LocationsBuilding a Strong Future: How Slovakia and UNDP Are Helping North Macedonia Achieve Long-Term Development
July 16, 2025
It all started in early 2021. North Macedonia embarked on a bold mission: to define a path for the country’s growth and prosperity for the next 20 years. This led to the creation of the National Development Strategy (NDS), a roadmap shaped by citizens and experts alike — a bold, inclusive vision to tackle today’s challenges, accelerate SDG progress, and build a sustainable, resilient future together. It’s not just about planning — it’s about transforming how the country thinks, acts, and grows together. The NDS focuses on six key areas: Competitive and innovative economy; Territorial development; Social and demographic balance; Citizens-driven governance; Safe and resilient society and Green and digital transformation. This strategy born from most comprehensive and inclusive process, is an official document, adopted by the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia.
But, here's the question: What does it take to make a 20-year strategy a success?
The answer lies in more than just good intentions. This ambitious effort brought together a diverse group of partners, including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the British Embassy—which provided early support—and the Slovak Ministry of Finance throughout the process later on, whose ongoing expertise in public financial management and governance proved essential to the initiative´s success.
A Crucial Partnership for Public Finance
Slovakia’s contribution went beyond financial support – it involved sharing knowledge and expertise in building strong public financial systems. The Ministry of Finance of Slovakia brought crucial insights to the table, helping North Macedonia shape its financial systems in line with international best practices.
Through the Public Finance for Development Programme, Slovakia’s experience in public financial management and governance has been instrumental. By improving budget planning, strengthening fiscal decentralization, and ensuring financial accountability, Slovakia has helped North Macedonia build the financial foundation necessary for implementing its National Development Strategy.
One of the key innovations in the NDS is its focus on fiscal decentralization—giving local governments the power and tools they need to manage their budgets and address local needs. This process has been supported by Slovak experts, whose hands-on guidance and capacity-building efforts have enabled local authorities to identify priorities and use public resources more effectively.
Partnerships and Public Engagement: A Collaborative Approach
While Slovakia’s support has been instrumental, the success of the NDS has also been the result of strong collaboration between national institutions, international partners, and the wider public. The Government’s commitment provided essential leadership, while UNDP offered strategic policy and technical support throughout the process. Slovakia, working alongside these partners, played a pivotal role in aligning public finance systems with global standards, particularly through targeted support for transparency, accountability, and institutional reform.
Citizen participation has been at the heart of the NDS process. The NDS digital platform—visited over 40,000 times—along with broad media coverage, enabled the public not only to follow the country’s development journey but also to contribute their perspectives. This open and inclusive approach has been critical to building public trust and ensuring that the strategy remains responsive to the real needs and aspirations of the people.
What’s Next? A Future Built on Strong Financial Foundations
As the NDS moves forward, the focus is now on implementing and operationalizing the strategy. Slovakia will continue to play a vital role, and the next steps will include:
- Further strengthening the NDS Operational Structure, with Slovakia’s ongoing support for governance and financial management;
- Expanding fiscal decentralization, giving local governments the tools and autonomy to lead their own development efforts;
- Using monitoring and evaluation systems to track progress, ensure accountability, and keep the public informed and engaged;
- Deepening international collaborations, with Slovakia’s expertise supporting North Macedonia’s success.
- Continued collective commitment of national institutions, local authorities, civil society, international partners and citizens.
Together, we’re shaping the future. Thanks to the collaboration between Slovakia, UNDP, and the Government of North Macedonia, the NDS is more than just a plan—it’s a living, breathing roadmap for sustainable growth. Through continued partnership, transparency, and shared effort, North Macedonia is on its way to achieving long-term prosperity, driven by a strong foundation in public finance and inclusive governance.