Consortia Selected for Financing Under the 4th Call for Proposals

The Regional Challenge Fund (RCF) is pleased to announce the consortia selected for financing under the 4th Call for Proposals.

The RCF successfully concluded its 4th Call for Expressions of Interest, which invited consortia of vocational training institutes and enterprises from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia to apply for funding aimed at enhancing skills development and strengthening regional business competitiveness. The Call for Expressions of Interest was open from April 8 until June 6, 2025, and attracted 187 applications from across the Western Balkans, demonstrating remarkable regional interest and commitment to advancing vocational education. Based on the eligibility criteria and available funds, 86 consortia have been shortlisted to develop full project proposals. The shortlisted applicants have been invited to submit full project proposals by October 15.

Submitted projects were assessed based on four groups of criteria — conceptual, feasibility, plausibility, and ambition — covering the quality of projects’ cooperative (work-based learning or dual) approach, cost efficiency and sustainability, partners’ experience, and commitment to digitalization, green transition, SME orientation, gender equality, and inclusion.

SEE THE FULL LIST OF AWARDED CONSORTIA HERE

The RCF team is highly impressed by the large number of strong and innovative project proposals received from across the region and extends sincere thanks to all applicants for their efforts and commitment. Due to limited funds available at the moment, unfortunately, not all high-scoring proposals can be supported in this round. However, the RCF team is currently exploring possibilities to raise additional funding, which would allow more outstanding projects from the 4th Call to be financed.

Through this initiative, the RCF continues to foster public-private partnerships that promote modern equipment investment, infrastructure upgrades, and high-quality work-based learning programs tailored to market needs.

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