A central pillar of the Programme is the creation of a Community of Practice (CoP) — a dynamic, evolving network that connects public officials across the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership candidates. The CoP is designed to encourage equitable participation and amplify diverse perspectives, avoiding centralized control and ensuring inclusive engagement.

The programme begins with a pilot cohort of 50 participants, but the vision is exponential. Guided by Metcalfe’s Law, which states that the value of a network grows quadratically with each new member, the programme will expand to 500 participants, significantly enhancing opportunities for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and cross-border innovation.

Regular check-ins, thematic webinars, and regional meetups will support ongoing connection, while a dedicated online space facilitates continuous dialogue and resource sharing. To maintain inclusive participation, the CoP will include moderated dialogue, peer mentorship, and structures that give equal voice to all members, regardless of geography or institutional hierarchy.
As the network grows, it becomes a vibrant ecosystem of interconnected leaders, fostering collective intelligence, peer support, and leadership momentum. These connections will drive cross-regional collaboration, accelerate EU accession progress, and empower public officials to tackle challenges with shared insight and expertise.

To ensure lasting relevance, the CoP will focus on actionable outcomes—joint reform projects, policy labs, and cross-border campaigns that extend impact beyond the life of the programme.
An alumni network will maintain post-programme connectivity, enabling continued knowledge exchange, peer mentoring, and collaboration on reforms. The main conduit for this is Masterclasses.
Partnerships with regional institutions will embed the programme’s leadership models into national systems, ensuring long-term sustainability and local ownership.