INSTITUTIONAL OUTSOURCING MODELS FROM LOCAL AUTHORITIES TO CHURCHES IN BULGARIA – GOOD PRACTICES AND EFFICIENCY INCREASING

Abstract

This article presents models of institutional outsourcing from local authorities to church temples in Bulgaria as a specific form of interaction between public administration and religious institutions in the provision of social and community-oriented services. The analysis focuses on the role of Orthodox churches as holders of social capital, public trust, and local legitimacy, which positions them as significant partners for municipalities, particularly in contexts of limited administrative and financial capacity.
Institutional outsourcing is analyzed not only as a managerial instrument aimed at increasing the efficiency of local public policies, but also as a mechanism for activating and sustainably developing church communities. The study argues that cooperation between municipalities and churches generates a dual public value: on the one hand, local authorities expand the scope and accessibility of social services by relying on the infrastructure and volunteer potential of church institutions; on the other hand, churches strengthen their social mission, public visibility, and institutional capacity within local communities.
Methodologically, the article combines a theoretical analysis of the concept of institutional outsourcing with a qualitative empirical study of practices in five Bulgarian municipalities – Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas, and Ruse. The research covers social kitchens, charitable initiatives, educational and community-based activities implemented by Orthodox churches in coordination with municipal structures. Particular attention is paid to the forms of interaction, the degree of contractual formalization, and the mechanisms of coordination and accountability.
The findings indicate that hybrid and largely informal models of institutional outsourcing prevail in the Bulgarian context. While these models provide flexibility and low transaction costs, they also entail risks related to accountability and long-term sustainability. In this regard, the article proposes specific measures to enhance the effectiveness of institutional outsourcing, including the development of framework agreements, capacity building, the introduction of social impact indicators, and the promotion of inter-municipal exchange of good practices.
The article concludes that institutional outsourcing to church temples has the potential to become a sustainable component of local governance in Bulgaria, provided that it is embedded in a broader strategic framework for the development of social services and local partnerships. Such interaction also has a positive effect on the church institutions themselves, because it stimulates their organizational development, expands their public role, and strengthens their ties with local communities.