Visegrad and Western Balkan Connected through Social Entrepreneurial Ecosystems (SEE V4&WB)

PROJECT ID

Finance Instrument: International Visegrad Fund
Action Type: Social entrepreneurship, capacity building, ecosystem assessment, regional cooperation and policy advocacy
Project Status: Completed
Implementation Period: 
Funded by:  The project is financed by the Governments of Czechia, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, through the Visegrad Grants Program from the International Visegrad Fund. The mission of the fund is to advance ideas for sustainable regional cooperation in Central Europe. 
Lead Organisation: Youth Alliance – Krusevo, North Macedonia
Project Partners: The project is implemented by Youth Alliance - Krusevo in partnership with CDP Globus (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Forum for Civic Initiatives (Kosovo), Center for Youth Education (Montenegro), Mission: Recconect (Czechia), Slovak Open Solidarity (Slovakia), FISE (Poland), and Foundation for Sustainable Enterprises (Hungary). The project is financed by the Governments of Czechia, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, through the Visegrad Grants Program from the International Visegrad Fund. The mission of the fund is to advance ideas for sustainable regional cooperation in Central Europe.
Beneficiary Countries: North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, Czechia, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia

Main Aim

The project aimed to strengthen social entrepreneurial ecosystems in the Visegrad and Western Balkan regions by improving the capacities of civil society organisations, social enterprises and other relevant stakeholders to assess their national environments, identify systemic gaps and develop evidence-based recommendations. Through regional training, national assessments, stakeholder consultations and policy dialogue, the project promoted cooperation, knowledge exchange and the development of more inclusive and supportive conditions for social enterprises.

Project Logic

IF civil society organisations, social entrepreneurs and ecosystem stakeholders are equipped with a shared assessment methodology, practical knowledge and opportunities for regional cooperation, AND IF evidence from national ecosystems is systematically collected and communicated to decision-makers, THEN stakeholders will be better positioned to identify gaps, advocate for policy improvements and contribute to more sustainable and supportive social entrepreneurial environments across the Visegrad and Western Balkan regions.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS

Capacity building and methodological development

An international training in Olomouc, Czechia, brought together 17 participants from the Visegrad and Western Balkan countries. During the three-day programme, participants strengthened their knowledge and practical skills for assessing social entrepreneurial ecosystems and developed national action plans adapted to their respective contexts.

All participants reported increased competencies for applying the assessment methodology. In addition, 85% improved their understanding of ecosystem assessment, 90% identified potential regional partnerships and 80% felt better prepared to address gaps in their national environments.

National ecosystem assessments

The common assessment methodology was applied in eight participating countries: North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, Czechia, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia.

Eight national reports were developed, presenting country-specific findings related to:

• legal and institutional frameworks;
• financing opportunities and funding gaps;
• support structures and stakeholder networks;
• capacity-building needs;
• cooperation among institutions, civil society and social enterprises;
• conditions affecting the sustainability and growth of social enterprises.

Stakeholder engagement

A total of 173 representatives of social enterprises, civil society organisations, public institutions and other ecosystem actors participated in workshops, interviews and consultations.

Each partner organised national activities to introduce and apply the assessment methodology, collect evidence and involve relevant stakeholders in identifying challenges, opportunities and potential solutions.

Regional cooperation and networking

The project strengthened cooperation among eight partner organisations and connected social entrepreneurs, civil society representatives, experts, researchers, institutions and policymakers from the two regions.

The exchange of national experiences enabled partners to identify common challenges, transferable practices and opportunities for continued collaboration between the Visegrad and Western Balkan countries.

International policy dialogue

The International Round Table on Supportive Social Entrepreneurial Ecosystems gathered more than 70 participants from eight countries.

Participants discussed legal recognition, access to finance, institutional support, sustainability and the potential for scaling social enterprises. More than 80% of participants actively contributed to workshops and policy discussions.

The round table resulted in practical recommendations for stronger cross-sector cooperation, improved access to funding and more supportive policy and regulatory frameworks.

Research and evidence-based advocacy

The national findings were consolidated into regional conclusions, a final report and a policy paper.

These publications provide comparative evidence about the state of social entrepreneurial ecosystems and offer practical recommendations for public institutions, donors, civil society organisations, social enterprises and other relevant stakeholders.

Awareness raising and dissemination

The project implemented coordinated communication and dissemination activities across all participating countries.

The international training campaign reached approximately 5,600 people online, while the national reports were shared directly with more than 500 stakeholders. Social media promotion of the reports reached over 3,000 people and generated more than 200 direct interactions.

The International Round Table campaign reached more than 1,000 people, with approximately 300 real-time interactions. Reports, recommendations and communication materials were further distributed through partner networks, mailing lists, media outlets and stakeholder platforms.

MAIN RESULTS AND OUTPUTS

• One international capacity-building training implemented in Olomouc, Czechia
• 17 participants trained in social entrepreneurship ecosystem assessment
• One common methodology for assessing social entrepreneurial ecosystems applied
• Eight national social entrepreneurship ecosystem assessments conducted
• Eight national reports produced and published
• 173 stakeholders involved in national workshops, interviews and consultations
• National in-person and online stakeholder activities organised across the participating countries
• One International Round Table with more than 70 participants implemented
• Representatives from eight countries engaged in regional dialogue and networking
• One regional report developed
• One policy paper with recommendations produced
• Gaps in legal frameworks, financing and institutional support identified
• Actionable recommendations for policy reform and cross-sector cooperation developed
• Capacities of civil society organisations and social entrepreneurship stakeholders strengthened
• Cooperation between the Visegrad and Western Balkan regions increased
• New partnerships and opportunities for future joint initiatives identified
• Project findings disseminated to institutions, social enterprises, civil society organisations, experts and policymakers

LONG- TERM CONTRIBUTION

The project created a shared evidence base and strengthened the capacity of regional actors to understand and improve social entrepreneurial ecosystems.

Its findings provide a foundation for future policy advocacy, capacity-building programmes, regional funding initiatives and cooperation with public institutions, financial actors and international development organisations. The partnership will continue exploring joint projects, policy dialogue and practical support mechanisms for social enterprises in the Visegrad and Western Balkan regions.

   International training report         International round table report           Policy paper                              Research report MKD                    Research report SLO               Research report MNG 

     Research report BiH                   Research report  HU                 Research report XK               Research report PL