What's New

News and updates from BCSDN and the region

CfA: Transparency School 2026 (Deadline: 1 June) 

Short Description: Transparency International School on Integrity is an intensive anti-corruption and accountability training programme bringing together future leaders from public, private, non-governmental, and academic sectors. The programme focuses on transparency, integrity, anti-corruption, and democratic governance through expert sessions, peer learning, and practical training. Target Group: Senior students, graduates, and young professionals. Countries: Open internationally Location: Vilnius, Lithuania and online Duration: 13–17 July 2026 Deadline: 1 June 2026 Link to more information (Transparency

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CfA: Working Safe: Safety, Dignity and Equality for LGBTQI+ Workers (Happening: 18 May) 

Short Description: Presentation and discussion event focused on LGBTQI+ workplace rights in North Macedonia, including the launch of the policy paper Safety Is Political: Advancing LGBTQI+ Workplace Rights in North Macedonia. The event will bring together institutions, trade unions, businesses, international partners, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders to discuss safety, equality, dignity, and inclusion in the workplace.

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CfA: Training of Trainers (ToT) on AI Literacy in Adult Education (Deadline: 3 June) 

Short Description: The Metamorphosis Foundation project “Initiating Adult Learning Programmes for Artificial Intelligence” aims to strengthen the capacities of adult educators, trainers, and education practitioners to integrate AI literacy into adult learning programmes. The training will focus on both professional and everyday applications of AI, including productivity, employability, ethical use, risks, benefits, and digital citizenship competencies. Selected participants will take part

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CfA: THE:PLACE 2E1R – Call for Participants (Deadline: 5 June) 

Short Description: THE:PLACE is a collaborative exchange and capacity-building programme aimed at strengthening cooperation between CSOs in Türkiye, the EU, and enlargement countries through participatory approaches, local democracy, and civic engagement. The programme focuses on enhancing CSO capacities for collaboration with local authorities, peer learning, project development, and international networking, with particular interest in initiatives related to climate adaptation, digitalisation, and citizen participation. Selected organisations will participate in networking,

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CfA: CEU Democracy Institute Leadership Academy 2026 (Deadline: 5 June) 

Short Description: The CEU Democracy Institute Leadership Academy (DILA) is a three-month, part-time, English-language leadership programme designed for a new generation of public leaders in Central and South-Eastern Europe and the Western Balkans. The hybrid programme combines residential sessions in Budapest with online learning and focuses on democratic governance, civic participation, democratic resilience, leadership skills, negotiation, mobilisation, and public policy challenges

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CfA: Democracy Re:Boot Camp 2026 (Deadline: 7 June) 

Short Description: Democracy Re:Boot Camp is a fully funded, in-person pan-European programme designed to strengthen democratic resilience by bringing together 30 young democracy builders for practical skills training, strategic learning, peer exchange, and experiential work. The second edition will take place on the island of Cres, Croatia, and is intended for participants already active in democracy-related work who want to

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CfP: Grants for Support to Local Women’s Organisations and Initiatives (Deadline: 25 May) 

Target Group: Local women’s organisations, informal initiatives, and feminist groups working on gender equality, women’s rights, and community mobilisation in North Macedonia. Aim: To support local initiatives focused on advancing gender equality, strengthening the women’s movement, and contributing to a society free from violence, discrimination, and inequality, with priority given to feminist organisations, women-led initiatives, and activities supporting vulnerable groups of

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CfP: Western Balkans Gender Equality Fund – GeFund (Deadline: 10 June) 

Target Group: Non-profit legal entities from the Western Balkans, including CSOs/NGOs, educational institutions, cultural and sports associations, business associations, and media associations working through regional partnerships. Aim: To support regional initiatives advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment across the Western Balkans, including in the areas of economic participation, protection from violence, digital inclusion, environmental sustainability, and public participation.

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CfP: EU Support for Systematic Sectoral Civil Society Participation for the EU Accession Negotiations and the Growth Plan Reform Agenda (Deadline: 6 July) 

Target Group: Civil society organisations and existing CSO networks in North Macedonia engaged in EU accession reforms, rule of law, governance, and Growth Plan monitoring and advocacy. Aim: To strengthen structured, systematic, and evidence-based civil society participation in reforms under the Fundamentals Cluster of the EU accession process and to support coordinated CSO engagement in monitoring, advocacy, and public

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Commission Reportedly Withholds Serbia’s Growth Plan Funding Over Judicial Reform Concerns 

The European Commission is reportedly withholding disbursement of Serbia’s Growth Plan funding following concerns over recently adopted judicial laws that raised questions regarding judicial independence and alignment with EU rule of law standards. The reported decision reflects the increasingly conditional nature of EU financial support under the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, where access to funding is tied

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Debate Grows Over the Future Direction of the EU’s Global Europe Instrument 

A new analysis by the Center for Global Development (CGD) examines growing tensions surrounding the EU’s proposed redesign of the Global Europe Instrument, the Union’s main financing tool for external action and development cooperation. While welcoming the instrument’s increased flexibility and stronger focus on infrastructure, investment, and geopolitical realities, the analysis warns that the proposal

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Dynamic Accountability Dialogue to Explore “Right Sizing” Safeguards in Civil Society Organisations 

Accountable Now will host a Dynamic Accountability Dialogue on 21 May focused on the growing challenges civil society organisations face in designing safeguarding and accountability systems that are both effective and proportionate to their capacities and operational realities. Bringing together experts on safeguarding, anti-fraud and corruption, and digital security, the discussion will explore how organisations

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