New Horizon (NH), founded in 1999 in Ulcinj, Montenegro, is a civil society organization dedicated to strengthening democracy and good governance through education and community engagement.
The mission of the organization is to increase citizens’ participation in local and broader decision-making processes, thereby contributing to democratic development and the promotion of good governance through educational and integration programs. Its vision is an active community built on mutual respect, belonging, and solidarity. Over the past 25 years, NH has become a recognized platform for civic involvement and youth leadership development in the region.

The organization focuses on empowering young people to actively participate in shaping local public policies, fostering intercultural dialogue, and encouraging responsibility in community planning. NH also works on monitoring public administration, promoting transparency in public spending, and advocating for reforms at the local level. All activities are conducted bilingually, in Montenegrin and Albanian, reflecting the diversity of the local community.

NH is part of the Montenegrin Resource Center Network, a program initiated and supported by the Ministry responsible for cooperation with NGOs. Within this network, NH serves as the Regional Resource Center for the southern region of Montenegro, providing services to local organizations, informal groups, and individuals. These services include legal and financial advice, project consultations, networking support, and assistance with advocacy initiatives. NH also offers facilities such as meeting spaces and a specialized NGO library.

New Horizon has more than 25 years of experience in implementing projects focused on youth empowerment, civic participation, intercultural dialogue, and public administration reform. The organization has established strong partnerships at both local and national levels, while its team combines expertise in NGO management, project design, capacity building, and advocacy.

NH has a strong track record of implementing projects with international partners and donors, including participation in the Erasmus+ and CERV programmes. Through these EU-funded initiatives, the organization has connected young people from Montenegro with peers across Europe, promoting leadership, civic engagement, and intercultural understanding.
Among its notable projects, the PEN – Participatory EU Enlargement project engaged citizens and young people from EU Member States and candidate countries in discussions on EU enlargement and democratic participation. The SHINE – Shaping the Future of Europe project equipped youth organizations and young people with innovative tools for civic engagement, media literacy, and democratic participation, resulting in podcasts, training manuals, and interactive learning resources. The SPACE Project focused on empowering young professionals to contribute to urban planning processes and address challenges in informal settlements through research, training, and practical community development activities.

In addition to funding received directly from the European Union through Erasmus+, cross-border cooperation, and trilateral programmes, NH has been supported by a range of international donors, including the U.S. Embassy in Podgorica, the Balkan Trust for Democracy, and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund.
The organization receive support from public institutions in Montenegro, including the Ministry of Sports and Youth, the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights, the Ministry of Public Administration, and the Ministry of Regional Development and Cooperation with NGOs.

Those who supported us in the early stages of our work:

  • Fund for Active Citizenship (FAKT)
  • UNDP Montenegro
  • Global Albanian Foundation
  • SlovakAid (Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic)
  • Directorate for Youth and Sports (Government of Montenegro)
  • Open Society Institute Foundation – Montenegro
  • Municipality of Ulcinj
  • Ministry of Human and Minority Rights of Montenegro
  • CARE International
  • OSCE
  • Fund from Games of Chance (State Budget of Montenegro)
  • Global Fund for Women
  • MALTESER
  • Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
  • UNICEF
  • KVINNA TILL KVINNA