{"id":25274,"date":"2026-04-01T17:30:39","date_gmt":"2026-04-01T14:30:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mi.government.bg\/?page_id=25274"},"modified":"2026-09-09T17:56:40","modified_gmt":"2026-09-09T14:56:40","slug":"programme-human-resource-development-2021-2027","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.mi.government.bg\/en\/general\/programme-human-resource-development-2021-2027\/","title":{"rendered":"Programme \u201cHuman Resource Development&#8220; 2021-2027"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"color: #29588e;font-size: xx-small\"><strong><em>Updated last 18.06.2025<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"color: #29588e\"><strong>What is OP \u201cHuman Resource Development\u201c 2021-2027?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">Programme \u201cHuman Resource Development\u201c 2021 \u2013 2027 (PHRD) co-financed by the European Social Fund+ and the state budget. Its main goal is to support the increase in employment and the skills of the workforce, promote social inclusion, reduce poverty, and modernize social and health services. The program is a key instrument for adapting the economy and society to the digital and green transition.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"color: #29588e\"><strong>What measures are supported under OP \u201cHuman Resource Development\u201c 2021 \u2013 2027?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify\">\n<li><strong>For workers and enterprises:<\/strong> training, retraining, development of digital and green skills, new forms of work organization, incentives for geographic and professional mobility.<\/li>\n<li><strong>For entrepreneurs and managers:<\/strong> management and entrepreneurial skills training, support for the development of innovative business models.<\/li>\n<li><strong>For vulnerable groups:<\/strong> access to employment, social services, and health care for people with disabilities, youth, older people, the Roma community, children and families at risk.<\/li>\n<li><strong>At the local level:<\/strong> projects under Integrated Territorial Investments (ITI) and Community-Led Local Development (CLLD), focused on social inclusion and skills.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Social innovations and international cooperation:<\/strong> pilot services, social entrepreneurship initiatives, the ALMA program for youth, transnational projects, and exchanges of best practices.<\/li>\n<li>Support is provided in the form of grants for the development of knowledge and skills of employed people, in line with the qualifications and competencies needed by business, introducing new forms of work organization, and promoting geographic and professional mobility.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"color: #29588e\"><strong>What is the budget of the Programme?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">The total budget of OPHRD for the period 2021\u20132027, it amounts to 3.87 billion Bulgarian leva, with national co-financing included.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"color: #29588e\"><strong>How is the budget of the Programme allocated?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">The program is structured into five priority areas (priorities):<\/p>\n<ol style=\"text-align: justify\">\n<li><strong>Encouraging employment and skills development \u2013 training, internships, qualification, new forms of work.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Social inclusion and equal opportunities \u2013 social and health services, integration of vulnerable groups, long-term care.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Territorial investments \u2013 integrated local and regional projects through ITI and CLLD.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Social innovations and transnational cooperation \u2013 new service and employment models, international exchanges.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Technical assistance \u2013 effective management and coordination of the program.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"color: #29588e\"><strong>Under which priority axis it is most probable that you will receive a grant?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><strong>For business<\/strong>, <strong>Priority 1<\/strong> is the most suitable, funding:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify\">\n<li>training for employees and managers;<\/li>\n<li>creation of new jobs;<\/li>\n<li>social entrepreneurship;<\/li>\n<li>improving working conditions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><strong>For municipalities and NGOs<\/strong>, the main opportunities are offered by <strong>Priorities 2 and 3<\/strong>, including social services, care for children and the elderly, integrated regional projects.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"color: #29588e\"><strong>How can you apply for a grant?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify\">\n<li>You have to register in the <a href=\"https:\/\/eumis2020.government.bg\/en\/s\/Account\/Register\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">UMIS<\/a> system in order to create and file a project proposal on a specific PHRD call.<\/li>\n<li>The system is interactive and easy to work with. If you have any difficulties in filing the project proposal, you may read the <a href=\"https:\/\/eumis2020.government.bg\/en\/s\/Default\/Manual\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Manual<\/a> which is published in order to provide directions and facilitate the work of the users.<\/li>\n<li>On the official website of <a href=\"https:\/\/esf.bg\/wps\/portal\/program-hrd\/home\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PHRD<\/a>, for a specific call you can find information how, who and within what deadlines you can address additional questions and request clarifications in relation to the Call\u2019s Terms of Reference.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"color: #29588e\"><strong>What are the terms and conditions to participate in calls under PHRD?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">There are Terms of Reference published to each call where you can find specific information as to:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify\">\n<li>The objectives, indicators of the call;<\/li>\n<li>The total grant under the call;<\/li>\n<li>The minimum (if applicable) and maximum grant to a specific project;<\/li>\n<li>Percentage of co-financing \u2013 there are calls for which no co-financing is required;<\/li>\n<li>Criteria that your business should meet to be eligible candidate. The eligible candidates may include employers, training organisations, non-government organisations;<\/li>\n<li>Actions eligible for financing \u2013 they depend on the respective call;<\/li>\n<li>Eligible and ineligible expenses under the call \u2013under the Programme personnel expenses (expenses on salaries under the provisions of the Labour Code, including social security and health insurance contributions; business trip expenses); expenses on tangible \/ intangible assets; expenses on services (training, studies, analyses); indirect expenses<a href=\"#id1en\"><sup>[1]<\/sup><\/a> (certain percentage of direct expenses) are usually eligible .<\/li>\n<li>Applicable minimum \/ state aid regime;<\/li>\n<li>Minimum and maximum period of project implementation \u2013 for example between 6 and 12 months;<\/li>\n<li>Procedure, criteria and methodology for evaluation of project proposals.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">The evaluation of project proposals has two stages as follows:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"Transfer consent\/decision\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mi.government.bg\/files\/useruploads\/images\/msp\/bullet_point_1.jpg\" alt=\"Gaining access to the labour market in Bulgaria\" width=\"30\" height=\"31\" \/> <span style=\"color: #29588e\"><strong>Stage 1:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">Evaluation of the administrative compliance and eligibility \u2013 this evaluation addresses questions such as: are all required documents provided; is the project proposal properly filed; is the qualified electronic signature (QES) used to sign the proposal valid; is the power of attorney for the filing of the proposal valid; is there compliance with the specific eligibility criteria set out in the Terms of Reference, etc.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">\u00a0Following completion of the administrative compliance and eligibility evaluation, a list of the project proposals not admitted to technical and financial evaluation stating the grounds for the non-admission is published on the website of the <a href=\"https:\/\/esf.bg\/wps\/portal\/program-hrd\/home\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Managing Authority<\/a> candidates whose project proposals are included in the list may file written objections before the Head of the Managing Authority within one week of the announcement.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"Signing a contract with the buyer for the transfer of the business enterprise with notarized signatures and contents \" src=\"https:\/\/www.mi.government.bg\/files\/useruploads\/images\/msp\/bullet_point_2.jpg\" alt=\"Issuance of a long-term residence visa\u00a0 type \u201cD\u201d (Visa \u201eD\u201d)\" width=\"30\" height=\"31\" \/><span style=\"color: #29588e\"> <strong>Stage 2:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">Technical and financial evaluation. The technical and financial evaluation is carried out only for project proposals that have passed successfully the administrative compliance and eligibility evaluation. Aspects such as those listed below are evaluated at this stage:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify\">\n<li>Operational capacity of the candidate \/ partner \u2013 experience in project management, as well as experience in actions similar to \/ same as those included in the project proposal;<\/li>\n<li>Description and justification of the objectives of the project and the needs of the target groups and their relation to the expected outcomes of the project;<\/li>\n<li>Compliance of the actions with the underlying objectives and expected outcomes, as well as consistency and duration for the implementation of the actions;<\/li>\n<li>Budget \u2013 compliance of the expenses envisaged with the objectives set, the actions and expected outcomes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">The evaluation at this stage also includes:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify\">\n<li>Check and evaluation of the feasibility, efficiency and eligibility of all actions and expenses envisaged (are there ineligible actions, ineligible and \/ or unrealistic expenses, duplication of envisaged actions and \/ or expenses included in the project proposal);<\/li>\n<li>Method and deadline to receive clarifications in relation to the call;<\/li>\n<li>Other.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"color: #29588e\"><strong>What are the expense eligibility requirements?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">The beneficiaries have to follow expense eligibility rules set out in the Law for the Management of the Funds from the European Structural and Investment Fund and Decree No 189 of the Council of Ministers of 28 July 2016 on the Setting of National Rules on the Eligibility of Expenses under the Programmes Co-financed by the European Structural and Investment Funds for the Programming Period 2021 \u2013 2027.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">In order to be eligible, expenses have to:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify\">\n<li>Be required for the implementation of the project and have to meet the good financial governance principles \u2013 economy, efficiency and effectiveness of invested funds;<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\">They have to be in compliance with the terms and conditions of the respective call. During the implementation of the projects the beneficiaries have to comply with the Guidelines issued by the Minister of Finance on the treatment of VAT as an eligible expense in the implementation of projects under the Operational Programmes co-financed by the ERDF, the ESF, the CF and the EMFF of the EU during the programming period 2021-2027<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\">There should be adequate audit trail for the expenses;<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\">The expenses have to be actually paid by the beneficiary (i.e. the total amount under the submitted invoices or other primary accounting documents (including the VAT) have to be paid by bank transfer or in cash;<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\">The expenses have to be included in the beneficiary\u2019s accounting documents through individual analytical accounts or in a separate accounting system;<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\">They must be identifiable and subject to inspection and be supported by original expense documents;<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\">They have to be incurred for eligible actions in accordance with the respective call;<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\">The expenses have to be paid for actually supplied products and rendered services.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"color: #29588e\"><strong>What is the deadline to apply under calls under the Programme?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">You can apply to receive funding under OPHRD depending on the deadlines for submission of project proposals for each <a href=\"https:\/\/eumis2020.government.bg\/en\/s\/Procedure\/Active\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">procedure<\/a> by the end of the programme period during 2027, the implementation and payments can continue until the end of 2029.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<table style=\"width: 100%;border: 2px solid #afabab;height: 80px\" border=\"2\" cellpadding=\"8\">\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"height: 24px\">\n<td style=\"background-color: #4f81bd;border: 1px solid #4f81bd;height: 24px\" colspan=\"2\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff\"><strong><em>For more information<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 56px\">\n<td style=\"background-color: #ffffff;border: 1px solid #ffffff;width: 60px;height: 56px\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" title=\"For more information\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mi.government.bg\/files\/useruploads\/images\/msp\/computer_-_more_information.png\" alt=\"For more information\" width=\"50\" height=\"53\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"background-color: #ffffff;border: 1px solid #ffffff;height: 56px\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">You can see the list of open calls, the deadlines and all other documents required for the application on the website of:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/esf.bg\/wps\/portal\/program-hrd\/home\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">and<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/eumis2020.government.bg\/en\/s\/Procedure\/Active\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">Information regarding important legislative acts and procedures is available on the website of:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/esf.bg\/wps\/portal\/program-hrd\/home\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Programme \u2018Human Resource Development\u2019 2021-2027<\/a>;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">Information regarding the financial instruments related to OPHRD is available on the website of:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/fmfib.bg\/en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Fund Manager of the Financial Instruments in Bulgaria<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">More information:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\">Official site of the program;<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\"><a href=\"https:\/\/eumis2020.government.bg\/en\/s\/Procedure\/Active\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Active Procedures<\/a>;<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.eufunds.bg\/en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The national portal for European Funds<\/a>;<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\"><a href=\"https:\/\/fmfib.bg\/en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Financial tools<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<hr \/>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><a id=\"id1en\"><\/a>[1] \u201eIndirect expenses\u201d are expenses related to the implementation of the actions envisaged in the project that do not have direct contribution but that are required for the overall management, evaluation and financial performance. Indirect are also the expenses related to the remuneration of the personnel administering the project \u2013 the project leader, technical assistant, accountant and other expert or technical staff, as well as administrative expenses related to the management of the project.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Updated last 18.06.2025 What is OP \u201cHuman Resource Development\u201c 2021-2027? Programme \u201cHuman Resource Development\u201c 2021 \u2013 2027 (PHRD) co-financed by the European Social Fund+ and the state budget. Its main goal is to support the increase in employment and the skills of the workforce, promote social inclusion, reduce poverty, and modernize social and health services. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":170,"featured_media":0,"parent":6419,"menu_order":1000,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"tags":[],"class_list":["post-25274","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"lang":"en","translations":{"en":25274,"bg":23472},"pll_sync_post":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mi.government.bg\/rest\/wp\/v2\/pages\/25274","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mi.government.bg\/rest\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mi.government.bg\/rest\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mi.government.bg\/rest\/wp\/v2\/users\/170"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mi.government.bg\/rest\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25274"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.mi.government.bg\/rest\/wp\/v2\/pages\/25274\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mi.government.bg\/rest\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6419"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mi.government.bg\/rest\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25274"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mi.government.bg\/rest\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25274"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}