Conflict Mitigation, Enhanced Representation, Institutional Efficiency and Accountability, supported by the Freedom House – Regional Networking Project.
On December 1, 2004 IRIS International Security and Democratization Program started the implementation of the one-year project entitled Transborder Exchange of Reform Practices: Decentralization and Citizens’ Inclusion. The program is aimed at elaborating a strategy for applying an integrated system of cross-border transfer of Bulgarian experience and good practices to Macedonia in overcoming deficiencies of the decentralization process and sustaining the citizens’ support for necessary reforms within the context of the European integration.
In December 2004 IRIS Civil Society Development: Research and Training Program started the implementation of the nine-month project entitled Youth Tourist Exchange. Business Initiatives for Community Development in South Eastern Bulgaria (towns Loznitza, Zavet and Isperih)
The project was aimed at advancing recommendations for improving institutional performance in Bulgaria, Georgia and Moldova, based on comparative analysis of a selected cluster of institutions mirroring the state of the society and governance by employing the ‘democratic auditing’ methodological approach. Institutional analysis, public opinion surveys and case studies of best practices were employed to elicit alternative policy solutions.
Between May 2004 and May 1 2005 IRIS International Security and Democratization Program implemented the “Networking for the Black Sea Region Stabilization and Integration” program. The proposed program built on the achievements of GMFUS and IRIS’ own efforts in the Black Sea region. The program was aimed at assisting with developing and launching an overall policy strategy for integrating the Black Sea countries into the Euro-Atlantic mainstream.
This six-month pilot project was aimed at increasing the capacity of civil society organizations in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Macedonia to effectively represent civic interests through transferring advocacy know how from Bulgaria.
The project aim was to develop a Regulation Treating the Management, Control and Informational Provision of the National Operative Program for Regional Development as an instrument for the Bulgarian regional policy implementation.
The project was aimed at establishing an effective system for trilateral co-operation and dialogue between social partners in the field of industrial relations in Bulgaria on the basis of European historical experience and the principles laid down in the European Social Charter ratified in 2000.
The project aim was to establish Youth Community Council in the Municipality of Zavet as a consultative body to the local authorities.
The project aimed at evaluating the civic organizations′ attitudes, needs and capacity with respect to civic participation in the decision making in Ukraine and Moldova and also at identifying specific competencies needed for successful civic mobilization and participation in the decision making.
Between May 1, 2003 and May 1, 2004 IRIS International Security and Democratization Program implemented the program entitled Anchoring the Black Sea Countries to the Euro-Atlantic Mainstream: Policies, Mechanisms and Multilateral Networks. The Program was aimed at promoting strategies, policies and actions that would ultimately anchor the countries of the Black Sea region firmly to the Euro-Atlantic mainstream.
On May 1, 2003 IRIS International Security and Democratization Program started the implementation of the project entitled Benefiting from Enlarging NATO to Southeast Europe: Promoting the New NATO Agenda. The Program was aimed at providing assessment and policy alternatives of how Bulgaria and Romania, in their new function as NATO members, would translate the new mission of the Alliance into regional policy action. The program offered recommendations that capitalized on the experience of the two countries in conducting reforms in order to maximize the effectiveness of stability and security building in the region. The program aimed at contributing to increased understanding of how enlarged and transformed NATO would respond to the 21st century security challenges to provide a security arc for its members.
The Partners in Peacebuilding in the Balkans Project is a joint initiative of the Institute for Regional and International Studies (IRIS) in Sofia, Bulgaria, the Center for International Development and Conflict Management (CIDCM) at the University of Maryland, and the University of Sofia, Bulgaria.
This one year project developed by the Institute for Regional and International Studies – Sofia, united the efforts of local government officials in transborder areas of Bulgaria and Serbia, as well as local NGO activists from the respective communities.
IRIS International Security and Democratization Program implemented the project entitled The Balkans and The New Global Agenda started on May 1, 2002. Project aimed primarily at contributing to a systemic reassessment of the policy agenda of Balkan security in the new international context and defining the basic priorities of cooperation between the Balkan policy community and the policy institutions of the transatlantic community.
The project addressed the following issues: National NATO Accession Strategies and Armed Forces Reforms, Security Priorities of Prospective Members, and NATO Transformation and Strategic Environment.
IRIS International Security and Democratization Program staff initiated the implementation of Civic Strategy for Promoting Bilateral Relations between Bulgaria and Serbia Project on October 1, 2001. The project objective is to establish and promote a civic strategy for development of the relations between Bulgaria and Serbia identifying major interests, social groups, communities and institutions that have potential for intensifying bilateral relations.
The project addressed a number of pressing issues arising from the institutional collapse and series of security crises in this part of the Balkans. The main goal of the project was to involve outstanding think tanks from Albania, Bulgaria and Macedonia in active networking for promotion of common measures to sustain security within this strategic tier.
IRIS International Security and Democratization Program implemented the project entitled “Promoting Security and Regional Cooperation: The Perspectives of NATO Enlargement and EU Association of Southeastern Europe Towards the Year 2002” started on May 1, 2001. Project aimed primarily at providing IRIS with the necessary resources and strengthening of its capacity to actively contribute to the process of policy formulation and implementation concerning Southeastern Europe.
The International Fact Finding Mission has been an extension of the Project on Security Challenges and Development of the Southern Balkans, implemented by IRIS in cooperation with the Euro-Balkan Institute, Skopje and the Institute for Contemporary Studies, Tirana, also supported by the Regional Networking Project, sponsored by Freedom House, with funding provided by the U.S. Agency for International Development. The European Integration and Regional Stability Program of the Open Society Foundation-Sofia, provides support to follow-up activities of the International Fact-finding Mission.
The primary goal of the project was to strengthen democracy by facilitating effective representation of civil interests.
The project gave IRIS a new perspective and approach for both addressing current and emerging policy challenges and offering practical policy recommendations. The project included the initiation of unique monthly analyses on regional issues in the area of transatlantic cooperation, integration strategies, and foreign policy making in regard to regional security and cooperation.
The project aimed to set priorities and clearly define the goals of the Stability Pact for Southeastern Europe. It provided analytical assistance and policy growth/development in the fields of regional security systems institutional development and infrastructure economic development.
This project united the efforts of Bulgarian and Macedonian NGOs in the hopes of overcoming the political difficulties in bilateral relations of the two states. The project set up a free forum of NGOs from the two countries searching and formulating points of common interest for Bulgaria and Macedonia, and on this basis, developed and institutionalized legitimate mechanisms of advocacy for achieving a positive public policy impact.
The aim of this project was to frame a perspective strategy for the policy development of the NGO sector in Bulgaria.
The project aimed at developing and implementing working models of lobbying which represent organized local/municipal, civic and entrepreneurial interests.
The aim of the project was, through direct observation and analysis of the situation in FR Yugoslavia, to assess the impact of the Yugoslav crisis on Bulgarian foreign policy priorities and the global community’s perception of the Balkans.
This project analyzed the potential factors working as catalysts or barriers to the successful integration of Bulgaria into the South East European Cooperative Initiative (SECI).
The project′s main goal was to lay down the foundations of a public policy strategy for efficient long term South Balkan integration and regional cooperation initiatives.
The aim of the project was to establish and develop an international network of experts, corporate executives and policy makers who could promote regional cooperation in the Southern Balkans in the fields of commerce, infrastructure, telecommunications and energy.
