Bulgarian Fund for Women’s (BFW) FORCE program received 86 applications, requesting a total of BGN 8,891,950 for projects tackling gender-based violence. 

A full list of organizations that submitted proposals is available HERE (in Bulgarian). Organizations missing from the list but who submitted applications should contact ask [at] bgfundforwomen.org immediately. 

Evaluation Process 

Applications will undergo a two-stage evaluation: 

1. Administrative and Eligibility Screening: 

1. Proposals must meet all criteria and provide complete documentation. 

2. Applicants with missing or incorrect documents will receive automatic notifications. Failure to rectify issues within the deadline will disqualify the application. 

2. Qualitative Evaluation: 

1. Three evaluators (BFW team and external experts) will assess proposals based on Relevance, Quality, and Impact. The final score is the arithmetic mean of their evaluations. 

2. Detailed evaluation criteria can be found in the Application Guidelines (in Bulgarian), page 12. 

Approved applicants will be notified via the system and email and announced on the BFW website by 15 December 2024 (subject to potential timeline adjustments). 

About the FORCE Program 

The FORCE program supports NGOs addressing gender-based violence through: 

• Direct survivor support 

• Advocacy for improved legislation 

• Awareness campaigns and attitude changes 

• Community mobilization 

• Capacity building for professionals and institutions 

Accompanying initiatives include organizational development training, fundraising workshops, advocacy, and networking opportunities to enhance capacity and institutional independence. These efforts aim to empower organizations with strategic planning skills and diversified financial resources. 

Read more about the program HERE. 

The FORCE project is funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Commission Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

Illustration: Judit Canela for Fine Acts