The first accredited Financial Management Academy for Civil Society Organizations in Serbia and North Macedonia has officially concluded, marking a transformative step toward stronger, more transparent, and more sustainable CSOs across the Western Balkans.
Last week, the Academy wrapped up in Belgrade, followed by the final certificate ceremony held yesterday in Skopje, where participants in N. Macedonia completed the accredited 120-hour program recognized by the Centre for Adult Education.
Developed within the regional SMART Balkans project, the Academy is jointly implemented by the Center for Civil Society Promotion (CPCD), Center for Research and Policy Making (CRPM), and Institute for Democracy and Mediation (IDM), with support from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (NMFA).
Across both countries, the program equipped CSOs with practical, hands-on skills in:
• Budgeting and financial planning
• Legal and regulatory frameworks for CSOs
• Internal control systems and financial reporting
• Project financial management and donor compliance
• Taxation, procurement rules, and audit preparation
Participants also worked on real-life case studies, demonstrating how they are already applying these tools to strengthen governance, compliance, and organizational sustainability.
Marija Risteska, Executive Directress of CRPM, emphasized the Academy’s regional significance:
“This Academy is a unique professional program accredited in Serbia, Macedonia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Built around real CSO needs and the highest standards, it creates lasting value by building sustainable capacities, promoting responsible financial management, and preparing CSOs to implement impactful projects. Our goal is for the Academy to become a permanent platform for knowledge-sharing and leadership across civil society in the Western Balkans.”
We would like to congratulate all participants in both Belgrade and Skopje for their dedication in shaping a more accountable, resilient, and strategically empowered civil society sector across our region!
🔗 Learn more about the Academy
