- Program Civil Society
- Program Area Strengthening Civic Space
- Grant Amount $100,000
- Grant Period January 1, 2006–December 31, 2007
- Location Banska Bystrica, Slovakia
- Geographic Focus Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia
About this grant
The goal of the CEE Citizens Network is to promote public participation throughout Central/Eastern Europe and the Newly Independent States and provide opportunities for grassroots organizations to learn and exchange experiences and ideas. Multiyear funding will enable the network to encourage public participation throughout the region by organizing annual "Citizen Participation" weeks in all 16 member countries; increase awareness among members and the public at large about civic initiatives throughout the region through its Web site, newsletters and biannual conferences; build the capacities of grassroots groups and local community leaders in the region through annual training seminars; and promote joint activities among members.During the past two years, the network expanded membership to 16 countries and 27 individual organizations; redesigned its Web site; launched a semiannual newsletter to exchange information among members; organized an international conference on European integration; conducted a training event in Bulgaria for participants from 11 countries that focused on community organizing; and facilitated several international exchanges and study visits among member organizations.