4.2 Administration and governance
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Governance
The development of a modern, inclusive social model in North Macedonia prioritizes the individual and their dignity over the circumstances that may lead to social exclusion, such as ethnicity, disability, or socioeconomic status. This shift represents a significant reform that requires joint efforts from both governmental and non-governmental institutions.
Recognizing the importance of youth participation in policymaking, North Macedonia adopted the Law on Youth Participation and Youth Policies (Закон за младинско учество и младински политики) in January 2020. One of its key objectives is to support the personal, professional, and social development of young people, ensuring their active involvement in decision-making processes that affect their lives.
The Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia serves as the main legislative body, responsible for adopting laws and policies related to social inclusion. The Government, as the executive authority, oversees planning, implementation, and amendments to social inclusion policies, in collaboration with relevant ministries and institutions. Effective policy implementation relies on strong cooperation between the central government, local authorities, and civil society organizations, which play a crucial role in advocating for the needs of vulnerable groups.
In the broader governance framework, the Ohrid Framework Agreement introduced decentralization and provisions for multilingual governance. As per Article 7 of the Constitution of North Macedonia, any language spoken by at least 20% of the population is granted co-official status at the municipal level. The state guarantees the protection of ethnic, cultural, linguistic, and religious identities, ensuring minority groups have the right to education in their native languages while also learning Macedonian.
Main actors
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Ministry of Political System and Inter-Community Relations (Министерство за политички систем и односи помеѓу заедниците) – Works on the advancement and protection of the rights of communities.
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Ministry of Social Affairs, Demography, and Youth (Министерство за социјални работи, демографија и млади) – The main executive and coordination body for social inclusion policies, social protection, youth policies, and demographic development.
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Ministry of Education and Science (Министерство за образование и наука) - Responsible for the organization, financing, development, and advancement of education and scientific research.
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Ministry of Economy and Labour (Министерство за економија и труд) – Responsible for economic policies, employment, labor rights, and workforce development.
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Ministry of Health (Министерство за здравство) – Oversees health protection, health insurance, and the implementation of healthcare programs.
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Ministry of Transport and Communications (Министерство за транспорт и врски) – Manages transportation and infrastructure policies.
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Ministry of Finance (Министерство за финансии) – Responsible for public finances and budget management.
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Ministry of Local Self-Government (Министерство за локална самоуправа) – Monitors the implementation of governmental programs at the local level.
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Ministry of Information Society and Administration (Министерство за информатичко општество и администрација) – Promotes digitalization, e-governance, and IT development.
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Ministry for Sport (Министерство за спорт) – Responsible for planning, implementing, and coordinating sports policies and programs.
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State Statistical Office (Државен завод за статистика) – Conducts statistical research and analysis.
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Employment Service Agency (Агенција за вработување) – Implements employment programs and labor market policies.
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Social Care Centers (Центри за социјална работа) – State institutions under the Ministry of Social Affairs, Demography, and Youth, responsible for implementing social protection and welfare programs.
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Association of the Units of Local Self-Government (Здружение на единиците на локална самоуправа) – Represents local government units and supports local governance.
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National Agency for European Educational Programs and Mobility (Национална агенција за европски образовни програми и мобилност) – Implements Erasmus+ and other EU-funded educational programs.
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Educational Institutions – Schools, universities, and training centers that contribute to social inclusion through education and skills development.
Non-public actors
Several international organizations contribute to social inclusion efforts in North Macedonia, including:
- Delegation of the EU to North Macedonia
- UNDP, UNICEF, and USAID offices in North Macedonia
- International Labour Organization (ILO) and World Bank
- International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Many national civil society organizations also actively work on fostering social inclusion. According to the Codex of Best Practices for Civil Society Participation in Policymaking (Кодекс на добри практики за учество на граѓанскиот сектор во процесот на креирање политики), civil society representatives are encouraged to participate in policy development, ensuring the voices of marginalized communities are heard.
Consultation of young people
Young people, through their representative bodies, played an active role in drafting the Law on Youth Participation and Youth Policies. Their involvement in policymaking remains a crucial step toward ensuring that government initiatives align with their needs and aspirations. However, beyond legislative participation, the establishment of structured and consistent mechanisms for youth consultation is still lacking.
Policy monitoring and evaluation
Social inclusion is a complex subject involving various stakeholders and covering different issues. According to the now expired National Strategy for Reduction of Poverty and Social Exclusion in the Republic of Macedonia (Revised 2010-2020), there is a need for systematic, coordinated and long term cooperation between the centers for social work, the municipalities, the employment centers, nongovernmental organizations, the schools, police stations and other organizations, with a view of resolving the social issues.
Daily work of the centers for social work foreseen regular cooperation with police, courts, units of local self-government, educational institutions and civil society organizations. The lowest level of cooperation centers is with the civil society organizations, while the cooperation is somewhat better with the units of local self-government. Still, there is a need of widening the cooperation between the Centers and the units of local self-government in order to improve the efficiency and expertise in creating programs or local action plans for social inclusion.
Recent findings from the Index of Social Inclusion of Young People at the Local Level 2023–2024, conducted by the National Youth Council of Macedonia, emphasize the critical role of youth participation in local governance. While legal frameworks, such as the Law on Youth Participation and Youth Policies and the National Youth Strategy 2023-2027, provide a foundation for youth involvement, their practical implementation remains insufficient at the local level. The research highlights that, although municipalities strive to inform the public about their activities, these efforts often lack a youth-specific approach—failing to tailor communication and engagement strategies to young people as a distinct target group.
The limited access of youth to public services further exacerbates their exclusion. Many LSGUs have yet to develop dedicated mechanisms for young people to easily access municipal services, despite the increasing expectation that digital solutions would facilitate their interaction with local authorities. Similarly, challenges persist in the meaningful inclusion of youth in decision-making. Although Local Youth Councils (LYCs) were established to integrate youth perspectives into public policies, the research indicates that only a small number of municipalities have fully operational LYCs. Even in areas where they exist, there is often a lack of understanding regarding their role, reducing them to a formal rather than a functional mechanism for youth representation.
Moreover, municipal budget allocations for youth initiatives remain minimal. The Index findings reveal that LSGUs rarely invest in youth-led projects, apart from sporadic financial support in the form of scholarships or assistance for talented students participating in international competitions. Furthermore, despite concerns over youth migration, there are no structured local measures to foster youth entrepreneurship or innovation. This gap underscores the need for targeted interventions that address youth socio-economic development beyond traditional education support.
The Index of Social Inclusion not only assesses municipalities based on their engagement with young people but also provides a ranking system to identify both best practices and areas requiring improvement. Findings indicate that the average score of youth social inclusion at the local level is only 41%, placing it at the lower end of the “good” category. Notably, rural municipalities face greater challenges in fostering youth inclusion compared to urban centers, highlighting disparities that require further investigation and policy adjustments.