News and updates from BCSDN and the region
Target group: Representatives of CSOs, associations, and foundations in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Countries: BiH Short Description: BCSDN member CPCD is hosting an emergency edition of CIVILKA, “Operation Resistance,” to address urgent challenges facing civil society in BiH. This hybrid event (online & in-person in Sarajevo) will take place on March 17, 2025, at 12:00 PM.
Read more →Target group: CSOs, government representatives, media professionals, and legal experts working on civic space and media freedom. Countries: EU member states and broader European countries affected by SLAPPs. Short Description: A practical webinar exploring how national OGP processes can advance media freedom and civic space through legislative measures to counter SLAPPs. The event will discuss
Read more →Target group: Journalists from Central and South Eastern Europe. Countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, and Slovenia. Short Description: The Fellowship for Journalistic Excellence, organized by Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN), is awarding ten fellowships to journalists with compelling story ideas that require on-the-ground reporting. The program emphasizes
Read more →Target group: Applicants must be residents of the Western Balkans, have at least two years of journalism experience (including freelancers), and show strong motivation to join the training. Countries: Western Balkans Short Description: The goal of the regional training camp is to equip journalists with specialized knowledge that enables them to protect themselves and their
Read more →Target group: 25-35 years old applicants (with exceptions possible) and have at least three years of experience in human rights advocacy, activism, community organizing, or social entrepreneurship. They should demonstrate engagement in Gender Justice or related fields and must be proficient in English. Countries: worldwide Short Description: Global Fellows in Courage (GFiC) is a 6-month
Read more →Target group: Legally established organizations, including micro-enterprises, SMEs, CSOs, schools, and universities, working on youth-focused research and innovation initiatives in the Western Balkans. Countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia Short Description: The Western Balkans R&I Youth Awards honor initiatives that engaged youth (15-29) in research and innovation from 2020 to
Read more →BiH CSOs have strongly condemned the urgent adoption of four laws by the National Assembly of Republika Srpska, particularly the so-called Foreign Agents Law, which they view as a direct attack on critical voices, independent organizations, media, and opposition figures. The law enables strict financial oversight of CSOs receiving international funding, branding them as “foreign
Read more →From February 24-26, BCSDN and partners conducted a high-level advocacy visit to Brussels, engaging with EU policymakers, civil society, and think tanks. The key event, Western Balkans Civil Society Policy Dialogues in Brussels: How Do We Get to Enlargement That Delivers?, organized in cooperation with the Think for Europe Network and Open Society Foundation –
Read more →Target groups: Local media outlets from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia. Aim: To support audience-engaged journalism by equipping media outlets with digital tools, training, and mentoring to enhance community participation, transparency, and investigative reporting. Amount: Up to 60,000 EUR total budget; individual grants up to 5,000 EUR; cross-border grants up
Read more →BCSDN strongly condemns the February 25 raids on Civic Initiatives, CRTA, Trag Foundation, the Center for Practical Politics, and KOMS, calling it yet another case of state pressure on independent civil society in Serbia. Conducted without prior notice, search warrants, or official explanation, the raids were reportedly linked to alleged misuse of USAID funds and
Read more →BCSDN’s latest policy brief highlights the alarming decline of civic space in the Western Balkans and Türkiye. Governments are enacting restrictive laws, curbing media freedom, and using financial and administrative pressure to silence civil society. Public funding for CSOs is politically controlled, unpredictable, and insufficient, while bureaucratic hurdles further limit independent financing. Moreover, governments are
Read more →The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) has announced that Civil Society Week 2025 will be held in Brussels from March 17-20, focusing on “Strengthening Cohesion and Participation in Polarised Societies”. The event will address the challenges posed by recent crises, including the pandemic, climate change, rising living costs, and income disparities, which have deepened
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