Project summary:

The Project “Building Municipal Capacity for Projects Implementation” Phase 2, funded by the Government of Sweden and the Bureau for Regional Development, has started in 2022 with an end date in 2026. As the impact of the multiple global crises at the country level accelerated, funds are being increasingly required to tackle complex, cross-sector, cross scale challenges needing rapid transformative change that will bring desired and durable impact at local level. The continuation of the Building Municipal Capacity for Projects Implementation with a Phase 2, will allow for scaled and transformative impact by integrating elements of institutional sustainability, good governance and environmental protection. By building upon the achievements of its First phase, the project will prioritize the following:

·         Strengthening capacities of national institutions to provide and institutionalize adequate tools for targeting regional and local development policies and initiatives (primarily Municipal Development Index – MDI)

·         Strengthening local level capacities to identify, select and prepare more complex infrastructure/development projects (through the Technical Documentation Fund – TDF);

·         Supporting local authorities in updating the methodology and approach to preparing inclusive local development plans, also by integrating the elements of European Green deal and global environmental challenges.

The intervention will enhance capacities of the central and local level institutions to adopt inclusive and gender responsive strategic planning processes, to strengthen social cohesion including through good environmental governance and disaster risk management. Using evidence to inform policy and decision-making, the Project will contribute to more inclusive, equitable and balanced local and regional development. It builds upon the partnerships with the Ministry of Local Self-Government, the Bureau, the Centers for regional development, the municipalities and a wide range of other stakeholders at national and local levels.

Project details:

• Phase 2
• Start date: December 2022
• End date: April 2026
• Status: Ongoing
• Implementing agency: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
• Partners/Beneficiaries: : Ministry of local self-government (MLSG), Bureau for Regional Development, Association of the units of local self-government of the Republic of North Macedonia (ZELS), Regional Development Centers, municipalities
• Donors:
• Budget: App. USD 2.6 million (USD 1.84 million Sweden funding, USD 0.5 million of BRD and municipal co-funding and USD 0.25 million of UNDP and municipal co-funding)