About the Project
Access to clean and safe water and sanitation is a fundamental human right. Yet for many marginalized and Roma communities in Bulgaria, this right remains inaccessible. Thousands of people continue to live without reliable access to water supply and sewage infrastructure, facing daily difficulties that affect their health, dignity, safety, and quality of life.
In recent years, the Trust for Social Achievement has implemented pilot initiatives for the regulation of neighborhoods and access to infrastructure in three municipalities – Peshtera, Dupnitsa, and Kyustendil. Through partnerships with local authorities and experts, detailed urban development plans were prepared, enabling hundreds of families to obtain legal property status and official address registration. In the “Lukovitsa” neighborhood (Peshtera), TSA supported the construction of a water supply and sewage network, providing residents with permanent access to drinking water and sanitation services for the first time. In other municipalities, the foundation financed legal consultations for the legalization of housing.
A 2021 report showed that 23% of Roma people in Bulgaria do not have access to running water in their homes (compared to 0.7% of the rest of the population), while 44% do not have an indoor toilet or bathroom. The main barriers include unregulated neighborhoods, lack of or deteriorated infrastructure, and limited institutional capacity. The report recommends an integrated approach – legalization of neighborhoods, investment in water and sanitation infrastructure, and social policies supporting the poorest households.
The project is implemented with the financial support of the Swiss-Bulgarian Cooperation Programme, Civil Engagement and Transparency Mechanism (CETM) 2024–2029.
The project “United Communities for Fair Access to Water” is implemented in consortium with the Asthma Patients Foundation (Yambol) and the Community Investment Fund – Peshtera.
Partners
Bolni ot Asthma Foundation (Yambol) has long-standing experience in the field of public health and clean air, as well as established cooperation with local authorities and expertise in mobilizing citizens for better management of health risks. Its involvement provides expertise in prevention and access to active civic groups in the city of Yambol and villages in the Tundzha municipality.
The Community Investment Fund – Peshtera is a key partner with deep knowledge of the local context and an active role in advocating for the regulation of Roma neighborhoods. The organization works with the municipality and residents to improve living conditions and access to social services, ensuring the sustainability of activities in Peshtera and neighboring settlements.
Why These Locations?
“United Communities for Fair Access to Water” aims to strengthen civic participation and advocacy for fair and sustainable access to water and sanitation services in Bulgaria. Through community-based research, local mobilization, advocacy initiatives, and communication activities, the project will support citizens in actively participating in dialogue with institutions and contributing to the development of fairer public policies.
The project is primarily implemented in three key locations – the village of Kozarevo, the “Rayna Knyaginya” neighborhood in the city of Yambol, and the “Oreshaka” and “Lukovitsa” neighborhoods in the city of Peshtera, where problems related to water access are particularly severe and long-standing. At the same time, the project also includes community-based research and typology mapping of water supply challenges in five additional locations – the town of Breznik, the villages of Sotirya, Nedan, and Kardam, and the “Fakulteta” neighborhood in Sofia, with the aim of building a broader understanding of the water crisis and its different manifestations across the country.
The project primarily targets communities where problems related to water access have become long-term and systemic.
In the “Raina Knyaginya” neighborhood in the city of Yambol, residents have been living under a permanent water supply regime since 2020. Nearly half of households experience water shortages due to low water pressure and deteriorated infrastructure. The situation is particularly severe on several streets in the neighborhood, while families living in informal housing depend entirely on external water sources.
The water supply network in the village of Kozarevo was built more than 60 years ago and has never been replaced, resulting in frequent breakdowns and significant water losses. Water is supplied through outdated pipelines that have been repeatedly repaired with clamps. The water reservoir, which supplies water to 10 villages, has not been renovated for many years and is in urgent need of repair.
In the town of Peshtera, there are also significant disparities between neighborhoods. While many households in the “Lukovitsa” neighborhood formally have access to water supply services, interruptions are common, especially during the summer months. In the nearby “Oreshaka” neighborhood, conditions are even more critical, and many households rely on informal water access for which water quality cannot be guaranteed, while a significant number of residents have no access to water at all. Young children and vulnerable families are among the most affected.
These challenges are caused not only by insufficient infrastructure, but also by limited institutional engagement and inadequate civic participation in decision-making processes. Communities often lack the necessary tools, knowledge, and opportunities to effectively communicate their needs and advocate for sustainable solutions.
The project aims to address these gaps by empowering local communities and strengthening cooperation between citizens, civil society organizations, experts, and public institutions. In addition, the project includes legal and institutional analysis, as well as technical analysis of water supply and sanitation (WSS) systems, through which both short-term and long-term solutions to the water crisis in the affected communities will be identified. These analyses will support the development of concrete recommendations for local and national institutions aimed at achieving more sustainable and equitable water resource management.
Main Objectives
- Strengthening community capacity for civic participation and advocacy through trainings and the creation of local advocacy groups;
- Collecting and analyzing data on access to water and sanitation services at community level in order to identify needs, barriers, and possible solutions;
- Promoting constructive dialogue and cooperation between communities, NGOs, municipalities, and national institutions;
- Raising public awareness and promoting transparency through communication campaigns and media activities;
- Supporting the development of fair, evidence-based, and sustainable policies in the field of water supply and sanitation.
Activities
The project includes a wide range of coordinated activities at local and national level, including:
- Community research and needs assessments in eight locations;
- Development of methodologies for surveys, interviews, and focus groups;
- Training of local field teams and civic advocacy groups;
- Organization of meetings with local authorities and public institutions;
- Local advocacy and information campaigns;
- Public consultations and national advocacy initiatives;
- Preparation of expert analyses, recommendations, and final policy reports;
- Creation of communication materials, online content, and media activities;
- Establishment of a civic coalition for fair access to water and sanitation services.
Through these activities, the project aims to contribute to stronger civic participation, more transparent institutional dialogue, and sustainable solutions that guarantee equal access to water and sanitation services for all communities in Bulgaria.
*All project activities are implemented with the support of the Swiss-Bulgarian Cooperation Programme, Civil Engagement and Transparency Mechanism (CETM) 2024–2029. The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the governments of Switzerland or Bulgaria.
