The project aims to strengthen the capacities of civil society organisations and regional cooperation in the Western Balkans for the promotion of green economy, as well as to increase the policy influence of organisations working in agriculture, rural development and environmental protection.
Sector: 15150 – Strengthening Civil Society
Location: North Macedonia, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Montenegro and Kosovo
Funded by: European Commission
Budget lines: BGUE-B2016-22.020401 / BGUE-B2017-22.02040
Implementation period: 11/04/2018 – 31/03/2021
Action budget: EUR 1,071,269.00
EU contribution: EUR 964,069.00, representing 89.99% of the total budget
General Objective
To support the strengthening of the policy influence of the Balkan Rural Development Network (BRDN) and its member organisations through active participation in agricultural and rural policy reform processes, with the aim of introducing and promoting the concept of green economy.
Specific Objectives
• To strengthen the capacities of small, local civil society organisations in general operations, advocacy and networking, enabling them to act as advocates for agricultural and rural reforms in a transparent and accountable manner.
• To introduce the concept of green economy as an innovative, cross-border and entrepreneurial model for rural diversification and sustainability.
• To support evidence-based policy development and rights-based advocacy by BRDN and its member organisations, with the aim of advancing processes related to approximation with the EU Common Agricultural Policy (EU CAP) and promoting green economy.
Intermediate Result
Strengthened networking and advocacy capacities of BRDN, increased recognition, broader influence and stronger participation in policy-making processes.
The project is implemented by seven partner organisations from the Western Balkans and the EU, including:
• Rural Development Network of North Macedonia
• Rural Development Network of Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Network of Organisations for Rural Development of Kosovo
• Rural Development Network of Montenegro
• Rural Development Network of Serbia
• Albanian Network for Rural Development
• Croatian Rural Development Network
This three-year project started in April 2018 and works to enhance the role of BRDN in policy-making and in promoting the green economy model across the region.
Target Groups and Beneficiaries
Target groups:
• 900 representatives of small, local civil society organisations
• At least 7,000 different stakeholders
• 200 small civil society organisations that are members of the partner organisations
• 70 representatives of local and national media
Direct beneficiaries:
Civil society organisations active in rural development, environmental protection and nature conservation.
Final beneficiaries:
Rural populations, farmers, agribusinesses and entrepreneurs interested in investing in green economy.
