Applications are now open for the Apply Now: 7th Call for the WBF Move Grant Programme, offering eligible individuals from the Western Balkans an opportunity to receive up to €3,000 to support regional mobility, professional development, research, education, creativity and knowledge exchange.
The Western Balkans Fund (WBF) officially launched the 7th Call for Proposals of its MOVE Grants programme on 4 September 2026.
The programme supports individuals who want to undertake a clearly defined mobility activity in another WBF Contracting Party. It is designed to encourage regional connections while helping participants develop their academic, professional, creative and practical skills.
Eligible applicants include students, researchers, academic staff, civil society activists, journalists, artists, athletes, public employees and young professionals.
According to the official Western Balkans Fund announcement, the key eligibility condition is citizenship of one of the six WBF Contracting Parties.
Applications are open until 5 October 2026.
WBF Move Grant Programme 7th Call 2026: Overview
Programme: WBF MOVE Grants
Call: 7th Call for Proposals
Organization: Western Balkans Fund
Funding: Up to €3,000
Programme Type: Individual mobility grant
Target Applicants: Individuals from the six WBF Contracting Parties
Application Opens: 4 September 2026
Application Deadline: 5 October 2026
Purpose: Mobility, professional development and regional exchange
Application Method: Online through the official WBF application portal
Current Status: Open for applications
The MOVE Grants programme is one of WBF’s initiatives aimed at encouraging mobility and cooperation across the Western Balkans.
What Is the WBF MOVE Grant Programme?
The WBF MOVE Grants programme provides financial support to individuals undertaking mobility activities within the Western Balkans.
Rather than functioning as a conventional organizational project grant, MOVE focuses on individual mobility.
Successful applicants may receive up to €3,000 to undertake a clearly defined activity in another WBF Contracting Party.
The programme aims to help individuals strengthen their skills and build professional connections across the region.
This can include opportunities connected with:
- Research
- Education
- Professional development
- Creativity
- Knowledge exchange
- Training
- Cultural cooperation
- Artistic cooperation
- Professional events
- Networking
- Regional partnerships
How Much Funding Is Available?
Selected applicants may receive:
Up to €3,000
The €3,000 figure is the maximum grant amount stated in the official announcement.
Applicants should not assume that every successful candidate will automatically receive the full €3,000.
The final amount may depend on the proposed mobility activity and the applicable WBF rules.
Applicants should therefore prepare realistic mobility plans and budgets based on their actual needs.
Who Can Apply?
The 7th Call is open to individuals from a wide variety of professional and academic backgrounds.
The official announcement specifically identifies:
- Students
- Researchers
- Academic staff
- Civil society activists
- Journalists
- Artists
- Athletes
- Public employees
- Young professionals
This broad applicant profile is one of the programme’s strongest features.
MOVE is not restricted only to university students or academic researchers.
Professionals, creatives, civil society actors and others may also participate if they meet the programme requirements.
Main Eligibility Requirement
According to the Western Balkans Fund’s official announcement:
Holding citizenship of one of the six WBF Contracting Parties is the eligibility criterion stated for the call.
Applicants should nevertheless read the complete official guidelines before submitting because the guidelines may contain procedural conditions governing eligible activities, costs, mobility arrangements and applications.
What Are the Six WBF Contracting Parties?
The Western Balkans Fund operates across six Contracting Parties in the Western Balkans:
- Albania
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Kosovo
- Montenegro
- North Macedonia
- Serbia
Applicants should confirm the official terminology and any mobility requirements in the current 7th Call guidelines when preparing their application.
Where Must the Mobility Activity Take Place?
The grant supports a clearly defined mobility activity in another WBF Contracting Party.
This regional mobility component is fundamental to the programme.
The objective is not simply to finance an applicant’s existing activities at home.
Instead, the programme seeks to encourage individuals to move across the region for learning, collaboration, research, networking or other eligible activities.
Applicants should therefore develop a mobility proposal that clearly explains:
- Where they want to go
- Why that destination is relevant
- What activity they will undertake
- What they expect to learn or achieve
- How the mobility will contribute to regional cooperation
What Activities Can WBF MOVE Grants Support?
The official announcement identifies several examples.
Knowledge Exchange
Applicants may undertake activities that allow them to exchange experience, expertise and ideas with people or institutions elsewhere in the Western Balkans.
Training
Professional or educational training can potentially be supported where it aligns with the programme’s requirements.
Research
Researchers can use regional mobility to advance relevant research, collaborate with institutions or strengthen academic networks.
Cultural Cooperation
Artists and cultural professionals can potentially use the programme to develop cross-border cultural connections.
Artistic Cooperation
Creative professionals may participate in eligible artistic activities that contribute to regional exchange.
Professional Events
Participation in professional events can be supported under the programme where the activity meets the grant conditions.
Networking
Applicants may use mobility opportunities to build meaningful professional and regional networks.
New Regional Partnerships
The programme can also support activities that help individuals establish new connections and partnerships across the Western Balkans.
Opportunities for Students
Students who meet the citizenship requirements can apply.
A student could potentially use the mobility opportunity for an eligible educational, research, training or networking activity in another Contracting Party.
The key is to present a clearly defined purpose.
Applicants should explain how the mobility activity contributes to their educational or professional development.
Opportunities for Researchers
Researchers are specifically included among eligible applicants.
Potential activities could involve:
- Research collaboration
- Knowledge exchange
- Academic networking
- Professional events
- Research-related training
Researchers should clearly explain how mobility to another WBF Contracting Party will strengthen their work and contribute to regional connections.
Opportunities for Academic Staff
Academic professionals may also apply.
The programme’s focus on education, research and knowledge exchange makes it relevant to academics seeking to collaborate across institutions in the Western Balkans.
Opportunities for Journalists
Journalists are explicitly included among the eligible applicant groups.
The programme’s emphasis on mobility and professional development may provide opportunities for journalists to build regional networks, exchange knowledge and participate in relevant professional activities.
Applicants should ensure their proposed activities comply with the official grant guidelines.
Opportunities for Artists
Artists and other creative professionals are also eligible.
The programme specifically identifies cultural and artistic cooperation as areas that can be supported.
Creative applicants should explain:
- Their artistic background
- The proposed mobility
- The collaboration involved
- Expected outputs
- Regional relevance
- Professional-development benefits
Opportunities for Athletes
Athletes are another group specifically mentioned in the call.
This makes MOVE broader than many regional mobility programmes that focus exclusively on education or civil society.
Eligible sporting activities should be checked against the detailed programme guidelines.
Opportunities for Civil Society Activists
Civil society activists can also apply.
Cross-border mobility can allow civil society actors to:
- Exchange good practices
- Participate in training
- Build networks
- Establish partnerships
- Learn from organizations elsewhere in the region
A strong proposal should show how the mobility activity will contribute to the applicant’s development while building meaningful regional connections.
Opportunities for Young Professionals
Young professionals are explicitly encouraged under the broad applicant categories.
The programme can potentially provide an opportunity to strengthen:
- Professional skills
- Regional networks
- Practical experience
- Cross-border collaboration
- Knowledge of the Western Balkans
Applicants should focus on a specific mobility activity rather than submitting a vague request for general professional travel.
Why Regional Mobility Matters
The MOVE Grants programme is designed around more than travel.
Its broader purpose is to strengthen connections among individuals across the Western Balkans.
Mobility can allow participants to encounter different professional environments, institutions, ideas and communities.
The Western Balkans Fund describes the programme as supporting:
individual mobility, professional development and regional exchange.
That means strong proposals should demonstrate both personal development and a meaningful cross-border component.
173 Individuals Have Already Benefited
The Western Balkans Fund reports that:
173 individuals
have benefited from previous WBF MOVE Calls.
Those participants have travelled across the region to:
- Learn
- Create
- Research
- Collaborate
- Grow
This provides evidence that MOVE is an established mobility programme rather than a newly announced concept.
Preparing a Strong WBF MOVE Application
Applicants should carefully review the official guidelines before preparing their proposals.
A strong application should clearly explain the mobility activity and why it matters.
Define a Specific Activity
Avoid vague statements such as:
“I want to travel to develop professionally.”
Instead, identify:
- The activity
- Destination
- Purpose
- Host or event where applicable
- Expected outcomes
Explain Why Mobility Is Necessary
Applicants should demonstrate why travelling to another WBF Contracting Party adds value.
For example, the mobility might provide access to:
- Specialized knowledge
- Training
- Research collaboration
- Professional networks
- Artistic collaboration
- Regional expertise
Show Professional or Personal Development
Explain what skills, experience or knowledge you expect to gain.
Demonstrate Regional Value
Since MOVE focuses on regional exchange, applicants should explain how their proposed activity creates or strengthens connections within the Western Balkans.
Prepare a Realistic Budget
Applicants should carefully follow WBF’s current financial rules.
Do not simply request €3,000 because it is the maximum.
The requested amount should correspond with actual eligible mobility costs.
How to Apply
Applications are submitted through the official Western Balkans Fund application portal.
Applicants should:
- Read the 7th Call guidelines carefully.
- Confirm citizenship eligibility.
- Identify an appropriate mobility activity.
- Select another WBF Contracting Party as the destination.
- Define the purpose and expected outcomes.
- Prepare all required documentation.
- Develop a realistic budget.
- Complete the online application.
- Review the information carefully.
- Submit before 5 October 2026.
The official WBF announcement provides both the application portal and downloadable guidelines.
Application Period
The 7th Call opened on:
4 September 2026
and closes on:
5 October 2026.
This means the opportunity is currently open.
Applicants should begin preparing early rather than waiting until the closing date.
Is the WBF MOVE Grant Fully Funded?
The official announcement states that selected applicants can receive up to €3,000.
It should therefore be described as a grant of up to €3,000 rather than automatically as a “fully funded” opportunity.
Whether the grant covers the complete cost of a particular mobility activity will depend on the activity, budget and applicable programme rules.
Support From the Swiss Government
The Western Balkans Fund states that the Swiss Government supports WBF’s institutional strengthening and portfolio diversification, and the MOVE Grants programme forms part of this support.
This institutional backing adds useful context to the programme’s development.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the WBF MOVE Grant?
It is an individual mobility programme operated by the Western Balkans Fund to support professional development and regional exchange.
How much funding is available?
Selected applicants may receive up to €3,000.
Who can apply?
Eligible applicant groups include students, researchers, academics, civil society activists, journalists, artists, athletes, public employees and young professionals.
What is the main eligibility requirement?
The official announcement states that applicants must hold citizenship of one of the six WBF Contracting Parties.
Can organizations apply?
The current MOVE call is presented as an individual mobility programme. Organizations looking for institutional project funding should consult other WBF grant opportunities.
Can students apply?
Yes. Students are specifically listed among eligible applicants.
Can journalists apply?
Yes.
Can artists apply?
Yes.
Can researchers apply?
Yes.
Can young professionals apply?
Yes.
What can the grant support?
Eligible activities may include knowledge exchange, training, research, cultural and artistic cooperation, professional events, networking and regional partnership development.
Where does the activity take place?
The applicant should undertake a defined mobility activity in another WBF Contracting Party.
What is the application deadline?
Applications close on 5 October 2026.
Is the programme currently open?
Yes. The 7th Call opened on September 4 and remains open until October 5, 2026.
Final Thoughts
The Apply Now: 7th Call for the WBF Move Grant Programme provides a valuable current opportunity for eligible individuals across the Western Balkans to receive up to €3,000 for regional mobility and professional development.
The programme is particularly broad because it welcomes applicants from multiple backgrounds, including:
- Students
- Researchers
- Academic staff
- Journalists
- Civil society activists
- Artists
- Athletes
- Public employees
- Young professionals
The supported activities are similarly diverse, ranging from research and education to training, networking, cultural cooperation, artistic exchange and professional events.
With 173 individuals already supported through previous MOVE calls, the programme has an established record of facilitating cross-border learning and collaboration.
Applications for the 7th Call are currently open and close on:
5 October 2026.
Eligible applicants should review the official guidelines, develop a clearly defined mobility proposal, and submit through the Western Balkans Fund application portal before the deadline.
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