The Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe (REC) is pleased to support non-governmental organisation (NGO) cooperative projects related to the sustainable development of the western Balkan region.

NGOs from western Balkan countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro and Kosovo [UNMIK]) were invited to apply. The maximum amount per project is EUR 35,000.

Six projects were selected through the application and selection process, totalling EUR 162,742.

Profiles of the projects supported are available online!

Application and Selection Process

The application and selection  process consisted of two stages:

Concept Paper Stage

NGOs applying for a Regional Cooperation for Sustainable Development in the western Balkans grant submitted concept papers following the application process (including forms) outlined in the Call for Projects (MS Word, 218 KBytes).

Details of this grant, including background information, eligibility, limitations and sustainable development areas to be focused upon are also found in the 'Call for Projects'.

The deadline for submitting concept papers was February 2, 2004.

Concept papers submitted were screened for eligibility, then evaluated according to the following criteria:

• The sustainable development problem addressed by the project is clearly defined;
• The cooperation is feasible and necessary;
• The goal and objectives of the project are set and address the problem in a logical manner;
• The NGOs have experience in project management and demonstrate the capacity to implement cooperative projects; and
• The budget is reasonable.

Full Proposal Stage

Project leaders preparing full proposals were also brought together for a proposal preparation meeting, which took place at the REC head office in Szentendre, Hungary. They were provided with information and guidance on the principles of sustainable development, and the preparation of full proposals.

A review committee, consisting of both REC grants personnel and external experts then evaluated the full proposals and chose projects to be supported. The scope of the overall grant programme was kept in mind when considering potential projects.

 Contact Information

For more information on this programme, interested parties should contact the Project Manager for this call, Entela Pinguli, at the REC’s head office:

• E-mail: epinguli@rec.org
• Tel: [36-26] 504-000
• Fax: [36-26] 311-294

 The REC country and field offices in the region are also available to provide assistance.

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Projects Supported

Application and Selection Process

Contact Information