After one year of implementation of the Open Governmental Partnership (OGP) National Action Plan, as part of the EU-funded project “Advocacy for Open Government: Civil Society Agenda-Setting and Monitoring of country action plans”, targeting governments in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia, through a common methodology addressing a common framework of Open Government, a mapping of government policy and capacity in Albania has been carried out by the Institute for Democracy and Mediation (IDM). In general, the report concludes that there seems to be a lack of awareness and understanding of the Open Government Partnership Initiative principles…
Author: anja
However, while last year BCSDN’s paper has criticized the insufficient focus on crucial areas for consolidating the enabling environment in which civil society functions and operates, this year’s Reports brings an increased attention on issues over financial viability and sustainability of the sector such as tax regime and state funding and support (e.g. Albania, BiH, Kosovo, Macedonia, Turkey). A shift in the methodology in assessing Political criteria for accession, including development and involvement of civil society can also be observed. Novelty is also the Commission’s intention to “increase focus on civil society” as a way to meet the key challenges in…
BCSDN is proud to announce the successful candidates for funding under the Slovak and Balkan Public Policy Fund Programme. Out of 167 submitted project proposals from organizations and researchers from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia, 21 proposals were selected for funding. The pilot phase of the Slovak and Balkan Public Policy Fund has proved to be a successful support model for boosting the advocacy skills of the organizations in Albania, Macedonia and Montenegro and the projects supported last year have demonstrated tangible results from the policy work. BCSDN is convinced that the selection conducted by an…
For the 5th consecutive year, BCSDN analyzed how EC has treated the issue of civil society development (CSDev) in the Enlargement Strategy and Progress Reports 2013 and assessed the progress made form the past year in the Enlargement countries. The analysis shows that similarly to last year, the Commission has maintained its focus on the issues pertinent to Government-CSO relationship. However, while last year BCSDN’s paper has criticized the insufficient focus on crucial areas for consolidating the enabling environment in which civil society functions and operates, this year’s Reports brings an increased attention on issues over financial viability and sustainability…
On 24 October, 2013 Publish What You Fund, the global campaign for aid transparency, advocating for a significant increase in the availability and accessibility of comprehensive, timely, and comparable aid information, published the 2013 edition of their Aid Transparency Index (ATI). The ATI is the industry standard for assessing foreign assistance transparency among the world’s major donors and in 2013 included 67 donor organizations in its assessment. A large amount of these (33) are signatories to the International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI), accounting for more than 85% of Official Development Finance (ODF). Although a change in methodology this year makes…
For the 5th consecutive year, BCSDN analyzed how EC has treated the issue of civil society development (CSDev) in the Enlargement Strategy and Progress Reports 2013 and assessed the progress made form the past year in the Enlargement countries. The analysis shows that similarly to last year, the Commission has maintained its focus on the issues pertinent to Government-CSO relationship. However, while last year BCSDN’s paper has criticized the insufficient focus on crucial areas for consolidating the enabling environment in which civil society functions and operates, this year’s Reports brings an increased attention on issues over financial viability and sustainability of…
The 18th Grantmakers East Forum (GEF), which took place in Belgrade from 16th to 18th October and was hosted by TRAG Foundation and SIGN (SEE Indigenous Grantmakers Network). The annual gathering of private foundations supporting civil society work in the Balkans, Eastern Europe, and Russia discussed different aspects of transparency as the overarching theme of the meeting. Either in the operation of grantmakers, decision-making over grants and grantees or the effect of the IT technology and access to information, and how transparency transcends and effect the work of private grantmakers both globally and GEF regions. The event which attracted over…
Partners Albania organized on October 14, 2013, in Tirana, the presentation of the findings of the National Study on Enabling Environment for Civil Society Development, through the Monitoring Matrix which represents the main principles and standards that have been identified as crucial to exist in order for the legal environment to be considered as supportive and enabling for the operations of CSOs. The Matrix aims to define an optimum situation desired for civil society to function and develop effectively and at the same time it aims to set a realistic framework which can be followed and implemented by public authorities.…
Partners Albania organized on October 14, 2013, in Tirana, the presentation of the findings of the National Study on Enabling Environment for Civil Society Development, through the Monitoring Matrix which represents the main principles and standards that have been identified as crucial to exist in order for the legal environment to be considered as supportive and enabling for the operations of CSOs. The Matrix aims to define an optimum situation desired for civil society to function and develop effectively and at the same time it aims to set a realistic framework which can be followed and implemented by public authorities.…
In order to establish an appropriate institutional framework to strengthen trust and promote dialogue and cooperation between local governments and civil society as well as to strengthen their role and responsibilities, the Centre for Development of NGOs (CRNVO) in Montenegro has prepared a proposal for amendments to the draft text on the decision of the establishment of the Council for Cooperation with Non-governmental Organizations in the Capital. CRNVO considers it extremely important to identify the needs of the Secretary for the decision on the methods and procedure for cooperation between local government authorities and non-governmental organizations, which will be the…