BOOST Grants

Description

1) Objective

ALDA is excited to announce that the first round of grants is available for regional projects within the BOOST Programme, an initiative funded by AFD – Agence Française de Développement designed to support and strengthen civil society organisations (CSOs) across the Western Balkans. Through this programme, ALDA aims to foster democratic, economic, social, and cultural growth across six Western Balkan countries, supporting them on their journey toward EU integration. BOOST stands for Balkans for Optimizing Opportunities, Sustainability, and Transformation of Civil Society. This initiative promotes sustainable development and collaboration by providing a unique sub-granting scheme, designed to empower CSOs in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia.

Projects will focus on three key pillars:

• Youth and Entrepreneurship
• Rural Development and Environmental Protection
• Preservation of Cultural Heritage and Community Development

2) Eligibility

Applicants must be non-profit CSOs registered in one of the six targeted countries. Each regional partnership must include at least three organisations from different countries.

3) Location

Actions must take place in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia.

4) Budget

With a total of €2,250,000 allocated to cascading grants, the BOOST Programme will provide substantial resources for selected projects: (1) Regional BOOST Grant Programme: €450,000, with each project eligible for up to €60,000; (2) National BOOST Grant Programme: €1,800,000, with the first round set to launch in March 2025.

5) Application

For those interested in the Regional Grants, the call for proposals is now open and closes on December 27, 2024. Eligible applicants are invited to submit their proposals via the BOOST Grants Platform.