Finance Think at a Public Participation Peer Learning Exchange in Brasil

Finance Think had the opportunity this week to take part in the Public Participation Peer Learning Exchange – Opening Doors, organised by the International Budget Partnership (IBP), from 10 to 12 November 2026 in Brasília, Brazil.

The event brought together representatives from 13 countries to exchange experiences and good practices for promoting greater and more meaningful citizen participation in budget processes.

We were especially pleased to share our experience and practices in advancing more transparent fiscal policies and participatory budgeting, and in connecting citizens’ needs and priorities with formal mechanisms for budget planning and decision-making.

The exchange also gave us the opportunity to learn from other countries, consider how to strengthen existing mechanisms, and identify new approaches we can apply in our work.

Because meaningful public participation does not end with the opportunity to make a proposal; it also means having the opportunity to influence public decisions.

Finance Think was represented at the event by its Executive Director, Blagica Petreski.

#FinanceThink #InternationalBudgetPartnership #ParticipatoryBudgeting #FiscalTransparency #PublicParticipation

Two Days of Participatory Budgeting with Citizens of the Municipality of Kisela Voda

📢 In cooperation with the Municipality of Kisela Voda, we conducted a participatory budgeting process.

💬 Citizens shared their needs, concerns, and suggestions for improving the quality of life in the municipality. They recognised the initiative as valuable and expressed support for organising similar events that provide opportunities for their needs and ideas to be heard.

🤝 The next step is to analyse the frequency of the proposed ideas and prioritise them. This process will help the Municipality of Kisela Voda identify citizens’ needs and establish budget priorities for 2027.

Thank you to all participants for sharing their ideas and actively engaging in the process!

This initiative was implemented as part of the project “Civic Oversight: Bridging the Gap Between Political Promises and Achievements in Four Development Areas”, supported by the Government of Switzerland through Civica Mobilitas.

#CHinMK #CivicaMobilitas

Embassy of Switzerland in North Macedonia

📸 More photos are available at: https://tinyurl.com/43hc6a7v

Get involved in shaping the budget priorities of the Municipality of Kisela Voda!

What are the priorities for your neighbourhood?

Together with Municipality of Kisela Voda, we invite citizens to take part in shaping the municipal budget priorities for 2027.

💬 Propose. Discuss. Prioritise.

📲 Can’t attend in person? Submit your proposal here: https://tinyurl.com/PrijaviProblem

Your voice matters in shaping your municipality’s budget!

#CHinMK #CivicaMobilitas

Civica Mobilitas | Embassy of Switzerland in North Macedonia

🌍 Finance Think at Euromed Summit 2026 in Lisbon!

On October 27–28, Finance Think participated in the Euromed Summit 2026 in Lisbon, Portugal, represented by its Executive Director, Blagica Petreski.

The discussions focused on labour market challenges, skills mismatches between workers and employers’ needs, human capital development, and economic competitiveness – issues that lie at the heart of Finance Think’s research and analytical work.

We remain committed to connecting national expertise with international discussions and initiatives.

MoU with the British Business Association in North Macedonia

🤝 Strong economies are built on strong partnerships.

Finance Think and the British Business Association in North Macedonia signed a Memorandum of Understanding yesterday, laying the foundation for closer cooperation on issues of importance to the business community, policymakers and society.

The partnership brings together the British Business Association’s extensive business network and Finance Think’s economic research and public policy expertise. Together, we will promote knowledge exchange, constructive dialogue and evidence-based solutions to key economic challenges and opportunities.

Our goal is to contribute to a better business environment and more sustainable economic development, while supporting stronger trade and investment relations between North Macedonia, the United Kingdom and Commonwealth countries.