“My money, my responsibility”: Participative budgeting in the municipalities in Macedonia

The overall purpose of the project is to enhance local-stakeholders’ practice and participation in the local budgeting process and to increase the effectiveness of the municipal-money spending.

 

The particular objectives/tasks of the project include:

  • To increase participation of local stakeholders – civil society, business community, citizens, local media – in the municipal-budgeting processes;
  • To increase awareness of local citizens for how spending of municipal money affects their quality of life;
  • To increase the credibility and effectiveness of local governments’ decisions related to the spending of public money, as well raise awareness for the (need for) transparency related to it.

For attaining project’s purpose, 6 members of the network (plus Finance Think) will represent the core of the entire network. These were carefully selected from the pool of the FISCAST network, based on two criteria: 1) FISCAST members who have had experience with particular municipalities; and 2) FISCAST members who have had a decent cooperation with Finance Think (and within the network in general) in the past (in terms of quality of deliverables, timeliness, responsiveness and so on. The following FISCAST members provided their written consent and these are the initial municipalities to be covered:

  • Kvantum Prima – Kavadarci, to cover: Kavadarci, Negotino
  • ZIP Institue – Skopje, to cover: Saraj, Gjorce Petrov
  • EGRI Graganski Centar za odrzliv razvoj – Kriva Palanka, to cover two or three of: Kriva Palanka, Kumanovo, Staro Nagoricane
  • Inicijativen Glas – Prilep, to cover: Prilep, Krivogastani
  • IMPACT Institute – Skopje, to cover: Strumica
  • Center for Change Management (CUP) – Skopje, to cover: Centar, Gjorce Petrov (shared with ZIP)
  • Finance Think: Krushevo, Centar (shared with CUP)

 

Duration: May 2017 – May 2020

Donor: USAID Civic Engagement Project through the East West Management Institute

 

Technical assistance to local LESCs and the ESA

The objective of the project is to provide technical assistance to the Employment Service Agency for implementation of three distinct employment measures at the local level.

 

Donor: International Labor Organization

Duration: May – December 2017

 

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

 

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:

  1. Mapping and selection of policies per year in three areas (QEH)
  2. Research and production of results
  3. Links with media outlets and development of outreach products (comms strategy)
  4. 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)

 

***

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