News and updates from BCSDN and the region
Target group: CSOs and informal groups of citizens operating in Bihać, Cazin, and Bosanska Krupa (BiH) Aim: To empower local communities through the development of capacities for sustainable growth, increased civic engagement, and improved cooperation with local authorities and stakeholders. Amount: Up to approximately 4 487 EUR for CSOs; while for informal groups of citizens
Read more →Target group: Non-environmental CSOs Countries: Western Balkans and Türkiye, and EU member states Short Description: Online workshops to help non-environmental CSOs understand and integrate environmental themes into their work. Workshops will cover “Environment for youth organizations” on 27 August, and “Environment for organizations working on social inclusion on 3 September”. Duration: Each workshop is a
Read more →Target group: Young activists, CSO leaders, journalists, social media influencers, education workers, and others interested in media freedom and activism. Countries: North Macedonia, Serbia, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Montenegro, and Türkiye. Short Description: This one-year program aims to empower young leaders in the Western Balkans and Türkiye to engage in media activism and promote
Read more →Target group: Journalists, freelance journalists, and journalism students based in the Western Balkans Countries: Western Balkans (specific focus on Skopje, North Macedonia) Short Description: This training program aims to enhance the skills of journalists in the Western Balkans to cover climate and energy issues effectively. It includes expert-led workshops, networking opportunities, and discussions on various
Read more →Target group: CSOs and CSO networks receiving regional/multi-country EU Civil Society and Media Facility (CSF) grants Countries: Western Balkans and Türkiye Short Description: Strategic mentoring offers in-depth, pragmatic support to CSOs to address organizational challenges and improve performance. It involves up to 14 days of expert time over up to 6 months, focusing on areas
Read more →Target group: International candidates with a postgraduate degree and relevant professional experience in international development Countries: Open to international applicants Short Description: A prestigious two-year leadership development program focused on preparing future leaders for roles at the World Bank, IFC, and MIGA. The program includes training in Washington, D.C., global rotations, mentorship, and networking opportunities.
Read more →BCSDN provides an analysis of the 2024 EC Rule of Law (RoL) report, which, for the first time, includes accession countries: Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia as the most advanced ones on the EU path. The report places these countries on equal footing with EU member states, reflecting their progress in EU integration and
Read more →The CSOs’ participants and activists of the EU Civil Society Forum for Western Balkans and Türkiye, including BCSDN representatives, delivered a joint declaration based on discussions about the new Growth Plan for the Western Balkans. The declaration emphasizes the new Growth Plan for the Western Balkans as a significant opportunity for EU-compliant reforms and increased
Read more →BCSDN issued a press release detailing the main findings and recommendations of its latest report on the surge of Strategic Lawsuits against Public Participation (SLAPPs) in the Western Balkans. Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and North Macedonia are among the top ten European countries for SLAPP cases, which erode basic freedoms and shrink civic space. These
Read more →The 2024 Media Landscape Brief, delivered by SCiDEV provides insights into media freedom developments from June and July in Albania. A new Special Parliamentary Committee has been established to combat disinformation and foreign interference, but concerns arose over its initial exclusion of the opposition. The Committee has invited a broad range of stakeholders for engagement,
Read more →BCSDN member, the Macedonian Center for International Cooperation (MCIC) released a report on Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP) in North Macedonia, revealing an alarming increase in such cases aimed at intimidating journalists and activists. The report provides SLAPP cases, where powerful entities use different tactics to silence critics. It highlights insufficient legal protections against
Read more →Intimidatory lawsuits aimed at silencing journalists and media freedom activists by draining their resources have proliferated in Serbia, where there is no legislation to curb aggressive litigation by the rich and powerful. The Slavko Curuvija Foundation received a defamation lawsuit from Ratko Romic, a former state security operative indicted for his involvement in the murder
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