Western Balkans Fund

🫵 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐃𝐚𝐲!

👩🏻‍🎓 Young people are not only the future of regional cooperation. They are already shaping it today.

🥇 A significant share of WBF grants supports initiatives led by or focused on young people.

👉 Many of the civil society organisations we work with, already place youth at the centre of their activities.

🟢 At the same time, more WBF programmes are creating opportunities specifically for young people to move, learn, connect and grow across the region.

🤝 This includes the WBF MOVE Grants, with a new Call opening soon, as well as other opportunities supporting mobility, exchange, professional development and regional cooperation.

This is why on , we celebrate the young people who are turning regional cooperation from an idea into everyday reality.

📢 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐭

👉 785 organisations across the Western Balkans came together to submit 269 applications to the first Open Call of the Gender Equality Fund for the Western Balkans. Together, they proposed €10.15 million of work. €240,000 was available.

🟢 The response speaks for itself. Across the Western Balkans, gender equality is treated as a priority that cannot wait, and regional cooperation as the way to advance it. The ideas, the partnerships and the capacity are already there. And this was the first GEFund Open Call.

🤝 Six projects have been selected — one from each Contracting Party.

🏆 The six selected projects work on protection from violence, gender equality in cyber space, countering anti-gender narratives, and the participation of women in economic and public life — in partnerships spanning all six Contracting Parties.

To everyone who applied: you can request feedback on your application by writing to the Western Balkans Fund by 21 August 2026, and we will be glad to provide it.
Full list of selected projects is available at WBF website.

GEFund is a dedicated mechanism established within the Western Balkans Fund with the commitment of the WB6 under the 2025 Berlin Process. It is implemented and co-funded by the Western Balkans Fund, and co-funded by the Swiss Agency for Development 🇨🇭 and Cooperation and the European Union 🇪🇺

👉 Two years ago, representatives of the Kosova Makers League benefited from a regional Move Grant, which significantly strengthened their regional network.

🟢 Building on this experience, KML successfully applied for support under the GGI Grant Scheme with a new initiative focused on creating and strengthening regional connections among young people: “Youth Makers Exchange: Advancing STEAM Skills and Regional Cooperation.”

🤝 During the project’s implementation, at least 24 young people will participate in practical training sessions, workshops and interactive activities, further developing their knowledge and skills in robotics, artificial intelligence and electronics.

🇪🇺 The project is part of the GGI Grants Grant Scheme, co-funded by the European Union through IPA III, the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance, under the Civil Society and Media Programme for the Western Balkans and Türkiye.

♻️ Environmental organizations, activists, informal groups, and community-based initiatives from across the Western Balkans are invited to apply for the regional conference “Let’s Clean the Western Balkans: A Regional Initiative for Environmental Action and Cooperation.”

💪 The conference will take place in Durrës, Albania, from 26 to 28 September 2026, bringing together environmental and civil society actors from all six Western Balkans Contracting Parties. Participants are expected to depart on 29 September 2026.

👉 The initiative is organized by Ta Pastrojmë Kosovën – Let’s Do It Kosovo, in partnership with Go Green from North Macedonia and Green Line Albania, and in cooperation with Let’s Do It World.

🇪🇺 The conference is part of the GGI Grants, co-funded by the European Union, through IPA III – Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance, under the Civil Society Facility and Media Programme for the Western Balkans and Türkiye.

To learn more or apply, visit www.westernbalkansfund.org

👉 Over the past few days, our colleagues at the International Visegrad Fund have been evaluating more than 400 applications submitted under this year’s second grant call.

🟢 We are pleased to see that 18 project proposals were submitted by organisations based in the Western Balkans.

🙏 Interest in cooperation between our two regions continues to grow, supported by the inclusion of Western Balkans applicants as eligible participants and by the expansion of joint initiatives, including the Visegrad Fellowship Programme.

Once again, the Western Balkans Fund team was pleased to contribute to the evaluation process and support the selection of high-quality projects.

The quality, depth and regional relevance of the submitted proposals were particularly impressive, demonstrating the growing potential for stronger cooperation between the Visegrad Group and the Western Balkans.

🇪🇺 See you in the EU, Ambassador Gonzato!

🇦🇱 Today, Ambassador Silvio Gonzato concludes his mandate in Tirana with the hope of seeing Albania become a member of the European Union soon. We extend that same wish to our entire Western Balkans Contracting Parties.

🤝 During his tenure, Mr. Gonzato made a significant contribution to strengthening the partnership between the Western Balkans Fund and the European Union.

🇪🇺 A substantial part of the second phase of the WBF–EU Joint Action, as well as the launch of its third phase, coincided with his mandate.

🌱 This period saw the introduction and implementation of important initiatives, including the Empowering Regional Cooperation Grant Scheme, the Grant for Grassroots Initiatives and the Regional Networking and Dialogue Sessions.

🙏 We greatly appreciate his support for the Western Balkans Fund and its mission, and we look forward to building further on the strong foundations established during his mandate.

⭐ We wish Ambassador Gonzato every success in his future endeavour.

🇪🇺 See you in the EU, Ambassador Gonzato!

European Union in Albania

🇨🇭 𝐀 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐛𝐲𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞

🤝 Today, the Western Balkans Fund had the honour of welcoming H.E. Ms. Ruth Huber, Ambassador of Switzerland to Albania, at our offices in Tirana, as she concludes her diplomatic mandate.

🙏 The meeting was an opportunity to express our sincere appreciation for Ambassador Huber's dedicated engagement and for Switzerland's steadfast support to regional cooperation in the Western Balkans.

👉 Throughout her tenure, Ambassador Huber has been a true friend of the region, championing dialogue, people-to-people connections and the shared values that drive our mission forward.

We wish Ambassador Huber every success in her future endeavours and thank her for leaving a lasting mark on Albania and the wider region 🤝 Looking forward to continuing reinforcing our cooperation with the 🇨🇭🇨🇭🇨🇭

💡 Did you know?

👉 WBF Move Grants, our successful grant scheme supporting individual mobility across the region, is returning soon.

🟢 170 individuals have already benefited from the first six Calls: researchers, students, artists, journalists, athletes, and many more, all moving, learning, and connecting across the Western Balkans.

🤝 Anyone holding the citizenship of one of the six Contracting Parties is eligible to benefit. A good idea and a regional partner, that's all you need.

🎵 Stay tuned. The time to make your move is coming.