In January 2026, the Western Balkans Fund (WBF) formally concluded the Second Phase of the WBF–EU Joint Action, implemented under the EU project “Support to the Promotion of Civil Society regional actions in the Western Balkans”.
Phase II closed with concrete results: 42 grants implemented across the region, supporting more than 200 beneficiary organisations and reaching over 20,000 direct beneficiaries. Beyond the numbers, this phase strengthened cooperation where it matters most: enabling organisations to work across borders, turn shared ideas into delivered outputs and build partnerships designed to last beyond a single grant cycle.
Two flagship initiatives defined this phase in particular. First, the Regional Networking and Dialogue Sessions, which connected regional actors, enabled peer exchange, and helped create durable partnerships. Second, the Regional Impact Lab, which focused on strengthening CSO skills, tools and operational readiness, supporting more sustainable impact on the ground.
With Phase II completed, WBF is entering the Third Phase of the WBF–EU Joint Action, officially launched on 14 January 2026, continuing over the next two years with a clear objective: expand opportunities, deepen cooperation, and focus on measurable outcomes. As part of this transition, WBF also published the Final Report of the Second Phase, documenting the scope, delivery, and results in line with transparency and accountability standards.
All of this, plus the highlights of the last four months of our grantees, in our WBF-EU quarterly Newsletter:
