Key Facts
Start date: .................. June 15, 2005
End date: ....................June 30, 2010
Project budget:.......... $ 7 million
Implementor: ........... Institute for Sustainable Communities (ISC)
Objectives
CSSP is making Macedonia’s civil society a more effective, influential and permanent partner alongside government and businesses. The project works with a core group of Leader NGOs to implement local partnership, advocacy and anti-corruption initiatives in a variety of fields and geographic areas. Currently, the group includes seven Leader NGOs, while in the previous phase 17 were included. The program improves the legal framework, introduces new models for generating resources and promoting philanthropy, and fosters volunteerism within the sector.
Components
CSSP has five components:
• Advancing a Diversified NGO Leader Cohort
• Cultivating Partnerships between Civil Society and Local Government
• Promoting the Role and Impact of Civil Society in the Public Sphere
• Strengthening the Policy Framework for CSO Sustainability
• Stimulating and Diversifying Domestic Resources
Achievements/Impact
• Macedonian Parliament adopted a Law on Volunteering on July 2, 2007, thanks in part to concerted efforts by the CSSP and its Leader NGOs
• In February 2007, Parliament adopted amendments to the NGO Law, including several revisions recommended by Macedonian civil society
• MOST’s public meetings with Members of Parliament (MPs) generated concrete results: MPs were able to allocate additional funds from the state budget to tackle problems stemming from the landslide in Veles
• In 2007, Mesecina joined the government-supported Roma Information Centers network, as part of the government’s commitment to Roma Decade activities
• In 2007, ARKA provided 370 documents to undocumented Roma citizens, out of 1028 requests for assistance
• In June 2007, changes to the Law on Consumers Protection were adopted. The Consumers’ Organization was actively involved in drafting these changes.
• Sixteen of 21 Leader NGOs mobilized local resources in the form of in-kind ($ 29.534), financial support ($ 38.715), or volunteers (377 new volunteers) in the period from March 2006 to June 2009.
Sustainability/Legacy
The Leader NGOs will serve as models and provide services to other NGOs. By project completion, they will have an increased organizational capacity, increased leadership roles and improved financial management practices. The project will also leave behind a new generation of public relations and sustainability trainers, an enhanced legal framework and an improved climate for philanthropic giving. Equally important are the CSSP consortium partners Konekt and MIM, as well as former partner CIRa, who will continue to provide services to NGOs and implement philanthropy and media activities.
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Contact Information
Contact at USAID: Melita Cokrevska, AOTR, mcokrevska@usaid.gov
Chief of Party: Vesna Stamenkovska vesnas@isc.org.mk
Information Officer: Marija Nashokovska marijan@isc.org.mk
Website: www.isc.org.mk