Independent media organisations established and operating in the Western Balkans are invited to apply to participate in the Support to Media Freedom and Pluralism in the Western Balkans programme, co-funded by the European Union and the German Government, and implemented by GIZ, in collaboration with Internews and DW Akademie.

The programme’s specific objective is to increase the capacities of professional independent media organisations to better adapt to the changing media environment. Given the scarce financial and human resources of the independent media sector, the programme will provide a combination of substantial capital investment, tailor-made technical support and a range of capacity-building activities to improve business and develop high-quality journalism.

The programme will contribute to the overall objective of strengthening participatory democracy and the EU approximation process in the Western Balkans by building capacity in media outlets, and stimulating an enabling environment for pluralistic media.

Twenty grants of up to €150 000 will be awarded as part of this programme. The projects are expected to last up to three years.