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

This was the highlight in the remarks about the National Trust Eco Fund (NTEF) made by official guests, donors, beneficiaries, and supporters during the special event held on June 2 in the Aula of Sofia University to mark the 30th anniversary of the Eco Fund.

"The history of the Eco Fund matters: it is an excellent example of 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. "Everyone who has contributed to the work of the Eco Fund can be proud. It helps protect water, air, and biodiversity—the natural heritage we must preserve so we can pass it on to our children and grandchildren."

"The role of the NTEF over the years has been very important because it has been a partner to the state in developing environmental policies—promoting energy management and implementing climate adaptation measures at the municipal level, as well as mobilizing private funding for public projects," said Minister of Environment and Water Manol Genov.

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

"The National Trust Eco Fund is a large community of like-minded individuals and allies. What we celebrate today is 30 years of co-creation—of ideas, projects, and policies," emphasized Prof. Dimitar Nenkov, Chair of the NTEF’s Managing Board.

In her address, Maria Minkova, Executive Director of the NTEF’s Executive Bureau, also took on concrete commitments for the future work of the Eco Fund: to always seek the new and unknown; to continue working with current partners while also seeking new ones; to stay focused on initiatives that transform institutions and people’s lives; to base decisions on scientific achievements; for NTEF to remain a “boutique institution”—specific, yet more recognizable and with a broader range of beneficiaries; and, as before, to continue creating models of processes and mechanisms for financing environmental projects—contributing to both policy and practice.

The National Trust Eco Fund manages funds and finances projects related to environmental protection, energy efficiency, and climate change mitigation. The Fund was established in 1995 through a debt-for-environment swap agreement between the governments of the Swiss Confederation and the Republic of Bulgaria. Since its founding, the Eco Fund has financed 515 projects involving municipalities, schools, universities, companies, institutes of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, NGOs, and more, across over 150 municipalities. The total project value exceeds BGN 270 million, with around BGN 121 million provided as non-repayable funding by NTEF.

The priority areas of the National Trust Eco Fund:

• Reducing air pollution and limiting 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 Mimi Pramatarova Environmental Protection Awards were presented—2025 edition, named after the first director of Rila National Park. This year’s theme was “The Renovated Huts of Rila.” The first prize went to Desislava Kehayova from “Vasil Dimitrov” High School in Madan. Five other students from Samokov, Silistra, and Bobov Dol were also awarded.

Honorary plaques were presented to the founders, chairs of the Managing Board, and donors of the Fund.