News and updates from BCSDN and the region
The philanthropic narrative increasingly emphasizes unrestricted funding, but data reveals a stark reality: only 20% of funding is truly flexible. Restricted funding poses challenges for both grant makers and grantees, hindering their ability to drive real social change. Grassroots movements suffer as competition rises, collaboration wanes, and administrative burdens soar. Donors must relinquish rigid control
Read more →The Philea Forum 2024 addresses challenges facing philanthropic organizations in an era marked by eroded public trust and heightened societal demands. Focusing on trust as foundational to legitimacy, the forum seeks solutions to counter misinformation and pitfalls that compromise philanthropy’s credibility. It delves into questions of legitimacy, accountability, and power imbalances within the sector, aiming
Read more →The AidWatch 2023 report assesses European Official Development Assistance (ODA), revealing significant ODA inflation. In 2022, 22.1% of EU reported ODA did not meet basic criteria, with in-donor refugee costs and overcounting of ODA loans being major contributors. Recommendations include increasing ODA to reach the agreed 0.7% GNI/ODA by 2030, reforming the ODA system to
Read more →The paper examines three decades of Official Development Assistance (ODA) in the Western Balkans, focusing on levels, sources, and goals. The study encompasses six Western Balkan countries and analyzes ODA in Croatia and Turkey for comparison. It aims to offer insights into ODA trends, sources, and priorities in the region. The Western Balkans play a
Read more →Western Balkan leaders gathered in Skopje for the “The Growth Plan: Western Balkans Meets EU” conference, reaffirming their commitment to the EU Growth Plan and the Common Regional Market based on EU standards. The EU had adopted a 6 billion EUR Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans for 2024-2027. The leaders emphasized the
Read more →The CIVICUS 12-month Donor Transformation Challenge guides leaders to dismantle oppressive practices, fostering trust and collaboration. It encourages small, consistent changes and community engagement for a more supportive ecosystem, aiming for improved partnerships and responsiveness to changemakers’ needs. The Challenge covers one topic per month that CIVICUS identified as key to advancing this transformation. It
Read more →A global gathering in Bogota, Colombia, brought together 120 narrative practitioners and funders focused on strengthening the narrative power of global justice movements. The Confluence event, hosted by IRIS, Puentes, and the Global Narrative Hive, prioritized discussions on philanthropy’s role in narrative change. Key takeaways included the need for increased resources, supportive practices, and a
Read more →The Swiss Philanthropy Foundation and the Organization of the Swiss Abroad conducted a survey revealing that 93% of Swiss abroad have made gifts in the past three years, with 78% being financial. The diaspora, representing 10% of the Swiss population, is as generous as those living in Switzerland. Transparency is crucial for them, with 38%
Read more →Bosnia and Herzegovina has shown commitment to participating in EU programs, especially the Europe for Citizens program. The Ministry of Justice initiated the accession process to the Citizens, Equality, Rights, and Values (CERV) Program for 2021-2027. The agreement between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the EU for participation in the CERV program was signed in Brussels
Read more →FRA’s report on ‘EU funds: Ensuring compliance with fundamental rights’ suggests ways to ensure the new rules are being upheld and people’s rights respected. FRA calls on the EU and its Member States to: involve fundamental rights experts explicitly throughout all stages of funding and make better use of their expertise, data and findings; monitor
Read more →Members of the Forbes Nonprofit Council provide insights into anticipated trends that nonprofits should be prepared for in 2024. The emphasis on tech investments, including virtual collaboration tools and data analytics, will play a crucial role in ensuring adaptability and success. Donors are demanding tangible impacts, urging nonprofits to invest in comprehensive evaluation and impact
Read more →The sign-on letter, directed to bilateral and multilateral funders and foundations, conveys the strong support of local and community-based organizations from the Majority World (Global South) for the ongoing shift of power and resources towards more locally led approaches. It provides five suggestions to enhance the inclusion of these organizations in international events, emphasizing equal
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