The OSI Think Tank Fund offers support to independent policy centers in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia to promote policy research and alternatives on political and social issues critical to effective and accountable democratic governance in their own countries.

Open Society New Response Projects will provide think tanks in the region with the opportunity to:

• sustain work on sensitive and unpopular social and political issues, particularly work that seeks to improve the position of disadvantaged and marginalized groups;
• promote transparent and effective democratic processes in their countries and to counteract illiberal tendencies; and
• advance systems for monitoring the performance of governmental institutions in ensuring tolerance and public accountability.

In line with the Think Tank Fund's aim of fostering inclusive policy change, Open Society New Response Projects should increase public participation in policy discussions, influence public policy discourse and help to shape the policy agenda. Projects should aim to address the full policy cycle and reach out to relevant stakeholders. Priority will be given to research and policymaking that directly respond to threats to liberal democratic governance and promotes open society values.

For more information, view the full Open Society New Response Projects grant guidelines.