On 9th December, Tanja Hafner Ademi, Executive Director of BCSDN, delivered 1-day training for over 30 Serbian CSO joined in the SECO mechanism in Belgrade, Serbia. The training was commissioned by the Serbian Office for Cooperation with Civil Society and supported by EU-TA support lead by SIPU. The training was opened by Ms. Ivana Cirkovic, Director of the Government Office and Ms. Ana Ilic, Assistant Director, Serbian European Integration Office. The training aimed at transcending the lessons-learned of the implemented support for civil society in Enlargement countries and Serbia under the IPA Civil Society Facility support in the period 2007-2011 and to present novelties under the IPA II regulation to be adopted for civil society in the next IPA planning period 2014-2020. As part of the training, present representatives of CSOs developed a basis for a advocacy platform for SECO mechanism on various sectors and teams to enable effective use of IPA funds and support to CSOs in Serbia in the period 2014-2020.

On the 5th of December, BCSDN's Board held its 4th session in Skopje to discuss the network's activities in 2013 and enter into the new Mid-term strategy 2015-2017 planning phase. This Board meeting was special as it mainly served to translate and upgrade internal governance practices into acts needed for a mature and growing network. The accountancy and reporting standards were adopted while the newly developed internal governance acts such as the Executive Office rulebook, Board Rules of procedure, and procedure for election of the Executive Director were discussed and will be adopted after finalization in early 2014. The draft Annual Report 2013 and the draft Annual Plan 2013 (with projection 2014-2015) were also adopted. A network code of conduct defining elements such as relations between the network and members, fundraising etc. will also be developed in 2014. Members can access documents through the BCSDN Intranet. Annual Report, Annual Plan, and other documents will be available to the public once updated and finally adopted by the BCSDN Council in April, 2014.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), at the beginning of November, awarded direct funding grants to five Serbian organizations which will manage projects completely placed in their hands. According to the U.S. Ambassador to Serbia, Michael Kirby, and Director of USAID, Susan Fritz, the goal of switching to direct funding is to strengthen the capacity of organizations in Serbia, ensure more efficient use of USAID funds, and to show confidence in civil society organizations and government institutions. Five organizations received a total of more than a million dollars of direct finance. BCSDN member organization Civic Initiatives was among these. Civic Initiatives has been awarded a 15-month, USD 248,800 grant to improve the status of youth and reduce their marginalization in southern Serbia. “Empowered Youth for Positive Changes in South Serbia and Sandžak” will build the capacity of young people, youth groups, and civil society organisations (CSOs). The program will focus on poor, socially marginalised, and unemployed youth from a variety of ethnic backgrounds and develop their employability and capacity to advocate for changes in their communities.

This year the Macedonian Center for International Cooperation (MCIC) celebrates 20 years since its establishment. Throughout the years, MCIC established credibility with its target groups, partners, donors, institutions and the public in general. MCIC managed to become one of the most actively involved organizations in the Macedonian civil society, with a clear vision and mission, with goals, and with activities that put citizens’ needs first, while accepting the biggest challenges in the society. MCIC owes its success to many factors. Out of them probably the most visible for the citizens are the achieved results. However, two important factors should be added - MCIC’s values and the people responsible for managing and realizing the activities that lead to great results and accomplishments. That is MCIC’s recipe for success. Since the 21th of November MCIC started a 20 days campaign on its web-site and social media. The campaign aims at reminding readers of MCIC’s work since its beginnings and of all the achievements throughout the years, the challenges faced, and the solutions they came up with. Every day one interesting story connected to some of the many projects realized will be presented, as well as MCIC’s overall achievements. This campaign and celebration gives MCIC an opportunity to express gratitude for everyone that has been part of this successful story, but also to give itself credit for the accomplishments.