Will the OGP Sink or Swim? Civic Space Will Be the Lifesaver
The Open Government Partnership (OGP) is just four years old, but already has the potential to help fight against restrictions on civil society space. It…
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News and updates from BCSDN and the region
Why the Space for Civic Engagement Is Shrinking
All around the world, active citizenship is under attack and the space for civic engagement is closing—not just in countries that have struggled under repressive or autocratic governments, but also in democracies with longstanding traditions of supporting freedom of expression. There are many different reasons for this shrinking of the public space. Civil society is
Read more →Policy Brief: How to Enhance the Involvement of CSOs in Service Provision? Situation, Challenges and Opportunities
On 18th December, 2015, the Institute for Democracy “Societas Civilis” (IDSCS) presented the policy brief “How to enhance the involvement of CSOs in services’ provision? Situation, Challenges and Opportunities”. The policy brief has been prepared within the framework of the IDSCS project “CSOs as Service Providers: Enhancing the practices and increasing opportunities”, supported by the
Read more →Record EU Humanitarian Budget Adopted for 2016
As global humanitarian needs are set to reach a historic high in 2016, the European Commission is stepping up its humanitarian budget to record levels. On 16th December, the European Commission has adopted its humanitarian aid budget for 2016. With nearly EUR 1.1 billion as an initial allocation, it is the highest EU humanitarian budget
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BCSDN Beyond 2016: BCSDN Board Met to Discuss New Strategy Proposal
On the 17th and the 18th of December, BCSDN Board held a Strategic workshop and a regular 3rd session of the Board that served as…
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BCSDN at the RCC Regional Cooperation Day “End of a Tough Year, What Will 2016 Be Like?”
The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) organized the Regional Cooperation Day “End of a tough year, what will 2016 be like?” to discuss with CSOs and…
Read more →Public Consultation with CSOs in the Western Balkans and Turkey
DG NEAR is currently programming the assistance to Civil Society for the years 2016-17 through the IPA II – Civil Society Facility and Media Programme 2016-17. TACSO invites CSOs to send them their comments as input for a consultation round before entering the finalisation phase. TACSO will manage this consultation exercise and will gather all contributions, comments will
Read more →Beyond Instrumentalisation: NGO Monitoring Coalitions in Croatia, Montenegro, and Serbia
This article investigates a particular form of civil society mobilisation in the EU accession process. Despite widely varying models of civil society inclusion across the Western Balkans, monitoring coalitions focused on rule of law issues have emerged in a majority of countries. Comparing the cases of Croatia, Montenegro, and Serbia, the article suggests that this
Read more →EU Progress Reports Comparative Analysis on Topics Related to Territorial Development
In December 2015, the Institute for Territorial Economic Development – InTER, issued the Analysis of the European Commission Progress Report Regarding Questions of Importance for Territorial Development. The analysis follows EC methodology and structures information in line with the political and economic criteria of the acquis, focusing on the relevant areas within each acquis criteria.
Read more →A Fundraising Success Checklist for Non-profits
Mobile for Good: A How-To Fundraising Guide for Non-profits is a comprehensive 256-page book packed with more than 500 best practices that includes a companion “Mobile and Social Fundraising Success Checklist” at the end of the book. Written on the premise that all communications and fundraising are now mobile and social, Mobile for Good is
Read more →CfA: Open Society Fellowship (Deadline: 04.01.2016)
The Open Society Fellowship supports individuals pursuing innovative and unconventional approaches to fundamental open society challenges. The fellowship funds work that will enrich public understanding of those challenges and stimulate far-reaching and probing conversations within the Open Society Foundations and in the world. A fellowship project might identify a problem that has not previously been
Read more →CfA: 2016 Mandela-Machel Innovation Awards (Deadline: 17.01.2016)
The CIVICUS Nelson Mandela – Graça Machel Innovation Awards celebrates 11 years of honoring civil society activists and organisations for their excellence, innovation, and brave risk-taking. Nominations are now open for Youth Activists, Individual Activists, Civil Society Organisations, and for the first time ever, nominations are open for donors under a new category: Brave Philanthropy.
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