Reconciliation and entrepreneurship in the western Balkans

A project to promote reconciliation among young people in the Western Balkans through the implementation of a regional social entrepreneurship support program

Descriptive

This project aims to provide new reconciliation opportunities in the Western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Northern Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia) through social entrepreneurship. To achieve this objective, the project will involve rolling-out a regional social entrepreneurship support program for young people.

The program has an ideation phase and an incubation phase, with the aim of empowering project leaders to develop innovative solutions to the challenges their communities face. The program will be run twice as part of two separate project cycles.

The project will build the capacities of the regional ecosystem, by supporting six organizations to strengthen their support systems. It will also help to promote social entrepreneurship in the Western Balkans by using regional activities as a tool for economic inclusion and for strengthening social ties within and between each country.

ONG

SOS Group Pulse is the support structure for the SOS Group, created to promote entrepreneurship and the development of innovations with a positive impact.
Through its network of incubators, mentors and partners, SOS Group Pulse works closely with entrepreneurs, associations, companies and public organizations to launch projects designed to have a positive impact around the world.

Partners

The key partners on this project are the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO) and the South East European Youth Network (SEEYN). The Institut Français and the Franco-German Youth Office (OFAJ) will also be involved in certain activities.

The RYCO was created by the six government leaders of the Western Balkans in 2016 and is focused on strengthening ties between young people in the region.
The SEEYN is an NGO which aims to promote inter-cultural dialogue and boost youth employment levels in the region.

Aimed results

A network of more than 216 entrepreneurs, six support structures and 24 mentors, created through the program
Capacity-building of the six local support structures to meet the long-term needs of project leaders
72 teams involved in the ideation phases and 12 winners incubated, with the aim of developing innovative solutions
At least 1,010 people, aged 15 and over, informed about social entrepreneurship through regional workshops and events

Download the project sheet

Social and Inclusive Business

Sectors

Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia

Location

499 629 Euros

Amount of AFD financing

999 258 Euros

Total amount of the project

NGO grants

Financing tool

October 2019