What's New

News and updates from BCSDN and the region

CfP: Western Balkans – “Re-form for Growth” Small Grant Facility for Civil Society Monitoring (Deadline: 6 May)

Target Group: CSOs registered in the Western Balkans with experience in research, monitoring, advocacy, or policy analysis. Aim: To empower CSOs to provide independent monitoring, advocacy, and sector-specific perspectives on the implementation of the EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans and related reform agendas. Countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia

Read more →

CfP: EFCSN Content Grants for Fact-Checking Organisations (Deadline: 8 May)

Target Group: Certified fact-checking organisations or those demonstrating intent to comply with the European Code of Standards, based in the EU or DEP-associated countries. Aim: To support editorial fact-checking production, investigations into disinformation, outreach activities, and collaboration across the media ecosystem to strengthen access to reliable information. Countries: EU Member States and DEP-associated countries, including

Read more →

CfP: CEI Cooperation Fund Call for Proposals 2026 (Deadline: 29 May)

Target Group: Public and private entities based and registered in CEI Member States (public/public equivalent bodies, private entities, NGOs/CSOs). International Organisations can also apply. Individuals cannot apply. Aim: To strengthen cooperation among CEI Member States, in line with CEI strategic objectives and the Plan of Action, by supporting activities that advance European integration and sustainable

Read more →

CfP: EFB Response Hub – Social Urgency Grants in the WB (Deadline: 3 September)

Target Group: CSOs, informal groups, initiatives, media, and activists operating in the Western Balkans. Aim: To provide rapid and flexible funding for civic responses during moments of social, political, or environmental urgency, enabling timely interventions that can influence public discourse, protect rights, or respond to emerging crises. Countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North

Read more →

CfA: Western Balkans Fund (WBF) – Peer-to-Peer Programme (Deadline: 4 May)

Short Description: The Western Balkans Fund (WBF) invites civil society organisations to apply for a peer-to-peer capacity-building programme combining study visits to EU organisations, residential training, mentoring, and local knowledge-sharing activities to strengthen organisational resilience and cooperation. Target Group: CSOs based in the Western Balkans, each nominating two experienced representatives. Countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina,

Read more →

CfA: OECD Call for Input – Review of the Development Assistance Committee (Deadline: 15 May)

Short Description: The OECD invites stakeholders to contribute to a public consultation as part of the review of the Development Assistance Committee (DAC), examining its role, tools, and partnerships in response to evolving global development challenges. Target Group: Governments, CSOs, researchers, and other stakeholders engaged in development cooperation. Countries: Global (open internationally). Location: Online (public

Read more →

CfA: The Visegrad Fellowship (Deadline: 15 May)

Short description: The Think Visegrad Fellowship offers short-term research opportunities for experts from outside the Visegrad region to engage with leading think tanks in Central Europe. Fellows develop a policy paper and deliver a public presentation on a topic aligned with the host institute’s work. Target Group: Expert fellows from non-Visegrad countries (i.e. outside Czech

Read more →

BCSDN Joins 500+ Organisations Calling for Increased Funding for AgoraEU Programme

BCSDN joined over 500 organisations from across Europe’s cultural, media, and civil society sectors in calling for a substantial increase in funding for the AgoraEU programme within the EU’s next long-term budget (2028–2034). Supporting the European Parliament’s position, the coalition highlights that the current allocation—around 0.43% of the EU budget—is insufficient to address rising challenges,

Read more →

EESC: EU Path in North Macedonia Marked by Reform and Civic Space Challenges

At a March 2026 conference in Skopje, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) highlighted a critical moment for North Macedonia’s EU path. While public support for EU membership remains strong, reforms must deliver tangible improvements to maintain trust, particularly within a narrowing “window of opportunity” for enlargement. Discussions pointed to largely procedural civil and

Read more →

EPD Report: New Approaches to Defending Global Civil Society

The latest European Democracy Hub report highlights how civil society worldwide faces increasingly severe and existential threats, with restrictions intensifying in speed and scale. Regimes are moving beyond ad hoc measures to undermine the existence of an independent civic sphere, while cuts in western funding further weaken CSOs. The report argues that new thinking is

Read more →