Digital Transformation: 760 Digital Clubs in Bulgaria

The Bulgarian government is taking a major step towards the country's digital transformation, attempting to bridge the significant digital divide that still exists in society. The initiative, which provides for the creation of a network of 760 digital clubs throughout the country, aims to provide vulnerable groups with equal access to digital skills and opportunities for personal and professional development.

The activities under the measure "Creation of a network of digital clubs" are being implemented under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), which emphasizes its strategic importance for Bulgaria's development within the framework of European policies.

During an information day dedicated to the project, Tsvetan Spasov, who holds the position of Director General of the General Directorate "European Funds, International Programmes and Projects" at the Ministry of Social Affairs, explained the key objectives of the measure.

According to him, the main task is to improve the access and quality of training for adults. "With the network of digital clubs, we are trying to accelerate the digital transformation in Bulgaria and increase the opportunities for the development of Bulgarian citizens, facilitating their access to various educational resources on the internet," he emphasized.

The goal of the initiative is to provide access to the internet and digital learning resources for the most vulnerable groups in Bulgarian society, giving them a chance to increase their competitiveness in the labor market. The expert pointed out that this is especially important in the context of official statistics, which reveal significant challenges to the nation's digital literacy. According to data from the National Statistical Institute (NSI), a significant 9.3% of the Bulgarian population has never used the internet. At the same time, Spasov noted that nearly 82% of citizens use the network daily or at least once a week, but mainly for communication or access to basic information.

Plans and Eligible Candidates

The plans foresee that the digital clubs will begin their activities by the end of January 2026 at the latest. They will be equipped with computers and will provide free and open access to self-learning platforms and electronic resources aimed at acquiring digital skills. The project will prioritize people in a disadvantaged position who do not have access to a computer and the internet, such as the elderly, women, and representatives of the Roma community.

• A procedure for applying for the implementation of the measure has been opened. Eligible candidates are:
• _Chitalishta_ (community cultural centers) and public libraries.
• Nationally representative organizations of employers and of workers and employees, including their regional and sectoral structures.

The project budget is BGN 60 million, of which BGN 10 million is national co-financing.

The information about the new measure, announced on the website of the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy (MLSP), comes about a month after the department first announced the initiative.