In October 2019, BCSDN was selected through an open call for proposals and engaged within the Technical Assistance to Civil Society Organizations in Western Balkans and Turkey (EU TACSO 3) project framework to conduct the Needs Assessment on the State of the Enabling Environment and Capacities of Civil Society of the Western Balkan and Turkey.
Based on developed data-gathering methodology, the first phase of the needs assessment took place in June and July and included initial desktop report on the state of civil society against the EU Civil Society Guidelines. The second phase commenced during October and November, whereby BCSDN members (Partners Albania, CPCD, KCSF, MCIC, CRNVO and Civic Initiatives) conducted the in-country data-gathering and analysis. The purpose of the needs assessment is to inform the EU TACSO 3 Capacity Development and P2P Core programme design to be implemented during 2020 and 2021. It will also serve to inform the Guidelines for EU support to civil society in Enlargement countries, 2014-2020 (EU Civil Society Guidelines)
monitoring process and its review.
An in-depth insight into the enabling environment and the state of capacity of civil society has been gained through the assessment, which will be tested through consultations with civil society and other relevant stakeholders in the IPA Beneficiaries. The following in-country consultation and validation meetings, organized by the EU TACSO 3 in partnership with the EU Delegations and the National Resource Centers, will take place:
- Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina: Wednesday, 11th December
- Podgorica, Montenegro: Friday, 13th December
- Belgrade, Serbia: Monday, 16th December
- Pristina, Kosovo*: Wednesday, 18th December
- Skopje, North Macedonia: Monday, 23rd December
- Tirana, Albania: January 2020 (TBC)
With these meetings, the EU TACSO 3 wants to receive feedback and inputs to ensure validation of the assessment results and design its programme for civil society in a participatory manner.
EU TACSO 3 is an EU-funded project in the Western Balkans and Turkey, which aims to strengthen the capacity of CSOs to actively take part in the democratic processes and to stimulate an enabling environment for civil society and pluralistic media development.