Who will benefit from ReLOaD and what we do?

The following stakeholders will benefit from ReLOaD:

• 63 local government units in the Western Balkans. LGs are one of the key actors in providing financial resources to CSOs and the framework conditions for their work. Support for civil society is often not a major priority at the local level, thus authorities often neglect its importance and potential. Common challenges are a lack of strategic vision, limited financial resources and limited capacity.
• Civil society organizations in the Western Balkans – civil society is somewhat neglected in the Western Balkans and lacks key skills, which may result in limited impact of CSOs and impact on their target groups. On the other hand, CSOs also struggle to define their strategic goals, strengthen ties with their target groups, and position themselves in a long-term strategic way.
• Youth in the Western Balkans – young people face significant challenges due to lack of democratic progress and limited economic opportunities, which makes the Western Balkans a region with one of the highest youth unemployment rates. This results in an enormous brain drain with young people leaving the region to find better prospects abroad.
  

The end users, as this project implies:

Citizens, with a special focus on youth and communities at the local level, are direct beneficiaries together with CSOs. A range of activities and topics that CSOs usually carry out provide solutions to the needs of individuals and groups at the local level. In the absence of a systemic policy, and with internal challenges within CSOs, only a limited impact on end-users is achieved.

The project will support the implementation of 300 CSO projects in partner LGs. It is expected that 35,000 citizens will benefit from projects in local communities. Key priority areas will be defined by the communities themselves before the start of public calls for CSOs and will include the following areas and topics: youth, social cohesion, social inclusion and social services for the most vulnerable, gender equality, environmental protection, human rights and minority rights group, especially Roma.

ReLOaD2 aims to create conditions for a competitive approach in the allocation of funds on a project basis from the budgets of local governments and at the same time motivate CSOs to professionalize and improve the level of service delivery. In addition, the introduction of a transparent and inclusive approach to the process of allocating funds at the local level will improve the utilization of funds and the transparency of grant schemes of LGs.

Expected results

ReLOaD2 will achieve the following results in 63 local governments in the Western Balkans:

• Strengthen the capacity of local governments and CSOs to institutionalize and implement transparent and gender responsive grant schemes and deliver quality projects that serve the local community.
• Growing capacities of LGs and CSOs to generate greater participation of citizens and youth in activities at the local level.
• Improving regional networking and dialogue between civil society and local governments across the Western Balkans.

Status

Ongoing

Start date

January 2021

Estimated end date

December 2024

Geographic coverage

Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia

Donor

European Union (≈ EUR 12,63 million)

Focus area

Rural and Regional Development

Regional Project Manager

Samir Omerefendić

Country Project Manager

Biljana Georgievska

List of supported CSO Projects

LOD Methodology for Allocation of Funds to Civil Society Organizations [ENG]

LOD Methodology for Allocation of Funds to Civil Society Organizations [MKD]

LOD Methodology for Allocation of Funds to Civil Society Organizations [ALB]

Одговори на најчесто поставуваните прашања за поднесување предлог проекти од страна на граѓански организации