News and updates from BCSDN and the region
The European Civic Forum (ECF) has released its 2023 Civic Space Report on Romania, highlighting the state of civic freedoms and democratic participation in the country. The report finds that while there are some positive developments, including increased funding for CSOs and improvements in transparency and accountability, there are also significant challenges facing Romanian civil
Read more →A report published by the International Consortium on Closing Civic Space (iCon) highlights the importance of implementing common standards for CSOs. The report notes that adopting common standards can help enhance the accountability, effectiveness, and credibility of CSOs. It also emphasizes that implementing common standards can serve as a means to counter negative narratives and
Read more →The International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA) has released a report on the mapping and rapid assessment of national NGO coordination mechanisms in four Eastern European countries – Hungary, Poland, Romania, and the Republic of Moldova. The report aims to identify existing coordination mechanisms for CSOs in these countries, their strengths and weaknesses, and ways
Read more →In a recent article, five key lessons for civil society collaboration were highlighted based on the experiences of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) community. The first lesson is the importance of building trust among civil society actors. By creating an environment of mutual trust, respect, and accountability, civil society actors can work more effectively together
Read more →The Rockefeller Brothers Fund (RBF) is sharing it’s experience and how it has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by allocating resources and opportunities to support its grantees and partners. The RBF has created a COVID-19 Response Fund to provide emergency grants to organizations addressing urgent needs related to the pandemic. In addition, the RBF has
Read more →Target group: CSOs in North Macedonia, Serbia, Albania, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Moldova Aim: To support CSOs to build their capacities for gender-responsive budgeting and financing, and to provide them with sub-grants to implement projects that promote gender equality and women’s rights. The call also aims to strengthen the role of CSOs in
Read more →Target group: CSOs, media organizations, and professional associations in Albania. Aim: The aim of the Civil Society Facility and Media Programme 2022 is to strengthen civil society and media organizations in Albania, and to support their role in promoting democratic governance, human rights, and the rule of law. Amount: EUR 200,000 – 500,000 Duration: 18
Read more →Target group: CSOs, activists, and informal groups interested in learning and sharing knowledge on accountability Countries: Balkans Short description: BCSDN invites CSOs, networks, and activists across the Balkans, to join the Regional Accountability Community of Practice (RACoP) and support our Pledge for joint action and discussions in a safe space where we can commit to
Read more →Target group: Individuals interested in the field of philanthropy and philanthropic action in Bosnia and Herzegovina Countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina Short description: The Network for Building Peace is researching philanthropy and philanthropic action in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and they invite all interested individuals to contribute to this important study. The research will aim to explore
Read more →Target group: Individuals, groups, and organizations who have made extraordinary contributions to the protection and assistance of refugees, displaced or stateless people. Countries: The UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award is open to nominees from all countries. Short description: The UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award is an annual international award that recognizes extraordinary individuals, groups, and organizations who
Read more →Target group: The NAAEE EE 30 Under 30 program is open to young professionals who are under the age of 30 and are working to advance environmental education and sustainability. Countries: International/Global Short description: The NAAEE EE 30 Under 30 program is an annual recognition program that celebrates and supports the work of young professionals
Read more →BCSDN has been actively advocating for civil society empowerment in the Western Balkans and the EU through various initiatives in Brussels. In March 2023, BCSDN participated in the Civil Society Days 2023 organized by the European Economic and Social Committee to showcase their work in promoting civil society and citizen participation in the region while
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