|
||||
| The Fund |
|
The European Fund for the Balkans is a multi-year joint initiative of European foundations designed to undertake and support initiatives aimed at bringing the Western Balkans closer to the European Union through grant-giving and operational programmes and, as such, is focused on individuals and organisations from Western Balkan countries. BACKGROUNDThe European Fund for the Balkans is established in June 2007 as a multi-year joint initiative of European Foundations including the Robert Bosch Stiftung, the King Baudouin Foundation, the Compagnia di San Paolo and the ERSTE Foundation.The Fund is designed to undertake and support initiatives aimed at bringing the Western Balkans closer to the European Union through grant-making and operational programmes and as such is focused on individuals and organisations from the Western Balkans region. As a direct follow-up to the International Commission on the Balkans (2004-2006), the Fund embodies the “member-state building strategy” which includes the development of functioning state administrations and constituency-building as main priorities. OBJECTIVESMore specifically, the Fund’s objectives are:
PROGRAMME AREASThe Fund’s strategy is articulated along four main strands:1. ENVISIONING EUROPEThe Fund provides support through programmes focused on individual and collaborative research and policy development projects as well as media outreach initiatives, with a view to:
Initiatives:“THINK AND LINK” - Regional Policy Programme for Think Tanks and Policy InstitutesIn response to the need of fostering different debates on the challenges, costs and opportunities of genuine EU member-state building through-out the region the Fund launched the first of its annual policy programme: “THINK AND LINK” - Regional Policy Programme for Think Tanks and Policy Institutes in March 2008. The programme seeks to foster inclusive and evidence-based policy making in the Western Balkans by initiating research projects on the chosen annual programme topic, embedded in a regional seminar programme cycle. The first results of the research which will be conducted on the topic “Environmental policy in the Western Balkans – policy legacies, current institutions and European standards”, by six research teams selected in the first programme cycle, from Belgrade, Pristina, Skopje, Split and Tirana are expected by March 2009. 2. PRACTICING EUROPEThe European Fund for the Balkans initiates programmes that support the building and improving of the professional and administrative capacities and skills of young government officials from the Balkans in the EU integration process, with a view to:
Initiatives:“Fellowship Programme for Young Government Officials from the Western Balkans: Supporting Excellence and Leadership in Governance”The general objective of the Programme is to contribute to the development of effective and efficient state administrations in the region by offering a tailor made fellowship and training programme for highly qualified young professionals from the highest ranking state authorities of the countries of the Western Balkans. Twenty civil servants from ministries from Western Balkans countries have been selected to spend a 3 month fellowship in Austria, Germany, Belgium, Italy, the Czech Republic, Slovenia or Poland. The Programme starts in April 2009 with an introductory seminar organised in co-operation with the University of Potsdam and includes, apart from the institutional practice, a study visit to Brussels and a final evaluation seminar in June 2009. 3. EXPERIENCING EUROPEWith the aim of promoting European values in future generations, the Fund undertakes and supports initiatives allowing young generations in the Western Balkans to experience and learn about Europe, with a view to:• Addressing opportunities that exist for young people to play an active role in contributing to the development of the Balkan region; • Serving as catalisators for emerging positive change makers and leaders in the Balkan societies; • Encouraging the spirit of co-operation by identifying new connecting issues for young generations in the region and the EU; • Creating a network of ‘young ambassadors’ of the region. Initiatives:Southeast Europe and the EU - Leadership Development Programme (LDP)In an effort to support the integration process in Southeast Europe, the TRANSFUSE Association, the College of Europe and the European Fund for the Balkans are organising an annual Leadership Development Programme for young people from Southeast Europe, as well as broader Europe, who aspire to play an active role in the future of their countries. The Programme runs over a ten-month period and aims to transmit knowledge about the EU and its relation to the region, to stimulate the leadership and professional skills of participants and to encourage an exchange of views. Underlying the project is the belief that the driving force for the continuation of the political, social and economic reform and transition process are qualified young professionals with international experience. The 2009/2010 LDP call for applications is due to be launched in March 2009. 4. DEVELOPING POLICIES FOR THE BALKANSInitiatives for building the public image of the Fund and its contribution in policy making for the EU integration of the Balkans are developed through joined initiatives and partnerships as well.Initiatives: Gallup Balkan Monitor In partnership with Gallup Europe, the European Fund for the Balkans developed the “Gallup Balkan Monitor”, which aims at providing all-encompassing data on people’s perceptions in the Western Balkans region, creating thereby a one-stop shop that delivers strategic insights based on evidence-based social research in the region. This unique survey is expected to help measure and assess the impact of EU and national policies in the Balkans and to assist leaders in shaping their agendas by permitting timely access to their constituents’ voices and minds. It is also the first-ever in-depth survey of the whole Western Balkans region. The results of the first research were presented in Brussels in November 2008. In order to promote and widely acknowledge the results of the Gallup Balkan Monitor a series of presentations and public discussions are organised in the capitals of Western Balkan countries. (http://www.balkan-monitor.eu/) GRANTMAKINGThe European Fund for the Balkans issues calls for proposals that seek to generate innovative and promising ideas from people and organisations from the Western Balkans. Unsolicited proposals are not accepted. The Fund supports projects that are in line with its priority programme areas by issuing calls for proposals throughout the year.PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPThe venture is designed to engage not only European funders already active in the Balkans, but also public and private donors who have not worked in the region until now, or wish to leverage their own funding and increase its impact.STRUCTUREThe Fund is managed under the authority of a Steering Committee, which is responsible for the strategic orientations of the Fund and oversees the work of the Secretariat. The Steering Committee is the official decision-making body of the Fund. Each of the foundations constituting the Fund has one representative on the Steering Committee. The Fund - SecretariatThe Secretariat of the European Fund for the Balkans is based in Belgrade, from where it covers the Fund’s activities throughout the region of the Western Balkans. Igor Bandovic Branka Panić Nataša Smiljanić The Fund - Steering CommitteeThe Fund is managed as a separate entity under the authority of a Steering Committee (SC) that oversees the project as a whole. Each foundation appoints one representative and a substitute to the SC. The latter draws the strategic orientations of the Fund and oversees the work of an Executive Secretariat ad-ministering the Fund’s activities. Steering Committee Chair: Mario Gioannini, Head of Operating Unit on Economic and Juridical Research and Education, Compagnia di San Paolo Nicolo Russo Perez, Programme Officer, Research and Education, Compagnia di San Paolo The Fund - Advisory BoardThe Advisory Board of the European Fund for the Balkans is a body composed of individuals with unique knowledge and skills who provide non-binding but informed guidance to the programme development. |
| Last Updated ( Monday, 27 July 2009 12:09 ) |
