At the end of February and during the first half of March 2025, contracts were signed for the implementation of 36 projects in six WB countries selected under the second public call for National Interventions within the SMART Balkan project. They were selected from a total of 194 submitted applications, 25 from Albania, 25 from Bosnia and Herzegovina, 26 from Montenegro, 35 from Kosovo, 46 from North Macedonia, and 37 from Serbia. Under this call, organizations were supported with a total amount of 8,473,675 NOK.
Carefully selected organizations and their contributions will play a key role in driving progress and fostering lasting, sustainable changes in the region.
During the next eight months, organizations will implement projects dedicated to national security, stability, and good governance, specifically focused on supporting education, empowering youth, EU integration, legal aid, human rights, women’s entrepreneurship, cybersecurity and civil society engagement.
Six new grant agreements have been signed in Albania, with a total funding of 1,224,430.18 NOK. The projects will be implemented by the following organizations: Together for Life, Center for Gender Justice in Albania, Institute of Romani Culture in Albania, Albanian Sustainable Development Organization, Centre for Transparency and Freedom of Information, and Liberal Institute Pashko. Detailed project descriptions can be found HERE.
In Bosnia and Herzegovina agreements were signed with four civil society organizations, with a total value of 954,861.41 NOK. The projects will be implemented by: Center for the Development of Youth Activism -CROA, PRONI Center for Youth Development, Institute for Development and European Integration (IREI) and UG Fojničani. Detailed project descriptions are available at the following LINK and a glimpse of the atmosphere from the signing ceremony can be seen HERE.
Six organizations will implement projects in Kosovo as follows: Youth Initiative for Human Rights Kosovo, Coalition of NGO-s for Child Protection, Kosovar Institute for Policy Research and Development, EdGuard, Group for Legal and Political Studies, Democracy for Development, supported with a total amount of 1,462,910 NOK. Details about the projects are available HERE.
Seven new grant agreements have been signed in Montenegro with a total value of 1,611,898.45 NOK. Awarded organizations are BIRN – Montenegro, CAZAS, Center for the Promotion of Sports and Youth-CAMS, Center for Democratic Transition – CDT, Center for Civic Education – CGO, Association Parents and UZOR. Detailed project descriptions are available HERE.
In North Macedonia five agreements were signed with organizations with a total value of 1,081,039.89 NOK. The projects will be implemented by: Association of Business Women (ABW), Metamorphosis Foundation for Internet and Society, National Youth Council of Macedonia, Volunteer Firefighting Association Sveti Nikole, Institute for European Policy Skopje. Projects details are available HERE.
Eight agreements were signed with organizations from Serbia: Belgrade Open School, Center for Positive Youth Development, Center for Free Elections and Democracy (CeSID), Fenomena Association, Hartefakt Fund Foundation, Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia, Institute for Territorial Economic Development (InTER), YUROM Center Citizens’ Association. The total value of this support is 1,898,313.72 NOK. Detailed project descriptions are available at the following LINK.
National interventions projects will empower communities, strengthen civil society, and promote sustainable development in Western Balkans.
