EFB is pleased to announce that the call of the Think & Link Programme is closed. 12 organizations are selected for the fourth edition of T&L : 1. Institute for Democracy ’Societas Civils’ – Macedonia 2. Agency for Cooperation, Education and Development (ACED)–Bosnia and Herzegovina 3. European Policy Centre (CEP)–Serbia 4. Democracy for Development (D4D)–Kosovo 5. Kosovar Centre for Security Studies (KCSS)– Kosovo 6. Institute for Democracy and Mediation–Albania 7. European Policy Institute–Macedonia 8. Centre for International and Security Affairs (ISAC Fund)–Serbia 9. Institute for Social Sciences and Security–Macedonia 10. Serbian Roma Youth Association–Serbia 11. Ecological Centre ’Habitat’–Serbia 12. New Business Education Foundation–Macedonia The first activity for selected organizations is the Capacity Building Seminar ’Strengthening the Role of Evidence Based Policy in the Western Balkans’ set up for May 3-5, 2012 in Bečići, Montenegro. Independent selection committee chose among more then eighty think tanks, policy oriented NGO’s,independent policy institutes, and policy relevant research groups who applied for participation in the programme cycle (capacity building, networking seminars and mentoring) and for conducting a research project which will analyse the in-country policies against the needs and requirements derived from the EU acquis, necessary to ensure effective and complete compliance and, based on their research, todevelop concrete policy proposals, policy advice or policy alternatives. Selected organizations met the evaluation criteria based upon: - relevance of the research to national policy in relation with the EU acquis and its potential to informand improve policy making; - likelihood that the finding will be useful to policy makers and other stakeholders; - soundness of the project‟s conceptual framework (the ideas, concepts, theories and bodies ofknowledge informing the proposed approach) and methodology; - feasibility of the research; - capability of the applicant organisation/institution/research group to undertake and complete theproject on schedule and its‟ research record; - soundness of the dissemination strategy; - readiness and level of motivation of the applicant organisation/institution to actively participate in thewhole programme cycle (including seminars, networking and outreach activities); “THINK AND LINK” is region-wide policy programme by the European Fund for the Balkans In order to encourage various debates on the challenges, costs and opportunities of building a genuine EU member- state. It is directed towards emerging think tanks, policy oriented NGO‟s, independent policy institutes, and policy relevant research groups from the Western Balkans whose activity is focused on political and social issues and interested in the process of EU integration. The programme seeks to foster inclusive and evidence-based policy making in the Western Balkans by initiating research projects which are relevant from the perspective of the Copenhagen criteria, embedded in a regional capacity building and networking programme cycle. This programme aims to: - inspire analysis and case studies of important aspects of member-state building in the Western Balkanssocieties; - support comparative and evidence-based policy-making; - foster broad and informed public debates; - overcome the gap between technical and political debate; - build up research capacities and support constant learning; - enhance intellectual regional co-operation, exchange of experience and networking; - contribute to the transfer of know-how and the exchange of experience with previous EU candidates. For more information about the programme please visit THINK & LINK - reigonal policy programme More about THINK & LINK 2011/2012
