The overall objective of the EU-funded project “Technical Assistance for improving the enabling environment for Civil Society Organisations in the Republic of North Macedonia” is strengthening the civil society effectiveness by improving the enabling environment for civil society, at central and local level, and by structured CSOs cooperation with public institutions and business community in the country.

The project was initially implemented through two components and related activities:

Component 1: Support the implementation of the main objectives of the Strategy for cooperation with civil society – Priority I

Activity 1.1: Improvement of the legal framework for civil society development
Activity 1.2: Improvement of the institutional framework for civil society development
Activity 1.3: Improvement of the financial framework for civil society development

Component 2: Support the implementation of Priority III of the Strategy & direct and tailored support for CSOs

Activity 2.1: Support to Priority area III of the Strategy
Activity 2.2: Direct support to small grass-root organisations
Activity 2.3: Provision of tailored training and consulting to small grass-root organisations

In December 2023, the project implementation period was extended and Complementary Terms of Reference with a set of new components and activities were introduced, as presented further below.

Component 1A: Support the implementation of the main objectives from the Government Strategy for Cooperation with civil society (2022-2024)

 Activity 1.1: Enhancing the capacity of General Secretariat and state institutions to put in place the new legal framework and related secondary legislation for enabling environment for civil society

Activity 1.2: Enhancing the CSOs’ capacity for implementation and compliance considering the new legal framework and related secondary legislation for enabling environment for civil society

Activity 1.3: Government re-established a well-structured and efficient mechanism/s for consultation and cooperation with the civil society on sectorial policies and future EU negotiations

 Component 2A: Support the implementation of the main objectives of the Gender Action Plan III – Country Level Action Plan for North Macedonia in cooperation with civil society

Activity 2.1: Development of effective methods for gender mainstreaming and monitoring of the gender perspective

Activity 2.2: Enabling the CSOs for an effective structural dialogue with institutions and in decision making in regard to gender equality vis a vis the EU’s Action Plan on Gender Equality