Kick off Presentation Conference of “SMART Balkans- Civil Society for Shared Society” project in Albania and Kosovo

The four-year regional project SMART Balkans- Civil Society for Shared Society in Western Balkans was presented in Albania and Kosovo during the National Conferences organized in both countries in June 2022.

The project, funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will help empower civil society organizations and CSO networks in Western Balkan countries to play a stronger and active role in creating peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development.

The Conferences in Albania and Kosovo featured panel discussions with key stakeholders primarily responsible for the project’s thematic areas such as security, stability, good governance and EU integration, including central government institutions, civil society organizations, media, researchers and academics to discuss the role that civil society, media and active citizenry can play in these areas, focusing both on country-specific and region wide challenges.

More than 120 participants at the Conference in Albania and more than 110 participants at the Conference in Kosovo emphasized the important role of civil society in the key reforms of the countries’ integration agenda. It was also discussed about the challenges that civil society actors face in the two countries, and how the SMART Balkans project can further support and revitalize the civil society sector in Albania, Kosovo and the region.

Part of the Conferences was the presentation of the grant scheme dedicated to CSOs, media and active citizens, where more than 450 grants with a value of 14.5 million Euros will be provided throughout the Western Balkans during the period 2022-2025.