A unique institution that has proven its reliability and resilience over time.

This was the highlight in the speeches about the National Trust Ecofund (NTEF) delivered by official guests, donors, beneficiaries, and supporters at the special event held on June 2 in the Aula of Sofia University to mark the 30th anniversary of the Ecofund.

“The history of the Ecofund is important: it excellently illustrates the value of well-functioning institutions,” said Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund and one of the founders of the NTEF in 1995. “All those who have contributed to the work of the Ecofund can be proud of it. It helps protect water, air, and biodiversity — the natural heritage we are obliged to safeguard so that we can pass it on to our children and grandchildren.”

“The role of the NTEF over the years has been very important, as it is a partner of the state in developing environmental policies — in advancing energy management and implementing climate change adaptation measures at the municipal level, as well as in using instruments to mobilize private funds for public projects,” said Minister of Environment and Water Manol Genov.

Greetings and wishes for even greater future success were extended by the ambassadors of donor countries Germany and Switzerland, Irene Plank and Raimund Furrer, as well as by the World Bank’s Resident Representative in Bulgaria, Lasse Melgaard, and other conference participants.

“The National Trust Ecofund is a large community of like-minded friends and partners. What we celebrate together today is 30 years of co-creation — of ideas, projects, and policies,” emphasized NTEF’s Management Board Chairman, Prof. Dimitar Nenkov.

In her speech, Maria Minkova, Director of the NTEF Executive Bureau, also made specific commitments for the future work of the Ecofund: always seeking the new and the unknown; continuing to work with existing partners while also seeking new ones; maintaining focus on initiatives that transform institutions and people’s lives; applying scientific achievements in decision-making; keeping NTEF as a “boutique institution”: specific, but more recognizable and with a wider circle of beneficiaries; and, as before, continuing to create models of processes and financing mechanisms for environmental projects — contributing both to policies and practices.

The National Trust Ecofund manages funds and finances projects for environmental protection, energy efficiency, and tackling climate change. The Fund was established in 1995 through a debt-for-environment swap — an agreement between the governments of the Swiss Confederation and the Republic of Bulgaria. Since its establishment, the Ecofund has financed 515 projects by municipalities, schools, universities, companies, BAS institutes, NGOs, and others, located in over 150 municipalities. Their total value exceeds 270 million BGN, with about 121 million BGN provided as NTEF grants.

Priority areas of the National Trust Ecofund:

• Reducing air pollution and mitigating climate change;
• Supporting the national ecological network and protecting biodiversity;
• Water management;
• Eliminating pollution and environmental damage inherited from the past.

For the nineteenth consecutive year, the annual “Mimi Pramatarova” Environmental Protection Awards – 2025 were presented, named after the first director of Rila National Park. This year’s theme was “The Renovated Rila Huts.” The first prize went to Desislava Kehayova from “Vasil Dimitrov” High School – Madan. Five other students from Samokov, Silistra, and Bobov Dol were also awarded.

Honorary plaques were presented to the founders, chairpersons of the Management Board, and donors of the Fund.