News from CSOs

On 04.03.2025, in municipality of Gradsko, we had the honor to welcome Gjoko Velkovski, the deputy minister of social policy, demographics and youth, into our housing which is part of the social service “Assisted Living”. During his visit, the deputy minister met with the employees of APCPOD-Veles, and we had the privilege to present our […]
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📊 From Statistical Data to Effective Policies!
Today, we held the workshop “From Statistical Data to Creating Effective Economic and Development Policies”, with a focus on gender statistics, in collaboration with the State Statistical Office (MakStat / MakStat). 👥
🔍 Together with representatives from all relevant institutions, we explored:✔️ The available data from the State Statistical Office✔️ Their utilization in research analyses and Finance Think’s models✔️ The possibilities for integrating findings into policymaking
🎯 Our goal: To ensure that data serve as the foundation for evidence-based policymaking – for more inclusive and equitable development!
Supported by British Embassy Skopje
A special thanks to the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Labor and Social Policy, Ministry of Education and Science, Ministry of Health, Employment Agency of North Macedonia, Ministry of Energy, Mining, and Mineral Resources, UNICEF MK, and UN Women Skopje for their participation.
#EvidenceBasedPolicies #GenderStatistics #EconomicDevelopment #FinanceThink #MakStat
📸 More photos: https://www.flickr.com/…/fosim/albums/72177720324734083/

Since February 2025, our team has been actively working with the residents of the village of Ropotovo, as part of the initiative to improve energy efficiency and sustainable living. In addition to the advisory sessions at the premises of the Municipality of Dolneni, together with the local population, we conducted individual assessments of the energy efficiency of their homes and business buildings. The assessments were carried out using a specially developed questionnaire, which allowed for a precise analysis of the current situation.

As a result of this fieldwork, we developed and assigned 4 individual energy efficiency plans for households in the community. These plans contain specific recommendations for improving insulation, reducing energy losses and optimal use of renewable sources, in order to reduce costs and improve the quality of life.

👉 “With this plan, we finally know what we can improve and how to save. We got ideas that we never thought could make such a difference to our bills and heat at home.” — says one of the residents of Ropotovo, a participant in the initiative.The activities will continue in the coming period, with the expansion of assessments and the development of plans for other households in the village. With this, the Green Resource Hub continues to be a partner of communities for a more sustainable, more economical and healthier environment.

The activity is part of the project: “Smart Green Village for a Sustainable Future”, which is implemented with the support of the Open Society Foundations – Western Balkans.

“The security sector is synonymous with secrecy. Covert operations, secret services, wiretapping, undercover agents. Transparency in this sector is often seen as an oxymoron, while accountability appears to be a nearly impossible mission.”This is how the documentary produced by the BIRC Institute, with the support of the Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance (DCAF), begins. The film examines security sector reforms and their impact on the country’s democratic development.

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The walls of secrecy surrounding the security sector have been built in the name of national security. Public access to information has long been restricted to prevent potential threats. This was particularly evident during the Cold War. In the 1990s, as the Soviet Union collapsed and democratic waves spread globally, some of these barriers fell. This period saw the exposure of numerous scandals previously hidden from public scrutiny.
Oversight of the security sector is crucial
Metodi Hadzhi-Janev, a security expert and university professor engaged by DCAF, conducts training and workshops for civil society organizations and the media. His goal is to promote effective civilian oversight of intelligence and security services. He is also part of C3I, an organization that has developed indicators to assess the performance of intelligence services, focusing on transparency, accountability, and effectiveness.
“In democratic states, oversight of the security sector is essential because it wields immense power—unmatched by any other institution. To prevent abuses, oversight mechanisms must function as correctives to ensure these services operate within legal and ethical boundaries,” Hadzhi-Janev said.
Abuses within security agencies have underscored the need for stronger oversight, making this issue a fundamental prerequisite for normal state functioning. However, implementing effective oversight remains a significant challenge.
“Obstacles to oversight vary between societies and often reflect cultural, historical, or political factors,” Hadzhi-Janev noted.
Legal framework needed to regulate intelligence services
North Macedonia’s security sector has undergone several reforms aimed at establishing a democratic framework and safeguarding citizens’ rights. Current legislation provides a foundation for better oversight and transparency, but continuous and inclusive reforms are necessary.
“A legal framework is essential for intelligence oversight. While the existing laws are not inherently flawed, their enforcement is problematic. Obtaining security clearances is exceptionally difficult, even for those authorized to conduct oversight. Additionally, intelligence personnel must be educated on their accountability and the necessity of external scrutiny,” said Iskra Koroveshovska, editor at TV Alfa.
Despite progress, North Macedonia’s security sector remains largely opaque—similar to other countries where national security often takes precedence over human rights.
“Our intelligence services have some level of openness—they maintain websites, publish annual reports, and engage with the public to some extent. The Intelligence Agency, for instance, provides insights into its activities. However, compared to the UK’s MI5 and MI6, which operate with greater transparency and public engagement, North Macedonia still lags behind,” said Aleksandar Stojanovski, an author of a study on the transparency and accountability of intelligence services in the UK, Slovenia, and North Macedonia, conducted under DCAF’s intelligence sector reform program.
Effective oversight is key to greater transparency and accountability
Without robust oversight, secrecy within the security sector can become problematic, particularly amid global conflicts that heighten security threats. Effective oversight is crucial for enhancing transparency and accountability, but it requires concrete steps.
“First, awareness must be raised, followed by capacity-building efforts. Public debate should highlight why transparency matters and how it benefits national security,” Hadzhi-Janev said.
Stojanovski emphasized that “media outlets possess some capacity to monitor intelligence services, but this must be expanded. Civil society organizations, meanwhile, remain limited in this field.”
While parliament and the government play vital roles in oversight, civil society and the media are equally crucial for independent monitoring. Transparency requires openness and access, while accountability demands mechanisms for responsibility.
“These indicators are the result of extensive research, including workshops and analysis. They help improve transparency, reduce public skepticism, and ensure intelligence services operate efficiently,” Hadzhi-Janev added.
The effectiveness of civilian oversight depends on the capacity of media and non-governmental organizations. In North Macedonia, few media outlets have the resources for in-depth investigative reporting, while civil society organizations lack the necessary specialization.
One of the participants in these training programs, Koroveshovska, remarked: “Media oversight capacity is minimal. After 20 years in journalism, I only recently learned—through DCAF training—how to cover intelligence services effectively. This highlights the significant gap in journalists trained for this field.”
(This documentary was produced in April 2024)

The Macedonian Center for International Cooperation (MCIC) has implemented its regular survey of trust in the civil society. In 2024, the index of trust in the civil sector reached 42.9%, which is an 8.2 percentage points drop compared to 2021. The trust in civil society organizations is 39.4%, with a significant…

“Together We Are Stronger” 💪— This was the title of the national conference organised in North Macedonia 🇲🇰 by our partner organisation Association of Persons with Cerebral Palsy and other Disabilities from Veles. The conference, as supported by Kvinna till Kvinna and Sweden, highlighting the challenges and opportunities of women and girls with disabilities. The […]
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Panel discussion on the topic: Violence and women with disabilities on the campaign “16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence”. We remind you that fighting to end violence against women and girls is an on-going, everyday battle. Let’s create a world where every woman feels safe, respected, and empowered— a world where the rights of […]
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  People with disabilities gave out cards to honor 8th of March—International Women’s Day! People with disabilities, who are members of the Association for Cerebral Palsy and Other Disabilities in Veles, were diligent and made 90 8 th of March greeting cards last week to honour International Women’s Day. Seeing their faces light up as […]
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