Poverty is a very sensitive and challenging issue in many countries. In the post-war Balkans context, poverty is also a major problem for security and relations between communities. About 25% of the population of Albania live with less than USD 2 per day. According to the World Bank, more than 15% of the population in Bosnia and Herzegovina are living under the poverty line. Despite being an EU member, Croatia is confronted with acute poverty problems – poor represent about one fifth of the population. Poverty is a widespread phenomenon in Kosovo, affecting 30% of the population. One third of the population of Macedonia lives in poverty.…
Author: anja
The Council of Europe, sees itself as “the preeminent institution defending democracy, the rule of law and human rights” in Europe. It also claims to lead the European fight against corruption. In 1999 it launched GRECO – the “Group of States Against Corruption.” Its mission includes “holding other international organizations to account.” Why did the Council of Europe – which chooses the judges of the European Court of Human Rights and sees itself as a guardian of the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and the European Convention of Human Rights – care about football? More information is available here.…
The Civil Society Policy Forum (CSPF) has become an integral part of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Group Spring and Annual Meetings, providing an open space for civil society organizations to dialogue and exchange views with World Bank Group and IMF staff, their peers, government delegations, and other stakeholders on a wide range of topics. A core component of the Civil Society Policy Forum (CSPF) are some 40, mainly CSO-organized policy dialogue sessions that will run concurrently throughout the Forum. CSOs and CSO networks who are interested in organizing sessions are now invited to submit their applications. The CSPF will convene…
Train Programme (Think Tanks providing Research and Advice through Interaction and Networking) 2017 seeks to foster a fruitful policy dialogue between think tanks and political actors in the EU candidate countries and potential candidate countries of the Western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia). The programme focuses on four areas: 1) Training to build upon and enhance existing capacities; 2) Regional co-operation to exchange good practices; 3) Interaction with national political actors to influence policy debates; 4) Networking with EU actors to increase visibility on the Brussels stage. The TRAIN Programme 2017 is open to twelve…
The Institute for Democracy and Mediation (IDM) launched the First Call for Proposals, in the framework of the project “CIVILISC- Civil Society Instruments against Corruption” funded by the European Union. The main areas of intervention of CIVILISC FUND are good governance and anti-corruption. The awarded grants range up to EUR 5000 for LOT 1 and from EUR 5000 – EUR 12000 for LOT 2. The deadline for submitting applications is 20 February, 2017. More information is available here. Source: IDM
European Union Office in Kosovo through the project “Grant Scheme for Advocacy Initiatives of Grassroots Organizations” – implemented by the Kosovar Civil Society Foundation (KCSF), provides financial support to advocacy initiatives of grass-root civil society organizations. The overall goal of this scheme is to support advocacy initiatives of grassroots organizations in Kosovo that contribute to changes in the society at the local level. The maximum amount of funds per grant is EUR 12 000. Any submissions received after that time will not be considered. Therefore, EU Office and KCSF are inviting grass-roots organizations registered in Kosovo, to apply with proposals…
WeBER – Western Balkans Enabling Project for Civil Society Monitoring of Public Administration Reform Project is seeking proposals for the implementation of the Small Grant Facility for Support for Civil Society Monitoring of Public Administration Reform at Local Level. The specific objectives of the Grant Facility correspond to the following results of the Action: 1) to enable local watchdog CSOs, grassroots and media to participate in PAR monitoring and advocate on PAR; 2) establish and support local civil society PAR working groups. The Call for proposals is in the total amount of EUR 255 000 intended to support 30 grants in…
The Balkan Civil Society Development Network announced the appointment of a new Acting Executive Director. Ilina Nesik, assume this role as of 20 January 2017 when Tanja Hafner Ademi, officially ended her long time engagement in BCSDN. BCSDN team is looking forward for the new endeavors and will continue the work that has been done so far with great commitment and engagement. You may contact Ilina Nesik at ins@balkancsd.net.
BCSDN member Cenzura Plus, from the 23 – 25 January 2017 organized an International Conference on The Role of EU Funds in Sustainability of Civil Society in the New EU Member States. The purpose of the conference was to examine how the EU funds contributed to the sustainability of civil society, what is the status of civil society in the candidate countries and potential candidates for EU membership, as the governments of these countries are preparing for the decentralization of EU pre-accession funds. The Croatian good experience was presented, and how to avoid bad examples that have occurred in Croatia…
Over two-thirds of the 176 countries and territories in this year’s index fall below the midpoint of the scale of 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean). The global average score is a paltry 43, indicating endemic corruption in a country’s public sector. Top-scoring countries are far outnumbered by orange and red countries where citizens face the tangible impact of corruption on a daily basis. This year’s results highlight the connection between corruption and inequality, which feed off each other to create a vicious circle between corruption, unequal distribution of power in society, and unequal distribution of wealth. More countries declined…