News and updates from BCSDN and the region
Commissioner O’Flaherty expressed serious concern over the escalating crisis for CSOs and human rights defenders in Europe. Following meetings with activists, he highlighted shrinking civic space, restrictive laws targeting organizations receiving foreign funding, and rising harassment. Funding cuts (including the end of US aid) are forcing many organizations to scale back or close, particularly those
Read more →A new campaign is challenging the global aid system, exposing how current practices exclude the voices of leaders with disabilities (OPDs) in Africa and Asia and weaken their local work. The Fairer Funding campaign unites OPDs, funders, and INGOs to demand a fairer approach that values lived experience and local leadership. For CSOs engaging with
Read more →Target Group: Journalists and media professionals in Kosovo, including women journalists and journalists from non-majority communities. Aim: To support investigative journalism projects that fact-check and expose disinformation, producing media content across TV, radio, online, and social media formats. Countries: Kosovo Amount: £2,000 per project Duration: October 2025 – January 2026 Deadline: 18 October 2025 Link
Read more →Target Group: Young NGOs, civic startups, and grassroots initiatives advancing democratic resilience, participation, and civic education across Europe and wider Europe. Aim: To support early-stage, bold, and collaborative ideas that strengthen democratic resilience and civic engagement, addressing challenges such as declining trust in institutions, youth radicalisation, social polarisation, and community resilience through civic education. Countries:
Read more →Target Group: CSOs and networks working on LGBTQI+ rights, equality, and social inclusion in the Western Balkans and Türkiye. Aim: To promote the social inclusion and fundamental rights of LGBTQI+ persons, strengthen the role and capacities of LGBTQI+-led CSOs, and support local initiatives advancing equality, empowerment, and participation in public life. Countries: Albania, Bosnia and
Read more →Target Group: Individuals from the Western Balkans — including academic staff, researchers, students, civil society activists, public employees, journalists, artists, athletes, and others. Aim: To enhance regional cooperation and mobility across the Western Balkans by supporting projects that foster collaboration, exchange, and mutual understanding among individuals in the region. Countries: Western Balkans (Contracting Parties of
Read more →Target Group: Women’s rights and civil society organizations, especially youth-led, feminist, and intersectional organizations working to advance women’s political participation and leadership. Aim: To strengthen women’s leadership and participation in public life by supporting feminist movements and initiatives that transform social norms, foster intergenerational and intersectional leadership, and expand women’s decision-making power. Countries: Single-country projects
Read more →Target Group: International organisations, networks, and coalitions with peacebuilding at the core of their mission and a track record in enabling locally led peacebuilding, preferably in the Western Balkans, Central Asia, South East Asia/Myanmar, or West Africa. Aim: To support international peacebuilding organisations in adapting their governance, structures, and partnership practices to strengthen equitable, mutually
Read more →Short Description: This online roundtable will examine the gaps left by the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) in addressing media capture, using case studies from Slovenia and North Macedonia. Experts and journalists will discuss how Europe can better safeguard media pluralism, independence, and accountability in the face of foreign investment and influence. Target Group: Journalists,
Read more →Short Description: BIRN invites applications for the Internet Freedom Meet 2025 (IFM 2025), taking place in Pristina, Kosovo. Now in its third edition, IFM brings together experts, activists, and professionals to explore key issues in digital rights and internet freedoms across the Western Balkans. Target Group: Digital rights activists, tech enthusiasts, academics, journalists, and engaged
Read more →Short Description: Bard College Center for Civic Engagement, in partnership with the U.S. Embassy in Serbia, invites emerging youth leaders to the BOLD25 Balkan Regional Youth Leadership Workshop. This programme combines an immersive in-person experience with an online community of practice, equipping participants with skills in leadership, community engagement, project development, and cross-cultural collaboration. Target
Read more →Short Description: In a time when civic action faces growing pressures, this session explores what decolonised wellbeing truly means—moving beyond dominant frameworks to embrace indigenous, spiritual, and collective approaches to healing and resilience. Target Group: Activists, engaged citizens, and civil society participants who are interested in exploring wellbeing, resilience, and decolonised approaches to healing. Countries:
Read more →