News from CSOs

Acritical by Antonija Popovska

The office of the Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation in Skopje (kvinnatillkvinna.org), with the Institute of Social Sciences and Humanities – Skopje, has recently been implementing a training programme “Gender Equality Education for Practitioners – From Theory to Policy Implementation”, which is intended for policymakers, representatives of the civil society sector, as well as public servants from the Western Balkan countries. For more than 25 years, Kvinna till Kvinna is actively working in the Western Balkans, defending women’s rights and strengthening the influence and power of all women striving to achieve gender equality and justice. The Institute of Social Sciences and Humanities-Skopje, is both a civil society and academic institution, fully integrating advanced knowledge and policy practice, keeping gender as one of its central areas of expertise since its foundation 14 years ago.

In this article, Dijana Stojanovic Djordjevic, Programme Manager at the Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation, and Katerina Kolozova, Director of the Institute of Social Sciences and Humanities, discuss the importance of being part of such programmes and the necessity for policymakers to be educated about gender equality.

Structured Learning for Future Feminists

Speaking about the programme, Stojanovic Djordjevic highlights that the lack of formal gender studies programmes leaves young feminists without access to structured resources and theoretical knowledge on feminism, intersectionality, women’s rights, and gender equality.

“Knowing that there are young people in the region who seek comprehensive, systematised information, we recognised the need for a programme that combines both theoretical foundations and practical insights,” says Stojanovic Djordjevic.

To address this need, Kvinna till Kvinna joined forces with the Institute of Social Sciences and Humanities to develop a programme that, through carefully designed modules, offers essential knowledge aimed at empowering young people to critically engage with gender issues and effectively counter rising misogyny and concerning anti-democratic trends.

The Power of an Inclusive Approach

A unique aspect of this programme is its inclusive approach, which brings together participants from both civil society organisations and public institutions. This setting provides a valuable opportunity to build meaningful connections, engage in networking, share experiences, and offer mutual support. This synergy not only enhances participants’ daily work, but also strengthens their collective impact in driving positive societal change.

“Тhe exchange of knowledge and perspectives helps bridge gaps between sectors and countries. By working together, participants were able to identify common challenges, explore innovative solutions, and develop more effective strategies for policy implementation and advocacy. Our goal is to ensure that policymakers and practitioners develop policies or advocacy actions that reflect the diverse realities women face, leading to more inclusive and effective governance“, she added.

Applying theoretical knowledge in practice

A key aspect of this programme is that participants are not merely passive listeners in lectures; instead, they are given the opportunity to work on practical assignments. This was facilitated through a mentorship process, during which each participant developed an individual position paper on a topic aligned with their interests and field of work.

“It was evident that some participants were engaging in this type of process for the first time. This experience enabled them to strengthen their knowledge in articulating and presenting identified issues, along with proposed solutions, in a structured and well- argued manner. The mentorship process also included personalised feedback aimed at strengthening the arguments and positions presented in the document, which was highly appreciated by all participants. Many found this experience invaluable in developing their research skills and deepening their understanding of gender-related issues. One particularly inspiring example was a participant who, encouraged by the mentorship process, decided to continue her education and successfully completed her postgraduate studies. This is a genuine example of how the program has a long-term impact on both personal and professional growth“, said Stojanovic Djordjevic.

Integration of meaningful content and an engaging approach to teaching

Katerina Kolozova, Director of the Institute of Social Sciences and Humanities, explained that the Institute offers a curriculum that blends up-to-date academic knowledge in the fields of gender and women’s studies with practical, skills-oriented training in policy analysis and advocacy for practitioners across the Western Balkans. At the core of the programme is both the content and the method of knowledge transmission, which together serve as a bridge between academic depth and the practical application of that knowledge in policymaking.

“The program is structured in such a way because novel ideas that turn into novel policy trends are normally developed in academic circles of gender theory and education and we believe that keeping the young professionals active in the field of gender equality up to date with the latest academic trends and theories in the area offers depth of analysis and broadens their imagination of transformative thinking which will allow them to devise new and actionable models of policy change“, Kolozova said.  

Theory isn’t just academic, it’s a tool for action

One of the key goals of the programme is to ensure that gender equality is not treated as an abstract concept, but as a concrete framework that can shape effective policymaking. Educating policymakers and practitioners on gender issues is essential for creating informed, inclusive, and impactful policies that benefit everyone — women, men, and society as a whole. Kolozova illustrates this through a concrete example.

“I will try to respond through an example (the most obvious perhaps): the concept of gender itself (as opposed to sex and understood as a social construct) has emerged in academia first in the 1990′, gaining traction in the 2000′, and becoming a convincing idea adopted by an ever grater number of future professionals that learned about this idea as students. This reality whose “birthplace” is the academia, has paved the way for gender equality policy discourse to emerge and has even influenced legal theory to adopt the notion of gender as distinct from sex. This is a mere illustration as to why theory is relevant for activism and practice: ideas upon which one acts as a policy advocate and activist are formed in academia, and their complexity needs to be grasped in order to competently transmit them into policy practice“, she added.

According to Kolozova, young professionals in the field of gender, if not enrolled in academic gender studies, need to be kept up to date with novel ideas, concepts and terminology through programs such as the one the Institute offers: a blend of theory and practice.

“In this way, they could be introduced to the contemporary debates about the challenges to third way feminism, the emergence of xenofeminism and how it reshapes the gender debates landscapes, the feminist notion of “planetareity” (linking climate change and gender in important ways, not so well known in the Balkans, but necessary to adjust to the contemporary moment and its needs), and other ideas already shaping new policy trends“, еxplains Кolozova.

Empowering new voices in the gender equality conversation

By adding depth and challenging the status quo of dominant knowledge and discourse in the region, the programme exposes young professionals to debates that are gaining significant traction in more developed academic and activist circles.

“In this way, they are empowered to engage in debates with more confidence and to be equipped with in depth competence when advancing new policy models gearing gender equality suited for the era we live in. New ideological battles are raging around the concept of gender, and anti-gender movements are emerging that are equipped with a certain level of theoretical knowledge that allows them to challenge the gender equity discourse as an ideology“, Kolozova еxplains.

Through the programme’s in-depth curriculum, gender advocates and young professionals are not only gaining essential theoretical foundations, but also developing the critical tools needed to respond effectively to the ideological pushback. By strengthening their understanding and sharpening their arguments, they are better prepared to defend the values of gender equality and to navigate the increasingly complex terrain shaped by anti-gender narratives.

This article is developed within the programme “Gender Equality Education for Practitioners Training Program – from Theory to Policy Implementation” implemented by The Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation, together with the Institute of Social Sciences and Humanities, Skopje. The training program is financially supported by the Swedish Institute, within the “Swedish Institute Academy for Young Professionals (SAYP) Western Balkans” program.

North Macedonia is undergoing reforms to its media legislation, aiming to align with European Union (EU) standards. The Metamorphosis Foundation welcomes the initiative of the Government of Republic of North Macedonia to align national media legislation with European standards, particularly in the context of Chapter 23 of the EU acquis and the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA). While the proposed amendments to the Media Law can represent a step in the right direction by extending the regulatory framework to online media, they raise concerns that they only partially address the systemic issues in the media environment and do not sufficiently comply with EMFA provisions. We therefore call for a comprehensive, inclusive reform process aimed at the adoption of a new Media Law that fully reflects European norms and ensures the protection of media freedom, editorial independence, and journalists’ rights.
Moreover, while a whole new Media Law had already been already drafted with the help of experts from the EU during the previous years, for unknown reasons and without providing public explanation, the Government choose to only amend the existing old law addressing only part of the burning issues, instead of proposing the comprehensive new law.
This position paper evaluates the proposed changes, highlighting both advancements and persistent challenges, and offers recommendations to ensure comprehensive media freedom and alignment with EU directives.

Are you working in a youth organisation and interested in the ethical use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools? Do you want to explore how AI impacts youth participation, human rights, and democracy?
Join the “Open your AIs” study session and become part of a community of young changemakers ready to tackle the future of AI with a critical and rights-based approach.
The study session is a space for participants to explore key challenges related to AI, exchange ideas, and co-create practical tools, strategies, or recommendations that can directly support their work in youth organisations. Study session organised within the Youth for Democracy programme in cooperation with Connect International in with partner Curiosite Centre de Formation and expertise of Metamorphosis Foundation.
And we are looking for 20 participants from across Council of Europe member states.
By participating, you will:

Boost your organization’s digital capacity – Learn how to critically assess and responsibly integrate AI tools into your daily work and projects.
Explore the ethical side of AI – Reflect on the benefits, risks, and ethical dilemmas posed by AI and how they affect young people and our societies.
Spark meaningful conversations – Get practical tools and strategies to help bring AI ethics into your programmes and engage young people in shaping their digital future.
Understand the digital policies that matter – Build your knowledge of the EU AI Act, the Council of Europe’s AI Convention, and how youth organisations like yours can be part of shaping inclusive and fair AI governance.

When?
Arrival day 22nd June 2025
Departure day 28th June 2025
Where?
In the facility of the Council of Europe called the European Youth Center Strasbourg in France.
Who?

Are you between 18 and 30 years old?
Member of youth organisation or youth worker?
Are you a resident in one of the Council of Europe member states?
Are you looking forward to learning more about digital and youth policies of the Youth Sector of the Council of Europe?
Do you want to better understand how Artificial Intelligence is shaping the lives of young people?
Are you interested in ethical, human rights-based approaches to technology?

Then, apply for the study session by the 9th of May 2025 through this form.
Cost
Accommodations, meals, visa costs and travel and subsistence costs are covered by the Youth Department of the Council of Europe.
The participants’ contribution will be 50 euros a fee, which they will be asked to transfer via bank transfer to Connect International at least 3 weeks before the beginning of the study session.
Timeline of the application process:
Deadline for application: 9th May 2025
Information about your application status: 15th May 2025
Link to the original call: Call for participants to join our study session “Open your AIs” in Strasbourg | Connect INTERNATIONAL

The Platform of Civil Society Organizations in the Fight against Corruption responds to the recommendations of the State Commission for Prevention of Corruption (SCPC), presented at a public session of the SCPC, and conveyed through media outlets, within the framework of the anti-corruption review of the Law on Free Access to Public Information.
Instead of contributing to greater transparency, accountability, and the fight against corruption, the SCPC, through its alleged indications of “regulatory risks,” sends seriously worrying signals for the closure of institutions and creates opportunities for limiting the public’s right to know. Such recommendations not only undermine the role of the SCPC as a key institution for preventing corruption, but also directly open up space for new corrupt abuses, especially in the area of ​​public procurement.

Reduced transparency–increased risks of corrupt and harmful public procurement

First, the SCPC recommends “reexamining the article regulating the obligation to publish all public procurement documentation. The SCPC believes that the term “all documentation” in relation to public procurement is not precisely defined, which may result in the publication of confidential information and the violation of the rights of third parties.”
The Platform points out that the application of the provision of the Law on Free Access to Public Information, the entire documentation pertaining to public procurements, concessions and public-private partnership agreements, (Article 10, paragraph 1, line 18) has so far enabled increased transparency and access to relevant documents by civil society organizations and media outlets. In this way, abuses committed in a large number of tender procedures for which court proceedings are being conducted were disclosed, but also possible corrupt and harmful public procurements were prevented.
The SCPC should also have taken into account that the protection of confidential data in public procurement is already regulated in the Law on Public Procurement (Article 30). We also point out to the SCPC that the Law on Free Access to Public Information regulates partial access, as well as provides for exceptions in cases where protection of information with a degree of secrecy is required. We remind the SCPC and the public that in January 20205 a regression was already made in the protection against corruption in public procurement with the amendments to the Law on Public Procurement in such a way that the administrative control of public procurement carried out by the Public Procurement Bureau was abolished. In conditions when, according to the assessments of all relevant international and domestic stakeholders, corruption in public procurement is widespread and with the historically highest state budget, new borrowing and daily indications of misuse of public money, the SCPC makes recommendations to limit transparency, thus undermining the role of a key institution for preventing corruption.

Recommendations with long-term negative consequences affecting independence

The SCPC provides guidelines for prescribing and specifying a procedure, as well as setting a deadline for the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia in cases where it determines the termination of the function and the dismissal of the Director of the Agency for Protection of the Right to Free Access to Public Information and the deputy, before the expiration of the mandate.

For the Platform, this recommendation is politically motivated because it was given immediately after an attempt by MPs in the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia to adopt amendments to the Law on Free Access to Public Information that envisaged the early dismissal of the Director of the Agency in the event that the parliamentary majority does not adopt the annual work report. And we point out to the SCPC that independent regulatory bodies, such as the Agency for the Protection of the Right to Free Access, and the SCPC itself, have a mandate longer than the mandate of elected officials in the executive branch, in order to ensure independence from parties and political influence. The given recommendation is already regulated in the Law on Free Access to Public Information that in the event of termination of the function or dismissal of the Director of the Agency, until the election of a new Director of the Agency, the function of Director of the Agency is performed by the Deputy Director, with all the authorities that the Director had. So the only argument for this recommendation by the SCPC cannot be “possible procrastination, selectivity, and uncertainty in the management of the institution.”

Proposals to introduce criteria that will reduce existing transparency

The SCPC refers to the obligation of information holders to regularly update a list of information they have and to publicly publish it. The SCPC considers that this provision “does not have precise criteria for which information should be published, nor in what manner and in what format, which leaves wide discretion to the information holders to decide what to publish and how. The SCPC considers that this is a “risk of limited transparency with the possibility of selective publication or concealment of information of public interest.”
The Platform is concerned that the SCPC found a risk of limited transparency in conditions where the Law on Free Access to Public Information establishes the form for publishing information and documents, namely: (a) information is published in any form that was created by or is held by the holder of the information in accordance with their competencies, and (b) access is provided to a document regardless of its physical form or characteristics—written or printed text, maps, diagrams, photographs, images, drawings, sketches, working materials, as well as audio, voice, magnetic or electronic, optical or video recordings in any form, including portable devices for automatic data processing with built-in or portable memories for storing data in digital form (Article 3). Additionally, it is concerning that the SCPC demonstrates a lack of understanding of the matter when it states that “there are no clear criteria for which information must be published.” The Law on Free Access establishes that all information created by and held by institutions, except for the exceptions (Article 6), is public information. It even introduces the concept of “proactive transparency,” which means that certain information must be published without being requested. What kind of criteria the SCPC recommends is unclear, and it is even more concerning that they speak about format without taking into account the announced start of the process for drafting the Law on Open Data and Reuse of Public Sector Information.

Overdue recommendations during an active process for amendments to the Law

The SCPC has determined that there is disproportionate liability for the misdemeanor provisions. Only a 500 euro fine is foreseen for the manager if they fail to appoint an official for information mediation and fail to provide information to the public about that person, but a 250 euro fine is also foreseen for the official for multiple misdemeanors–updating the list of information, assisting applicants, respecting deadlines for responding to requests. The SCPC recommended that the misdemeanor liability between the manager and the official for information in the Agency be clearly demarcated, in accordance with their actual responsibilities.
For the Platform, it is indicative that the SCPC points to alleged “regulatory risks” in the Law on Free Access to Public Information, for which the start of amending the Law was announced 5 months ago, i.e. on November 21, 2024, and public consultations are currently underway through ENER on the proposed amendments. The SCPC pointed to a disproportionality in the responsibility of responsible and official persons, but there are no proposals that specifically recommend it. We point out that civil society has been advocating for the existence of provisions for misdemeanor liability of responsible persons who unreasonably fail to provide access to information or prevent the official from implementing the second-instance decision to provide access to information.
Hence, the Platform believes that proposed solutions that may negatively impact the fight against corruption are unacceptable and contrary to European commitments to democratic, inclusive, and expert public policymaking.
Additionally, the Platform is concerned that the review of the Law on Free Access by the SCPC lacks key aspects of anti-corruption review, such as the involvement of multiple actors, i.e., during the preparation of the Report, they have not ensured cooperation with the civil society that would ensure independence and objectivity in the analysis.
We remind you that the anti-corruption review of (draft) laws is a preventive mechanism aimed at detecting, preventing, and minimizing the risks regarding the possibility of corruption and conflict of interest that may result in the implementation of laws. With such guidelines, the SCPC not only does not advance the system for preventing corruption, but also risks giving legitimacy to policies and practices that lead to the capture of institutions and the inaccessibility of information of public interest, which is currently information of a public nature.
We call on the competent institutions, especially the Ministry of Justice and the Parliament, to take into account the existing legal mechanisms and not give in to guidelines that limit transparency, which is a key tool in the fight against corruption.

Третиот модул од Академијата за пратеници, одржан во април 2025 година во Охрид, беше посветен на ефикасната комуникација на пратениците со граѓаните, особено во политички поделеното општество. Целта на овој модул беше да се помогне на пратениците да ги претстават своите ставови на јасен и ефективен начин.

Модулот започна со Ана Павловска-Данева, судијка на Уставниот суд и поранешна пратеничка, која ги сподели своите искуства од правниот аспект на политичката комуникација, нагласувајќи ја важноста на правната етика и односите помеѓу Уставниот суд и парламентот.

Сесијата „Моето најтешко интервју…“, модерирана од новинарот Назим Рашиди, понуди простор за отворени и искрени сведочења од поранешните пратеници Илија Димовски и Јани Макрадули, кои ги споделија своите искуства со најтешките медиумски интервјуа.

Во продолжение, Светлана Сиљјаноска и Марија Липтова ги подготвуваа пратениците за зборување пред јавноста, создавање политички пораки, промоција преку социјалните мрежи и разјаснување на важноста на алгоритмите во политичкото комуницирање.

Дел од програмата беше и Ургентната сесија: „Што после Кочани?“, со Владимир Туфегџиќ, адвокат и поранешен судија.

Кон крајот на вториот ден, пратениците имаа можност да слушаат музика и да разговораат за тоа каде политиката и уметноста „се среќаават“ со Емилија Ристановска, музиколог и Ненад Марковиќ, универзитетски професор, Универзитет „Св. Кирил и Методиј“ – Правен факултет.

Последната сесија беше посветена на соработката помеѓу граѓанските организации и парламентот, со Герман Филков од Центарот за граѓански комуникации и Гонце Јаковлевска од МЦМС.

Академијата за пратеници, дел од проектот „Доба на подобри политичари“, продолжува со менторската програма за пратениците, која нуди индивидуална поддршка.

The board game “Caravan Via Egnatia” is an innovative tool that brought history to life for students and teachers alike. Through this unique game, participants explore the rich cultural legacy of the ancient Via Egnatia while engaging in teamwork, problem-solving, and creative learning.    The game enables students to experience the challenges and excitement of 19th-century […]

The Via Egnatia Project – A Wonderful Way to Play reimagined one of Europe’s most historic roads as a bridge between past and present. Inspired by the ancient Via Egnatia, which connected communities across the Balkans for centuries, the project combined cultural heritage with innovative learning tools to engage young people in a creative and […]

Dear students,We are announcing a call for awarding grants for student-led activities within the framework of the project “Promotion of a Safe School Environment,” which we are implementing in cooperation with the following faculties of education:

Faculty of Educational Sciences (FES) – Štip, “Goce Delchev” University – Štip

University of Tetova – Faculty of Pedagogy

Faculty of Pedagogy – Bitola, “St. Kliment Ohridski” University – Bitola

Application deadline: April 24, 2025

The required application and participation documents in Macedonian and Albanian can be downloaded from here:

Forms in AlbanianForms in Macedonian

Previous articleOur work

Within the framework of the project “Ensuring the Integration of the Western Balkans into the Digital Single Market,” which aims to advance digital rights standards in the Western Balkans region and support its integration into the single digital market, the Metamorphosis Foundation is organizing a training for civil society organizations and media outlets on the topic “Implications of the EU Digital Services Act for Civil Society Organizations and Investigative Journalists in North Macedonia”.
Date: April 24, 2025 (Thursday)
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Location: Metamorphosis (19 Franklin Roosevelt St., 2nd floor – in the Setec building)
Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/o43Q5Uqpjg1WU1P37
The training will focus on the basics of the EU Digital Services Act and the main principles of transparency, accountability, and user protection, as well as its impact on freedom of expression and digital rights. The training will also present key findings and recommendations from the research on the implications of the EU Digital Services Act on civil society organizations and investigative journalists in Macedonia and the challenges and risks related to digital platforms, trusted flaggers, and algorithmic moderation.
The training is intended for representatives of civil society organizations, media outlets, fact-checkers, investigative journalists, and activists who work on topics related to digital rights, freedom of expression, and media regulation.
The training agenda is available here.
The registration form is available at the following link.
Registration for the training is open until April 16, 2025.
The project “Ensuring the Integration of the Western Balkans into the Digital Single Market” is funded by the Open Society Foundations Western Balkans, and implemented by Partners Serbia (Serbia), Metamorphosis Foundation (North Macedonia), Why Not? (Bosnia and Herzegovina), NGO 35 mm (Montenegro), Women in Tech Kosovo (Kosovo), and the Institute for Democracy and Mediation (Albania).

On April 9, 2025, the Metamorphosis Foundation conducted a one-day training on improved cybersecurity for civil society organizations. A dozen representatives of civil society organizations active in working with vulnerable groups of citizens were introduced to the term digital fingerprint, why antivirus protection is important, what a good password is, how to use a password manager, and numerous practical tips for increasing cybersecurity and practicing cyber hygiene.
The training is part of the project “CyberShield: Empowered Citizens for Cyber ​​Resilience”. Three trainings are planned within the project, as well as podcasts and videos to increase public awareness and understanding of the importance of cybersecurity. The goal of the project is to highlight the issues of proper and regular cyber hygiene and effective handling of cyber threats (phishing, social engineering, malware, online disinformation, personal data theft, etc.) as well as to ensure that these topics receive the necessary attention, resources and joint efforts needed for effective solutions.

The project “CyberShield: Empowered Citizens for Cyber Resilience” is supported by the National Interventions grant for the regional project “SMART Balkans—Civil Society for Shared Society in the Western Balkans” implemented by Centar za promociju civilnog društva (CPCD) (Center for Civil Society Promotion), Center for Research and Policy Making (CRPM) and the Institute for Democracy and Mediation (IDM), and financially supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Norway.