From January 2015, ALDA and the Balkan LDAs are starting the implementation of the operating grant – Balkan regional platform for youth participation and dialogue, a new platform in the Balkans which aims to establish a network of organisations that will contribute in structuring regional thematic cooperation and coordination between civil society and public authorities from targeted countries to improve environment for youth activism and participation, in particular of young people with fewer opportunities. The first meeting will be held in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on 27th and 28th January.

The project is initiated by ALDA, with LDAs from Mostar, Zavidovici, Prijedor (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Subotica, Knjazevac (Serbia), Niksic (Montenegro), Peja (Kosovo) as co-applicants and ALDA Macedonia as affiliated entity, who will jointly implement the activities locally. This very important project is financed by the European Union through the programme Civil Society Facility – Operating Grants to IPA CSO Associations (Support to regional thematic associations).

Through the course of the project a series of conferences, trainings, exchanges, workshops and meetings will be held in five targeted countries from the region, through the following main components of activities: 1) network coordination and management of activities; 2) network capacity building; 3) awareness raising and visibility actions; 4) exchange of good practice among the region countries; and 5) research and analysis.