The Project developed mechanisms for increasing transparency, accountability and responsibility of local government in Macedonia, encouraging greater participation of citizens and local business community in the decision-making process in local government and the exchange of best practices and experiences among municipalities in the country, and in the region. Project activities contributed in reducing the level of corruption in the local communities and in enhancing the trust of citizens and business representatives in local authorities.

The project worked directly with 13 municipalities from allover Macedonia. After weaknesses in current practices of these municipalities were detected through a in-depth research, a series of recommendations followed by training were put in place for municipalities to take specific measures to improve their transparency. The project has been implemented in partnership with NGO Info-center from Skopje and EHO from Stip, and financially was supported by USAID.

The EU-funded project improved and raised awareness about the importance of having greater access for journalists to public information in order to increase the quality of public information and to promote freedom of expression and independent media.

The right to know is the fundamental right of journalists and all citizens should have access to information held by public bodies. The project built on positive experience of NGOs and journalists from EU member states. It worked directly with the journalists on strengthening their role as public watchdogs through exercise of their right to free access to public information.

Results achieved:

• Increased journalists’ awareness for the importance and possibilities of the powerful tool of independent media – Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), which is currently under-used by the media.
• Enhanced journalists’ skills for greater use of the FOIA
• More fact-based and substantiated news reporting through greater use of FOIA
• Proposed legal changes to FOIA toward shortening the deadline for answering to the requests for information in alignment to other European countries.

The project is implemented by the Center for Civil Communication in cooperation with Access Info Europe and the Balkan Investigating Reporting Network BIRN.

The project aimed at strengthening of civil society pressure on the authorities of the countries of the Western Balkans, in order to establish an efficient system of public procurement and accountability in the expenditure of public funds. The project aimed to raise the level of understanding of the conditions and requirements of the EU concerning the management of public procurement. Also, it created a simple tool that will allow greater involvement of civil society and other stakeholders in decision-making and management control of public funds. in addition, regional mechanism for monitoring of public procurement by civil society was created.

Through this project, partner organizations developed methodology for effective monitoring of the work, pin-pointing malpractices and evaluation of the performance of the existing PP systems in respective WB countries. The analysis of the policies, legislation and practices, as well as monitoring results served as a basis for policy recommendations aimed at advancing institutional arrangements and their functioning, i.e. implementation. The recommendations were drafted through an inclusive process of on-going consultations with relevant stakeholders at “real-time” national and regional round tables or through exchanges carried out via erected on-line platform balkantenderwatch.eu. The advocacy activities and grassroots lobbing aimed at strengthening demands for strict implementation of policies and legislation already harmonized with EU requirements and standards; promotion and gathering support for drafted recommendation concerning the need of fulfilling the gaps in the present PP systems which impede their effectiveness and threaten their efficiency. This endeavor will enable CSOs to improve and intensify their activities and engage in an informed dialogue with decision makers. It will serve to test declared political will of the governments to open decision-making process for the participation of all interested actors.

The lead implementing organization of the project is Open Society Foundation Serbia, and the partners of the project are: Open Society Fund Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Center for Civil Communications, Macedonia, The Network for Affirmation of the NGO Sector – MANS, Montenegro, Center for Development of the non-profit sector, Serbia, and Open Society Foundation Slovakia.

Increase micro and small enterprise (MSE) awareness of the opportunities offered by the public procurement (PP) market; provide MSEs with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to participate more in government contracting; and streamline public procurement administrative procedures that inhibit MSE participation in government contracting.

Project components: