CZ-ICO-68406258-PROJECT-16760 CEE Bankwatch Network From January 2024 to June 2026, CEE Bankwatch Network ran a project in the Western Balkans, funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), to support the region’s shift away from coal and other fossil fuels in a way that protects nature and respects people’s rights. Working with local civil society groups in Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo and Albania, Bankwatch monitored energy and infrastructure projects financed by international banks and the EU, and challenged those that were harmful. These included new gas plants and pipelines, large hydropower dams and poorly planned motorways. It also supported coal-dependent towns in planning their economic future, and helped affected communities use legal and complaint procedures to have their concerns heard. The overall objectives of the project are: 1. to prevent harmful measures in the energy sector from receiving financial and political support, and 2. to empower citizens to claim their rights. 1. Communities 2. Local activitists 3. The Energy Community Secretariat 4. The European Commission 5. International Financial Institutions 6. National and local decision-makers Sida CEE Bankwatch Network CEE Bankwatch Network +420 777 995 515 main@bankwatch.org https://bankwatch.org/ 486932 559743 290983 330311.43 First instalment from Sida 322733.99 227744.78 CZ-ICO-68406258-PROJECT-16782 CEE Bankwatch Network The project “Energy transition in Eastern Partnership countries 2024–2027” monitors energy, transport, urban projects financed by international financial institutions in Georgia, Armenia, Ukraine and Moldova. It runs fact-finding missions with affected communities and helps them file complaints with the banks’ accountability mechanisms and the Bern Convention. Bankwatch and its partners comment on national energy and climate plans, nationally determined contributions, impact assessments and green city plans. They work with the Energy Community Secretariat, and advocate at the banks’ annual meetings and in policy reviews on disclosure, civic space, non-retaliation and gender. Small grants, study visits and training help local CSOs build their capacity. The overall objectives of the project are: 1. to prevent harmful measures in the energy sector from receiving financial and political support, and 2. to empower citizens to claim their rights. 1. Communities 2. Local activitists 3. The Energy Community Secretariat 4. The European Commission 5. International Financial Institutions 6. National and local decision-makers Sida CEE Bankwatch Network 676839 906325 886520 1048880 483137.63 513978.38 63752.86 557898.62 136776.68 CZ-ICO-68406258-PROJECT-12357 CEE Bankwatch Network Between 2019 and 2023, Sida’s support for the CEE Bankwatch Network enabled the organisation to strengthen the capacity of our civil society partners in the EU Neighbourhood, favourably impacting major investments in the region. Through our work, we helped to prevent environmentally and socially harmful projects, such as the the Tuzla 7 lignite thermal plant in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Nenskra dam in Georgia, from progressing, and we helped deliver remedy for vulnerable Roma households affected by solid waste investments in Serbia. We also positively influenced the policies of major development banks, including the European Investment Bank (EIB), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). As a result, these banks are now taking measures to increase transparency, improve governance, and ensure that human rights impacts and gender inequalities are more effectively addressed. The first objective of the project is to promote decarbonisation. This involves calling for the financing of new coal facilities in the Western Balkans to be stopped and encouraging debate on the transformation to low-carbon economies. The second objective is to strengthen democratisation. This involves advocating for public participation in decisions on projects funded by the EU and international financial institutions. Sida CEE Bankwatch Network Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Serbia, Kosovo, Montenegro Georgia, Ukraine, Belarus, Armenia, Azerbaijan 626184 538271 770874 833558 848238 572216.05 546630.92 411625.48 584661.42 519244.50