The Western Balkans Fund has officially closed the applications for the 1st Open Call of the Gender Equality Fund for the Western Balkans — GeFund.
Launched as a new regional instrument dedicated to advancing gender equality through cooperation, GeFund has received strong interest from organisations across all six Contracting Parties of the Western Balkans. The response confirms that gender equality remains not only a policy priority, but also a shared regional commitment supported by civil society, academia, culture, business, media, and other sectors working directly with communities.
The Western Balkans Fund extends its gratitude to every organisation that answered the call and invested time, ideas, and partnerships into the application process. Each proposal reflects the growing recognition that regional cooperation can play a concrete role in addressing inequality, empowering women and girls, strengthening inclusive participation, and building more resilient societies across the region.
With the closure of the call, all eligible applications will now move into the evaluation phase. Applications will be assessed by the Western Balkans Fund, together with external assessors, in line with the published criteria and procedures. Successful applicants will be notified directly, while the selected projects are expected to be announced publicly in July 2026.
The 1st GeFund Open Call is structured around six priorities, connected by one mission: to support gender equality as a driver of cooperation, social progress, and democratic development in the Western Balkans. Through this initiative, the six Contracting Parties are moving forward together, with a clear focus on practical results and regional impact.
GeFund is co-funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and the European Union, and implemented by the Western Balkans Fund.
More information on GeFund is available at: gefund.westernbalkansfund.org
