the former Yugoslav Republic of MACEDONIA

Democratic Governance

UNDP is one of the longest supporters of the country’s decentralization process.  It has proven over time its capacity to timely respond to Government’s needs for designing and enforcing national policies emerging from implementation of the decentralization agenda, but also in brokering partnerships amongst stakeholders throughout the policy development process.

UNDP has contributed to the development of some key laws, policies and studies (Law on Inter-Municipal Cooperation, Draft Law on Legalization of Illegal Buildings and Informal Settlements, Assessment of the Status of the Decentralization Process and the subsequent Fiscal Decentralization Assessment for Equitable Services for All), which have provided strategic expert advice to the policy makers.

UNDP has undertaken a range of local level interventions aiming to improve local governance and enhance the quality of public service delivery. The lessons learned and successful models have been used as a platform for scaling up and implementing more comprehensive programmes that should help building-up of models which support municipalities in overcoming capacity deficiencies due to size and resource constraints. UNDP continues to support and advocate for institutionalization of the concept of inter-municipal cooperation (IMC).

In the period 2010 – 2015, UNDP will continue to support the national and local level institutions in their efforts to improve the effectiveness, accountability and transparency of the local governance system for provision of local public services, promoting equitable and inclusive regional development, and enhancing inter-ethnic dialogue and social cohesion.

Programme interventions will follow a two-pronged approach: a) support to the national authorities in addressing the remaining policy issues and b) strengthening capacities and governance systems of sub-national level authorities responsible for implementation of decentralized competencies.

UNDP continues to work with municipalities, the National Commission for Prevention of Corruption and ZELS on reducing opportunities for corruption on local level. The focus is on institutionalizing the use of the developed anti-corruption tools and products (i.e., the measuring methodology and the Code of Ethics) while securing the certification of compliance with ISO 9001:2000 standards and encouraging a more pro-active role of civil society and media in this area.

UNDP will continue providing substantive contribution to the operationalization of the new National Strategy for Regional Development. The focus is on capacity building – support to the Bureau for Regional Development in managing policies and allocating funds in a transparent and accountable manner and to the two planning regions (Vardar and North-East) through capacity building activities for initiating and implementing of projects in line with their regional development programmes and the national priorities.

Finally, the UN joint programme, funded by the Spanish MDG Fund, aiming to strengthen inter-ethnic cohesion which is in its initial stages of implementation, aims to enhance social capital, to strengthen national systems and capacities for inter-ethnic cohesion and to promote inter-cultural sensitivity and civic awareness. 

Project Name	Start	End
Fighting Corruption to Improve Governance	02.2007	12.2010
Inter-municipal Cooperation for Better Service Provision and EU Accession - IV	01.2009	12.2011
Enhancing Inter-Ethnic Community Dialogue and Collaboration	01.2009	12.2011
Financing Equitable Service Provision for All Citizens	01.2008	12.2010
Regional Development: Initial Support for Policy and Capacity Building	06.2009	12.2011

Government and UN Launch Programme on Enhancing Inter-Ethnic Dialogue » 24.02.2010 The Secretariat for Implementation of the Ohrid Framework Agreement together with three UN Agencies – UNDP, UNICEF and UNESCO, launched the comprehensive programme entitled “Enhancing Inter-Ethnic Community Dialogue and Collaboration”. This US$ 4 million programme is funded by the MDG Achievement Fund, established with the generous support of the Government of Spain. more»
ISO 9001:2008 Certificates Awarded to Veles, Gevgelija, Bitola and Tetovo » 17.02.2010 The Municipalities of Veles, Gevgelija, Bitola and Tetovo, with the support of UNDP’s project “Fighting Corruption to Improve Governance” have fulfilled the requirements of Quality Management System ISO 9001:2008 standards. more»
Grants for Implementation of Inter-municipal Cooperation Projects Awarded During ZELS Fair » 26.11.2009 The Programme “Inter-municipal Cooperation for Better Service Provision and EU Accession” implemented by UNDP in cooperation with the Ministry of Local Self-Government, in frames of the ZELS Fair 2009, organized official signing ceremony to award grants for implementation of inter-municipal cooperation (IMC) projects. more»
UNDP Announced Call for Grants for Inter-Municipal Cooperation » 18.09.2009 On 10 September 2009 UNDP in partnership with the Ministry of Local Self-Government announced the Call for Grants for Inter-Municipal Cooperation, to be executed in frames of the programme “Inter-municipal Cooperation for Better Service Provision and EU Accession”. The grants for Inter-Municipal Cooperation in amount of up to 1,240,000 denars (20.000 EUR) more»
Training of Trainers: Call for Candidates » 25.06.2009 This four-days Training of Trainers (ToT) is part of the UNDP Programme “Inter-municipal Cooperation for Better Service Provision and EU Accession” which objective is to contribute to the development of IMC in the country in support of the achievement of one of the main objectives of decentralization more»
UNDP and Thompson Reuters Foundation Organize Investigative Journalism Training – Call for Applications » 21.05.2009 Corruption remains among the serious obstacles for the country to become a member of the EU and achieve sustainable development. Understanding of the significance of the causes for corruption and its consequences, together with defining the measures how to systematically and preventively address these problems are among the greatest challenges for the society. more»