Open Call for Proposals : UNESCO CC4WBs Peer to Peer Exchange Grants 2026 - Culture and Creativity for the Western Balkans - Up to €10,000 | Apply by 16 February 2026

CC4WBs Peer-to-Peer Exchange Grants 2026 | Apply by 16 February 2026

The joint project 'Culture and Creativity for the Western Balkans' (CC4WBs) aims to improve the performance of the cultural and creative sectors to enhance skills, knowledge, and access to financial aid. This initiative fosters competitiveness and sustains co-production and circulation of goods and services in the Western Balkans.

This specific Call for Proposals focuses on promoting meaningful international and regional dialogue through peer-to-peer exchanges between applicants and previously awarded grantees.

Proposals must address one of the following thematic areas:

• Heritage interpretative planning.
• Integrating a sustainable development perspective in cultural heritage management.
• Understanding and safeguarding intangible cultural heritage through community engagement.
• The role of visitor/information centres for cultural heritage sites.
• Safeguarding intangible cultural heritage.

• Peer-to-Peer Visits: Visits to awarded grantees (hosting organizations) of previous CC4WBs calls.
• Knowledge Sharing: Meetings with local experts and key stakeholders involved in the host's project.
• Outputs: Joint activities, workshops, training materials, or written/audio-visual deliverables.
• Constraint: The exchange must take place in a Western Balkans IPA Beneficiary other than the one where the applicant is registered.

Participation is open to the following entities established in the Western Balkans IPA Beneficiaries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia):

• Public Institutions: Museums, galleries, theatres, institutes for protection of heritage, universities, research institutes, tourism offices, etc.
• Local Governments: Municipalities or cities.
• Civil Society Organisations (CSOs): Foundations and non-profit organisations.

Note: The Applicant must be established before 01 January 2024.

• Maximum Grant: €10,000.00
• Co-financing: Applicants must provide co-financing of minimum 10% and maximum 40% of the requested amount.
• In-kind Contributions: Accepted (e.g., voluntary work, use of premises/equipment) but must be monetised and evidence-based.

The evaluation process consists of two steps:

• Administrative Check: Verifying submission deadline, duration, and completeness of Forms 1-7. Failure here results in automatic rejection.
• Technical Evaluation (100 Points):
  • Financial and operational capacity (20 points)
  • Relevance to priorities and needs (20 points)
  • Design of peer-to-peer activities (15 points)
  • Implementation approach (15 points)
  • Sustainability (15 points)
  • Budget and Cost-Effectiveness (15 points)

• Regional Cooperation: Partnership among actors from different WB IPA Beneficiaries.
• Gender Equality: Projects encouraging female participation/entrepreneurship.
• Youth Participation: Substantial representation of young people.
• Inclusivity: Inclusion of disadvantaged groups in rural/urban contexts.

• Download the application package (Forms 1-7).
• Complete all forms in English.
• Submit via email to: cc4wbs.tirana@aics.gov.it
• Subject Line: Applicant's name_Ref. CC4WBSOR003/2025
• Attachments: Must be sent as direct attachments (max 35MB). Do not use WeTransfer, Google Drive, etc.
• Deadline: 16 February 2026, 17:00 (CET).

• Submission Email: cc4wbs.tirana@aics.gov.it
• Official Website: Refer to UNESCO/British Council/AICS Western Balkans portals.

• Can I visit a partner in my own country? No, the exchange must take place in a Western Balkans country other than the applicant's country of registration.
• What is the maximum project duration? The project can last up to 3 months, but the actual visit must be at least 3 full days.
• Can I submit multiple applications? No, applicants may submit only one application under this call.
• Is in-kind contribution allowed? Yes, it can be counted towards co-financing if it is monetised and evidence-based.
• Can I send the application via Google Drive? No, cloud links like Google Drive or WeTransfer are not accepted; files must be attached directly to the email.