SDSN Launches a New National Network in Bulgaria

SDSN Bulgaria joins SDSN’s family of 50+ national and regional networks in their mission of advancing the SDGs locally and globally.

On 5 June 2023, SDSN Bulgaria was officially launched by the University of National and World Economy, its Rector, Prof. Dimitar Dimitrov, and the former President of the Republic of Bulgaria, Rosen Plevneliev.

SDSN Bulgaria has the ambition to establish and develop the leading platform in Bulgaria for universities, research institutes, companies, government, and local municipality bodies, as well as organizations of civil society, enabling all members and partners to act for the sustainable future and to have an impact on society at large. The network's mission is to encourage the implementation and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals at a national and local level.

The Networks leadership team, composed of Assoc. Prof. Michael Musov, Co-chair of SDSN Bulgaria, Assoc. Prof. Sheryo Nozharov, Vice-Chairman of SDSN Bulgaria, Chief Assist. Dr. Atanas Dimitrov and Assist. Dr. Gabriela Naskova, Managers of SDSN Bulgaria convened SDSN Bulgaria member organizations as well as representatives from the Ministry of Innovation and Growth, National Statistical Institute, Bulgarian National Audit Office, Higher School of Insurance and Finance, National Youth Forum and the UNWE Student Council.

Founded in 1920, UNWE is an outstanding academic institution in the field of economic and social science in Bulgaria and has the ambition, readiness, and resources to play a leading role in tackling the SDGs.

The university currently counts more than 21,000 enrolled students and is located in Sofia, Bulgaria. SDSN currently counts 5 member institutions in Bulgaria: Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, D. A. Tsenov Academy of Economics Svishtov, Trakia University, University of National and World Economy, and Varna Free University "Chernorizets Hrabar".

In his welcoming words, Rector of UNWE Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov stated the importance of networks and partners all over the world to focus on achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals. He underlined the efforts needed and expressed SDSN Bulgaria’s willingness to transform the SDGs into plans, monitoring, strategies, education, and training, to be applied to regions, cities, and universities. In his speech, he notably said: “It is an enormous task and responsibility to bring awareness and to lead our societies towards the implementation of SDGs. I hope that working within a global network we will be able to achieve the SDGs step by step."

In his statement, former President Rosen Plevneliev pointed out the challenges he had faced on the path of promoting the UN SDGs in the country: "It is of great importance for Bulgaria to work actively to implement the SDGs and the SDSN Bulgaria could become a very strong network, so let us build strong institutions, let us plan, educate and be committed to the cause of creating a sustainable future – to eliminate the extreme poverty, to tackle the inequalities and injustice, as well as the climate change."

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Michael Musov underscored that the official opening of SDSN Bulgaria was not by coincidence held on World Environment Day and therefore, it was preceded by a sod-turning ceremony marking the beginning of the construction of a photovoltaic installation for electricity production. In this way, the UNWE will become the first Bulgarian university with a photovoltaic park, contributing to the implementation of the SDGs.

The Vice President and Head of the SDSN office in Paris Guillaume Lafortune highlighted the importance of the launch event for Bulgaria and for the SDGs worldwide. In his presentation, he examined the status of the SDGs globally at the mid-point in the 2030 Agenda and presented a global vision of how the world could implement the SDGs. Lafortune appreciated the efforts of governments and their commitment and outlined the place of Bulgaria in the SDSN networks. He noted that after 2020 and during the COVID-19 pandemic, little progress was made due to a lack of global collaboration regarding the sustainable development of the countries. However, the SDSN remains committed to the SDGs despite the many challenges the world is facing.

"For humanity to survive, science must be actively involved in research at global, national, and regional levels so that we can also involve people at all levels in the implementation of the UN SDGs", pointed out in her statement by Prof. Phoebe Koundouri. In her presentation, she underscored the measures that needed to be taken at all levels, and the research that needs to be done in all spheres of public life, in order to realize the achievement of the SDGs globally.

The President of the Bulgarian National Audit Office, Goritsa Grancharova-Kozhareva, greeted the participants of the launch event, and committed the support of her institution for achieving the SDGs and building a sustainable future for all."

The Network’s Chairpersons expressed their gratitude to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Blaga Blagoeva who has initiated the idea for the creation of SDSN Bulgaria and to the team that has worked for more than a year on the concept of the national network: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nina Tipova, Chief Assist. Dr. Alexander Dimitrov and Chief Assist. Dr. Kristian Zhelev.

According to the 2023 Sustainable Development Report, Bulgaria has an average SDG Score of 74.6 and is ranked 44th among countries’ performances against the SDGs. The best-performing goals are SDG 1, No Poverty, and SDG 15, Life on Land. The worst performing goals are SDG 10, Reduced inequalities, and SDG 14, Life Below Water.

More information about the network can be found at the SDSN Bulgaria website.