News and updates from BCSDN and the region
A European Parliament fact-finding mission visited Serbia from 22–24 January to assess the political crisis, EU-related reforms, and democratic standards. During meetings in the National Assembly, pro-EU opposition parties called on the EU to remain actively engaged, urging conditionality linked to reforms, including the use of EU Growth Plan funds, and advocating for free and
Read more →The Center for High Impact Philanthropy has released its annual 2026 giving toolkit, offering practical, year-round guidance for individual donors and professional grantmakers seeking to maximise the impact of their philanthropy. The toolkit outlines what high impact giving entails and presents four overarching strategies applicable across causes and regions. To illustrate these approaches in practice,
Read more →A global online festival, organised by the Global Fund for Community Foundations (GFCF) as part of the Giving for Change programme, brought together nearly 300 community leaders, activists, filmmakers and human rights defenders to reflect on the power of community philanthropy amid shrinking aid, rising geopolitical tensions and overlapping crises. Speakers emphasised that community philanthropy
Read more →With global USAID’s withdrawal in 2025, donors such as the EU, Switzerland, and Norway have become increasingly important in North Macedonia, though concerns remain about gaps in funding. Over 25 years, USAID funded projects that combined financial support with local contributions, rebuilding schools and supporting vocational training, creating lasting community engagement and capacity-building impacts across
Read more →The European Union’s forthcoming Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028–2034 will shape the bloc’s ability to address global challenges, including poverty reduction, gender equality, climate resilience, and peacebuilding. Central to the MFF’s external dimension is the Global Europe Fund, the EU’s primary instrument for development cooperation and external action. A new analysis by CONCORD highlights
Read more →Target Group: CSOs in the Western Balkans (WB6) engaged in youth-led initiatives that foster dialogue, trust, reconciliation, intercultural learning, and regional cooperation. Both emerging and experienced actors are encouraged to apply. Aim: To support high-quality, impact-oriented youth initiatives that promote regional youth exchange, dialogue, peacebuilding, and sustainable cooperation, while strengthening partnerships among CSOs, educational and
Read more →Target Group: Startups in civic education, youth-led organisations, and other European-based organisations developing projects that link financial and economic literacy with civic education, democratic participation, and social resilience. Aim: To support innovative educational initiatives that strengthen financial and economic literacy, foster democratic competencies, promote inclusion and cohesion, and pilot or scale new approaches across Europe.
Read more →Target Group: Registered CSOs and media outlets in Montenegro and Kosovo. Aim: To strengthen anti-corruption efforts by empowering local CSOs and media to identify, report, and counter corruption, particularly in sectors such as environment, education, and healthcare, while fostering transparency, public engagement, and institutional accountability. Countries: Montenegro, Kosovo Amount: Up to 12,430 USD per grant
Read more →Target Group: CSOs, activists, and informal groups working on digital democracy, digital rights, civic participation, media integrity, and human rights. Institutional Stability Grants are open only to legally registered CSOs, while Strategic Growth Small Grants are open to CSOs, informal groups, and individual activists. Aim: To strengthen inclusive and resilient civic space by supporting digital
Read more →Target Group: Local and international NGOs, UN agencies, and CSOs working to support highly vulnerable women and girls, including those affected by extreme poverty, gender-based and sexual violence, armed conflict, displacement, and lack of access to education. Aim: To provide emergency assistance, psychosocial support, legal aid, access to education and employment opportunities, and other resilience-building
Read more →Short Description: The SALTO Resource Centre, in cooperation with the Polish National Agency of Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps, invites youth workers and leaders to a four-day forum dedicated to promoting youth participation, active citizenship, and European values. Target Group: Youth workers, youth leaders, youth project managers, youth policy makers Countries: Eastern Partnership countries,
Read more →Short Description: The European Parliament invites applications for the 2026 Sakharov Fellowship Programme, offering up to 14 human rights defenders from non-EU countries the opportunity to participate in a two-week intensive training programme focused on advocacy, security, resilience, and engagement with EU human rights mechanisms. Target Group: Human rights defenders from non-EU countries with a
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