News and updates from BCSDN and the region
The European Commission has adopted the new Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) work programme (2026–2027) and published the indicative timetable for the 2026 calls for proposals. This gives civil society a clearer overview of upcoming EU funding opportunities—the Union’s main instrument to protect and promote rights and values and support CSOs at all levels.
Read more →The Balkan Civil Society Development Network (BCSDN) participated in the SMART Balkans Regional Conference 2025, “Think SMART: Rethinking the Old-School Funding Approach,” held in Sarajevo on November 12–13. The event convened civil society leaders, donors, and policymakers to discuss innovative funding for the civil sector in the Western Balkans. BCSDN’s Communication Officer, Toshe Zafirov, presented
Read more →As global crises shift donor priorities and the U.S. abruptly withdraws funding, watchdog and advocacy organizations across the region face growing uncertainty. A recent study examines key donors, including the EU, Sweden, Switzerland, Norway, Germany, France, and the UK, and how their support affects civil society’s role in the EU accession process. The report finds
Read more →A coalition of 46 civil society organizations from the Western Balkans, Ukraine, and the Republic of Moldova has issued a joint appeal to the European Parliament and EU Member States, calling for enlargement to be made a core strategic and budgetary priority in the upcoming EU long-term budget for 2028–2034. The appeal urges the establishment
Read more →The 2025 AidWatch report by CONCORD warns that the EU and its Member States are undermining the purpose of Official Development Assistance (ODA) by inflating figures and diverting funds from genuine development needs. Despite claiming to be the largest ODA provider, the EU’s share of GNI for aid fell from 0.53% to 0.47%. For CSOs,
Read more →The recent Safeguarding Democracy Report examines the global threats that polluted information environments, including AI, pose to democracy and elections, particularly in developing contexts. It analyses information pollution mechanisms and countermeasures. The report calls on development practitioners to strengthen information integrity by setting clearer rules for online political communication, supporting oversight institutions, and promoting ethical
Read more →Commissioner O’Flaherty expressed serious concern over the escalating crisis for CSOs and human rights defenders in Europe. Following meetings with activists, he highlighted shrinking civic space, restrictive laws targeting organizations receiving foreign funding, and rising harassment. Funding cuts (including the end of US aid) are forcing many organizations to scale back or close, particularly those
Read more →A new campaign is challenging the global aid system, exposing how current practices exclude the voices of leaders with disabilities (OPDs) in Africa and Asia and weaken their local work. The Fairer Funding campaign unites OPDs, funders, and INGOs to demand a fairer approach that values lived experience and local leadership. For CSOs engaging with
Read more →CSOs grantees of the “Civica Mobilitas” programme, have formulated and submitted their proposals to candidates for the 2025 local elections, aiming to improve transparency, accountability, citizen participation, and the quality of public services at the local level, as well as to secure sustainable funding for civic initiatives. The proposals are based on the organisations’ experience
Read more →A new report on individual giving in Türkiye offers key insights for CSOs’ donor strategies, revealing both opportunities and challenges. Following the 2023 earthquakes, disaster giving surged, with a significant 25% of donations going directly to CSOs, highlighting their crucial role in crisis response. However, the report also shows that only 13% of the population
Read more →With traditional funding models under pressure, a new focus on localisation and alternative finance is emerging as a critical donor strategy for the future of civil society. The text highlights that despite its importance, less than 2% of global humanitarian funding currently reaches local organizations directly, leaving them underfunded and burdened by compliance rules. This,
Read more →In an effort to improve accountability and effectiveness, foreign aid donors have increasingly turned to digital transparency portals to share detailed information on development projects. However, recent research suggests that transparency alone may not achieve the intended outcomes of greater public trust and government effectiveness. The research emphasizes that transparency efforts must be tailored to
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