News and updates from BCSDN and the region
BCSDN’ s Policy and Advocacy Officer Biljana Spasovska participated at the panel discussion “Future of Europe” during the second day at the Western Balkans Think Thank Forum, hosted by Institute for Democracy ‘Societas Civilis’ Skopje. The event is an integral part of the 2020 Berlin Process Co-Presidency programme hosted by the governments of the Republic
Read more →The objectives of the Western Balkans CSO Summit were to make possible to increase awareness on the importance of nurturing regional cooperation and to promote people to people links through fostering dialogue between WBF’s stakeholders. Introducing the WBF CSO Summit as a potential tool to enhance cooperation and reconciliation, WBF as a civil society pillar
Read more →An independent assessment of the Voluntary National Review (VNR) reports submitted to the UN High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) commissioned by civil society in 2019 is out. The fourth in a regular series, the assessment notes positive trends in reporting on leaving no one behind and stakeholder engagement, but highlights the continued silence of UN Member
Read more →The issues in the publication, addressed by the mechanisms are concerned particularly with issues affecting civil society space (which is undergoing ever increasing pressure, partly attributable to efforts to counter terrorism, the impact of which on NGOs is not always taken into account), the criminalization of some of their legitimate activities, the problems faced by
Read more →Freedom House report monitors the situation in the areas of electoral process, political pluralism and participation, the functioning of government, freedom of expression and thought, the rule of law as well as fundamental freedoms. As stated in the report, 83 countries are ranked free, 63 as partially free, while 49 are free. This year, Serbia
Read more →Civic Space 2040 is a futurist initiative to craft a positive vision for civic space and map strategies to make it a reality. The initiative explores trends that will radically transform the world and discusses how they will impact civic space. ICNL launched the initiative in 2019 with a meeting at the Rockefeller Foundation’s Bellagio
Read more →Despite criticism from the CoE, OSCE, international media freedom organizations, the EU, local media and journalists’ organizations the assaults against the journalist and the implementation of controversial media laws continue. Precisely, Civicus Monitor reports that concerns continued. The Albanian President Ilir Meta returned the controversial media laws to Parliament for reconsideration. In particular, he highlighted
Read more →In the second part of the blog series on accountability feedback mechanisms are shared the common challenges that Resilient Roots have encountered when collecting feedback from their primary constituents, along with some tips for how to make the process meaningful. Simply collecting feedback will not make the organization more accountable, and it is important the
Read more →Instead of just being an end-user, civil society leaders must shift priority to how a deliberate disruption in the use of such technologies for public good can affect their organizational purposes. For instance, what impact does fake news and disinformation have on the work of nonprofits and fundamental freedoms, which the constitution guarantees us. If
Read more →The last decade was one of people power where small grassroots groups, distributed movements, and major NGOs devoted more time and energy to adapting people-powered strategies to their particular contexts. For decades, many social change practitioners operated on the assumption that wellfunded, well-organized and tightly controlled change-making institutions were essential to building and exercising power.
Read more →According to the BWF/Groundwork Digital “2020 Digital Fundraising Survey,” 2020 might be the year for digital in development work. The article argues that there is always a tipping point—a point in time when the arrival of innovative tactics flood the landscape and overtake the previous “best practices” and technology. The report asks whether 2020 will
Read more →The strategies that fundraisers have been using with a degree of reliable success, are now failing to resonate with donors in the way they had in the past. Today’s donors expect more from the organizations they support. They want to be included and informed about the meaningful work they are giving to. Unfortunately, nonprofits are
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