News and updates from BCSDN and the region
By all measures, 2018 was a tumultuous year for U.S. foreign aid programs and institutions. Once again, President Donald Trump’s administration took aim at global development programs in its budget request — and then doubled down on that position with an unprecedented attempt to retract money that had already been appropriated. At the same time,
Read more →UNDEF supports projects that strengthen the voice of civil society, promote human rights, and encourage the participation of all groups in democratic processes. In its 13th round of funding, UNDEF particularly welcomes proposals in the areas of gender; rule of law; media; or electoral processes focusing on elections scheduled for 2020 at the earliest. In
Read more →The Foundation “Remembrance, Responsibility and Future” (EVZ) is inviting applications for the “Europeans for Peace” program which promotes international exchange projects for young people from Germany and the countries of Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe as well as Israel. Schools and non-school educational institutions can join up in international partnerships and apply for funding for
Read more →This year’s topics should include the following: Transparency and accountability in governance and business; Civic engagement for youth; Women’s leadership; Capacity development for aspiring entrepreneurs; Empowerment of vulnerable groups; and Reforms supporting the Euro-Atlantic integration of Montenegro. Awards may range from a minimum of USD 20.000 to a maximum of USD 50.000. Proposed programs should
Read more →From 16-29 June 2019, the Robert Bosch Stiftung will organize the Berlin Seminar: Truth, Justice & Remembrance 2019. The event will bring together 25 international actors, who are professionally engaged in the field of truth finding and documentation, (transitional) justice and the creation of shared history and remembrance. Journalists and representatives will gain insights into
Read more →The Bond Annual Conference and Awards is the biggest international development event in Europe, attracting over a thousand diverse people from across the international development and humanitarian sectors. NGOs, civil society leaders, researchers, funders, government and private sector come together to share ideas and interrogate emerging trends. As civil society faces an increasingly complicated political
Read more →The EU supports the reforms in the enlargement countries with financial and technical assistance, mainly through the framework of the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA). As IPA II expires on 31 December 2020, in continuation of the accession support, a proposal for a new Regulation on IPA III for the period 2021-2027 is currently in
Read more →The proposal for a regulation establishing the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) III, first published by the European Commission in June is currently under final discussions in the other EU institutions. The proposal for Regulation currently waits on the vote by the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs upon the Draft Report by the assigned
Read more →On 28 November, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe has adopted a recommendation to member States to take effective measures to protect and promote civil society space. CSOs are invited to bring this recommendation to the attention of national authorities, ask for its translation into the national language and monitor its implementation
Read more →The global state of freedom of expression and information is at its lowest point for ten years, according to Article19 Expression Agenda 17/18. The price for speaking out and protecting the right to freedom of expression around the world is high. With 78 journalists and 312 human rights defenders murdered in 2017, many more incarcerated,
Read more →Thirty-two European and international human rights and digital rights organizations sent an open letter to ministers ahead of the Justice and Home Affairs Council that was held on the 6-7 December 2018. The signatories expressed their concern about the European Commission’s proposed ‘Regulation on preventing the dissemination of terrorist content online’. In its current form,
Read more →Governments and investors everywhere should take notice today as a group of major brands call for protecting human rights defenders and civic freedoms, which are under attack across the world. The statement is the first of its kind, with supporters including Unilever, adidas, Primark, ABN AMRO, Anglo American, Leber Jeweler, Domini and the Investors Alliance
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