Key transition challenges to Macedonia are advancing democratisation and raising governance standards and civil society plays a crucial role in such processes. The country’s society has, however, become a politically and ethnically divided one. The government is not actively promoting its civil society to play the role of critic, catalyst and advocate of interest groups in order to enable them holding government accountable. So, public trust in and tolerance towards organised civil society is low. Yet CSOs do play an important role in promoting inter-ethnic dialogue and holding government accountable towards citizens.

The overall goal of the programme is to support civil society organizations which make a tangible contribution to the development of Macedonia’s society, especially in strengthening inter-ethnic cohesion.

The direct target groups are the Civil Society Organizations from Macedonia, which are working on both local and national level and are membership-based and action-orientated organisations or are resource centres. There foci of activities are: good governance; promotion of civil rights, monitoring of policy implementation and harmonisation at local level, and inter-ethnic reconciliation.

Increased acknowledgement of CSOs - as counterparts to government and private sector in policy formulation and overseeing the work of local governments in service delivering - by citizens, constituencies and local governments.

Resultate von früheren Phasen:  

Since 2010 the programme has supported 52 CSOs institutionally and through projects. Around 200 initiatives related to good governance, transparency and accountability, improvement of inter-ethnic relations and gender equality have been implemented. First results show that CSOs seem increasingly credible to some local governments. Besides, CSOs’technical project management and strategic planning capacities have improved. But, more attention needs to be paid on relations between CSOs and their members (constituencies), as well as between CSOs and state actors, in order to improve their legitimacy and credibility.

Phase 3 01.08.2012 - 30.06.2014   (Completed)