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Corruptive practices impede economic growth in Macedonia

The objective of this policy research is to identify corruptive practices that influence the economy of Macedonia and to offer real already-implemented similar measures in the EU to tackle and resolve these kinds of practices.

The method implemented in the policy study is quantitative based on data that captures corruption and informal practices. This kind of research is one of the first that implements quantitative analysis in researching how the corruption influences economic growth in Macedonia. One of the primary missions of this policy study is to provide evidence-based and data-driven analysis that will offer objective overview of how corruption actually influences the economy. Additionally, this overview essentially provides real and objective policy recommendations for alleviation of corruption based on impartial and unbiased analysis.

Donor: TRAIN is funded by the Federal Foreign Office and run by the Berlin-based German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP).

Duration: March – December 2017

Policy study 6: The size and effects of emigration and remittances in the Western-Balkans: Forecasting based on a Delphi process

Authors: Marjan Petreski, Blagica Petreski, Despina Tumanoska, Edlira Narazani, Fatush Kazazi, Galjina Ognjanov, Irena Jankovic, Arben Mustafa, Tereza Kосovska

Policy study 5: Active labor market policies for employment: Challenge for the Macedonian labor market

Authors: Blagica Petreski, Despina Tumanoska

ESTIMATING THE SUSTAINABLE LEVEL OF THE MACEDONIAN PUBLIC DEBT

The objective of this project is to provide credible estimates of the sustainable level of the Macedonian government and public debt.

The specific nature of the project involves hiring an employee who obtained master’s or PhD degree in Western Europe or USA and who is willing to spend six months in Finance Think. The employee will be responsiblefor the following tasks:

Calculation of the sustainable level of the Macedonian public debt;
Production of a policy study, policy brief and infograph on the topic;
Involvement in the other research and advocacy activities of the institute;
Involvement in administrative matters and organizing events.

Donor: Think Tank Fund – Young Professionals Development Program

Duration: 6 months (2016-2017)

Policy brief 16 – Are Macedonian government and public debt sustainable?

Policy study 7 – Estimating the sustainable level of the Macedonian government debt

Gender-responsible budget of the city of Skopje

The objective of this research is to identify gaps in the gender policies and implementation of gender-sensitive budget of the City of Skopje, and make appropriate recommendations to overcome the gaps.

The survey will give a narrower focus on the economic aspects of these policies. The research will be in three directions: analysis of existing policies and implementation, access to public services and the labor market (kindergartens, schools and health services), gender-sensitive budgeting.

Duration: September-November 2016

Donor: Center for Research and Policy Making

Advocacy for evidence-based economic policymaking and ignition of the critical economic debate in Macedonia

The overall objective of the project is to further strengthen the organizational capacity of the Economic Research & Policy Institute “Finance Think” in supporting the economic policy decision makers to deliver credible policy decisions based on research findings, as well in igniting the debate in the society about economic processes and reforms.

Provider: Think Tank Fund (Open Society Foundations)

Duration: 2 years (2016-2018)

FISCAST+: Fiscal transparency and accountability improves policies in quality of life, education and health

The objective of the project is to address efficiency and quality of selected policies in quality of life, education and health through public debate and policy options derived from data and evidence.

The project is expected to bring the following changes:

Changed general understanding of the importance of specific policies and measures within the QEH areas
Increased availability of data in the specific areas set base for evidence-based policymaking
Steered public debate and increased public awareness about the issues
Increased pressure on policymakers for better and more efficient public policies and measures in the QEH areas
Improved research capacity, networking and sharing of expertise

The project will deliver the following outputs:

Mapping and selection of policies per year in three areas (QEH)
Research and production of results
Links with media outlets and development of outreach products (comms strategy)
Capacity building for teams and media for use of data, cost benefit analysis and policy options

Donor: British Embassy, Skopje

Duration: July 2016 – March 2018

Call for EoI (NGOs) – Application form (NGOs)

Call for EoI (My story) – Application form (My story)

Call for focus group participation`

Call for еxperts – Application form (experts)

Debate club of experts, Skopje, 26 October 2016 – Gallery

Interim expert meeting, 26 April 2017

Call for EoI (journalists)

Infographs

GIFs

Video

Forecasting the size and effects of emigration and remittances in four Western-Balkan countries

The project aims to forecast the size and effects of remittances and emigration in 4 Western-Balkan (WB) countries, through a novel method: Delphi questionnaire.

In particular, the project has the following tasks: 1) to provide a literature overview of forecasting remittances and emigration; 2) to collect data through a Delphi questionnaire from economic experts and remittance-receivers; 3) to forecast remittances and emigration based on the data obtained in (2); 4) provide policy recommendations based on the forecasted trends; and 5) to compare forecasted trends among the 4 countries.

Donor: Regional Research Promotion Program

Project partners: ACSER Albania, FREN Serbia, Individual researcher Kosovo

Duration: 6 months (2016)

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Project meeting, Istanbul, Turkey, 27-30 October 2016 – Аgenda – Gallery

Round table “The future of remittances and emigration: Can they be forecast?”, 22 November 2016, Faculty of Economics, Prilep – Invitation and agenda – Gallery

Infographs – Macedonia – Serbia – Albania – Kosovo

Media appearance – MRT – Telma – Nova Makedonija

Web site

Forecasting results – Маcedonia – Serbia – Аlbania – Коsovо

Policy study

Challenging unemployment in the Western Balkans: Enhancing active labour market policies in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Macedonia

The main objective of the project is to contribute to improvement of active labour market policies and boosting employment in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Macedonia.

More specific objectives of the policy advocacy are: (a) to identify legal, financial, and practical weakness in employment policies which result in their low efficiency and low effectiveness; (b) to inform and expand knowledge of key stakeholders in the field; (c) to empower stakeholders to make informed decisions by providing relevant analysis and feasible policy recommendations in this area; and (d) to put the issue of ALMP on the respective agendas of relevant decision-makers in these three countries.

Donor: European Fund for the Balkans

Partners: Analitika – Center for Social Research (Bosnia and Herzegovina); Agenda Institute (Albania)

Duration: January – August 2016

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Round table, Skopje, 20 October 2016 – Аgenda – Gallery – Messages 1 2 3 4

Policy brief – Policy memo – Policy study

Promoting Active Inclusion of Disadvantaged Persons Excluded from the Labour Market

Overall objective of the project is to increase the activation of persons at risk of social exclusion in the labor market by improving their skills, education, qualification and facilitating their full integration into the society and the labor market.

This overarching objective is broken down into specific purposes involving concrete interventions on three fronts:

Purpose 1: Improve the efficiency of employment and social services as a way of promoting the social inclusion of vulnerable and disadvantaged groups by assisting professionals from the Employment Centres and the Centres for Social Work in developing new skills as ‘Mentors for Social Inclusion’;
Purpose 2: Empower vulnerable and disadvantaged groups and give them the skills and experience required to breaking down the hurdles they encounter on their journeys into long-term work and independence through a pre-employment training program and work placements or internships in local businesses and social enterprises;
Purpose 3: Foster improvements in service delivery by designing new family support services, raising public awareness, and developing effective partnerships among key
stakeholders (local self-government units, governmental institutions, non-governmental organizations involved in service delivery, social partners, education and training providers) to produce results on the ground.

Donor: European Commission – Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance

Partner: Childcare and Family Center (KMOP) – Athens, Greece

Duration: 20 months (January 2016 – August 2017)

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CALL FOR TRAINING PARTICIPATION for increasing of employability of socially-vulnerable category of citizens – Training APPLICATION

Newsletter 1 2

Competition for pieces of art – Report and assessment

Trainings for disadvantaged groups – Skopje – Ohrid – Veles – Kumanovo

Policy brief 17 – Could social mentorship increase employability in our country?

Mentorship manual – Measure and service protocol – Internship guidelines

Closing conference “New measures for new jobs” – Agenda – Gallery

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