Another public call for SMART Balkan project grants, 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 financial support from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has been concluded. After the evaluation, organizations at local levels, media and creative groups were selected, which will join the mission of creating a better future and sustainable development of peaceful and inclusive societies in the Western Balkans.
The first agreements signing ceremony with civil society organizations, media and creative groups will be held in Montenegro on Thursday, April 20, 2023, at Hotel Cue Podgorica (Cetinjska 7), from 10:00 to 2:30 hrs.
The public call received a total of 670 applications from six countries, of which 30 applications were from local organizations, media and creative groups from Montenegro, of which nine were selected and supported with a total amount of EUR 84,579.30. Along with the agreements signing, guidelines for project management will be presented at the event, and in addition to the newly selected, the winners of regional and core grants from Montenegro from the previous SMART Balkans public call will attend the ceremony, with the aim of networking and exchanging experiences. As a reminder, these organizations are the Center for Democratic Transition (CDT), the Center for Civic Education (CGO), the Spektra Association and the organization SOS Hotline for Women and Children Victims of Violence Nikšić as the leader of one of the regional project supported within SMART Balkans.
SMART Balkan is a three-year regional project that is implemented with the aim of strengthening participatory democracies and Euro Atlantic integrations in the Western Balkans countries by empowering civil society organizations and CSO networks for a stronger and more active role in creating a better future and sustainable development of peaceful and inclusive societies.
Emphasis is placed on the security, stability and good governance areas, while regional cooperation is especially encouraged. During the SMART Balkans implementation period, 450 grants disaggregated in seven types of support for different aspects of civil society activities will be awarded, in the total amount of 14.5 million EUR.
