What's New

News and updates from BCSDN and the region

CfA: Peer-to-Peer Exchanges on Safeguarding Cultural Heritage and Revitalisation of Local Cultural Spaces (Deadline: 16 February)

Short Description: UNESCO invites CSOs, cultural institutions, and local stakeholders to participate in peer-to-peer exchanges focused on safeguarding cultural heritage and revitalising local cultural spaces in the Western Balkans. Target Group: Public institutions (e.g. museums, heritage institutes, universities, local governments) and CSOs legally established in the Western Balkans IPA Beneficiaries before 1 January 2024. Countries:

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CfA: North Macedonia: “Nikola Mladenov 2025” Journalism Awards (Deadline: 17 February)

Short Description: The Macedonian Institute for Media (MIM) announces the 25th edition of the Nikola Mladenov Awards, recognising the best investigative journalism stories of the year published in 2025. The awards celebrate professional and ethical journalism that uncovers issues of public interest, including organised crime, corruption, abuse of power, and human rights violations, and encourages

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CfA: ALF Knowledge for Action (K4A) Programme – Intercultural Dialogue in the Euro-Med Region (Deadline: 23 February)

Short Description: The Anna Lindh Foundation invites academics, think tanks, and specialised centres to produce evidence-based, policy-oriented research addressing intercultural dialogue in the Euro-Mediterranean region. The ALF Knowledge for Action call covers Euro‑Mediterranean topics in areas such as education, green and digital transitions, culture and tourism, innovation, civil society engagement, migration, disaster resilience, and peacebuilding.

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CfA: re:constitution Fellowships 2026/27 (Deadline: 5 March)

Short Description: The re:constitution Fellowship Programme offers 15 Fellowships to early- and mid-career scholars and practitioners to research, collaborate, and publish on issues related to democracy and the rule of law in Europe. Target Group: Early- to mid-career scholars and practitioners working on democracy and the rule of law, including academics, legal professionals, public officials,

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CfA: Matra Rule of Law Training Programme 2026 (Deadline: Varies by course)

Short Description: The Netherlands Helsinki Committee, Leiden Law School, and The Hague Academy for Local Governance, commissioned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, invite government officials, policy advisors, and judiciary members to participate in hybrid training courses aimed at strengthening institutional capacity and promoting best practices in the rule of law. Participants

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BCSDN Conversations: The Consequences and Impact of EU’s Democracy Instruments and Policies on the WBTCivic Space (21 Jan, 14h, online)

New EU initiatives, including the EU Civil Society Strategy, the European Democracy Shield, and preparations for the 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework, signal a shift toward making civic space, participation, and civil society protection central conditions for accession rather than peripheral concerns. These developments are unfolding amid growing political pressure on civil society within the EU

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Partners Albania: National Research Report on Community Foundations in Albania

A new national report published by BCSDN member Partners Albania provides the first in-depth look at community foundations in Albania, highlighting both challenges and growth opportunities. While the country has over 13,000 NPOs, community foundations remain limited, with “Korçarët Ndihmojmë Korçarët” (KNK) the only formally registered foundation as of 2025. The report, using the 4Cs

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The Future of Governance Support Depends on What We Choose to See

A growing consensus is emerging across the democracy, governance, and civic-space field: sustaining democratic practice depends less on technocratic solutions and more on the relational and connective work that holds societies together. Practitioners, funders, and researchers increasingly point to the importance of translation, trust-building, and the “soft infrastructure” that enables collective action under pressure. This

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Building Useful & Usable AI: A New Tool to Curb Procurement Corruption

Public procurement represents around one third of global government spending, totaling an estimated 10 trillion dollars annually, yet most procurement data remains inaccessible or difficult to analyze. Only a small share is published as open, machine-readable data, limiting the ability of journalists, civil society, and oversight bodies to identify corruption risks. This lack of transparency

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North Macedonia: Questionnaire to Assess the 2025 Government Action Plan on Civil Society Development

The Government of North Macedonia’s Department for Cooperation with NGOs has published a questionnaire for CSOs to assess the implementation of the Action Plan of the Government’s Strategy for Cooperation with and Development of Civil Society 2025–2028 in 2025. The form asks NGOs to provide information about their sector of work, participation in policy‑making processes,

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Our Collective Achievements: BCSDN Research and Policy Work in 2025

For BCSDN, 2025 marked a period of consolidation and increased influence within the regional advocacy landscape. We have released several key pieces of research and tools aimed at strengthening democratic participation. We have concluded a new Monitoring Matrix cycle, with an annual regional report on the civil society environment, and launch of an interactive Monitoring

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European Civic Forum: Civic Mobilisation and Rising Constraints on Civic Freedoms

Throughout Europe’s history, moments of mass mobilisation have marked demands for democratic change. In 2025, renewed civic mobilisation has re-emerged across the continent, including through large-scale student-led protests in Serbia against systemic corruption and governance failures. This mobilisation is unfolding alongside mounting restrictions on civic freedoms. The European Civic Forum’s latest Civic Space Report documents

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