Donor

The project "Public Contract for Early Childhood" is funded by the Swiss-Bulgarian Cooperation Programme through the Civic Engagement and Transparency Facility (CETF) 2024–2029.

Reference number

CETF -n/ GFL1 - 190/ 2026

Lead partner

For Our Children fondation, Sofia, Bulgaria

Partners

Free Youth Centre, Vidin, Bulgaria
Eqilibrium association, Ruse, Bulgaria

Territorial scope

national

Duration

18 months (May 1,2026 – Octomber 31, 2027)

Project overall objective

To create broad public and institutional commitment to early childhood development by engaging citizens, parents, professionals, civil society organisations and institutions, and by formulating a public contract for early childhood.

Summary of the project

The project "Public Contract for Early Childhood" focuses on the need for stronger public and institutional commitment to young children and their families. Early childhood is a key period in every child's development, and effective support during this stage requires joint action by parents, professionals, civil society organisations, local authorities and national institutions.

The project will implement a broad process of civic engagement, consultations, local discussions, public initiatives and dialogue with institutions. Through these activities, opinions, problems, proposals and recommendations will be collected from different groups of stakeholders. Special attention will be given to the participation of parents, citizens and professionals who face the real challenges of early childhood development in their daily work and lives.

Within the project, local forums, public initiatives, working meetings, consultations and discussions will be organised with the aim of formulating shared priorities and concrete proposals. The collected information will be summarised and used for the preparation of a public contract for early childhood — a document reflecting a shared vision, civic positions and commitments for better support for children and families.

Free Youth Centre participates in the project as a partner with activities in Vidin Region, focused on the municipalities of Vidin, Kula and Belogradchik. The organisation will contribute to the overall project process by mobilising local communities, holding discussion forums, supporting public initiatives, working with a local group and organising meetings with representatives of local authorities. The local proposals and conclusions from Vidin Region will be included in the overall process of formulating the public contract.

Expected results:

- increased public engagement with the topic of early childhood;
- citizens, parents, professionals, organisations and institutions involved in a process of discussion and proposal formulation;
- local forums, public initiatives, working meetings and consultations carried out;
- problems, ideas and recommendations collected and summarised at local and national level;
- a public contract for early childhood formulated;
- expanded support from civil society organisations, professional communities and institutions;
- a stronger basis for sustainable dialogue and joint action in support of early childhood development.

Project budget

152.482,85 EUR, for FYC 28.398,71 EUR of them

Prepared with the support of the Swiss-Bulgarian Cooperation Programme, Civic Engagement and Transparency Facility (CETF) 2024–2029. The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the governments of Switzerland and Bulgaria.