News and updates from BCSDN and the region
Target group: Any legal entity worldwide can apply for Visegrad+ Grants, with preference for those from target and V4 countries. These grants support multilateral initiatives, requiring partnerships between the applicant and project partners from at least three V4 countries and one target country. Aim: Visegrad+ Grants support projects that contribute to democratization and transformation in
Read more →Target group: CSOs working on women’s rights, environmental justice, and anti-corruption in five EU Member States: Romania, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Croatia and Portugal. Aim: The NHC aims to provide grants to its partner CSOs and grassroots initiatives working in the field of women’s rights, environmental justice and anti-corruption, within the five countries of the project: Portugal,
Read more →Target group: Local organizations, encouraging the participation and representation of Albanian youth in Preševo and Bujanovac. Aim: By empowering local organizations to leverage their community connections and understanding of local challenges and needs, the call aims to create an environment where Albanian youth actively engage in social events and where their voices are heard and
Read more →Target group: All interested journalists and representatives from CSOs in Albania. Countries: Albania Short Description: SCIDEV, in collaboration with Free Press Unlimited (FPU) and Citizens.al, is inviting all interested journalists and representatives from CSOs to participate in a specialized cyber security training program. Themes to be encompassed during the training: Albanian Regulatory Framework on Cybersecurity;
Read more →Target group: Young journalists and students from North Macedonia. Countries: North Macedonia Short Description: BIRN invites young journalists and students to apply for a one-year investigative journalism program. Ten selected participants will receive mentorship, financial support, and training from September 2024 to August 2025, culminating in a mini summer school. Duration: One year Link to
Read more →Target group: Final-year journalism students, recent graduates, and young and professional journalists from the Western Balkan countries including Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia. Countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia. Short Description: This training course will help tackle fake news and unverified reporting by helping journalists
Read more →In an interview with Objavi.ba, BCSDN Head of Policy and Advocacy Anja Bosilkova-Antovska discussed the rising issue of SLAPPs (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation), as highlighted in BCSDN’s first regional research on the topic. Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and North Macedonia rank among the top ten European countries for the frequency of SLAPP cases. Anja
Read more →BCSDN member Partners Albania for Change and Development has released a report addressing Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) in Albania. The report reveals how SLAPPs undermine democratic values by targeting activists, civil society, and the media. It provides a clear analysis of SLAPPs, including their definition, the current legal framework, and their effects on
Read more →BCSDN member from Türkiye, TUSEV, together with STGM explored the impact of Turkish tax regulations on NGOs, offering examples from various countries, and suggesting reforms for NGO financial sustainability. The reports on “Tax Regulations Concerning Associations and Foundations,” “Taxation of Economic Enterprises”, and “Public Benefit and Tax Exemption Statuses” reveal that tax advantages for CSOs
Read more →The article highlights the shifting dynamics in the European Union’s enlargement strategy, with a focus on the Western Balkans. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has revitalized the EU’s commitment to enlargement, demonstrating a strategic imperative to integrate Eastern Europe trio and Western Balkan countries. While Ukraine’s accession has been expedited, the Western Balkans continue to
Read more →The report provided by our member FDSC, offers insights into the current state of NGO sector in Romania, detailing its role in social development, employment, and volunteer involvement. It examines the sector’s dynamics, capacity for public good, and historical context, including its evolution from communist restrictions to its current challenges amid populist and illiberal trends.
Read more →The protests, organized by the Association of Environmental Organizations of Serbia, and other initiatives, opposing the Rio Tinto lithium project in Jadar, continued nationwide, with activists’ warnings about significant environmental risks. On 10 August, a major protest in Belgrade resulted in the arrest of three activists who were charged with “disturbing public order” after blocking
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