The main goal of the project is to generate evidence and foster a policy dialogue for the food and energy insecurities in the Western Balkan economies pertinent to four key fronts: household livelihoods, firms’ competitiveness, fiscal space and the regional integration.
Open Balkan: Free regional movement of labor in conditions of shortage of qualified workers?
The goal of the project is to assess how the free movement of (skilled) labor in the Open Balkan Initiative will affect the labor market in North Macedonia, and thus to encourage a reasoned debate and adjustment of policies to maximize benefits and minimize risks.
Specific objectives include:
- Generating knowledge about how the free movement of (skilled) labor included in the Open Balkan Initiative will affect the labor market in the country;
- Encouraging evidence-based public debate about the benefits and challenges of the issue;
- Contribution to economic policies related to the labor market and bilateral social security agreements, in the context of the implementation of the requirements of this Initiative.
Donor: Foundation Open Society Macedonia
Duration: September 2022 – September 2023
Scoping study to investigate the demand for green and social financing in North Macedonia
The objective of this study is to conduct the diagnosis – market analyses of high potential sectors in North Macedonia from a green and social stand point and to assess the market potential for new development credit lines.
Client: Agence Française de Développement
Partner: GFA Consulting Group
Duration: July – September 2022
Action for formalization of micro-performers of economic activity in the informal economy
The purpose of this action is to increase the formalization of micro-companies in North Macedonia, ie performers of economic activity in the informal economy. Hence, the action addresses legal informality. More specific objectives of the action include:
- Understand the reasons for the informality of micro-operators in the informal economy (high fees, high administrative burden, low probability of being discovered, poor awareness of the benefits of formalization, etc.)
- To understand the activity of informal micro-performers
- To design a map / list of all fees, including parafiscal charges, related to starting a micro-business and running it in the early years
- To propose: a) a plan for reduction of the costs for firming of micro-performers of activity, including rationalization of the duties identified in 3; and b) policy measures (fiscal, labor, information) that will encourage greater formalization of micro-operators.
Client: GIZ North Macedonia
Duration: May – September 2022
Data analysis and report on Balkan Barometer 2022
The objective of the project is to conduct a data analysis and contribute to the underlying report on Balkan Barometer 2022.
Donor: Regional Cooperation Council
Partner: ACIT – Albania
Duration: April – May 2022
V4 support to promote WB6 Common Regional Market: one market for post-COVID recovery
The project focuses on sharing experiences, transferring knowledge and recommending further regional economic integration through development of the WB6 Common Regional Market using experiences from ex-CEFTA and V4 after integration into the EU single market.
Analysis of SDG Financing Landscape
The objective of the SDG Financial Landscape Analysis is to map all financing flows, with the aim to identify potential approaches and activities that can contribute to efficient use of existing resources for SDG achievement and greater alignment and investment by development partners on sustainable development priorities.
Donor: UNDP
Duration: June – November 2021
Data analysis and report on Balkan Barometer 2021
The objective of the project is to conduct a comprehensive data analysis and write up the underlying report on Balkan Barometer 2021.
Donor: Regional Cooperation Council
Partner: ACIT – Albania
Duration: February – March 2021
Reaping export-oriented companies’ potential to contribute to post-Covid-19 recovery
The project aims to identify potentials of export oriented capacities including already existed foreign investors in the country to support economic recovery.
Specific objectives:
- To identify capacities to adapt and shift current production according to changed demand (new operation, components, complementary products, etc)
- To identify the potentials for regional re-positioning and utilization of global geographical allocation shifting and cost reduction strategy
- To identify potential for injections of capital that parent’s company will make to affiliated companies in the country (to shift operations from other geographical locations, or to modify current production, etc).
- To identify obstacles for export and growth
- To identify needs for economic measures that will maximize identified potentials
Duration: October 2020 – March 2021
Donor: British Embassy – Skopje
Promoting evidence and dialogue for enhancing state aid’s effect onto consumer welfare in North Macedonia
The objective of the action is to promote evidence and foster dialogue on the role of state aid for consumer welfare in North Macedonia.
The specific objectives of the action include:
- To understand existing forms of state aid in North Macedonia (direct subsidies, tax exemptions, discounted loans etc.) and their (mutual) consistency within the overall anti-trust legislation in the country;
- To produce robust evidence on whether state aid distorts competition on the market, with application on the paramount governmental program for subsidizing companies in North Macedonia and dwelling on the ‘market economy operator’ principle;
- To improve the dialogue among stakeholders, as well raise public awareness, on state aid, alignment with EU Acquis and consumer welfare.
By having achieved these objectives, the action will significantly contribute to enhancing the role of state aid for the market competition and efficiency, and hence onto consumer welfare.
Duration: February 2020 – February 2021
Donor: Balkan Trust for Democracy – Norwegian Embassy Belgrade