Regional Grants Projects Funded (Total: EUR 162,742)   South East Europe - Paving its Way to GM Free Zone EUR 35,000 NGOs Leader: Shoqata e Bujqesise Organike (Organic Agriculture Association), Albania Partner: Zelena Akcija (Green Action), Croatia Project Leader: Monika Spahivogli, Albania   Project Summary: The aim of this project is to show that biotech represents an extension and entrenchment of unsustainable agricultural practices, and that GMOs will undermine national food sovereignty and food security in the region if introduced - deliberately or accidentally - into agricultural systems. This project is coordinating NGO activities at the regional level, establishing local initiatives for GMO free zones, which will lead to cross border designated areas. It is also promoting organic farming as a way to preserve and enhance rural development, and maintain and nurture agricultural and natural biodiversity. Expected outcomes: Trained key persons, ready to independently start and lead GMO campaigns in their respective countries; Campaign toolkit developed, containing printed and electronic information materials; Checklist and brief report on the state of GMOs and organic farming in the project countries developed  (in the local languages); Guidelines as to what stringent legislation on GMOs should contain developed and distributed among decision makers in the project countries; Testing on the presence of GMOs in food products in Croatia, and results reported to various stakeholders and the media; and Charters and statements calling for GM-free countries prepared, which are to be endorsed by local authorities. Sustainable Development of River Cijevna Area EUR 20,000 NGOs Leader: Network for Affirmation of the NGO Sector - MANS, Serbia and Montenegro Partners: Green Home, Serbia and Montenegro; Albanian Association for Environmental Education Project Leader: Vanja Calovic, Serbia and Montenegro   Project Summary: The aim of this project is to contribute to efforts to promote and practice public participation in decision-making on sustainable development issues in cross-border areas of Montenegro and Albania, thus supporting multiethnic dialog, capacity building and cooperation between stakeholders. Expected outcomes: Five people from partner NGOs and two stakeholder groups trained in citizens' participation methodology; Workshops in both partner countries to facilitate public participation in decision-making; Two working groups established to foster public participation; Two public debates organised; Recommendations regarding public participation in decision-making drafted and implemented by parliaments in Albania and Montenegro; and Recommendations relating to the sustainable development of the Cijevna River are developed through a consensus-based decision-making process, involving stakeholders on both sides of the border. For more information on this project, and how it is progressing, please visit the project website.   Local Agenda for Sustainable Development for Serbia and Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina EUR 19,991 NGOs Leader: Natural Food Association 'Terras', Serbia and Montenegro Partner: Center for Ecology and Energy, Bosnia and Herzegovina Project Leader: Agnes Medve, Serbia and Montenegro   Project Summary: The overall goals of the project are to raise awareness of the sustainability of organic agriculture, and strengthen the organic agriculture scene in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia and Montenegro. Specific objectives include: promoting organic agriculture; linking municipalities with similar problems and potentials; stimulating the development of local strategic development plans; and defining a regionally-adaptable model for the introduction of organic agriculture as a factor for the sustainable development at the local level. Expected outcomes: Initial report on the Local Agenda 21 process in Serbian and Hungarian; Brochure, TV spot, radio spot and 30 minute film on the LA21 process; Four TV programmes on the local problems in Subotica (in Serbian and Hungarian); and Draft Local Agenda 21s in Tuzla and Subotica. For more information on this project, and how it is progressing, please visit the project website.   SuDNet (Sustainable Development Network) EUR 34,991 NGOs Leader: Eko-Liburnia, Croatia Partners: Eko-Agro Ohrid, Macedonia; Ekopot, Bosnia and Herzegovina Project Leader: Ranko Tadic, Croatia   Project Summary: The overall goal of this project is to promote the concept of sustainable development and raise awareness among the people of the regions covered. To this end, the project will initialise the networking process and form partnerships between the NGOs from the three countries involved, which should result in better understanding and further cooperation beyond the successful completion of this initiative. Expected outcomes: Local Agenda 21 process started in selected pilot municipalities; Eco-agro-tourism standards developed; 'Green business plans' prepared for financing; and Project CD-ROM and webpages produced. Integrated Approach to Solving Traffic-Related Problems Sustainably EUR 21,710 NGOs Leader: Proaktiva, former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Partner: Serbian Town Planners Association, Serbia and Montenegro Project Leader: Aleksandra Dimova, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia   Project Summary: The overall goal of this project is to promote more sustainable communities, particularly with regards to transportation. This will be done by promoting public transport; raising awareness of the consequences of uncontrolled traffic emissions; and examining the conditions, particularly in urban planning, that lead to unsustainable transportation patterns. This project will be accomplished in cooperation with stakeholders, using public campaigns and research as tools. Expected outcomes: Maps of public transport systems and alternative modes of transport developed for Skopje and Belgrade; Materials on the benefits of public transportation, ride-sharing and urban pollution developed and distributed; Model sustainable urban traffic systems developed; Concrete changes in traffic flow made; Networkng and education for government officials; and Analysis of perceptions of transport issues conducted. Balkan Ecovillage Network EUR 31,050 NGOs Leader: Green Network of Alternative Groups, Croatia Partners: Akcija za Prava Zivotinja, Bosnia and Herzegovina; Drustvo za Sirenje Pozitivne Svijesti i unapredenje zivljenja Kneja, Croatia; EIA NGO for Ecology and Culture, Croatia Project Leader: Drazen Simlesa, Croatia   Project Summary: The overall goal of the project is to increase the capacities and level of cooperation between organisations and institutions active in the field of sustainable rural development. This is being accomplished by: Exchanging knowledge and skills on using sustainable rural development technologies and approaches; Establishing and promoting a regional network of Permaculture education centers and sustainable rural communities, as main agents of sustainable rural development; Publishing educational resources and curricula for rural communities, NGOs and local self-government bodies interested in promoting sustainable rural development; Preparing, and advocating for, legislative changes and institutional policies needed for the development of ecological housing, sustainable and GMO-free agricultural production, communal waste and waste-water management, renewable energy production and the sustainable use of land resources in rural areas; and Providing training and technical assistance to public institutions , NGOs and small and medium- sized enterprises that seek to make their activities sustainable. Expected outcomes: Balkan Ecovillage Network formed, with a minimum of seven organisations from four countries, and membership criteria and common educational curriculum developed; Ten new trainers/consultants on environmentally friendly technologies trained and providing services to other beneficiaries; network members able to provide practical on-site training and support in the development of ecovillages; national policy recommendations relating to the introduction of environmentally friendly technologies into development developed; and 'Ecological technologies in rural development' publication and website published.

Introduction to Regional Grants   Initiatives for Sustainable Development in the Western Balkans