Within the SMART Balkans project, which is implemented in six Western Balkans countries by the Centar za promociju civilnog društva (CPCD) from Bosnia and Herzegovina in partnership with the Institute for Democracy and Mediation (IDM) from Albania and the Center for Research and Policy Making (CRPM) from North Macedonia, with the financial support of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, agreements were signed with sixteen civil society organizations, media and creative groups from Bosnia and Herzegovina, selected and rewarded as part of another public call for grants.
Today at the Agreement Signing Ceremony, H.E. Olav Reinertsen, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway in Bosnia and Herzegovina, congratulated 16 organizations on the start of cooperation and implementation of projects within the SMART Balkans support for Local Initiatives, Creative Box, and Media grant:
“We are proud to be here with CPCD. Civil society is the backbone of any democracy, in Norway or Bosnia and Herzegovina. What we have seen in the B&H in the last few months makes me and my colleagues in the international community uncomfortable. If Bosnia and Herzegovina want to join Euro-Atlantic structures, then civil society should play a major, key role in initiating free discussions and open debates, to bring this country closer to Europe. Any attack on civil society and restriction of basic freedoms is a violation of fundamental human rights and should be stopped. With these grants we are confident that this organizations will work hard to enabling B&H and civil society to develop further and bring B&H where it belongs, to the European and Atlantic structures”.
Along with agreement signing, project management guidelines were presented in a festive atmosphere in Centar za promociju civilnog društva, and the newly selected were joined by previous winners of Regional and Core grants from BiH with the aim of getting to know each other, networking and exchanging experiences. The public call received a total of 670 applications from six countries. Out of 52 applications received from B&H for Local Initiatives, Creative Box, and Media grants, 16 were selected to receive funding in the total amount of 156,348.32 EUR.
Recipients of Local Initiative grants:
- Udruženje CROA
- NEŠTO VIŠE
- Oštra Nula
- Udruzenje LAN
- EKO EHO – Centar za edukaciju i promociju zdravog života
- CENER 21, Center for Energy, Environment and Resources
- Udruženje za psihosocijalnu podršku “Psihoart”
- Resursni Centar Doboj
- Centar za razvoj neformalnog obrazovanje
- Eko Akcija
Recipients of Creative Box grants:
- Fondacija CPI
- Zdravo Da Ste OC
- Neformalna grupa Shambala
Recipients of Media grants:
- Poslovni portal Capital.ba
- Slobodna Bosna
- Analiziraj.ba
SMART Balkan is a four-year regional project that is implemented with the aim of strengthening participatory democracies and Euro-Atlantic integration in the Western Balkans countries through the empowerment of civil society organizations and networks, for a stronger and active role in creating a better future and the sustainable development of peaceful and inclusive societies. Special emphasis is placed on the Security and Stability, and Good governance areas, where regional cooperation is encouraged. During its implementation, 450 grants distributed in seven types of support for different aspects of activity will be awarded, in the total amount of 14.5 million EUR.
In April 2023, in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Serbia, agreement signing ceremonies were held with cooperating partners for the three grant categories mentioned, within which a total of 64 projects were supported.
During April 2023, in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Serbia, contract signing ceremonies were held with grant winners for the three above mentioned grant categories, within which a total of 64 projects were supported.
