DG NEAR is currently programming the assistance to Civil Society for the years 2016-17 through the IPA II – Civil Society Facility and Media Programme 2016-17. TACSO invites CSOs to send them their comments as input for a consultation round before entering the finalisation phase. TACSO will manage this consultation exercise and will gather all contributions, comments will have to be provided by close of business on 15th January, 2016. The comments should be in English and sent to comments@tacso.org. More information is available here. [TACSO]
Author: anja
This article investigates a particular form of civil society mobilisation in the EU accession process. Despite widely varying models of civil society inclusion across the Western Balkans, monitoring coalitions focused on rule of law issues have emerged in a majority of countries. Comparing the cases of Croatia, Montenegro, and Serbia, the article suggests that this phenomenon cannot be explained by external EU incentives alone, but is significantly shaped by the dynamics of transnational diffusion. The findings offer a fuller picture of the forces shaping civil society mobilisation in accession countries and hold important lessons for the EU’s involvement in strengthening…
In December 2015, the Institute for Territorial Economic Development – InTER, issued the Analysis of the European Commission Progress Report Regarding Questions of Importance for Territorial Development. The analysis follows EC methodology and structures information in line with the political and economic criteria of the acquis, focusing on the relevant areas within each acquis criteria. Furthermore, it compares countries’ progress with respect to territorial development, and finally, it gives a very brief conclusion. The paper (in Serbian language only) is available for download here. [InTER]
Mobile for Good: A How-To Fundraising Guide for Non-profits is a comprehensive 256-page book packed with more than 500 best practices that includes a companion “Mobile and Social Fundraising Success Checklist” at the end of the book. Written on the premise that all communications and fundraising are now mobile and social, Mobile for Good is a step-by-step how-to guide for writing, implementing, and maintaining a mobile and social fundraising strategy for non-profits. The Checklist – which can be copied at this link and pasted in a Word document for easier use – comprises strategic plans and activities regarding: mobile and…
The Open Society Fellowship supports individuals pursuing innovative and unconventional approaches to fundamental open society challenges. The fellowship funds work that will enrich public understanding of those challenges and stimulate far-reaching and probing conversations within the Open Society Foundations and in the world. A fellowship project might identify a problem that has not previously been recognized, develop new policy ideas to address familiar problems, or offer a new advocacy strategy. Project themes should cut across at least two areas of interest to the Open Society Foundations. Among these are human rights, government transparency, access to information and to justice, and…
The CIVICUS Nelson Mandela – Graça Machel Innovation Awards celebrates 11 years of honoring civil society activists and organisations for their excellence, innovation, and brave risk-taking. Nominations are now open for Youth Activists, Individual Activists, Civil Society Organisations, and for the first time ever, nominations are open for donors under a new category: Brave Philanthropy. Invited are nominations about individuals, organisations, and donors that have inspired people through their activities promoting positive social change. Nominations (and self-nominations) can be submitted until 17th January, 2016. The winners from the categories of Youth Activist, Individual Activist, and Civil Society Organisation will receive…
The European Movement in Serbia and TACSO People2People are jointly organizing the following conference: “Civil Society and Beyond: A Joint Dialogue on the European Path” in Belgrade, on 25-26 February 2016. This event will focus on three themes: 1) Dialogue between civil society and public authorities in the accession process (including mechanisms for participation such as Convent and SECO), 2) Regional cooperation between civil society, and 3) Civic dialogue between EU and (potential) candidate countries. The conference will bring together around 150 participants from civil society, European Institutions and national authorities from the region. More information is available here. [TACSO]
Regional Research Promotion Programme (RRPP) Western Balkans is organizing a fully-funded comprehensive training on social science research methods tailored for junior researchers in the Western Balkans. The Research Academy, which will take place on 11-18 April, 2016, in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, is designed as a summer school composed of several linked one-day modules. During the program of the Research Academy junior researchers, , who have gained their master’s degree in the field of social sciences at a university in the countries of the Western Balkans and live and work in the region, will be guided through all stages of…
The United States Embassy in Montenegro, acting through the Public Affairs Office, announced an open competition for assistance awards for the Democracy Commission Small Grants Program. The US Embassy in Podgorica supports specific projects and initiatives that facilitate the development of democracy and democratic institutions in Montenegro through grant awards of up to USD 24,999. Possible topics may include: promoting the rights of disabled persons, refugees, the LGBT community, domestic violence victims, and/or other disadvantaged or minority groups; women’s empowerment in business and politics; youth leadership; rule of law and combatting corruption and organized crime; media freedom; environmental protection; and…
The EU Office in Kosovo announced Call for proposals with the specific objective to increase the ability of the Kosovo institutions to effectively coordinate and implement the efforts in overall fight against the trafficking in human beings. The Contracting Authority will award one grand only and any grant requested under this call for proposals must be for the entire amount available i.e. EUR 1 million, with 65%-90% of the total eligible costs of the action. Actions must take place in Kosovo and the initial planned duration of an action may not be lower than 32 months nor exceed 48 months.…