Deadline: 13-May-25
The Regional Programme for Local Democracy in the Western Balkans 3 (ReLOaD3) empowers people to take a more active role in decision-making and fosters stronger collaboration between governments and civil society organizations (CSOs).
The Programme aims to create an environment where individuals can freely and actively participate in decisions that affect their daily lives.
Objective
- The objective of this call is to select clusters of partner LGs, which will receive technical support to adopt a transparent, development-oriented, and project-based model for financing non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and programmes that address the needs of citizens and youth.
- This process will contribute to strengthening participatory democracy and supporting EU integration in the Western Balkans, while also empowering citizens, the non-governmental sector, and young people to take a more active role in local decision-making processes, thereby fostering an enabling environment.
Funding Information
- Project value: USD 13,387,736
Who will benefit from ReLOaD3?
- ReLOaD3 benefits a wide range of stakeholders across the Western Balkans, fostering collaboration between governments and civil society to improve services and opportunities for citizens:
- National Governments – Up to six national governments and relevant institutions will receive support to strengthen cooperation with civil society. The Programme helps establish a more transparent and effective framework, ensuring long-term sustainability and broader positive impacts on society.
- Local Governments – At least 50 cities and municipalities, across the Western Balkans region, will receive support to strengthen partnerships with civil society. While local governments play a key role in implementing policies that directly affect citizens, they often face challenges in strategic planning, funding, and engaging with CSOs. ReLOaD3 helps address these challenges through training, knowledge-sharing, and improved transparency in public funding mechanisms.
- Civil Society Organizations – More than 120 CSOs will have the opportunity to enhance their capacities and expand their impact. Civil society plays a crucial role in empowering communities and advocating for citizens’ rights, yet many organizations face obstacles in accessing resources, building networks, and collaborating with institutions. ReLOaD3 supports CSOs in becoming stronger partners to authorities and better advocates for their communities, particularly for vulnerable groups such as persons with disabilities, youth, and women in disadvantaged positions.
Expected Results
- ReLOaD3 will achieve the following results in at least 50 local governments in the Western Balkans:
- An enabling policy environment and stakeholder network are established to facilitate the vertical and horizontal scaling up of transparent funding disbursement mechanisms and more systemic support to CSOs at local and higher levels of government.
- Capacities of local governments and CSOs for effective dialogue and implementation of local grant schemes and delivery of municipal services, are enhanced.
- Local authorities, civil society, and citizens, with a focus on youth and women are supported to spur greater civic engagement in local policy design, delivery and monitoring.
- Stronger partnerships among authorities and civil society and increased civil oversight of public policies across the Western Balkans, through regional networking and the introduction of digital tools are enhanced.
Eligibility Criteria
- Local governments (LGs) from Montenegro are eligible to apply to this Public Call, provided they commit—through a Letter of Intent—to work jointly within other LGs within the Cluster, with a clear division of roles and responsibilities, including co-financing for the implementation of non-governemntal organization (NGO) projects.
- Selected LG Clusters, specifically those LGs that have not previously participated in ReLOaD1 or ReLOaD2, will be required to allocate funding for NGO projects in a transparent manner.
- Each Cluster must consist of a minimum of two and a maximum of three LGs, with a preference for at least one LG that has not participated in previous phases of ReLOaD.
For more information, visit UNDP.