News and updates from BCSDN and the region
Hungary’s populist right-wing government has offered a robust defense of its plans to curtail foreign-backed civil society groups and suggested the change in the US administration means a new era is at hand. In comments that will alarm many non-government organisations, an official spokesman for Hungary’s prime minister, Viktor Orbán, confirmed there would be changes
Read more →A collective of hackers and researchers has launched a new site called Security Without Borders that aims to provide cyber-security help to CSOOs, activists, and other at-risk groups. Security Without Borders acts as a sort of free consultancy for activists. The site’s Request Assistance feature allows organizations to seek help with bolstering their communication protections or getting
Read more →The Macedonian Center for International Cooperation (MCIC) issued a policy document, titled “Direct State Funding to CSOs – Basic Overview”. The aim of the document is to contribute to the improvement of data availability and to review the practices of direct budget financing of civil society organizations (CSOs) in Macedonia. In Macedonia, state funding for CSOs through
Read more →The ability to assemble and act collectively is vital to democratic, economic, social and personal development, to the expression of ideas and to fostering engaged citizenry. Yet despite the increasingly prominent role that assemblies play in today’s world, there is sometimes a lack of clear understanding of the applicable international human rights law and standards.
Read more →The Global Summit on Community Philanthropy took place in Johannesburg, South Africa from 1 – 2 December 2016. Speakers and delegates alike made the call to “Shift the power” to the people, to the local, to the community. The European Foundation Centre (EFC) Chief Executive, Gerry Salole took part in the Summit and in a recent interview
Read more →The South East European Media Observatory has recently published a report titled “Comparing Models and Demanding Reforms of Public Service Media”. Through a comparative overview, the authors seek to establish similarities and differences, as well as where good practices in the governing and funding models which empower the public media for serving the public interest
Read more →Independent Journalists’ Association of Vojvodina , in cooperation with the Media Department of the OSCE Mission in Serbia has drawn up a Guide to Civil Society Media, trying to present to the professional and the general public, a media phenomenon present in developed democracies, a significant tool for the citizens in satisfying public interest in the field
Read more →The anti-corruption and good governance coalition Southeast European Leadership for Development and Integrity (SELDI) issued the Hidden Economy and Good Governance in Southeast Europe Regional Assessment Report. The report examines the key drivers of the hidden economy and its impact on the overall economy in SEE, and in particular the employment, social and fiscal sectors.
Read more →Philanthropy must be boosted in Europe. New challenges, new tools and new methods are spurring philanthropists and their advisors on to develop innovative initiatives for a better society. Philanthropy is becoming ever more diverse and increasingly accessible, and now forms an integral part of the advantages of our societies. But barriers, threats and areas of
Read more →Social innovations are often presented as solutions to wicked social problems, operating across sectors, and disrupting traditions of policy and practice. Social innovations – including social enterprise, design-led service creation and citizen co-production – are initiated within, between and beyond the bounds of established organizational forms. Redefining boundaries creates new opportunities for combining wisdom and
Read more →The specific objective of this call for proposals is: To build the capacity of CSOs to be professional, effective and accountable independent actors. The priorities of this Call for Proposals are: Actions aiming to empower, and develop capacities of CSOs; Actions aiming to increase the government’s response to CSOs’ needs; Actions aiming to improve the
Read more →The global objective of this call for proposals is to strengthen the capacities of existing or new national, regional, local and/or thematic platforms and networks of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Turkey. The specific objectives of this call for proposals are: a) to strengthen CSO’s networks and platforms internal governance; b) to strengthen networks and
Read more →