Advocating for Civic Space
Defending the legal and political environment for civil society organisations across the region.
Defending Civil Society Since 2001
Protect and expand the civic space in the Balkans
Through evidence-based and collaborative policy influence on international, European, and national level.
9
Countries
9
Organizations
25+
Years
Our Strategic Focus
What We Do
Three interconnected pillars driving our mission across the Balkans.
Influencing Donor Practices
Promoting effective and enabling funding practices that support civil society development.
Strengthening Collaboration
Building a strong network and regional partnerships to keep civic space open and thriving across the Balkans.
Monitoring the civic space in the Western Balkans & Türkiye
The Monitoring Matrix is BCSDN's research tool for measuring the health of the legal, regulatory, and financial environment in which CSOs in the Western Balkans and Türkiye operate — responding to the need of CSOs to have evidence-based research products and capacities to advocate for policy changes towards a more enabling civil society environment.
7 Countries
3 Key Areas
10+ Years of Data
Annual Reports
Research & Reports
Latest Publications
Latest Updates
What's New
When Speaking Out Comes with a Lawsuit: BCSDN Launches Regional Campaign Against SLAPPs
25 Years of BCSDN: Celebrating Our Journey with a New Website
BCSDN to Pilot a Regional Civic Space Early Warning System
BCSDN Welcomes New Board Member Güneş Engin Karamancı
Serbia’s Students Are Not Giving Up: When Accountability Meets Resistance
Current Campaign
When the Law Becomes a Weapon
#EndSLAPPs
Strategic lawsuits against public participation — SLAPPs — are being used across the Balkans to silence journalists, activists, and civil society. BCSDN’s new video campaign exposes the human cost and calls for legal reform.
Part of European & Global Networks
Supported By
The Sida and RBF support for the production of this website does not constitute an endorsement of the contents, which reflect the views only of the authors, and the donors cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.