Empowering Regional Cooperation Grants — Cultural Exchange

Empowering Regional Cooperation Grants are administered by the Western Balkans Fund and co-funded by the European Union. The scheme supports joint civil-society projects that strengthen regional partnerships, democratic participation, inclusion, and reconciliation across the Western Balkans.

Projects may address cultural cooperation, education and scientific exchange, or sustainable development. Activities must take place in at least two WBF Contracting Parties, while the applicant partnership must represent at least four. WBF has announced a new call for autumn 2026, but exact dates and updated terms are not yet published.

Benefits & funding

The most recent published call offered grants from €20,000 to €30,000 per project.
The grant could cover up to 80% of eligible project costs; applicants had to provide at least 20% co-financing, with no in-kind contribution.
Projects could run for 3–7 months, including the final 30-day reporting period.

Eligibility

The lead applicant had to be a legal, nonprofit entity established in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, or Serbia.
Eligible leads included civil-society organizations, business associations, media associations, and educational or cultural associations; individuals and profit-making companies were ineligible.
Each application required one lead and at least three project partners representing at least four different WBF Contracting Parties.
The lead applicant had to show active experience implementing donor-funded projects during at least the previous three years.
The proposed activities had to take place in at least two WBF Contracting Parties and address an eligible intervention area.

Can you apply?

Here's who can apply

Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.

Residence required
Albania · Bosnia and Herzegovina · Kosovo · Montenegro · North Macedonia · Serbia
Experience required
≥ 3 yrs

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Application process

1
When the next call opens, check the updated guidelines before relying on the previous-cycle terms summarized here.
2
Form a partnership with one eligible lead and at least three eligible partners from four different WBF Contracting Parties.
3
Complete the English-language project application, budget in euros, and lead-applicant declaration in the Online Grant Management System.
4
Submit through the portal by the announced deadline; shortlisted applicants then provide the partnership agreement, registration documents, bank verification, financial statements, and financial-capacity form.

Program timeline

Most recent completed call opened.
May 9, 2024
Most recent completed call closed after an extension.
June 20, 2024
Evaluation panels reviewed proposals.
August 2024
Results were announced.
September 17, 2024
WBF expects to launch a new call; the exact date is not yet published.
Autumn 2026