September 9, 2009 | Belgrade
The Institute for Sustainable Communities (ISC) in Serbia is implementing a $14 million five-year program that seeks to support civil society in its ability to influence public policy, serve as government watchdogs, and conduct sustained advocacy campaigns on a variety of reform issues.  The Civil Society Advocacy Initiative (CSAI) helps citizens take responsibility for determining the kind of society they live in by increasing citizen participation in all aspects of public life. Through grants, training, and networking opportunities, CSAI helps citizen initiatives and civil society organizations more effectively communicate their priorities and coordinate with government and the private sector to tangibly improve people's lives. This program is made possible by the support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

ISC will organize briefings for civil society organizations in several Serbian cities to discuss its new Request for Applications (RFA):

• Novi Sad, Tuesday, 15 September 2009, premises of the „Novosadski humanitarni centar“, Trg mladenaca 6, I floor at 12.00
• Kragujevac, Thursday, 17 September 2009, City hall, Trg slobode 3, at 12.00
• Pirot, Friday, 18 September 2009, Municipality of Pirot, Srpskih vladara 82 at 12.00
• Loznica, Tuesday, 22 September, 11.00–13.00 Municipal Building, Karađorđeva 2 at 11.00
• Novi Pazar, Wednesday, 23 September, NGO „Urban In“, 1 maja bb (TC „Vakuf) at 12.00

We encourage applicants to develop inventive ideas and approaches to best address these key issues:

• Government accountability and transparency
• Social and economic rights
• Environmental protection

Please delegate two persons per organization to participate in the briefing to be held in your region. For additional information about the Request for Applications please click here.

For additional information about ISC, please visit: http://www.iscvt.org

The deadline for the submission of applications is 15 October, 2009.