The document summarizes the history, activities, goals, and lessons learned of the Balkan Civil Society Development Network (BCSDN), a regional network of civil society organizations in the Balkan region. It was established in 2001 with the vision of sustainable peace and prosperity in the Balkans. Its strategic goals are to increase the role of civil society in policymaking and promote civil dialogue. Over the past decade it has organized numerous trainings, conferences, and advocacy activities. External evaluations found it has made significant contributions to cross-border cooperation and democratic stabilization in the region. Key lessons highlighted include ensuring legitimacy, clearly defined goals and interests, and long-term sustainability.

1. TACSO Regional CSO Networks Conference Regional Networks’ Best Practices & Challenges 13th-14th December, 2011 Sarajevo, BiH

2. Balkan Civil Society Development Network (BCSDN) Lessons-learned & challenges in functioning & advocacy

3. ID Card Regional cross-sectoral network ( registered as foundation ) 15 CSD member organizations from 10 countries of the Balkan region Initiated in 2001 Executive Office based in Skop je 3. Partnership meeting Feketic, Se rbi a - Decembe r 2003

4. Vision Sustainable peace, harmony and prosperity of societies in the Balkan region. Mis ion To influence European and national policies towards more enabling environment for civil society development (CSDev) in order to ensure sustainable and functioning democracies in the Balkans.

5. Strategic goals Increased role of civil society by strengthening its voice in policy- and decision-making on national, regional and EU level; Promoted civil dialogue between civil society actors, state institutions and the EU in order to influence public policy;

6. Strategic goals 3. D eveloped advocacy knowledge and skills of civil society actors as a base for greater impact; and 4. Strengthened communication, coordination and cooperation (3Cs) between civil society actors in the Balkan region.

7. Activities 2001-2008 Organization of 14 regional trainings on EU funding, lobbying, networking, civil dialogue, coop with the business sector, media etc.; Support/organization to 29 exchange visits on volunteering, project development, etc.; Support/organization of 3 EU study visits . Civil dialogue training, Tirana, Albania – July 2007

8. Activities 2001-2008 Organization of 3 workshops for exchange of experience on EU integration, decentralization, diaconal practices; Organization of a conference on Bulgarian EU accession experience; Organization of on-the-job training and help-desk. Partnership and networking training Feketic, Serbia – April 2006

9. Activities 2001-2008 Website in English and basic content in 4 local languages with about 4,000 visitors annually and 5% growth; Distributed 175 editions Weekly e-mail alerts to over 800 addresses; Published 5 editions of Balkan Civic Practices in 4 languages; Publishing of a Newsletter and Databases ( members, training, donors, partner-search) .

10. Activities 2009-2011 Advocacy at the EU level 3 Workshops & Policy Papers : The Right to be Heard: The EU Enlargement Policy and Civil Society in the Western Balkans, Brussels ; The Missing Link: Development and Functioning of Civil Dialogue; Civil Society Lost in Translation? Development Strategies & Practices in Support to CSDev in the Balkans

11. Activities 2009-2011 Advocacy at the EU level: Manifesto for EP elections in May 2009: “ Do Not Forget the Future EU Citizens” Letters and meetings with EC for better inclusion of local CSOs in programming and implementation of IPA 1 st on-line regional civil dialogue database (WB + 3 NMS) Special focus in BCSDN E-mail alerts

12. Development of BCSDN Phase 1 (2001-3) : 3- year pilot programme Phase 2 (2003-8) : informal network Phase 3 (2008- 2011 ) : formalized network

13. Networking – WHY? Easier to achieve goals, esp. at European level (aggregation of interests) Synergy, added-value Network enables access to European and global networks on strategic goals, e.g. CONCORD, ECAS, ENNA, APRODEV Information & knowledge exchange, new partnerships and joint initiatives/projects

14. Why advocacy? formalization? Changes in external context ( security stabilization , slow political, economic and social changes, donor withdrawal ); Changes in internal context ( effectiveness and quality with less resources, learning on other people’s experience, EU integration “pull” ) ; Clear structure, relations and involvement of members, visibility and identification of common interest by members

15. External evaluation “ The programme’s support to the civil society development and networking is likely to have an impact on its wider environment…The programme delivered the potential for development of one of the few successful regional initiatives. This is mostly because this network is an indigenous phenomenon ; driven by the problems, needs and priorities of its membership and not necessarily by those of external stakeholders , such as the EC. …and can therefore be considered a contributing element in strengthening the democratic stabilization process.” (EC, CARDS Ad-hoc Evaluation of CARDS Regional Programmes, December, 2008) “ The Network has made significant contributions to cross-border cooperation and is well positioned to build on further cooperation between members in the future.” (INTRAC, External Evaluation, 2004-2007, October, 2007)

16. Key lessons Legitimacy ( who do we (re)present ?); Goals ( what do we want to achieve ?); Identification and definition of special and joint interest ( why do I need the network? what is its added-value? ); Sustainability ( how are we going to work on the long-term? ); Ownership ( why should we do this and for who ?)

17. What regional CSO networks can offer to the EC Improved regional monitoring of Acquis areas & IPA programming why? ownership, sustainability, policy coherence, cost-effectiveness, impact how? structured dialogue through existing mechanism (EC Min Standards of Consultation & RCC structures)

18. What regional CSO networks can offer to the EC Communication & dissemination partner why? realistic expectations by citizens, accountability by the Gov for structure reforms how? Inclusion in advisory bodies such as the IPA CSF/TACO Programming Committee, IPA sector monitoring committees etc.

19. Contact Balkan Civil Society Development Network Executive Office Nikola Parapunov Street n.n. P.O. Box 55 1060-Skopje, Macedonia Tel.: + 389 (0)2 30 88 990 Fax: + 389 (0)2 30 65 298 E-mail: ExecutiveOffice@balkancsd.net

20. Thank you for your attention 