Civic Impulse #13: Monthly Review of Grantee Activities

January 2026

When it comes to CSOs that are current Civica Mobilitas grantees, the first month of 2026 was a period filled with activities in various areas – starting from strengthening the institutional cooperation for environment protection, through transparency and fight against corruption, to support for women and young people in their personal and professional development.

January started with important steps to improvement of the air quality in the Southwest region. The Association of Environmentalists “Natyra” from Struga signed a Memorandum for Cooperation with the Municipalities of Debar and Struga, opening space for structured cooperation between the civil sector and the local institutions. Via the regional project “Civic Network for Clean Air in the Southwest Region”, supported by the Swiss Government via Civica Mobilitas, there will be a Regional Civic Council for Air as a platform for regular dialogue among the municipalities, citizens and CSOs, and it is planned to install 30 instruments for measuring the air quality in five municipalities from the region.

Parallelly, the care for the environment also continued with education on proper organic waste management. Association Center for Environmental Resources (REC) continued with their awareness raising campaign on the benefits from using the bio waste potential, giving practical advice to the citizens on how to contribute to healthies environment on daily basis.

In a similar wat, the social inclusion was also connected with the environmental awareness via the project “ZZZ – Together for Green Advocacy for Environment Protection”. The Association of Social Workers of Macedonia – ZSRM and the Centre for Social Initiatives have had meetings with the mayor of the Municipality of Negotino, Marija Naceva. The meeting resulted in signing of a Memorandum for Cooperation and opening possibilities for joint green initiatives that would contribute to healthier environment and more sustainable local development.

While the environmental initiatives have marked the beginning of the year, the young people were also active participants in the processes of learning and development. From 16^th to 18^th January, with the project “We Learn about Climate Changes”, “Krste Jon Struga” scout brigade and their partner organizations organized a winter holiday in the village of Vishni in Struga. The scouts gave their vows, got acquainted with the Morse Code, the basics of first aid and making fire, by participating in numerous games and activities that developed the team work skills and their responsibilities.

Youth participation was given a specific space in Prilep as well, where there was a Music Room for Young Talents open, an initiative coming from the project “Youth Policies Fit for the Young”. This space, created as a result of the active involvement of the young people would be available for the young musicians for rehearsal, creative expression and talent development. The opening was marked by performances of young music bands, symbolically starting the new story about the youth music developments in Prilep.

While the young people created their future via music and action, at national level important issues on transparency and fight against corruption were open. At the thematic forum for using data on real owners, organized by the Center for Civil Communications, there was an impressive piece of information presented – the Register has been functioning for five years already, and until now, more than 3,000 companies that won tenders have revealed their real owners in the Electronic System for Public Procurement (according to the latest data of the State Statistical Office, in 2023 there were more than 72,000 enterprises active). The Swiss Ambassador Christof Sommer stressed the role of the CSOs and investigative journalism in revealing corruption, stressing that the access to timely and complete data on the real owners is crucial for successful fight against corruption.

Parallelly, digitalization has proved to be a powerful tool for strengthening civic participation and transparency. ”Metamorphosis” Foundation for Internet and Society, in partnership with the Rural Coalition and Blink 12-21 Center for Social Innovation has continued with mentorship support to 10 different municipalities of all eight planning regions. With the project “Digital Transformation at Local Level – Involved Community for Resilience to Corruption”, the municipalities have been supported in implementation of mCommunity, a platform that provides on-line inclusion of the citizens in all consultative processes.

January was a month of specific achievements for women who improved their skills and possibilities foe economic independence via various projects. At the end of the month, Antiko and their partner organizations “Always Cohabitation” and “Adrion” held a celebration awarding certificates to women participants who successfully completed a course for make-up artists. The course, implemented with the project “Voice and Participation of Women and Youth in: Creation of Public Policies and Enabling Environment for Civic Participation”, has contributed to increasing the possibilities for personal and professional development of women, as well as an encouragement for their active inclusion at the labour market.

While the specific skills enabled women for economic independence, at a broader field there was also fight against prejudices and discrimination. HOPS – Healthy Options Project Skopje, in partnership with Margini Coalition and the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights implemented the campaign “Equality Now – Empowerment of Marginalized Communities for Social Inclusion and Non-Discrimination”. The campaign has the message that we are all worth the same and that identity is the same for each woman. With direct field work, information, education and public advocacy, the campaign encourages the women to recognize their rights and ask for protection, stressing that equality must not be a privilege for some, but rather a reality for all.

These activities are only part of the mosaic of civic activism that shapes our community on daily basis.