Catalyst of Change
Supporting a vibrant civil society in Europe
Bulgarian Center for Not-for-Profit Law (BCNL)
bcnl.orgThe Bulgarian Center for Not-for-Profit Law (BCNL), founded in 2001, works to create a strong framework for non-profit organisations with the goal of supporting a democratic and independent civil society. BCNL helps NGOs across Bulgaria with legal advice, training, advocacy, research, and innovative capacity-building formats to strengthen their long term sustainability. The organisation focuses on civil participation, legislation, human rights, financial sustainability, and organisational development. BCNL operates under an Affiliation Agreement with the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law.
Call 1
About the Project
Don’t Turn the Other Cheek
The project focused on the environmental hotspot of Burgas and the capital, Sofia. Its main goal was to prevent SLAPP cases against environmental activists, allowing them to protect the environment, which is one of the EU’s core values. Burgas, with the highest number of Natura 2000 sites, relies on CSOs and activists amid constant threats from private interests filing SLAPP lawsuits. The project strengthened the knowledge and capacity of CSOs, activists, informal civil groups, and journalists. BCNL identified affected individuals, helped build a regional coalition, provided legal support, conducted two trainings and a webinar, and created a shared strategy and an online space for sharing SLAPP resources.
Communication Outputs
Media Coverage
BCNL’s project has attracted coverage from Bulgaria National Radio and a range of independent newspapers.
BCNL and the Project Featured on the Bulgarian National Radio
Article About the Project by Bulgarian Union of Journalists
Article About the Project in Bulgarian Independent Journalist Media
Project Communications
This section presents BCNL’s own or partner communications as part of the Catalyst project. BCNL consistently posted about the project on their website and social media.
Call 2
About the Project
Make Transparency Not War – Responding to the Weaponisation of Transparency Legislation Against Civic Society
The project addressed the growing threat of weaponised transparency legislation in Bulgaria, such as the proposed Foreign Agents Registration Acts (FARA), commonly used to target CSOs. BCNL aimed to strengthen civil society’s response by building a coalition of organisations and developing coordinated advocacy strategies against FARA. Activities included a conference on human rights-compliant lobbying, working group meetings to design and execute communication campaigns, training of public speakers, and a comparative report on lobbying regulations. The activities resulted in productive dialogue about lobbying legislation and strengthening the CSO coalitions against FARA.
Communication Outputs
Media Coverage
The Ministry of Justice posted an article showcasing the Conference organised by BCNL during which the Minister of Justice was present and gave an opening speech.
Ministry of Justice – Republic of Bulgaria
Moreover, this conference was widely shared by Bulgarian newspapers:
Международна конференция „Гражданските организации и регулация на лобистката дейност”
Законът за лобизма ще бъде подготвен в диалог с неправителствения сектор
Tribune: Георги Георгиев: Законът за лобизма ще бъде подготвен в диалог с неправителствения сектор
Министър Георгиев: Законът за лобизма ще бъде подготвен в диалог с неправителствения сектор
Epicenter: Георги Георгиев: Законът за лобизма ще бъде подготвен в диалог с неправителствения сектор
Project Communications
As part of the project BCNL and the communication working groups carried out a joint campaign against the FARA legislation proposal in 3 stages: stage 1 –Facebook and Instagram; stage 2 – Facebook and Instagram; Stage 3 –Facebook and Instagram beneficiaries.
Additionally, BCNL published a comparative report on lobbying regulation.
Funded by the European Union
name
Catalyst of Change: Protecting the Union values by supporting a resilient, engaged and vocal civil society for the promotion of women’s rights, environmental justice and anti-corruption
partner
European Center for Not-for-Profit Law Stichting (ECNL)
duration
1 January 2023- 31 December 2026
budget
3,411.982 EUR
