Western Balkans Fund 7th Annual Call for Proposals 2025

Description

1) Objective

The Western Balkans Fund announces a Call for Proposals for Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and other eligible applicants in the Western Balkans region. This Call is co-funded by the European Union, IPA – Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance III. This annual grant scheme is designed to empower CSOs, with a focus on grassroots organisations across the Western Balkans by fostering regional and cross-border collaboration. Through these grants, WBF aims to strengthen regional cohesion, enhance cooperation among stakeholders from at least three WBF Contracting Parties, and promote active participation in initiatives that advance the mission of regional integration and development.

Projects can cover one or several of the following areas of intervention:

• Cultural cooperation: Fostering regional cultural identity and intercultural dialogue in the Western Balkans by promoting cooperation in sustainable initiatives, activities, and projects to embrace a shared commitment to both environmental stewardship and peaceful coexistence and nurture nature and cultural bonds for a harmonious and eco-conscious region.
• Education and Scientific exchanges: Advancing regional projects and activities in education development, capacity building, and mobility to foster growth and extension with a commitment to the green agenda by integrating environmentally conscious practices into educational initiatives and promoting scientific exchanges for sustainable regional development.
• Sustainable Development: Promoting regional cohesion and fostering institutional partnerships for sustainable economic development through integration of green agenda into environmental responsible practices, ensuring a harmonious balance between regional growth and ecological wellbeing.

2) Eligibility

To be eligible to apply for the Annual grant, the lead applicant must be: a legal entity, (individuals and/or not registered entities are not eligible) and established in one or more WBF Contracting Parties, and non-profitmaking.

3) Location

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

4) Budget

The maximum grant size is 15,000 EUR (+20% cofinancing are needed). The overall indicative amount made available under this Call for Proposals is EUR 360,000.

5) Application

The deadline for applications is 19 February 2025.