What's New

News and updates from BCSDN and the region

CfP: BCSDN Announces a Call for Proposals for Ad-Hoc Support Grants (Deadline: EXTENDED by the end of 2021, until all available funds are disbursed)

As part of the Regional Civil Society Development Hub, BCSDN is calling for grants for organizations from the Western Balkans, struggling with shrinking civic space in their countries, facing pressure to the civic space, incidences of hate speech, hostile attacks, or want to react towards the changes of a law that affects their work, etc.

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CfP: Civica Mobilitas Publishes Call for Action Grants (Deadline: 3 March 2021)

Civica Mobilitas has published a Call for Applications for Action Grants. CSOs, non-profit scientific research institutes, formally registered networks, coalitions, alliances, or platforms registered in North Macedonia are invited to apply. The proposed actions should contribute towards the objectives and outcomes of the Civica Mobilitas programme. The duration of the call activities should be between

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CfP: Democracy Commission Small Grants (Deadline: 4 March 2021)

The United States Embassy in Tirana is accepting proposals for the Democracy Commission Small Grants Program. The call focuses on priority areas, such as Anti-corruption; Good Governance; Investigative Journalism; Human Rights/Minority Rights; Empowerment of Women and Youth; Combatting Human Trafficking; Reforms, etc. The duration of the grant is 6 to 12 months. The award amount

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CfP: Support to Local Self-Governments and Civil Society Organisations for Combating Hate Speech (Deadline: 9 March 2021)

Within the framework of the European Union/Council of Europe Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey II – action on “Promotion of diversity and equality in North Macedonia”, the CoE is launching a call for grants “Support to local self-governments and/or CSOs for combating hate speech”. The call aims to support selected grantees in

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CfA: Young Leaders Access Program 2021 (Deadline: 15 March 2021)

The Young Leaders Access Program welcomes young people (18 to 26 years) to become leaders of change in their communities through leadership development, global citizenship, self-awareness, and vision planning. Considering the ongoing circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the program will be organized entirely virtual through e-modules, Zoom discussions, and online one-on-one learning sessions. The

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BCSDN Input to the Open Consultation on the Preparation of the Guidelines for EU Support to Civil Society in the Enlargement Region, 2021-2027

BCSDN has been following the EU’s approach in supporting civil society in the enlargement countries and has advocated the civil society to be recognized and supported as a competent partner in the EU accession process. We present our early feedback on the First Draft of the new Guidelines for EU Support to Civil Society in

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KCSF Published the Monitoring Matrix on Enabling Environment for Civil Society Development (CSDev) Report 2019 for Kosovo

KCSF and BCSDN present the fifth report of the Monitoring Matrix on Enabling Environment for CSDev regarding Kosovo’s developments throughout 2019. Some of the findings, presented in the report are: The amendment of the Law on Freedom of Association in CSOs has introduced institutes as the third legal form to register an organization; The legislation

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Strong and Effective National Human Rights Institutions: Challenges, Promising practices and Opportunities ― Summary

National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) are an essential part of the country-level human rights protection system and have a pivotal role in navigating the everyday human rights challenges. The report marks such bodies in the EU and North Macedonia, Serbia, and the UK. It explores crucial developments, challenges to their effectiveness, and ways to maximize

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2021 “Civil Society Innovation and Inclusive Digital Transformation’’ Report Published

The 2021 ICSC Innovation Report will be a timely look at civil society’s progress in furthering people-centered and nature-positive digitalization. It will highlight the most promising innovations by CSOs in producing solutions for digital inclusion, impact, and rights at scale, promoting progressive people-centered, nature-positive approaches and outcomes, and putting digital rights, ethical and sustainability values

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Corruption Perceptions Worsening in the Balkans, Says The Latest Corruption Perceptions Index for 2020

According to the newest Global Perceptions Corruption Index published by Transparency International, public corruption perceptions worsened in most Southeast and Central European countries. Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia were ranked worst in the Western Balkans, sharing 111th place within 180 countries. Serbia’s and Kosovo’s rankings also worsened compared to 2019. Croatia kept the same

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