Locations30 Knowledge Products for 30 years of UNDP in North Macedonia
30 for 30
June 11, 2025
2025 marks a year of significant milestones for the international community: the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, the 60th of UNDP, and notably, 30 years of UNDP’s presence in North Macedonia. To commemorate these important anniversaries, we have curated a selection of 30 knowledge products commissioned and/or created by the UNDP country office in North Macedonia over the past five years. 30 for 30. Together, they tell a part of our story about supporting new insights, data, and research for public policymaking in the country.
Gender Equality at the Heart of Our Work
Gender equality and women’s empowerment are at the heart of what UNDP has been doing in the country. Working across all thematic areas where UNDP has a focus (Inclusive Prosperity, Democratic Governance, and Environment), we have prioritized gender equality and worked to advance women’s empowerment by addressing some of the structural inequalities that persist in our society. Our efforts have focused on closing the employment gender gap, increasing women’s participation in decision-making, and promoting gender-responsive management of natural resources and disaster risk reduction. In recent years, we have also contributed to advancing gender equality by creating knowledge products that either highlight opportunities to move forward or shed light on challenges that must be addressed. From information integrity and its impact on gender equality to promoting the participation of girls and women in STEM, below you can find five knowledge products we have published in this thematic area over the past five years.
The Role of Knowledge in Driving Change
At the core of our mission lies the conviction that evidence-based insights can drive meaningful change. In a world of rapid transformation and growing complexity, knowledge products serve as vital tools to translate global ambitions into local action. In this spirit, our country office in North Macedonia has sought to adapt and apply global ideas within our national context whether by generating new data and insights on our progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals, building on ideas from the Summit of the Future, or deepening our understanding through Human Development Reports. We hope these efforts have contributed to equipping policymakers, civil society, and the wider public with the knowledge needed to make informed, forward-looking decisions.
Innovating for Impact: New Tools and Approaches
We also set out to introduce new and innovative ideas and tools into the public discourse in North Macedonia. Through these knowledge products, our goal was not only to inform but also to inspire fresh thinking and spark new conversations. We piloted the Digital Readiness Assessment methodology to identify opportunities for driving systemic change in digitalization, and we applied Data Powered Positive Deviance to uncover best practices in local financial management. In addition, we tested new tools to gather insights and encourage civic engagement on issues central to our work. We employed crowdsourcing to generate innovative ideas for advancing the SDGs in North Macedonia, used crowd-mapping to promote action and activism around sustainable water management, and applied solutions mapping to address clean air and sustainable cooling. We also opened a biotechnology lab to inspire action around waste circularity in our cities. You can learn more about these processes and products through the links below.
Tackling Pressing Issues with Data and Insight
UNDP in North Macedonia has also continued to contribute actionable intelligence on some of the most pressing issues facing the country. Over the past five years, we have generated evidence and insights to inform policies and public debate on environmental justice and information integrity; analyzed how the Ukraine crisis is reshaping our agriculture, energy sector, and local governments; and looked closely at how citizens are using digital tools and where digital divides still exist at the local level. We’ve also shone a light on the rights of persons with disabilities in North Macedonia, helping to inform more inclusive policies. These are just a few examples of how we’re using data and research to spark conversations, inform better decision-making, and ultimately, drive positive change for everyone in the country.
Shaping Policies for a Sustainable Future
At UNDP North Macedonia, we believe in the power of ideas especially when they’re backed by solid evidence and shared openly. Over the past few years, we’ve supported the development of the country’s new National Development Strategy, helping to bring fresh thinking and inclusive, innovative policy proposals to the table. We’ve also worked on practical recommendations for improving disaster risk reduction policies, incorporating a family-based approach in the design and delivery of care services; explored innovative financing tools to accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals; and shared ideas for making our cities more resilient in the face of growing challenges. Through these knowledge products, we aim to fuel informed debate, inspire smarter policies, and contribute to a more sustainable and resilient future for everyone in North Macedonia.
The knowledge products we have shared here are just illustrative examples of some of the work we have done with partners and supporters over the years, this is not the end of the story, but part of an ongoing journey to support smarter, more inclusive policy-making in the country. In the years to come, we remain committed to fostering innovation, generating actionable insights, and working hand-in-hand with our partners to build a more sustainable, equitable, and resilient North Macedonia. We invite you to explore these resources, engage with the ideas, and join us in shaping the next chapter of this shared story.