The specific objective of this call for proposals is to support the proper implementation of human rights and anti-discrimination legislation, in the wider context of Kosovo consolidating the functioning of its democratic institutions. The priority issues of this are to: i) monitor the work of the Kosovo Ombudsperson and support the implementation of human rights legislation in Kosovo, ii) support Youth engagement and participation in democratic processes, iii) support the rights of the child, iv) offer legal and psychological support to those wishing to enforce their rights under anti-discrimination legislation. The overall indicative amount made available under this call for…
Author: anja
The specific objectives of this Call for Proposals are: to support CSOs engaged in social service provision in enhancing social and economic inclusion of the vulnerable communities – children with disabilities, children in need, elderly persons, persons with long-term sickness, persons with disabilities, and victims of domestic violence (physical and psychological) – through delivery of community based social services. The overall indicative amount made available under this call for proposals is EUR 2.000.000, while any grant requested must fall between EUR 1.950.000 and EUR 2.000.000, with 65% to 90% of the total eligible costs of the action. The initial planned…
On 12-13th May, Civil Society Forum 2016 took place in Novi Sad/Belgrade, Serbia under the umbrella of the “Civil Society Forum of the Western Balkans Summit Series” and building on the Civil Society Forum held on the margins of the Vienna Summit of the Berlin Process in August 2015. With the aim of the Forum to contribute to a greater role, visibility and impact of the civil society in the Berlin process and the broader EU integration process of the Western Balkan countries, over 100 CSO representatives gathered to discuss and develop common positions towards political leaders and their governments,…
On 25-27th May, CIVICUS organized a Research Partners Workshop on Civic Space Monitor in Johannesburg, South Africa, gathering representatives of 21 regional civil society networks working on enabling environment for civil society development issues, including Sanja Bogatinovska, BCSDN’s Junior Policy and Advocacy Officer on Civil Society Development. The workshop aimed at opening a discussion around civic space research, while focusing the workshop on how the Civic Space Monitor (CSM) functions in practice, how the regional research partners fit into the CSM and how to further build on this research collaboration. For the CSM to work, CIVICUS has developed a globally…
The level of trust citizens of the Western Balkans have in national and international institutions generally dropped in 2015, with the most drastic declines seen in scandal-plagued Macedonia, according to the results of polling conducted for a PASOS project on open government. Other countries in the region saw similar, albeit less dramatic, declines in public trust in other institutions, especially those touched by scandals. Overall, the polling showed that political parties fared the worst among domestic institutions in the third annual polling conducted for Advocacy for Open Government, an EU-funded project to encourage governments in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo,…
Only two working days after the Decision on the Establishment of the Council for Cooperation between the Government and Civil Society was presented to CSOs, the Government adopted the Decision on its regular session on 17th May 2016, without any possibility for additional consultations with civil society. The adoption of the Decision comes unexpectedly, after more than a year since a group of over 75 CSOs lead by BCSDN and MCIC demanded changes, asking for legitimacy and representatives of the Council. On 20th May 2016, when the Decision was published in the Official Gazette, BCSDN and MCIC sent a reaction…
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has prepared a compilation of practical recommendations for the creation and maintenance of a safe and enabling environment for civil society, based on good practices and lessons learned. In the report, the High Commissioner focuses on examples of practices that optimize civil society’s transformative potential. In this regard, he identifies five essential ingredients: a robust legal framework compliant with international standards that safeguards public freedoms and effective access to justice; a political environment conducive to civil society work; access to information; avenues for participation by civil society in decision-making processes; and long-term…
The initiative “Gledaj (U)druge” is a result of the raised awareness of the public regarding the importance of the work of civil society organizations, but also as a response to the recent announcement for decreasing the financial support for CSOs’ projects and programmes. The aim is to present to the public the numbers, strength, motivation and persistence of the CSOs in making positive changes in society and improving the quality of life in the communities. Furthermore, this campaign intends to stress the fact that a great number of citizens is somehow related to the CSOs, directly or indirectly, through membership,…
The Ministry of Interior Affairs in Montenegro has submitted for public review two draft regulations: 1) the draft Regulation on the procedure for establishing cooperation between state administration and CSOs, and 2) the draft Regulation on the procedure for conducting public hearings in the preparation of laws. Therefore, the Ministry invites citizens, civil society organizations, institutions, government bodies, municipalities, professional associations, political parties, trade unions, religious groups, media and all interested organizations and communities, to take part in the roundtable public consultations, which will be organized in Bjelo Polje on 3rd June and in Podgorica on 8th June 2016, and…
Bilateral donor funding refers to the donor country’s Government aid to recipient country in a Gov2Gov or a Gov2CivilSociety partnership. It is part of the Official Development Assistance (ODA) policies of the OECD member countries, which plays a major role in providing development funding to Governments and Civil Society. Bilateral donor funding can cover infrastructure, economic cooperation, trade balance etc. but OECD countries also believe in promoting and supporting ideas and efforts that can lead to better democratic practices and good governance. Bilateral donors have recognized that CSOs play a key role in addressing issues related to human rights, education,…