Regional Academy for Democracy (RAD)
The project Regional Academy for Democracy: Shaping the European Future of the Balkans – Building a New Political Culture and Political Elite is a unique initiative in political capacity building in the Western Balkans, supported by the European Commission and implemented by seven Schools of Political Studies from the Western Balkans.
The Regional Academy for Democracy (RAD) aims to contribute to regional cooperation in the Western Balkans in the fields of democracy, human rights, justice and institution building, through building the capacities of next-generation political leadership and facilitating their mutual understanding and cooperation. RAD is dedicated to already established political actors who will in the near future form the highest-level political leadership. It aspires to shape a human infrastructure that will help solidify current democratisation processes, uphold the standards of human and minority rights above political or national interests, and embrace a spirit of regional cooperation and reconciliation with neighbours.
Structured in three yearly cycles, the RAD will gather 150 political leaders from Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo*, Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia (7 per country per year) in a joint experience of extensive learning and exchange. Each year, RAD aims to organize four highly interactive seminars and one study visit for the same group of 50 participants engaged in the topic of the year: Justice and Security Cooperation (Year 1), Human and Minority Rights (Year 2), and Building Democratic Institutions (Year 3).
The participants will be selected from among leading younger politicians who already hold significant posts either on the state level or in their respective political parties – State Secretaries, Deputy and Assistant Ministers, Members of Parliaments, leading party officials, diplomats, as well as a number of the most outstanding mayors and/or county/region leaders.
Lead organisation: Belgrade Fund for Political Excellence
Implementing partners: Academy for Political Studies (Tirana), School of Political Studies of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Sarajevo), Academy for Political Development (Zagreb), Pristina Institute for Political Studies (Pristina), Centre for Research and Policy Making (Skopje), School of Democratic Leadership (Podgorica).
For more information, please visit the RAD website or contact the Belgrade Fund for Political Excellence (Mr Marko Savkovic: msavkovic@bfpe.org)
* All references to Kosovo, whether to the territory, institutions or population, in this text shall be understood in full compliance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 and without prejudice to the status of Kosovo.
