The members of municipal councils working for democracy
01.07.2014
- 30.06.2020
With the ‘Empowering Municipal Councils’ project, Switzerland’s international cooperation is helping municipal councils in North Macedonia to become effective local authorities whose community policies take into account the interests of ordinary citizens.
| Country/region | Topic | Period | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Macedonia |
Governance
Decentralisation
|
01.07.2014 - 30.06.2020 |
CHF 4'000'000 |
Project completed
Promoting equal opportunities for women and men in Macedonia
01.01.2014
- 30.06.2018
In Macedonia, women are disadvantaged in the areas of employment, social protection and political participation. To promote equal opportunities, in 2006 the government passed a law on equal opportunities for men and women. To complement Macedonia's reform efforts jointly with national counterparts SDC is funding an equal opportunities project at the municipal level.
| Country/region | Topic | Period | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Macedonia |
Governance Gender Human rights
Decentralisation
Women’s equality organisations and institutions
Human rights (incl. Women's rights)
|
01.01.2014 - 30.06.2018 |
CHF 1'670'400 |
Project completed
lncreasing Market Employability in North Macedonia
01.11.2013
- 31.07.2019
Unemployment in North Macedonia is particularly high, especially among young people and women, and a large segment of the population lives in poverty. That is why Switzerland is involved in developing business growth and improving the quality of products and services by helping SMEs in certain sectors of the economy.
| Country/region | Topic | Period | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Macedonia |
Employment & economic development
Employment creation
|
01.11.2013 - 31.07.2019 |
CHF 7'500'000 |
Project completed
Managing the risk of natural hazards through capacity building and increased cooperation
01.01.2013
- 31.12.2015
Working to reduce the risk of natural disasters is a fundamental element of improving the security of local populations. Switzerland has placed this objective on the agenda for its chairmanship of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in 2014. High-level conferences and practical training are planned.
| Country/region | Topic | Period | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Eastern Europe and CIS |
Other
Sector not specified
|
01.01.2013 - 31.12.2015 |
CHF 4'000'000 |
Project completed
Education Fund for Roma
01.10.2012
- 31.12.2014
Roma minorities, numbering approximately 10 million people, still suffer from widespread poverty and marginalisation in Eastern European countries. A low educational level is both the cause and consequence of poverty, as well as an obstacle to social integration.
| Country/region | Topic | Period | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Western Balkans |
Education
Education policy
|
01.10.2012 - 31.12.2014 |
CHF 2'273'000 |
Project completed
Restoration of the Prespa Lake Ecosystem
01.12.2011
- 31.12.2018
Lake Prespa is situated in the three-country border area of Albania, Macedonia, and Greece. Thanks to its biodiversity, the local ecosystem is of global significance. The widespread, improper disposal of waste is polluting both surface and ground water. The SDC is helping to decontaminate these waterways and to raise awareness of environmental issues.
| Country/region | Topic | Period | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Macedonia |
Climate change and environment Water
Environmental policy
Water resources conservation
Water sector policy
|
01.12.2011 - 31.12.2018 |
CHF 6'682'000 |
Project completed
A platform for the diaspora
01.05.2010
- 31.05.2013
Albinfo.ch connects members of the Albanian-speaking diaspora in Switzerland and with their countries of origin. Networking and exchange allow them to take part in social, economic and cultural developments in their countries of origin. Switzerland helps to fund this platform.
| Country/region | Topic | Period | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Western Balkans |
Migration Governance
Diaspora for development
Information and communication technology (ICT)
|
01.05.2010 - 31.05.2013 |
CHF 470'000 |
Project completed
"We don't have a spare planet" – environmental protection through education
01.01.2010
- 31.08.2016
Environmental protection was for a long time not a political priority in North Macedonia and the implementation of environmental protection laws was slow. Now that environmental education is a compulsory subject in school curricula, school students are becoming increasingly aware of environmental issues. This is leading to an improvement in the environment and the living conditions of people in North Macedonia.
| Country/region | Topic | Period | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Macedonia |
Water Climate change and environment Education
Water sector policy
Environmental policy
Education policy
|
01.01.2010 - 31.08.2016 |
CHF 3'267'400 |
Planned project
Parliament Support Programme (PSP) in Macedonia
01.09.2023
- 31.12.2029
The Assembly (national parliament) will be supported in order to more effectively safeguard citizen interest and engage in consensus-oriented and inclusive debate. Over the past years the executive has built a dominant role vis-a-vis parliament resulting in ineffective oversight, limited debate on legislation, and little interaction with civil society. With the change of government in April 2017, a new momentum to address these topics has formed. Switzerland can offer its 10+ years record in supporting the Assembly.
Planned project
Support to Electoral Reforms in Macedonia
01.07.2023
- 30.06.2029
Election related institutions are strengthened to conduct election processes free of violence and intimidation. In addition, political parties are supported to apply a more citizen centred approach in developing their election programmes. Ultimately, better informed citizens are empowered to demand accountability from elected officials which increases legitimacy of the state institutions, thus they become more open and citizen oriented in the creation of policies.
Planned project
Creating Job Opportunities for All in Macedonia
01.11.2022
- 31.12.2028
This project will facilitate employment for vulnerable groups, by introducing appropriate active labour market measures, improving the capacities of responsible stakeholders to coordinate employment measures, and sensitizing and incentivising the private sector. lt contributes to ease the risk of vulnerable groups to fall into poverty, and enhances their social inclusion. Roma and people with disabilities are the main target group as they are disproportionally affected by high unemployment in Macedonia.
Strengthening regional cooperation on migration in the Western Balkans
01.01.2020
- 31.12.2027
In light of diversifying migration patterns and challenges with increasing regional dimensions, the migration policy priorities of Western Balkan governments are changing and the relevance of regional dialogue, coordination and cooperation is growing. This proposal seeks to promote coherent and effective regional governance of migration in all its multifaceted dimensions contributing to greater social cohesion and regional integration in the Western Balkans.
