kazva.bg in the Top 9 of the European awards for innovation in politics
How Stara Zagora Municipality implemented digital citizen feedback and received European recognition.
Stara Zagora Municipality implemented kazva.bg as a citizen feedback channel covering all settlements in the municipality. QR codes were placed at administrative offices, buses, parks, playgrounds, health centers, and sports facilities - every location where citizens interact with municipal services.
The system is designed for simplicity. Citizens scan a QR code with their phone and rate the experience on a scale of 1 to 10 - no app, no registration, fully anonymous. Each questionnaire is tailored to the specific type of service, so the feedback is targeted and actionable.
Municipal leadership receives data in real time by settlement, category, and period. When ratings drop, the responsible team gets a notification. Municipal Secretary Nikolay Dikov describes the goal as transparency and responsiveness - the ability to address problems before they escalate.
The project was ranked in the Top 9 of the Innovation in Politics Awards 2025 - one of Europe's most prestigious recognitions for democratic innovation. The competition drew entries from 22 countries, with a jury composed entirely of citizens. The ceremony took place on September 17, 2025 in Vienna.
The Stara Zagora model has been adopted by other municipalities, including Burgas and Blagoevgrad. The project was also presented by the Institute of Public Administration as a model for digital citizen engagement.