Bridging the gaps between multinational companies and domestic SMEs in Macedonia

The overall objective of the Action is to establish and/or improve the linkages between domestic SMEs (dSMEs) – multinational companies (MNCs) operating in Macedonia, with the final goal to increase domestic business sector competitiveness.

This overarching aim is broken down into specific objectives:

  1. To better match demand and supply between dSMEs and MNCs through addressing value chain supply barriers and mapping potential value chains;
  2. To upgrade capacity of dSMEs for skills foster “selling” themselves to the MNCs; identification of opportunities, building networks, and improving efficiency;
  3. To reduce the technological gap between dSMEs and MNCs by improving capacity and information for standardization and licencing, elevating innovation and R&D capacity, and fostering implementation of new technologies.
  4. To spark networking between dSMEs and MNCs through knowledge transfer and mentoring, as well joint events.

The project will deliver the following outcomes:

  • Increased technological capacities of dSMEs, in terms of knowledge and capacity for standardization and licencing;
  • Developed interface for supply and demand services and providers (entering the value chain of MNCs);
  • Improved capacities of dSMEs for establishing effective communication with and presentation of their ‘offer’ to MNCs;
  • Established and upgraded partnerships between the two;
  • Produced policy briefs/studies with addressed value chain supply barriers and recommendations.

 

Donor: European Commission (CFCD – Ministry of Finance)

Duration: January 2018 – December 2019

 

Tenders

Call for tender 02-67/1 – Offer submission request – Offer form

Call for tender 02/230/1 – Offer submission request – Offer form

Call for tender 02/231/1 – Offer submission request – Offer form

Call for tender 02/232/1 – Offer submission request – Offer form

Call for tender 02/229/1 – Offer submission request – Offer form

Call for tender 02/223/1 – Offer submission request – Offer form – Specifications

Call for tender 02/222/1 – Offer submission request

Call for tender 02/316/1 – Offer submission request – Offer form

Call for tender 02/88/01 – Offer submission request – Offer form – Specifications

Call for tender 02/404/01 – Offer submission request – Offer form

 

Documents:

Training manual for soft skills

Brochure www.kompanii.mk

Newsletter

 

Visual products

Leaflet 1 – Leaflet 2 – Leaflet 3

Poster 1 – Poster 2

Other visual products here

 

Social Pillar of the European Integration of Western Balkans

This Project intends to initiate policy platform dealing with the welfare state issues to strengthen cohesion, stability and growth in the Western Balkans and its sustainable European perspectives.

The specific objective is to support effective regional advocacy on issues of critical importance for the welfare state area, through long-term regional cooperation and learning from EU experience, as preconditions for inclusive evidence-based policy making.

 

Duration: January – December 2018

Donor: European Fund for the Balkans

Project partners: Center for Social Policy – Belgrade, Qendra Economic Social Analytics – Tirana

 

Regulatory Impact Analysis: The Effects of Changing the Minimum Wage Act

The overall goal of the project is an ex-post assessment of the impact of the changes in the Minimum Wage Act on the system (the economy) and the main stakeholders (workers and employers).

The specific objectives of the project are:

  1. To assess the impact of the increased and equalized minimum wage on employment and living standards;
  2. To assess the impact of the increased and equalized minimum wage on the Budget of the Republic of Macedonia;
  3. To document the space and forms for (non) compliance with the Minimum Wage Act, as well as the difficulties in its implementation, and to qualitatively assess the repercussions;
  4. To encourage policy makers to make informed decisions based on appropriate evidence-based analysis and recommendations;
  5. To increase public awareness of the changes in the Minimum Wage Law, their impact and the need for their abiding;
  6. To educate workers about their labor rights in order to reduce the pressures and compromises they are subject to when paying the minimum wage.

 

Duration: January – December 2018

Donor: Institute for Democracy “Societas Civilis” – Skopje

 

Analysis of youth underemployment in Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia

The objective of the study is to describe underemployment and investigate its effect on personal wellbeing in the three countries. Special reference to gender will be made. By so doing, it opts to bring the issue to policymakers’ agenda and formulate ideas for policies tackling underemployment.

Methodologically, we first set underemployment a function of personal and local-labor-market characteristics. We rely on Heckman models – binary- and ordered-outcome ones – to overcome the potential selectivity bias into underemployment. For the ordered case, we use a CMP estimator. We then regress personal welfare on underemployment and worker’s characteristics. As welfare is latent variable, we rely on MIMIC model. To overcome potential endogeneity of underemployment, we specify third regression in the model whereby observables and exogenous instrument determine underemployment. The average local/municipal wage at the time when the person became (under)employed is used as instrument.

The School to Work Transition Surveys (2014-2015) are used.

 

Donor: Partnership for Economic Policies

Duration: 2017-2019