News and updates from BCSDN and the region
In the latest issue of the BCSDN quarterly newsletter, we present some of the networks’ activities and accomplishments made from the beginning of 2021. The newsletter focuses on our regular activities and projects, oriented towards strengthening our mission for providing an enabling environment for civil society development in the Balkans. It highlights our progress within
Read more →The EU TACSO 3 research focuses on two main aspects of networking: Mapping of CSO networking, i.e., regional networks and regional Civil Society Facility projects, and Assessment of networks’ capacities and capacity building needs, including specific issues such as EU accession and gender equality. The assessment identified that the EU support for the regional EU-CSF
Read more →The Executive Board of the Conference on the Future of Europe declined the European Parliament’s proposal, a representative of the Civil Society Convention on the Future of Europe, to be included as an observer in the process. The adoption of the Civil Society Convention proposal is a positive political message to citizens in Europe and
Read more →The report presents the views of ICSOs of the pandemic’s influence and their ability to operate effectively, helping the INGO constituency group, and the CSO Partnership for Development Effectiveness (CPDE) in the context of the development effectiveness agenda during the pandemic. It outlines the main impacts identified by study participants, including the challenges generated by
Read more →On the International Day for Multilateralism on 24 April, a group of 100 CSOs, led by CIVICUS, Democracy International, and Democracy Without Borders, in a joint statement under the name “We the Peoples,” requests on the UN to implement three reforms, so that the people, elected representatives, and civil society will have a stronger voice and
Read more →In its annual Press Freedom Index report, ranking 180 countries worldwide based on their level of media freedom, and journalists’ safety, Reporters Without Borders informs that the media conditions in some Central and South East Europe countries deteriorated amid coronavirus pandemic in 2020. In Serbia (93), the legislation limited press freedom; the Government controlled the media; and
Read more →In April 2021, the Montenegrin Government appointed new Commission members for Monitoring Violence against Media, which comprises journalists, media and NGO representatives, the Interior Ministry, Police, State Prosecution, and the National Security Agency. The Commission’s new head has called the authorities to demonstrate the political will to clarify the attacks on journalists and media, emphasizing
Read more →In its latest publication, the European Civic Forum with four main asks reacted to the European Commission Stakeholders’ Consultation on the Rule of Law in the European Union. It states that the European Commission should adopt a comprehensive approach for the rule of law, fundamental rights, and democracy. Also, a comprehensive approach should include a
Read more →In its 2021 call to action, the Open Government Partnership (OGP) recognized the Global Standard for CSO Accountability as a reference standard that can be adopted and implemented by CSOs to strengthen their accountability practices by encouraging continuous two-way dialogue with stakeholders. OGP further calls its members to use their new and existing action plans
Read more →The interviews and posts covered in the latest issue of the Global Standard Newsletter examine the variety of actions that organizations can implement in the context of the last four GS commitments, such as: to empower staff and volunteers, handle resources responsibly, ensure effective feedback systems, and promote responsive decision-making and responsible leadership. The contents
Read more →The 22 April marked Earth Day, devoted to protesting and advocating for the protection of Earth. CSOs worldwide should be accountable to the people they work, as well as to the Earth, and the environment. There are five ways in which CSOs can be accountable to the environment. First, an Environmental policy is a basis for any
Read more →Since the start of the pandemic, fundraisers worldwide have had to rethink their strategies, budgets, and models. The organizations, on the other hand, adjusted to the crisis in different ways. Some have used cash reserves; a part dismissed team members; others changed budgets into online channels. Besides the fact that the covid-19 crisis is a
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