What's New

News and updates from BCSDN and the region

Monitoring Matrix Regional Report 2020: Narrowing the Civic Space or Stronger Government- CSO Cooperation During a Pandemic in the Western Balkans?

BCSDN gladly presents the Monitoring Matrix Regional Report for Civil Society Development in the Western Balkans for 2020. The report analyzes several key aspects impacting civil society in the region amid Covid-19, such as: How has the state of emergency affected basic freedoms?; Was the remarkable role CSOs played in mitigating the adverse effects of

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CPDE: The Long Road to Development – VNR Study 2021

The global civil society platform CSO Partnership for Development Effectiveness (CPDE), in time for the 2021 UN High-Level Political Forum, delivered the Voluntary National Review (VNR) Study 2021. The analysis shows the perceptions of a large number of CSOs from different countries and territories on implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Voluntary National Reviews in

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BiEPAG Policy Brief on Completing the EU Unification Process

In its latest policy brief, BiEPAG analyzes the current progress of the Western Balkans’ accession into the European Union. The brief implies that the lack of tangible and recognized progress affected political elites and the public. It suggests that the EU needs a clear path for the WB6 to join the Union, especially when global

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SERBIA: MONEYVAL Warns the Country not to Abuse the Fight Against Terrorism Financing to Obstruct Civil Society Operations

At the plenary session held in April 2021, the Committee of Experts of the Council of Europe on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering Measures and the Financing of Terrorism, MONEYVAL, has once again emphasized that financial intelligence bodies, among which the Administration for the Prevention of Money Laundering, do not have the authority to request

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SLOVENIA: Discriminating Criteria Risk Impeding NGOs’ access to Norway and European Economic Area (EEA) Grants

Slovenian CSOs have accused the right-wing prime minister and the government’s ministers of continuing a “crusade” against the NGO sector by introducing “discriminatory conditions” which could deter them from acquiring funding. BCSDN’s member from Slovenia, CNVOS, in a press release reflects that before announcing the calls under the Norway Grants and European Economic Area (EEA) Grants

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SERBIA: No Conditions for Serbian CSOs to Participate in the Development of the Strategy for an Enabling Environment for Civil Society

In a letter, Serbian CSOs, among which BCSDN member Civic Initiatives, once again emphasized their decision not to participate in the consultation process with the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue for drafting the National Strategy for an Enabling Environment for Civil Society Development. As reasons behind they indicate: the attacks on civil

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ECNL Statement at the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Week

On 29 June 2021, at the 2nd UN Counter-Terrorism Week, the European Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ECNL) delivered a brief statement on the urgency of centering human rights in counter-terrorism (CT) policy and strategy implications for the use of biometrics and other emerging technologies. In the statement, they emphasized that: Emerging technologies have severe human rights impacts,

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Engaging Donors for Civic Space Protection and Improved CSO Accountability in the Balkans

In the latest edition of the Global Standard Newsletter focused on Donors, Civic Space and Accountability, BCSDN’s Communications and Information Officer, Marija Vishinova, delivered a blogpost on the donors’ engagement and CSO accountability in the Balkans. In pursuing the network’s objectives, focused on strengthening CSOs’ capacities and their role during a shrinking civic space in

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Donors-CSOs Dialogue: Accountability as a Lever for Change

On 8th and 16th June 2021, the Global Standard for CSO Accountability organized two consecutive series of Donors-CSOs dialogues to discuss the role of accountability for civil society resilience, trust, and effectiveness. The conversations centered on how both CSOs and donors can support each other to ensure that accountability is a co-designed process, allowing each

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DAC Recommendation on Enabling Civil Society in Development Co-operation and Humanitarian Assistance

OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) adopted a Recommendation on Enabling Civil Society in Development Co-operation and Humanitarian Assistance. The Recommendation aims to support DAC members and other development co-operation and humanitarian assistance providers to enhance how they approach civic space and work with civil society actors, highlighting that they should also improve their effectiveness, transparency,

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