News and updates from BCSDN and the region
Target group: Executive Directors, Program Managers, and Board Chairs of Albanian CSOs Countries: Albania Short Description: The NPO Academy is a program designed to build the capacities of leaders in Albanian NGOs. It focuses on strengthening organizational management, financial sustainability, advocacy, inter-sectoral collaboration, and EU integration. Participants will gain knowledge in key areas such as
Read more →Target group: Young professionals (ages 22-32) with a passion for conflict prevention, security, arms control, disarmament, and non-proliferation Countries: OSCE participating States and Partners for Co-operation Short Description: The OSCE Scholarship for Peace and Security is a training programme designed to empower young professionals in the security sector. The programme includes a 6-week online course
Read more →Target group: Master’s and post-Master’s students and researchers Countries: Visegrad countries (Czechia, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia), Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, BiH, Georgia, Kosovo*, Moldova, Montenegro, Northern Macedonia, Serbia, and Ukraine. Short Description: The Visegrad Scholarship Program supports students and researchers from eligible countries to study or conduct research for up to two semesters at accredited higher
Read more →BCSDN strongly condemns the ongoing smear campaign against prominent civil society activist Maja Stojanović, Executive Director of Civic Initiatives and BCSDN Board Member, as well as broader attacks on independent civil society in Serbia. While public smearing of Civic Initiatives has persisted for months, recent weeks have seen intensified disinformation and intimidation, particularly in response
Read more →Following the abrupt suspension of U.S. foreign assistance, including the USAID funding, hundreds of projects now face uncertainty worldwide and in the Western Balkans. The three-month halt under President Trump’s Executive Order has stalled work by CSOs, independent media, and human rights initiatives, forcing many organizations to reduce staff or suspend activities. Programs supporting judicial
Read more →Western Balkans civil society networks, along with BCSDN are organizing an advocacy event in Brussels on February 25, bringing together civil society and think tank networks from the Western Balkans alongside EU stakeholders to discuss the future of EU enlargement. The event will focus on preserving the integrity of the enlargement process, maintaining the EU’s
Read more →On 17-20, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is organizing Civil Society Week, bringing together civil society stakeholders across Europe to address polarisation and strengthen democratic engagement. As overlapping crises—from economic downturns to climate change and widening disparities—deepen societal divisions, the urgency to foster cohesion and participation has never been greater. The outcomes of
Read more →The OECD Working Paper examines the importance of structured, inclusive, and effective civil society participation in international decision-making. As global challenges become more complex, international organizations increasingly recognize the need to incorporate diverse perspectives to enhance legitimacy, foster trust, and improve policymaking. However, participation remains inconsistent, requiring strong legal frameworks, transparent engagement strategies, and a
Read more →Protests across Serbia demanding transparency and accountability after the November tragedy in Novi Sad continued throughout January, met with police brutality, hate speech, and repression of students, activists, human rights defenders, and journalists. The “Three Freedoms” platform condemned the targeting of students and educators, as well as the attempted murder of a student hit by
Read more →The European right-wing, led by the EPP, has long campaigned to defund and silence NGOs, securing a key victory in May 2024 when the Commission introduced new guidelines to block funding for NGOs engaging in advocacy. Now, they are pushing even further, calling for a European law to regulate NGOs and restrict their influence. At
Read more →Serbian authorities’ crackdown on civic space has now extended beyond its borders, obstructing foreign activists and CSOs from participating in public debates. On January 22, 14 EU and Western Balkans activists- participants of the Erste Foundation NGO Academy visit were detained, expelled, and labeled a “security risk” without evidence. Following mass protests in Serbia demanding
Read more →The General Secretariat of the Government of North Macedonia has announced a public call for the selection of 14 members and deputy members of the Council for Cooperation between the Government and Civil Society, an advisory body dedicated to strengthening dialogue, cooperation, and civil society engagement in policymaking. The call aims to establish an independent,
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