As part of the Empowered – Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in the Western Balkans project, a three-day regional capacity-building training was held in Belgrade from February 11 to 13, 2025, hosted by IDC Serbia, the national project partner for Serbia. The event gathered representatives from partner organizations across the Western Balkans to deepen collaboration, strengthen technical capacities, and enhance planning for the successful implementation of project activities.
This regional training was designed to respond to the needs of implementing partners, offering a well-structured program that combined strategic discussions, technical workshops, and experience-sharing sessions. Participants had the opportunity to engage with experts and peers in the fields of inclusion, advocacy, financial management, and monitoring, all with the aim of increasing the project’s efficiency and long-term impact.
Day I: Setting the tone for inclusion
The training began with a warm welcome and opening remarks from key representatives, including Elmir Bojadžić, Gordan Velev, Dafina Hoxha, Sava Pantelić from ASB and Miodrag Nedeljković (IDC) who emphasized the importance of regional solidarity and cooperation.
Participants introduced themselves through a reflective session on personal motivations and organizational successes.
The day concluded with thematic presentations on:
- Inclusive practices from the NGO sector
- The role of enterprises for professional rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities, presented by Mirjana Pantelić, highlighting work integration as a core component of inclusion.
Day II: Technical strengthening and hands-on learning
Held at Hotel Xenon, the second day featured focused sessions on:
- Advocacy and implementation at both regional and local levels
- Project visibility and communication, led by Marina Velev, IDC
- Indicator monitoring and compliance with BMZ regulations
- Financial management and procurement, with contributions from finance and procurement experts from ASB SEE, PREDA Plus, and LIR CD
Two parallel working groups allowed participants to dive deeper into:
- Financial management, reporting, and procurement
- Implementation, indicator monitoring, and narrative reporting
These sessions were highly interactive, enabling partners to exchange insights, clarify procedures, and build collective strategies.
Day III: Strategic planning and regional dialogue
The final day took place at the ASB Office in Belgrade, beginning with informal coffee networking and concluding with a regional implementation team meeting. Representatives from all partner countries, including Albania, Kosovo*, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia, participated in aligning regional priorities and confirming next steps for implementation.
The open structure of the final meeting also welcomed additional contributions from partner organizations, encouraging ownership and mutual accountability.
Key takeaways from the training:
- Strengthened trust and cooperation among partners
- Clearer understanding of BMZ rules and expectations
- Joint planning for 2025 activities
- Practical knowledge in financial, advocacy, and implementation domains
- Renewed commitment to inclusive, cross-border action for persons with disabilities
We thank all partners for their contributions, energy, and vision. Through regional dialogue and collective action, Empowered WB continues to lay the foundation for a more inclusive and equitable Western Balkans.