News and updates from BCSDN and the region
Recent Freedom House indicators show alarming signs concerning the state of democracy in all Western Balkans countries: Albania, Bosnia, Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia. Media freedoms show a marked decline in countries like Macedonia and Serbia, and a daunting absence of progress in countries like Montenegro, Bosnia and Hercegovina, and Albania. Other indicators, which relate to
Read more →European Movement in Montenegro has recently published a policy brief titled: “Enhancing Local CSOs for Advocating Better Cooperation with Local Authorities”. This policy paper intends to address the need for better cooperation of the civil society organizations on local level, and in line with the priority referred to – activities enabling CSOs outside capital cities
Read more →The Global Synthesis Report (SR) 2016 is one in a series of efforts to take stock of the progress in implementing effective development cooperation in the global regions and sectors. Building upon the SR 2015 baseline stocktaking on the state of Development Cooperation, CSO Enabling Environment, and CSO Development Effectiveness, the SR 2016 seeks to
Read more →The Guide illustrates the human rights anchorage of the 17 goals and provides concrete links between the 169 targets and the range of human rights instruments and labour standards. Thereby, the Guide reaffirms that human rights instruments and the 2030 Agenda are tied together in a mutually reinforcing way: human rights offer a legally binding
Read more →The WINGSForum has become the main event in the global philanthropy community. Focused on identifying new innovations in the sector, WINGSForum was designed as a peer learning experience where philanthropy leaders could share practical lessons and inspiration from their work. The 2017 Forum will provide an opportunity for reflection on the state of affairs in
Read more →The Front Line Defenders are currently accepting nominations for the 2017 Annual Front Line Defenders Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk. The annual Front Line Defenders Award was established in 2005 to honor the work of a human rights defender who, through non-violent work, is courageously making an outstanding contribution to the promotion and
Read more →The International Visegrad Fund annually provides small grants to organizations around the globe to facilitate and promote the development of closer cooperation among citizens and institutions in the region as well as between the V4 region and other countries. As a rule, the participation of at least three V4 countries (“3xV4 rule”) is required in the proposal,
Read more →The aim of the Strategic Support Grants (SSGs) is to support CSOs, including think tanks, that work in the following priority areas: good governance, public service improvement, rule of law, anti-corruption, human rights, economic growth, business enabling environment, and monitoring and oversight of public institutions. The Project plans to award up to seven grants under
Read more →The United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF) supports projects that strengthen the voice of civil society, promote human rights, and encourage the participation of all groups in democratic processes. The large majority of UNDEF funds go to local civil society organizations. This is the Eleventh Round to be launched by UNDEF, which provides grants of up
Read more →The project partners of the Global Standard for CSO Accountability met from the 5th to 8th of December in Uganda to finalize the Standard content and further develop the Guidance document that will support the use of the Standard. A meeting with East African CSOs was also organized at occasion, and it served as a platform
Read more →In Nairobi, Kenya, the second high level meeting of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation, a broad-sweeping agenda generated a renewed sense of energy for delivering on commitments. The meeting saw stakeholders from across the development sector — governments, civil society, trade unions, parliamentarians, foundations, business and many more — come together to take stock of
Read more →Тhe largest body of independent experts of the United Nations Human Rights system urges all Governments around the world to stand up for human rights. The so-called populist movements are invoking nationalism and traditionalism to justify racist, xenophobic, sexist, homophobic and other forms of blatant discrimination, taking advantage also of the difficulties of the current
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