News and updates from BCSDN and the region
BCSDN Western Balkans members published surveys aiming to research the capacities and the accountability and transparency practices of CSOs in the region during 2020. The survey findings will support the Annual assessment on the State of the Enabling Environment and Capacities of Civil Society in the Western Balkans and Turkey, against the Guidelines for EU
Read more →The newest “Nations in Transit” Freedom House report, tracking 29 former communist countries in Europe and Eurasia, listed the 6 Western Balkan countries as “transitional governments or hybrid regimes”. On a scale of 1 to 7, Serbia has scored 3,89, followed by Montenegro’s score of 3,96. N.Macedonia improved with 3,82, Albania has declined to 3,75,
Read more →The report prepared by Cooperation Canada and supported by a coalition of CSOs worldwide provides an independent analysis of reporting by United Nations Member States to the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF). It examines the current status of 2030 Agenda implementation, unwraps trends in reporting, and identifies good practice. This year’s report focuses
Read more →To support organizations in applying foresight thinking in social change work, JustLabs provides a guide presenting the human rights and social change field with a crucial tool to achieve it. The guide explains that if foresight becomes part of the organization’s DNA, social change actors could have better clarity and power to influence the future.
Read more →On 28 April 2021, BCSDN held its 15th Annual Council Meeting. The representatives of BCSDN member organizations and Executive Office staff joined together virtually to discuss the activities and the network’s accomplishments during the past year, and the plans for the future. BCSDN EO presented the 2020 Annual and Financial Reports, highlighting the most important
Read more →In the latest issue of the BCSDN quarterly newsletter, we present some of the networks’ activities and accomplishments made from the beginning of 2021. The newsletter focuses on our regular activities and projects, oriented towards strengthening our mission for providing an enabling environment for civil society development in the Balkans. It highlights our progress within
Read more →The EU TACSO 3 research focuses on two main aspects of networking: Mapping of CSO networking, i.e., regional networks and regional Civil Society Facility projects, and Assessment of networks’ capacities and capacity building needs, including specific issues such as EU accession and gender equality. The assessment identified that the EU support for the regional EU-CSF
Read more →The Executive Board of the Conference on the Future of Europe declined the European Parliament’s proposal, a representative of the Civil Society Convention on the Future of Europe, to be included as an observer in the process. The adoption of the Civil Society Convention proposal is a positive political message to citizens in Europe and
Read more →The report presents the views of ICSOs of the pandemic’s influence and their ability to operate effectively, helping the INGO constituency group, and the CSO Partnership for Development Effectiveness (CPDE) in the context of the development effectiveness agenda during the pandemic. It outlines the main impacts identified by study participants, including the challenges generated by
Read more →On the International Day for Multilateralism on 24 April, a group of 100 CSOs, led by CIVICUS, Democracy International, and Democracy Without Borders, in a joint statement under the name “We the Peoples,” requests on the UN to implement three reforms, so that the people, elected representatives, and civil society will have a stronger voice and
Read more →Organic Agriculture Association of Albania, whose mission is to contribute to sustainable rural development in the country, has launched a viral video to provoke civic engagement and urge the government to take necessary measures to protect Vjosa River. They request the river to be declared a national park and prevent a hydropower plant’s construction. Considering
Read more →Ahead of IPA III financial framework (2021-2027) being finalized, and in the light of the IPA country programming taking place, BCSDN has published an updated Opinion on how the EU can more effectively support civil society to promote the civic space and contribute to a more resilient civil society in the Western Balkans. During rising
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