Tandem Western Balkans is a one-year learning by doing programme that enables cultural operators to kick-start long-term regional collaboration in the Western Balkans. 
The programme offers participants a working placement with a partner abroad and the chance to engage their organisations in a joint innovation or strategic development project of their choice. Up to 24 participants gain international know-how while realising up to 8 Tandem pilot projects that serve as prototypes for future tactical collaborations. Obtaining new insights from the region and beyond strengthens participants’ impact locally and increases their operational and financial resilience.

How it works
Up to 24 applicants and their colleagues will be invited to participate in the Tandem Western Balkans Partner Forum from 12-16 November 2019 in Belgrade. During the Partner Forum, they will find new networking opportunities and most importantly, their potential Tandem partner.
For one year, the participants from 6 countries of the Western Balkans will form up to 8 cross-border Tandems.
After the Forum, a jury will select the 8 most promising Tandem proposals for participation in the main programme phase.
Throughout the following year, selected participants will be hosted in a work placement at their new Tandem partner organisation where they become directly involved in their partners’ organisational working environments and get hands-on insights into local socio-economic, political and cultural realities. The placement will provide participants with the necessary working time for co-designing, testing and realising their pilot co-initiatives.

Each Tandem will receive modest start-up funding, € 3,000, to bring their idea to life.
At the end of the programme, outcomes will be showcased locally and in a presentation organised by Tandem.

Project initiators from the 8 Tandems selected will attend Tandem group meetings (at the beginning, in the middle and at the end of the process) to facilitate mutual exchange of collaboration experiences with all other programme participants.
 

Who can apply
Project initiators: managers, activists, architects, researchers, educators, public servants, entrepreneurs, curators, artists…representing civil society organisations, public institutions, non-profit initiatives, local administrations or social enterprises.
Applicants should be based in one of the 6 Western Balkans countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia.

Deadline to apply: 20^th September 2019, 23:59 CET.

Find out more here.