Deadline: 19-Feb-2025
The Western Balkans Fund is excited to announce the launch of a new call for proposals, an important opportunity for Civil Society Organizations and other eligible applicants in the Western Balkans Region.
This annual grant scheme is designed to empower CSOs, with a focus on grassroots organizations 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 Fund’s mission of regional integration and development.
Objectives
- The overall objective of the EU/WBF Joint Action is to strengthen regional cooperation and participatory democracies around the WB region.
- Specific objectives include:
- Establishing partnerships among CSOs across the region to work on shared challenges.
- Boosting capacities through training and different eligible types of supports.
- Promoting inclusivity by supporting marginalized.
Focus Areas
- Areas of intervention for this call represent the key priorities and strategic objectives identified by WBF. 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.
Funding Information
- The overall indicative amount made available under this Call for Proposals is EUR 360,000.
- The Contracting Authority (WBF) will fund up to maximum grant per project of 15,000 EUR.
- A minimum of 3,750 EUR is required as co-financing if asking the maximum (15,000 EUR) amount of grant. Example of the co-financing formula: Max. Size of the Grant (15,000EUR) + 20% Co-financing (3,750 EUR) = Total Amount of Eligible Costs (18,750 EUR).
- The project duration may not be lower than 3 (three) months nor exceed6 (six)months, including Reporting Period (last 30 days within the implementation timeframe).
Eligible Activities
- Indicative types of activities which may be financed under this Call for Proposals are (please note that this list is non-exhaustive):
- Cultural cooperation
- Supporting regional projects aiming to increase awareness of the richness in terms of cultural heritage in the WB, including history, art, culinary, tourism, etc.
- Promotion of regional intercultural dialogue that directly contributes to people to people links and good neighbourly relations.
- Promotion of regional interfaith dialogue, supporting the spread of best practices of tolerance, constructive and positive interaction between religious communities in the WB region.
- Promoting the Western Balkans region in other parts of Europe, such as promotion of the regional cultural identity/products.
- Supporting regional initiatives that monitor and promote the EU integration process.
- Promoting the raise of awareness for protection and preservation of archaeological sites, monuments and overall cultural heritage. Underlining the importance of regional cooperation in this respect.
- Supporting cultural and creative sectors in the region in creating and promoting authentic regional brands in their specific areas of activities.
- Promoting/supporting the organisation of regional sport activities in different specialties.
- Encourage active cooperation between museums, art galleries, artistic and folk assembles, film producers, etc., by supporting joint regional activities and products.
- Education and Scientific exchanges
- Supporting and strengthening the cooperation among educational and research institutions in the region.
- Supporting teachers in the region, by offering concrete opportunities for sharing of the best practices.
- Supporting the development of regional initiatives in education academia and research.
- Supporting the increase in the volume of common of educational tools and their regional exchange (e.g. methodologies, common textbooks, internship programmes, etc.).
- Promoting best practices of education policies and sharing of best performances in the dialogue among decision-making bodies, municipalities, schools and families.
- Promoting innovation and knowledge-based entrepreneurship as the main source of growth and job creation.
- Supporting opportunities/actions for the researchers from the Western Balkans region ex. topic “brain drain”.
- Promoting Networks of Excellence to strengthen excellence on a particular research topic.
- Improving lifelong learning for better access to labour markets.
- Increasing science popularisation, with particular focus on the STEM curriculum for the women and youth.
- Supporting mobility in the region on specific topics such as: internships, youth summer/winter camps.
- Sustainable Development
- Promoting initiatives for inclusive and sustainable economic growth and for improvement of the living conditions, competitiveness and overall economic development in the region.
- Supporting regional conferences (Start-up, Venture forums, Innovation Fairs, Business Accelerators etc.)
- Improving ecosystem for business development at the regional level.
- Facilitating science-industry cooperation and technology transfer by promoting knowledge transfer activities.
- Supporting sustainable growth through promotion of tourism; resources and products of the region.
- Promoting innovation initiatives in the region.
- Sharing of best practices on creating the suitable environment for SME’s establishment and further development.
- Exchange of best practices to increase awareness on a healthy and active lifestyle, and for the prevention of substance abuse.
- Supporting activities for improving working skills and their adjustment to better access to the labour market.
- Promotion and exchange of best practices employment in the region and in vocational training.
- Supporting cross border projects among local authorities on activities that boost economic and social development, especially by sharing best practices cross-border areas.
- Supporting interconnection and exchange of experiences between local authorities, aiming to improve the management and transparency of municipal operations and exchange of know-how in improving living conditions.
- Promoting and supporting awareness raising initiatives on environmental protection and climate change in the region.
- Cultural cooperation
Ineligible Activities
- The following types of activities are ineligible:
- Activities concerned only or mainly with individual sponsorships for participation in workshops, seminars, conferences, and congresses.
- Activities concerned only or mainly religious and/or political activities.
Eligible Costs
- Cost incurred by the Lead Applicant and/or Project Partners for the implementation of the project.
- Costs incurred within the timeframe of the implementation of the project.
- The Total Costs for Human Resources (HR) (WBF+Co-financing) must not exceed 30% of the Total
- Amount Granted by WBF. Indirect costs must not exceed 7% of the subtotal direct eligible costs.
- In-kind contribution is not eligible.
- When planning the budget, it is important to adhere to the following list of eligible cost categories, i.e. costs that can be covered by the Fund:
- Total Human resource costs should beup to 30% of the Total Amount Granted by WBF:
- The cost of staff assigned to the action (gross salaries of the dedicated project personal including social security charges and other related costs, excluding bonuses); salaries and costs shall not exceed those normally borne by the beneficiary(ies), unless it is justified by showing that it is essential to carry out the action.
- Travel and Accommodation (including board) costs
- Travel and accommodation costs for staff and other people taking part in the action, provided they do not exceed those normally borne by the beneficiary(ies) according to its rules andregulations. (i.e., Accommodation board up to 100 EUR/night).
- Travel costs need to be justified as the most cost-effective option.
- Travel on a personal vehicle will be allowed only if properly justified and calculated in basis of 0.3 EUR/km).
- Other direct costs, services
- Rent of premises and related technical services, renting costs for equipment (new or used) and supplies specifically dedicated to the purposes of the action, costs of services and supplies purchased by the beneficiary(ies) for the purposes of the action.
- Experts should not be part of the HR Team declared in the applied project.
- Total Human resource costs should beup to 30% of the Total Amount Granted by WBF:
Ineligible Costs
- The following costs cannot be covered by the WBF grant:
- Costs incurred for Applicant’s activities undertaken before signature of the contract.
- Debts and debt service charges (interest).
- Provisions for losses, or potential future liabilities.
- Applicant’s activities aimed at profit making activities.
- Applicant’s activities that are affiliated directly with/or supportive to political or religious agendas.
- Costs declared by the beneficiary/ies and financed by another action or work programme receiving a European Union grant.
- Purchases of equipment, land or buildings.
- Currency exchange losses.
- Credits to third parties, unless otherwise specified in the special conditions.
- Bonuses included in costs of staff; customs and import duties, or any other charges.
- Fines, financial penalties and expenses of litigation.
- Taxes, including VAT.
- Beneficiary’s individual sponsorships for participation in workshops, seminars, conferences, congresses.
- Alcohol and tobacco costs.
Expected Outcomes
- Outcomes include:
- Regional partnerships are established and reinforced by addressing common challenges and achieving shared goals.
- Regional actors’ capacities are increased through training activities, awareness campaigns, and research for policy development targeting specific audiences.
- Increased inclusion of marginalized groups in regional activities, empowering underrepresented communities to take on leadership roles.
- Enhanced inclusiveness in CS to better represent the diverse needs and perspectives of communities.
Eligibility Criteria
- 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)
- Established in one or more WBF Contracting Parties,
- Non-profitmaking,
- Be a specific type of organisation from one of the following categories:
- A Civil Society Organization (CSO/NGO)
- A local or regional public entity, or association of local or regional public entities
- A business association such as: association of enterprises, agriculture association, chamber of commerce,
- Tourism association, etc.
- An educational institution such as university/faculty, school, institute, library, research centre, academy of science/music/arts, etc.
- Media associations such as: organizations working with media, journalism, and freedom of expression.
- An institution of culture or sports such as museums, art galleries, theatres, libraries, or associations of cultural institutions, sport associations, etc.
For more information, visit WBF.