Welcome
SMART Balkans - Civil Society for Shared Society in the Western Balkans
Center for Civil Society Promotion (Centar za promociju civilnog društva - CPCD), together with partner organizations from Albania – Institute for Democracy and Mediation (IDM) and North Macedonia – Center for Research and Policy Making (CRPM), is implementing a project named SMART Balkans – Civil society for shared society in the Western Balkans, which contributes to strengthening participatory democracies and Euro Atlantic integrations in the Western Balkans by empowering civil society organizations and CSO networks for stronger and active role in creating peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia.
Project is financed by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs with a grant worth more than 17 million EUR (34 million BAM).
Center for Civil Society Promotion (Centar za promociju civilnog društva) signed a contract with Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 6 December 2021.
In 2024, NMFA introduced a reduction of funds for the project, whose value is reduced to 125 230 000 NOK (Approximately 12 million EUR) as of June 2024.
On November 21, 2024, the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) secured an additional 600,000 NOK, which will be redirected to AD HOC grants in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro, that were suspended due to a funds reduction. The addendum is available HERE.
Why shared society in the Western Balkans?
Region of Western Balkans has been marked by mass departures of its population in the past few years. Bad perspective for youth, widespread corruption on all levels of government, low living standard and political instability are just some of the challenges that people in the region are facing. Many are unable to find a job they educated themselves for until they leave their homeland, and when they do, they are aided by other people from Western Balkans abroad. So, a question arises – if we can cooperate abroad, why not at home? The answer is in lack of interest from those responsible for creating a better life for common people. Divided society is a society easily manipulated and with very little competence. That is why it is a duty of civil sector in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia to be that link between the countries that will enable us to be as successful at home as we are abroad, and thus build a foundation for a better future for all of Western Balkans.


Ambassador of Kingdom of Norway in BiH Olav Reinertsen and CPCD Director Aida Daguda
Topics covered by the project:
- Capacity building and encouraging a more active role of CSOs
- Creation of regional partnerships between CSOs
- Increase of citizen influence on decision-making through CSOs, resulting in increased security, stability and governance in the region of Western Balkans
- Raising awareness about the importance of active participation of civil sector in important development initiatives
Main focus of the project is distribution of more than 450 grants, CSO capacity building and campaigning, all related to two main topics:
• Security and Stability
• Governance
In order to include a large number of quality associates, more than 600 CSOs across the Western Balkans will receive support in capacity building, mentoring as well as technical and financial support via project grant scheme. These activities will focus on some of the challenges CSOs in the region are facing, such as low capacity and exclusion issues, poor information flows, lack of resources, and many more. Also, lack of citizens’ awareness about their ability to influence changes is one of the key issues in countries of Western Balkans. Therefore, raising awareness about the importance of citizen participation in democratic processes is one of the key aspects of the project which will build a foundation for further strengthening of participatory democracy.
The project has 7 types of grants:
- CORE GRANTS
- NATIONAL INTERVENTIONS
- MEDIA GRANTS
- REGIONAL GRANTS
- LOCAL INITIATIVES
- CREATIVE BOX
- AD HOC GRANTS


- Want to know more about us?Just download brochure...
SMART Facts
SMART Balkans in numbers
Empowering CSOs for stronger and more active role in creating peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development in Western Balkans
SMART Balkans team
Meet our team

Dajana Cvjetkovic
Program manager, CPCD

Iskra Tafro
Communication manager, CPCD

Edisa Adžović
Grants Manager, CPCD

Senka Grbić
Project Officer, CPCD

Lejla Mijovic
Finance and Grants manager, CPCD

Amina Salkić
Project Officer, CPCD

Aida Daguda
Monitoring and evaluation Manager

Hanan-Lamia Skopljak
Grants Officer

Anila Salianji
Project Manager, IDM

Endrita Shehu
Grants Officer, IDM

Denisa Shabani
Head of FInance, IDM

Olgerta Puta
Finance Officer, IDM

Fjona Dhembo
Communication Officer, IDM

Marija Risteska
Executive Director, CRPM

Bojana Krstevska
Project Manager, CRPM

Emilija Bumbaroska
Finance Manager, CRPM

Blagorodna Ampova
Finance Officer, CRPM

Magdalena Bunteska
Grants Officer, CRPM

Mila Georgievska Cvetanovska
Project Officer, CRPM

Stojan Stojchevski
Communications Officer, CRPM
OUr Skiil
We Position Our Clients at The Forefront of Their Field by Advanced Services.
A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart.A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet morning.
Creativity
Development
Marketing
Analysis

Iskra Tafro
Communication Manager, CPCD

Senka Grbić
Project Officer, CPCD

Amina Kolašinac
Project Officer, CPCD

Hanan-Lamia Skopljak
Grant Officer, CPCD
