The Institute for Democracy and Mediation (IDM) presented on 17.06.2022 the regional project “SMART Balkans – Civil Society for Shared Society in the Western Balkans”, during the National Conference for Albania held in Tirana. The conference was attended by more than 120 participants, representatives of civil society organizations, media, and active citizens in Albania.
During the conference panels discussion were organized with the participation of some of the main actors responsible for the thematic areas of the project such as security, stability, and good governance. Representatives of central government institutions, activists of civil society organizations, journalists, researchers and academics participated in these panels and discussed the role that civil society, media and active citizens should play in these topics, with a special focus on the challenges of the country and the Western Balkan region.
The executive director of the Institute for Democracy and Mediation, Mr. Sotiraq Hroni, emphasized during his speech that this project is a unique opportunity offered to civil society organizations in the region. He said that the consortium of implementing organizations is responsible for its successful implementation and for the creation of a synergy between the government and civil society organizations in the six countries of the Western Balkans.
At the end of the conference, was presented the grant scheme that the SMART Balkans project will offer to civil society organizations, media, and active citizens. Through this scheme, more than 450 grants worth over 14.5 million euros will be awarded to civil society organizations in the Western Balkans during the four-year period 2022-2025.
More photos from the conference can be found here: https://bit.ly/3RjzVKb
