What's New

News and updates from BCSDN and the region

Research Publication: Building a Constituency of CSOs in Serbia

A recent study by the Institute of Philosophy and Social Theory, University of Belgrade, supported by Helvetas Serbia and Civic Initiatives, highlights strategies for CSOs to strengthen community connections. The research emphasizes five key findings: raising awareness and identifying allies, building and measuring support through partnerships, capacity building through resources and collaboration, and developing planned

Read more →

CfP: Sub-Grants to Support Local Media Outlets in Albania – Second Round (Deadline: 3 March)

Target group: NGOs operating in Albania with media outlets (non-profit, active for over 12 months) Aim: To support local media outlets with technical, editorial, and financial resources to report independently, ethically, and in a gender-balanced way, with a focus on youth, women, and minority/vulnerable groups. Amount: 8 000 – 15 000 EUR per successful applicant Duration: 10

Read more →

CfP: Creative Europe Media Literacy Programme (Deadline: 6 March)

Target group: Legal entities (public or private bodies) established in Creative Europe Participating Countries, including EU Member States, overseas territories, and non-EU countries listed in the EEA or those associated with the Creative Europe Programme. Aim: To promote media literacy in a changing digital media environment, fostering cross-border initiatives and collaborations to share best practices and

Read more →

CfP: TRAG and Oak Foundation Stronger Together Program (Deadline: 9 March)

Target group: Women-led informal groups and organizations in Serbia, BiH, and Montenegro working on gender-based violence, human trafficking, and women’s movement building. Aim: To support women’s collectives (formal or informal) in the fight against domestic and partner violence, human trafficking, and exploitation, and in building the women’s movement. Special focus on initiatives addressing psychological violence

Read more →

CfA: Crossing Borders: Journalism Competition – Coverage of European Topics (Deadline: 17 February)

Target group: Journalism students and recent graduates (under 30 years old) from the Western Balkans Countries: Western Balkans Short Description: This competition promotes collaboration among young journalism students and recent graduates from the Western Balkans. The focus is on producing journalistic content about the European integration process in the Balkans, specifically the Berlin Process. Participants

Read more →

CfA: Partners Albania NPO Academy 2025 (Deadline: 21 February)

Target group: Executive Directors, Program Managers, and Board Chairs of Albanian CSOs Countries: Albania Short Description: The NPO Academy is a program designed to build the capacities of leaders in Albanian NGOs. It focuses on strengthening organizational management, financial sustainability, advocacy, inter-sectoral collaboration, and EU integration. Participants will gain knowledge in key areas such as

Read more →

CfA: 2025 OSCE Scholarship for Peace and Security (Deadline: 28 February)

Target group: Young professionals (ages 22-32) with a passion for conflict prevention, security, arms control, disarmament, and non-proliferation Countries: OSCE participating States and Partners for Co-operation Short Description: The OSCE Scholarship for Peace and Security is a training programme designed to empower young professionals in the security sector. The programme includes a 6-week online course

Read more →

CfA: Visegrad Scholarship Program (Deadline: 15 April)

Target group: Master’s and post-Master’s students and researchers Countries: Visegrad countries (Czechia, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia), Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, BiH, Georgia, Kosovo*, Moldova, Montenegro, Northern Macedonia, Serbia, and Ukraine. Short Description: The Visegrad Scholarship Program supports students and researchers from eligible countries to study or conduct research for up to two semesters at accredited higher

Read more →

BCSDN Condemns Escalating Smear Campaign Against Civic Initiatives and Maja Stojanović

BCSDN strongly condemns the ongoing smear campaign against prominent civil society activist Maja Stojanović, Executive Director of Civic Initiatives and BCSDN Board Member, as well as broader attacks on independent civil society in Serbia. While public smearing of Civic Initiatives has persisted for months, recent weeks have seen intensified disinformation and intimidation, particularly in response

Read more →

U.S. Foreign Aid Suspension: A Threat to Civic Space and a Call for Philanthropic Support from Civil Society

Following the abrupt suspension of U.S. foreign assistance, including the USAID funding, hundreds of projects now face uncertainty worldwide and in the Western Balkans. The three-month halt under President Trump’s Executive Order has stalled work by CSOs, independent media, and human rights initiatives, forcing many organizations to reduce staff or suspend activities. Programs supporting judicial

Read more →

Western Balkans Civil Society Networks to Organize Brussels Event: EU Enlargement & Defending Rule of Law in the Region

Western Balkans civil society networks, along with BCSDN are organizing an advocacy event in Brussels on February 25, bringing together civil society and think tank networks from the Western Balkans alongside EU stakeholders to discuss the future of EU enlargement. The event will focus on preserving the integrity of the enlargement process, maintaining the EU’s

Read more →