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1. Existence of a National Strategy on social inclusion

2. Scope and contents

3. Responsible authority

4. Revisions/Updates

Existence of a National Strategy on social inclusion

As of February 2026, North Macedonia does not have a dedicated national strategy specifically focused on the social inclusion of young people.

The last overarching policy document addressing social inclusion at national level was the National Strategy for Reduction of Poverty and Social Exclusion 2010–2020 (Национална стратегија за намалување на сиромаштијата и социјалната исклученост 2010–2020). The Strategy expired in 2020 and has not been replaced by a new comprehensive national poverty or social inclusion strategy.

Currently, social inclusion measures are addressed through sectoral strategies (social protection, education, employment, youth policy), rather than through a single cross-cutting national inclusion framework.

For young people specifically, social inclusion priorities are partially integrated into the National Youth Strategy 2023–2027, which recognises vulnerable youth as a priority group. However, this document is a youth policy strategy and not a comprehensive social inclusion strategy.

Scope and contents

National Strategy for Reduction of Poverty and Social Exclusion (2010–2020)

The former strategy addressed poverty and exclusion across seven main policy areas:

• Employment and labour market inclusion
• Informal economy and entrepreneurship
• Social protection and child welfare
• Health services and long-term care
• Education and lifelong learning
• Housing, transport and digital inclusion
• Equal opportunities and awareness-raising
   

The Strategy targeted vulnerable groups broadly, including:

• Unemployed persons
• Roma communities
• Persons with disabilities
• Children at risk
• Social assistance beneficiaries
   

Yоung people were not treated as a separate strategic category but were included within employment, education and child protection measures.

No publicly adopted successor strategy has replaced this framework since its expiration.

Youth-related inclusion priorities (National Youth Strategy 2023–2027)

Strategy 2023–2027 integrates social inclusion elements within several thematic areas, particularly:

• Youth participation
• Education
• Employment and entrepreneurship
• Youth work
• Safety and protection
   

It identifies young people with fewer opportunities as a priority group, including:

• NEETs
• Young people from rural areas
• Roma youth
• Young people with disabilities
• Youth from low-income households
   

However, the Strategy does not constitute a standalone national social inclusion strategy.

Responsible authority

For the National Strategy for Reduction of Poverty and Social Exclusion (2010–2020)

The main coordinating body was the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy (now Ministry for Social Policy, Demography and Youth).

Implementation responsibilities were shared among:

• Ministry of Labour and Social Policy – coordination of social protection measures
• Ministry of Education and Science – education and lifelong learning measures
• Ministry of Health – access to health services
• Ministry of Economy – labour market and entrepreneurship policies
• Ministry of Transport and Communications – housing and infrastructure components
• Ministry of Finance – budget planning and allocation
• Ministry of Local Self-Government – coordination with municipalities
• State Statistical Office – monitoring indicators

• Employment Service Agency – labour market activation programmes
   

These institutions were responsible for implementing measures within their respective sectors under the framework of the Strategy.

Current framework (post-2020)

In the absence of a new comprehensive social inclusion strategy, responsibility for inclusion-related policies is distributed across line ministries, with the Ministry for Social Policy, Demography and Youth serving as the central body for social protection and vulnerable group inclusion.

Youth-related inclusion measures under the National Youth Strategy 2023–2027 are coordinated by the same Ministry.

Monitoring of strategy implementation

There is no comprehensive, publicly available final evaluation report specifically assessing the implementation and impact of the National Strategy for Reduction of Poverty and Social Exclusion 2010–2020. Official annual monitoring reports were historically part of the strategy’s framework, but they are not regularly published in a consolidated, publicly accessible format.

For youth inclusion measures now integrated into the National Youth Strategy 2023–2027, the current monitoring framework is outlined in the Law on Youth Participation and Youth Policies. However, publicly available government reporting on implementation progress for youth-related inclusion indicators remains limited as of early 2026.

Revisions/Updates

The National Strategy for Reduction of Poverty and Social Exclusion expired in 2020. No new comprehensive national poverty or social inclusion strategy has been adopted as of February 2026.

Social inclusion objectives are currently addressed through:

• Sectoral policies in social protection, education, employment and health;
• The National Youth Strategy 2023–2027 (for youth-specific inclusion aspects).
   

The development of a new cross-sectoral national strategy on poverty reduction and social inclusion has been discussed in policy circles, but no formal adoption process has been finalised.