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Info session for applicants from Montenegro was held

Today, an info session was held on the current public calls of the SMART Balkans project for applicants from Montenegro. The session was attended by over 80 representatives of organizations interested in awarding grants in the categories of National Initiatives, Local Initiatives, Creative Box and Media.

The SMART Balkans project manager and program manager of the Center for the Promotion of Civil Society, Dajana Cvjetković, addressed those present who presented the project, partner organizations, and CPCD. What is essential to emphasize are the values ​​of the SMART Balkans project, i.e., transparency, professionalism, and local ownership. We want to pay special attention to local ownership, which does not mean that local organizations implement projects at the local level but that organizations that apply for projects should be able to adapt their project ideas to their missions and visions and not exclusively to the goals stated in public calls.

The SMART Balkans project is set up to respond to four expected results, and by the end of the project, it is planned to contribute to a stronger, more sustainable, and more active civil society. One of the results we are expecting is a more developed and stronger regional partnership between civil society organizations in the Western Balkan region, partners from the European Union, and the public sector. Then the increased effectiveness of the influence of citizens on changes through civil society organizations, not only the number of participation in decision-making processes but the proper recognition of the work of civil society organizations. Another of the expected results is increased public awareness of the importance of active participation of civil society in development initiatives in the Western Balkans region.

We want to see these four results or primary goals as a contribution to Euro-Atlantic integration and the strengthening of a living democracy that is adapted to the specific needs of our region and countries. Edisa Adžović, grant officer of the SMART Balkans project, presented the Grant Management platform to the organization’s representatives, designed to provide its users with all the necessary information regarding grants within the SMART Balkans project.

After the presentation of the GMP platform and four current public calls, there were many interesting questions from representatives of organizations interested in applying for new projects, which made us especially happy. The questions and answers of the info session for applicants from all six countries of the Western Balkans will be published on February 3 on our website.