News and updates from BCSDN and the region
As global crises shift donor priorities and the U.S. abruptly withdraws funding, watchdog and advocacy organizations across the region face growing uncertainty. A recent study examines key donors, including the EU, Sweden, Switzerland, Norway, Germany, France, and the UK, and how their support affects civil society’s role in the EU accession process. The report finds
Read more →A coalition of 46 civil society organizations from the Western Balkans, Ukraine, and the Republic of Moldova has issued a joint appeal to the European Parliament and EU Member States, calling for enlargement to be made a core strategic and budgetary priority in the upcoming EU long-term budget for 2028–2034. The appeal urges the establishment
Read more →Target Group: Local authorities, emergency services, businesses, and civil society organisations working to improve disaster resilience and address climate change challenges. Aim: To enhance the capacity of authorities and emergency services to manage natural and human-induced disasters, and to strengthen the ability of local authorities, businesses, and civil society to respond to climate change. Countries:
Read more →Target Group: Legal, non-profit entities based in the WB6 region, including CSOs/NGOs, public bodies, educational institutions, business or media associations, and cultural or sports institutions, with prior experience in managing donor-funded or regional projects. Aim: To support ongoing activities or replicate successful projects from local to regional level, strengthening cooperation, dialogue, and mutual understanding across
Read more →Target Group: Consortia of at least two legal entities from EU Member States or Horizon Europe-associated countries, including CSOs, NGOs, higher education institutions, research centres, and SMEs. The lead applicant must be new to ORRI practices. Aim: To support projects implementing Open and Responsible Research and Innovation (ORRI) principles, fostering inclusivity, transparency, anticipation, and responsiveness
Read more →Short Description: BIRN Hub and Youth Initiative for Human Rights, in cooperation with the Regional Office of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation in Tirana, invite young activists and journalists to the Re:Connected workshop in Sarajevo. This three-day interactive workshop explores how media and art can be used as tools for reconciliation and dialogue. Target
Read more →Short Description: This training in Bușteni, Romania, empowers youth workers to use Legislative Theatre methods to address systemic change, engage vulnerable groups, and work with public authorities on advocacy processes. Target Group: Active youth workers, NGO staff, teachers, and professors passionate about human rights and non-formal education; no prior experience in theatre methods required. Countries:
Read more →Short Description: The EcoAction Hackathon is an international online challenge for young people to design creative, practical, and innovative solutions to environmental issues. Participants can develop projects individually or in teams and present their ideas in one of four tracks: Creative & Visual Idea, Media & Digital Content, Project & Community Action, or Innovation &
Read more →Target Group: Young leaders, activists, social entrepreneurs, youth advocates, policy students, researchers, and creatives aged 16–46 from any country, passionate about making a positive impact. Aim: To bring together global youth changemakers to engage in workshops, policy dialogues, cultural exchange, and innovation labs, addressing challenges such as climate change, AI disruption, youth unemployment, democratic participation,
Read more →Short Description: A regional conference bringing together government representatives, civil society, the private sector, and academia to promote inclusive volunteering, with a particular focus on senior volunteers aged 50+. The event highlights the importance of senior expertise in strengthening intergenerational cooperation, fairness, and solidarity across the Balkans. Target Group: Government institutions, civil society organisations, volunteer
Read more →Short Description: Cross-border initiative by Heartefact that supports young professionals, researchers, and creatives from Kosovo and Serbia to develop new and constructive narratives about relations between the two societies. Target Group: Young professionals, researchers, and creatives from Kosovo and Serbia working in or affiliated with academia, CSOs, think tanks, media, culture, creative industries, new media,
Read more →Short Description: The Connecting Europe Fellowship, launched by the European Policy Centre (EPC), offers young professionals from EU enlargement countries the opportunity to spend three months in Brussels conducting independent, policy-oriented research on how EU policy and enlargement intersect. Target Group: Early- to mid-career researchers and professionals from think tanks, universities, or civil society organisations
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