News and updates from BCSDN and the region
The Liberties’ Media Freedom Report 2024 unveils a dire situation for media freedom and pluralism across Europe, with some countries facing the imminent collapse of their media landscapes. While the European Media Freedom Act offers some hope, it falls short of addressing the systemic issues. The erosion of media freedom is evident through widespread journalist
Read more →The EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) is conducting a consultation with its civil society network to gather insights on the added value of EU funding for fundamental rights and areas needing further development. The results will contribute to the European Commission’s 2024 Annual Report on the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights with a focus
Read more →ICNL’s report develops a typology of salient features of foreign influence registration laws to assess their potential impact on civil society and to help compare and contrast these laws across countries. It then shares key recommendations for substantive arguments against overbroad foreign influence registration laws and potential response strategies. Governments worldwide have implemented foreign influence
Read more →The upcoming European Parliament elections and the selection of a new European Commission in June 2024 present an opportunity for the EU to reaffirm its commitment to freedom of expression and access to information. ARTICLE 19 highlights key priorities for the incoming Commission, advocating for an open, fair, and inclusive information environment. These priorities include
Read more →SCiDEV raises concerns about Albania’s proposed parliamentary committee to address disinformation, questioning its necessity and scope. While acknowledging the importance of the issue, SCiDEV argues that existing mechanisms, like the Parliamentary Committee on Education and Means of Public Information and the Parliamentary Committee on Security, can handle the matter adequately. Reports on media freedom (Reporters
Read more →Last December, 700 representatives from philanthropic, developmental, NGO, and community sectors convened in Bogota, Colombia to address power imbalances in global development. They emphasized a shift towards bottom-up development, prioritizing human dignity, rights, and equality. The summit highlighted the sector’s failure to embody these principles, instead perpetuating colonial and patriarchal structures. Advocates called for power
Read more →The #ShiftThePower movement, a global network advocating for equitable aid practices, raises concerns to OECD DAC members about opaque funding practices that disproportionately benefit Global North CSOs. Despite commitments to support Southern leadership and civil society, aid flows remain “tied”, largely favoring Northern CSOs and hindering Southern CSOs. The movement urges DAC members to remove
Read more →The EU’s Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP) initiative is transforming civil society by empowering grassroots organizations. FSTP simplifies access to EU funding, aiming to boost the ability of smaller, local CSOs to engage with their communities. The initiative recognizes and nurtures the potential of local actors through smaller grants and easier application processes, benefiting
Read more →Target group: Grassroots CSOs led by women and/or with women in decision-making roles, operating in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, or Serbia, focusing on preventing and combating gender-based violence. Aim: To support projects that address gender-based violence with an innovative and intersectional approach, particularly targeting organizations with limited previous access to EU funding and those
Read more →Target group: Non-profit organizations (NPOs) interested in participating in the “Exchange Program of NPOs” in Albania. Aim: To strengthen the capacities of NPOs, increase access and collaboration between NPOs and public/private institutions, and enhance advocacy initiatives to address the needs of beneficiary groups. Amount: N/A Duration: N/A Deadline: 3 May Link to more information (Partners
Read more →Target group: Locally registered media organizations and individual content creators from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Aim: The USAID Media Engagement Activity (MEA) aims to support the production of content related to topics significant for the upcoming local elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina, fostering credible and innovative reporting that engages marginalized communities and encourages public dialogue. Amount:
Read more →Target group: CSOs registered in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, North Macedonia, and Serbia. Aim: Youth Fund for Local Youth Initiatives provides grants to support CSOs for projects that will improve and develop participatory youth policies in communities of the Western Balkans by supporting youth initiatives and fostering active citizenship and participation of young people
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