The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) announces
an open competition for organizations interested in submitting applications for projects that
support civil society in the Western Balkans to hold governments accountable and transparent
by promoting greater public participation with a focus on environmental issues.
The United Nations Environmental Programme held a Western Balkans Forum in late 2022 that
concluded the region is heavily impacted by climate and pollution issues. Corruption and
inconsistent implementation of regulations further exacerbate the situation. These
environmental issues may be highly detrimental to communities in these countries, impacting
the health of individuals and putting their rights to safe living conditions and access to natural
resources at risk. For instance, a 2022 study from the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy cited
instances of increased pollution in regions proximate to new development projects, which
degraded air quality and local water sources, causing potential health risks to local communities
including respiratory infections and autoimmune diseases. Activists have recounted how local
politicians use fear of economic crisis to demotivate citizens from speaking out against
industrial pollution. The lack of local good governance in tackling environmental challenges has
catalyzed public discontent and distrust. There is a need for citizen advocacy to hold local
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leaders accountable to environmental regulations, and to protect against egregious
environmental damage.
To address some of these issues and leverage civil society’s activism, DRL/GP is seeking
proposals that promote greater public participation and ensure government transparency and
accountability. The project will focus on environmental governance processes in Western
Balkan countries with high levels of international economic influence. The program aims to: (1)
support local communities and/or organizations to mobilize to advance good governance
principles and their intersection with local environmental laws and regulations; (2) engage
independent media and community members in monitoring and documenting cases of noncompliance with environmental policies; and (3) create a diverse network of reform advocates
collaborating to build accountability for implementing current laws and development of rightsrespecting policies.