The project is implemented by the Trust for Social Achievement (TSA) in partnership with the Health and Social Development Foundation (HESED) and is fully funded by the Clean Air Fund under the Breathe Cities initiative, with a total budget of EUR 60,433. The implementation period is December 2025 – December 2026.
The project aims to improve air quality in the Fakulteta neighbourhood in Sofia through a combination of policy advocacy, community engagement, and practical solutions targeting the most vulnerable households. It focuses on three interconnected areas: improving waste management systems, expanding access to clean heating – including for households without formal housing status – and strengthening civic participation through the establishment of a community monitoring mechanism, “Waste Watchers.”
Key activities include mapping illegal dumping sites and assessing waste services, developing policy recommendations for municipal authorities, training and supporting local volunteers to monitor and report environmental issues, organizing clean heating workshops, and implementing a pilot with vulnerable households. The project also includes national-level advocacy to reform eligibility criteria for energy efficiency and heating programmes to ensure inclusion of informal residents.
The expected outcome is not only improved local service delivery but also policy changes that address structural exclusion. The project seeks to establish a sustainable cooperation model between communities and institutions that can be replicated in other marginalized urban areas.
The problem is systemic: Fakulteta lacks basic services, waste is often burned, and many families have no access to clean heating. The most vulnerable households are excluded from existing programmes due to administrative and legal barriers. This project builds directly on a previous TSA initiative funded by the Clean Air Fund, which generated evidence and piloted solutions on the ground.