Western Balkans Fund Publishing No. 18 N E W S L E T T E R WBF 2018 Annual Report The WBF First Annual Report, intended as a tool for sharing information about our mission and objectives, our short, but intense history and most important, about our first 18 Projects, was published on September 26. The preparation of this Report involved a lot of time and effort and will establish a new tradition of an annual publication of this kind, aiming to give comprehensive information through interactive infographic, narration, statistical insights and pictures on Fund’s most relevant activities. Below you may find the links (PDF and video version): http://westernbalkansfund.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/WBF-Annual-Report-2019- 1.pdf?fbclid=IwAR1csfCHOzaouYrYAD3zpjRsk4UItf9z2PdikGdmrce-_Le8oWesrHiPvf4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p98oJZt6q54&feature=share&fbclid=IwAR3C5_hyO8avHrYiBormI6J5R2O2c WKAQvssCFBq6Y1uFSMggiVCHLedR8E “Regional B2B Event” “Wine as a bridge of cooperation in the Western Balkans” Aiming to increase regional export promotion and Another milestone event taking place in Western Balkans, competitiveness of small and medium size enterprises celebrating richness in wine making. On October 4, Balkan Wine through close cooperation and regionalization, in the Network Conference was held in Skopje. The event was presence of North Macedonia Speaker of Parliament, Mr. organized by Association Wines of Macedonia with the aim to Talat Xhaferi, Prime Minister, Mr. Zoran Zaev and the connect wine producers from the region and to build a platform Minister of Economy, Mr. Kreshnik Bekteshi, on September for joint policy advocacy. 18th was successfully held in Skopje the WBF co- funded project, “Regional B2B Event”. WBF and DG NEAR strengthening of partnership WBF is working to make reality the partnership relations with EC structures, aiming supporting CSO activities in WB th WBF Region. On September 26 , in Brussels, the WBF Executive Director, Dr. Gjergj Murra, had a fruitful meeting with Mr. NETWORKING, NETWORKING, Colin Wolfe, Head of Regional Cooperation and Programs Unit DG NEAR, and Ms. Jlenia Destito, Coordinator for Civil Society and Media Programme DG NEAR. Strengthening the fruitful cooperation with MFA North Macedonia MEETINGS ANDMEETINGS EVENTS On the framework of further strengthening the fruitful cooperation with North Macedonia MFA, on September 18, the WBF Executive Director, Dr. Gjergj Murra, had a courtesy meeting with Mrs. Beti Jaceva, Director of the Directorate for European Union at the MFA Skopje. Working lunch with V4 partners On September 30th, WBF participated in the working lunch hosted by Czech Ambassador in Tirana, HE. Mr. Jaroslav Ludva, in the framework of the Czech Presidency of Visegrad Group 2019/2020 PAGE 2 Aiming to increase regional export promotion and competitiveness of small and medium size enterprises through close cooperation and regionalization, in the IN THE PHASE OF IMPL IN THE presence of North Macedonia Speaker of Parliament, Mr. Talat Xhaferi, Prime Minister, Mr. Zoran Zaev and the Minister of Economy, Mr. Kreshnik Bekteshi, on September 18th was successfully held in Skopje the “The first Regional B2B Event”. A large number of business, representing Chambers of Commerce of Tirana, Pristina and Skopje, as well as, Heads of Customs Administrations, members of international organizations, etc, were engaged actively in discussions and highly evaluated the event, EMENTING EMENTING WBF PROJECT as a concrete opportunity to enhance the links between regional entrepreneurs and investors. WBF was pleased to be part of the panel discussion, as of one of the main donors of the Project: “Promotion of Regional Exports”. We look forward and ready to suppor t similar initiatives in the future, as well! “Gastronomic map of the Western Balkans”. The 4th cooking and degustation event on traditional food from WB took place in Skopje on 21st of September. The event, S promoted also on TV, was organized by the WBF’s project co-partner “ARNO” from Skopje, in direct cooperation with the grantee “Generator” from Vranje. Soon to come the Western Balkans Cookbook! PAGE 3 “Promotion of Regional Cooperation and Digital Economy Opportunities (PRODIGY)” organized by ICT Forum, was held in Podgorica with the aim to bring closer successful businesses and relevant PHASE OF IMPL IN THE actors from the field of technology and innovation in order to improve cooperation and find joint solutions to the regional challenges. This event gathered more than 20 companies from the region and Chambers of Commerce, which has clearly shown that the region has an extensive talent that can contribute in innovative technology which will continue to make a difference in digital economy. Great atmosphere at the “Three Queens Story” Festival! The WBF Funded Project was held in Vranduk Fortress, Zenica, on September 21. EMENTING WBF PROJECT One of the main objectives of the organizers, Zenica City Museum, together with project co- partners from Bijelo Polje and Uzice, was to strengthen people-to-people links through extending knowledge on the medieval cultural heritage in the WB region. With the support of WBF, one of the main results of this project was also publishing of the books “The Roayal City of Vranduk” and “Tri Kraljice”. This event was covered from many medias in the Western Balkans. On September 28-29, in Skopje took place the “Women Book” - First Western Balkan Joint S Project by Balkan Women Association (BWA) that aims to foster women entrepreneurship by enabling the diversification of knowledge, experiences, initiatives and models. This initiative, supported by Western Balkans Fund and co-funded by Help - Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe, involves over 60 portfolios of 60 women from all over the WB6 Region. PAGE 4 After the “Fem-Art” panel held on June 2019 in Prishtina, the “Western Balkans Women’s Peace Talks” panel sessions continue - this time in Sarajevo, on 14th of IN THE PHASE OF IMPL September 2019, at the “Pitchwise” festival of women’s art and activism. Panel session titled “Artistic forms and combating for gender equal society” gathered women from the WB6 region who contributed a lot when it comes to women’s position in the art, on one side, and women’s equal position in the society on the other side, as follows: Vjollca Krasniqi, Liridona Sijarina, Vedrana Frašto, Jelena Višnjić, Ana Adamović, and Kristina Ljevak, a EMENTING moderator. The event was organized by the WBFs project partners: Fondacija “Jelena Šantić” Belgrade, Fondacija “CURE” Sarajevo, and “Centre for Research and Gender Policy” WBF Prishtina. PROJECTS “Let's make the Western Balkans better”. Association of Young Ecologist from Nikšić and their partners organized a second training of greeters in Sarajevo. During the two-day workshop, young volunteers from the region worked on designing their own tours and practicing leading the groups, as well as creating videos for their Global Greeter Network profile where they will be able to showcase the newly developed tours that highlight less known local attractions. PAGE 5 “Wine as a bridge of cooperation in the Western Balkans”. Another milestone event taking place in Western Balkans, celebrating richness in wine making. On October 4, Balkan IN THE PHASE OF IMPL IN THE Wine Network Conference was held in Skopje. The event was organized by Association Wines of Macedonia with the aim to connect wine producers from the region and to build a platform for joint policy advocacy. The main objective of the Network is to achieve a strengthened and strategically structured voice of a regional network of complementary organizations and actors in the wine sector, to influence regional, national and local policies and strategies for promoting sustainable development and improvements EMENTING EMENTING WBF PROJECT of the wine industries in the WB. In the framework of the WBF Supported Project “Combating social inclusion of young rd people”, the Inclusive Youth Camp, 3 project activity, was implemented on 4-9 October in the Scout Center Ohrid. Within this project, youth (with and without disabilities) will learn from each other and learn about cultural cooperation while increasing the number of educational-mobility activities. Aiming to contribute to regional cooperation by encouraging exchange of actors and S identifying common social values, the second theatre play of the project “Culture – a Common Language of Socio - Economical Relations (CCLOSER)”, powered by WBF and implemented by Regional Arts and Cultural Centre of Korca, Naroden Teater Bitola and Zvezdara Teatar Belgarde, took place at Naroden Theatre Bitola on October 8. PAGE 6 CALL FOR VACANCY WBF IS ANNOUNCING A CALL FOR VACANCY FOR THE PROJECT AND FINANCE COORDINATOR JOB POSITION. IN ORDER TO ENSURE EQUAL PARTICIPATION OF EXPERTS IN ITS SECRETARIAT, THIS JOB POSITION IS DEDICATED TO A CITIZEN FROM NORTH MACEDONIA YOU CAN FIND MORE ABOUT THE JOB DESCRIPTION, TOR AND APPLICATION PROCEDURES AT THE LINK BELOW: http://westernbalkansfund.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Call-for- Vacancy_North-Macedonia.pdf Honored and encouraged that Western Balkans Fund (WBF) was highly considered as an instrument for enhancing regional cooperation in Western Balkans at the “V4 Statement on the Western Balkans”, distributed at the Meeting of Prime Ministers of the Visegrad Group with partners from the Western Balkans, on 12 September in Prague. Follow WBF at social media channels: https://www.facebook.com/WesternBalkansFund/ https://twitter.com/balkans_fund https://www.instagram.com/westernbalkansfund/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/westernbalkans fund/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLuEaTSASE oaUu4ez5DIvnw For more information related to this Newsletter, please contact us: [email protected] PAGE 7 .