For the first time in the Western Balkans, the SMART Balkans project is launching the CSO Financial Management Academy.
The Academy is an innovative, immediately applicable, accredited and free of charge educational program designed to strengthen financial management capacities, increase transparency and support the long-term sustainability of CSOs in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia.
Led by experienced, licensed and certified trainers, the Academy offers practical learning experience through interactive sessions that cover key financial management topics, including but not limited to:
- Legal frameworks for financial operations in CSOs.
- Budgeting and financial planning.
- Internal controls and financial reporting.
- Project financial management and donor compliance.
- Taxation, VAT, procurement procedures.
- Audit preparation and audit report interpretation.
Why is this Academy important for you and your organization?
The civil society sector across the region has clearly demonstrated the need for improving expertise in financial management – including budgeting, accounting, compliance with legal and donor requirements, and financial reporting. This Academy has been designed in direct response to these needs, with the goal of helping CSOs:
- Strengthen internal financial controls and procedures.
- Ensure effective management of expenditures and revenues.
- Support the long-term sustainability of their operations.
This is not just an education or training, it is a rare opportunity to elevate your financial expertise, improve the effectiveness of your organization, and contribute to a more transparent and resilient civil society sector across the region.
What does the program include?
- Planning, organizing, controlling, and monitoring financial resources.
- Understanding relevant legal frameworks, donor requirements, and internal procedures.
- Detailed training in accurate cost recording and financial reporting.
- Practical tools for budgeting, cost-efficiency, and financial transparency.
- Practical examples and lessons drawn from daily professional work.
When and where?
The program will be implemented in all six countries in the period September – November 2025, through five modules delivered in multiple in-person sessions, totaling up to 60 hours of instruction. It will be conducted in the local language of each country where the program is delivered. Lectures will be held in Belgrade, Podgorica, Pristina, Sarajevo, Skopje, and Tirana.
The Academy is accredited in four countries (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia). Although the Academy is not accredited in Albania and Kosovo, the content, standards and quality of the training modules will remain the same.
In accordance with applicable national regulations on accredited programs, participants are required to attend at least 80% education sessions to successfully complete the Academy.
For the successful participants, the responsible adult education center will provide relevant certificate/diplomas.
Certificates of Completion (As a publicly recognized certificate in accordance with the Adult Education Law) will be issued only to those who attend regularly and pass the final exam.
Who can apply?
- Financial officers or managers working in civil society organizations in the listed countries.
- Priority will be given to participants of the SMART Balkans project.
- Candidates are required to have completed secondary education and have a minimum of two years of work experience in the civil society sector.
How to apply?
- Fill in the Form available in local languages as follows:
For Albania HERE
For Bosnia and Herzegovina HERE
For Kosovo HERE
For Montenegro HERE
For North Macedonia HERE
For Serbia HERE
- Please upload the supporting files (CV and brief nomination letter from your organization, signed by an authorized representative, confirming your role as a financial officer or manager) in the provided space in the application form
The application deadline is August 15, 2025, by 4:00 PM.
The number of participants is limited to 20 per country (a total of 120 participants).
The program is completely free of charge. The costs will be covered by the SMART Balkan project (travel expenses for applicants coming from cities other than those listed, accommodation if necessary for those coming from the most remote areas, refreshments during classes, educational materials).
Space is limited, so early registrations will be the first to be confirmed.
Apply on time!
Financial Management Academy for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) is organized within the SMART Balkans project implemented by CPCD, IDM, and CRPM, and financially supported by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (NMFA) with an aim to strengthen the financial capacities of CSOs across the Western Balkans.
