News and updates from BCSDN and the region
Carnegie Europe has published a report that explores the nature of coronavirus-related shifts in global civil society. The report aims to understand the need for society-level responses to crises and how the pandemic is reshaping the relationship between states and societies. In 12 countries, the cases demonstrate that COVID-19 has acted as a powerful catalyst
Read more →The European Council on Foreign Relations has reported how democracy in the Western Balkans has developed. They have found that the COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced pre-existing conditions related to the rule of law and democratic governance. This has been shown by the Western Balkans governments and their arbitrary approaches to dealing with the pandemic. This
Read more →BCSDN held an online presentation on 20 November 2020 to report the main findings of the CSOSI 2019 report for North Macedonia and launched into a discussion for the upcoming CSOSI cycle. BCSDN produced the report in partnership with USAID and FHI 360. The report looked at seven dimensions of sustainability: legal environment, organizational capacity,
Read more →BCSDN member Partners Albania has published a report as part of a global study on effectiveness in COVID-19 response compiled by the CSO Partnership for Development Effectiveness (CPDE). The case study looks at three themes of Albania’s COVID-19 response: the socioeconomic impact, an analysis of the application of EDC principles, and CSO good practices in
Read more →BCSDN is glad to present the 2019 edition of the Monitoring Matrix on Enabling Environment for Civil Society Development, examining developments in the Western Balkan countries. In 2019, the Western Balkans experienced socio-economic and political challenges that remained unfavourable towards civil society development. While the freedom of association continues to be legally guaranteed in the
Read more →The CSO Partnership for Development Effectiveness (CPDE) has declared its principles and called upon other development actors to join. Within its agenda, CPDE commits to building inclusive partnerships, guaranteeing transparency and accountability, delivering results, and ensuring democratic ownership. The declaration responds to the detrimental impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, including restrictions that limit people’s rights
Read more →“#EUandYOU – Your story, our future” is a campaign that promotes opportunities and benefits provided by EU programmes available for young people in Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia. The programme consists of three components, three region-wide communication campaigns, an online portal WeBalkans.eu, and a Young European Ambassadors network, all designed to overcome
Read more →BCSDN is glad to present the 2019 edition of the Monitoring Matrix on Enabling Environment for Civil Society Development, examining developments in the Western Balkan countries. In 2019, the Western Balkans experienced socio-economic and political challenges that remained unfavourable towards civil society development. While the freedom of association continues to be legally guaranteed in the
Read more →The Serbian government has abolished the Office for Cooperation with the Civil Society, which has existed for the last 10 years seeking to improve the enabling environment for civil society development. This decision has alerted Serbian CSOs who were already conscious of the deterioration of the civil society enabling environment in their state. Over 70
Read more →In the fifth edition of the magazine “Citizens for change”, Civica Mobilitas presents the challenges with which were faced the CSOs in North Macedonia, as well as the adjustment to the new circumstances. The CSOs have continued their activities in response to the COVID-19 crisis by providing services to the target groups they serve. They
Read more →A policy paper, published by IDSC, the Institute for Democracy “Societas Civilis” – Skopje, finds that the Western Balkans are a compelling place for the EU to begin exercising the role of a strategically autonomous actor. The COVID-19 crisis has provided EU member states with a new-found sense of solidarity, with initiatives such as “Corona
Read more →In the first study of its kind, Tectonica and GQR surveyed 150 progressive organizations fighting for social, environmental, and economic justice across Europe. The organizations provided answers to questions, such as: How can we define digital organising? How well is it understood? What do digital organising practices look like? How much are they utilised in
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