News and updates from BCSDN and the region
As enforcement of the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) intensifies, the DSA Human Rights Alliance —a coalition including BCSDN partner Liberties—is calling on authorities to ensure that human rights remain at the heart of platform regulation. With the “Brussels Effect” likely to see these rules emulated globally, the Alliance warns that enforcement must be transparent,
Read more →The CHS Alliance has unveiled its Strategy 2026–2030, a transformative roadmap aimed at making global humanitarian and development aid more safe, local, and accountable. Moving beyond “checkbox” compliance, the strategy introduces “Due Diligence Passporting” and collective assessment tools to reduce bureaucratic hurdles for local partners and amplify the agency of crisis-affected communities. By fostering “courageous
Read more →A landmark 2025 study, “Safeguarding in Philanthropy: Safer Grant-Making for Greater Impact,” by Accountable Now and the Funder Safeguarding Collaborative, reveals that while global grant-makers are increasingly prioritizing safety, significant gaps remain between policy and practice. Drawing on insights from 87 funders and nearly 300 grantees, the report warns that many organizations still treat safeguarding
Read more →Short Description: The Municipality of Han Pijesak, in partnership with the EU-funded ReLOaD3 project implemented by UNDP, invites civil society organizations to submit project proposals that strengthen collaboration with local government, improve community services, and promote participatory democracy, inclusion, EU integration, and sustainable development. Target Group: CSOs Countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina Amount: Up to 120,000
Read more →Short Description: Small grants that support collaborative initiatives to strengthen resilient democracies, advance human rights, and promote environmental sustainability across the Western Balkans. Target Group: CSOs working on democracy, human rights and environmental issues. Countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia Amount: Up to 5,000 EUR per project Duration: Up to 8
Read more →Short Description: To support cross-sector collaborations between journalists and scientists to produce investigative journalism grounded in scientific evidence on topics of public interest relevant to European audiences. Target Group: Media outlets (as lead applicants) and research or academic institutions (as co-leads), including staff journalists, scientists, freelancers, NGOs, and additional partners engaged in journalism or scientific
Read more →Short Description: The EESC invites CSOs, EU policymakers, journalists, youth representatives, and grassroots activists to Civil Society Week 2026, a four-day event dedicated to strengthening people-centred democracy, resilience, inclusion, and civic engagement across Europe. Target Group: CSOs, grassroots activists, youth representatives, EU policymakers, journalists, and stakeholders working on democracy, civic space, and social inclusion. Countries:
Read more →Short Description: An online webinar presenting evidence‑based insights from multiple Horizon Europe research projects on democratic governance, structural constraints and policy challenges related to EU enlargement and neighbourhood policy. It offers participants the chance to engage with researchers, policymakers and civil society actors on how empirical findings can inform EU policy debates. Target Group: Researchers,
Read more →Short Description: SHARE Foundation invites applications for the Digital Security Fellowship, a regional research-oriented and capacity-building programme that provides training, mentorship, and collaborative learning to explore technological, legal, political, and social challenges in digital security. Target Group: Journalists, civil society actors, human rights defenders, legal and policy experts, researchers, tech professionals, and other individuals working
Read more →Short Description: The re:constitution Fellowship Programme offers 15 Fellowships to early- and mid-career scholars and practitioners to research, collaborate, and publish on issues related to democracy and the rule of law in Europe. Target Group: Early- to mid-career scholars and practitioners working on democracy and the rule of law, including academics, legal professionals, public officials,
Read more →At a BCSDN online roundtable on the new EU democracy instruments: EU Civil Society Strategy, the European Democracy Shield, and the 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework and WBT civic space, experts highlighted opportunities for engagement, protection, and support for CSOs, but warned of risks from security-driven approaches that could restrict civic space. While the EU Civil
Read more →BCSDN members MCIC and CPCD are conducting surveys to monitor the enabling environment for CSOs in North Macedonia and BiH in 2025. The surveys are part of BCSDN members annual research cycle and the broader regional study on the enabling civil society environment, BCSDN flagship product, based on Monitoring Matrix methodology. The research aims to
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