Sida's work in North Macedonia
North Macedonia is one of Europe's least developed countries. Sida's development cooperation supports the country's rapprochement with the EU and focuses on human rights, democracy, gender equality and climate. The development of democracy and human rights has moved in the right direction in recent years, but the country is characterized by internal conflicts.
Sida’s support in North Macedonia 2024
Important thematic areas in North Macedonia
Why do Sida work in North Macedonia?
One of the poorest countries in Europe
Just over 40% of the population lives in material and social poverty.1 Poverty is particularly prevalent among certain ethnic minorities, especially the Roma population. Poverty is also widespread in rural areas and among young people, the elderly, people with disabilities and women.
High levels of social insecurity
Widespread corruption in the country (76th out of 180 countries in the Corruption Perceptions Index 2023) undermines people’s social security.2 Not all people have equal access to health, education and social services. In the health sector, bribery is common in order to get better and faster treatment, which particularly affect people living in poverty.
Discrimination against minorities
Society is segregated and there are tensions between different ethnic groups. Women, minority groups (such as the Roma) and LGBTI people are discriminated against, even though it is illegal.3,4 5
Examples of what Sida has contributed to
Strengthened democracy
Support from Sida has helped to strengthen democracy and increase respect for human rights in recent years. For example, by strengthening the voice of civil society and supporting a free press and media.
Increased gender equality
Sida has contributed to the creation of a network of women’s organisations that work together to increase women’s political influence and human rights in the country. Through the network’s advocacy work, gender equality has been included in the country’s new budget law, which has contributed to progress in the respect of women’s rights in the country.6,7
Steps towards EU membership
Sida’s aid has helped bring North Macedonia closer to EU membership, enabling it to make improvements and develop a range of societal functions that form an important basis for membership. Since 2018, this has included training of government officials on the EU and its regulations. Laws and regulations have also been drafted to adapt to the EU.
Sida's development cooperation in North Macedonia
Sida’s development cooperation aims to help move the country towards EU membership. Therefore, Sida supports projects that strengthen human rights, gender equality, the country’s democratic development and environmental work. Despite progress in some areas, much remains to be done before all conditions for EU membership are met.
There are some positive changes in terms of democracy and respect for human rights and gender equality. However, the population’s distrust of government and state institutions is high, partly because corruption is widespread and partly because promised political reforms are not implemented. Sida helps to strengthen democracy and respect for human rights, increase gender equality, strengthen free and independent media and counteract disinformation. Here are examples of projects supported by Sida:
Sida provides expert support to various institutions working on preparations for EU membership, mainly in the areas of environment, education, justice and consumer protection. Through its cooperation with the Secretariat for European Affairs (SEA), Sida has helped train 2,300 government officials to increase their knowledge of EU rules and laws. Through cooperation with SEA, Sida has also contributed to the drafting and adaptation of 102 laws and regulations to the EU.
About the Secretariat for European Affairs (SEA) work in North Macedonia on the SEA website
Through Kvinna till Kvinna, Sida supports women’s organisations that work for women’s rights, including against gender-based violence and for women’s political influence and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). The work includes protecting vulnerable women and providing access to justice for women victims of violence.
About the work in North Macedonia on Woman to Woman’s website
Kvinna till Kvinna’s partner organisation Akcija Zdruzenska cooperates with organisations in 21 municipalities and 60 villages or communities that together cover 25 percent of the country.
Together with several women’s organisations, Sida has helped to introduce gender budgeting in the budget law adopted by the Parliament in September 2022. Gender budgeting means that the impact of the budget on gender equality is evaluated.
Through UN Women, the aid has helped 250 women in rural areas to receive support to run and develop their farms.
In November 2022, the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN) revealed that the government had granted citizenship to a wanted person with links to Russia. The revelation led to the government revoking its decision and the resignation of the head of the National Security Agency.
About the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN) on its website
Sida supports cooperation between Statistics Sweden (SCB) and its counterpart in North Macedonia to increase the availability and use of statistics. Among other things, they have developed a register for employment.
North Macedonia has taken important steps to improve the environment and increase the protection of nature. However, the environmental situation remains serious. Air pollution in major cities is a significant threat to public health and contributes to around 4,000 premature deaths annually.8
The backlog of environmental work is partly due to a weak environmental administration and non-compliance with the country’s environmental protection regulations. Sida contributes to improving the country’s many environmental challenges and adapting to EU environmental standards. The aid focuses on air pollution and waste management, among other things. Here are examples of projects Sida supports:
Sida supports an interagency co-operation between the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and the Ministry of Environment of North Macedonia in areas such as nature conservation, air quality monitoring and preparation of the environmental and climate adaptations required by the EU for membership.
About co-operation with North Macedonia on the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency’s website
Through its support to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Sida helped to introduce climate and environment into the country’s curricula. Teachers in 117 primary schools and 28 pre-schools have received training on the environment and climate change, and 10,000 children have participated in the program through school.
Sida supports several projects to reduce air pollution and raise public awareness. Through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Sida has contributed to an action plan to improve air quality in the capital. UNDP is also pushing for legislative changes to reduce emissions from household heating. Energy efficiency measures for households are also being implemented.
The economy was severely affected by the pandemic but is slowly recovering. Much of the population works in the informal sector, where wages are often low and working conditions are poor. Corruption affects both people’s ability to work and the competitiveness of the economy. Unemployment is high, with almost one in three young people out of work.9 Many people leave the country, mainly for low-paid jobs. Sida supports projects that contribute to greater economic justice and jobs with good working conditions. Here are some examples of projects Sida supports:
Climate change, poor infrastructure, complicated regulations and lack of access to finance and loans prevent the agricultural sector from realizing its full potential. Through the organisation We Effect, Sida supports local organisations that develop rural areas. They promote entrepreneurship and productivity. They enable more people in rural areas to find employment, especially women and young people.
The country’s Roma are discriminated against in terms of access to labour, health care, education and housing. Through cooperation with the organisation Helvetas, Sida supports the RECONOMY project, which helps to create jobs with good working conditions for the Roma population, so that they have access to social security systems such as unemployment insurance, health care and pensions.
Peaceful and inclusive societies is a new thematic area for Sida’s development cooperation in North Macedonia. Among other things, Sida will contribute to reducing the ethnic tensions that exist in the country and create conditions for a favourable social development that includes all inhabitants. Sida is in the process of building up cooperation with organisations in this area. Below is one example that Sida is supporting. More examples will be presented as the work progresses.
Sida supports the Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance (DCAF), which works for transparency and protection of citizens’ rights through reform of the intelligence and security services. Among other things, DCAF has provided an automated and regional DNA exchange. It also established a platform for the exchange of experience and knowledge between North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia and Serbia.
The Swedish government has decided to phase out the strategy. It will be completed by June 30, 2026. A new joint strategy for Eastern Europe, Western Balkans and Türkiye will be announced during 2025.
- Multidimensional poverty in North Macedonia in HDI Index on UNDP website
- Corruption Index 2023 on the Transparency International website
- Statistics on gender equality in North Macedonia on the UN Women website
- https://fra.europa.eu/sv/publication/2023/roma-survey-2021-technical-report
- Facts on discrimination against LGBTI people in North Macedonia on the website of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA)
- On gender budgeting on the UN Women – Europe and Central Asia (ECA) website of UN Women ECA
- Report from the European Commission on the decision to introduce a gender budget in North Macedonia in 2022
- Air pollution index on the IQAir website
- Poverty statistics for North Macedonia compared to the rest of the EU on the World Bank website
Updated: April 8, 2024