Македонски центар за меѓународна соработка - МЦМС

Authors: Saso Klekovski, Goran Buldioski, Fatmir Bytyqi, Emina Nuredinoska, Natasa Gaber-Damjanovska, Kelmend Zajazi, Suncica Sazdovska, Biljana Gerasimovska-Kitanovska
Date: 2006
PDF:   15-years-of-transition-a-country-moving-towards-citizen-participation-2005.pdf

This document presents the results of the CIVICUS – Civil Society Index for the Republic of Macedonia, implemented in the period of February 2004 to July 2005, as part of the international project Civil Society Index. CSI is coordinated by CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation and it was implemented in more than 50 countries in the period of 2003- 2005.

The CIVICUS Civil Society Index (CSI) is an action-research project assessing the state of civil society in countries around the world, aiming to provide basic knowledge and contribute to initiatives for strengthening of civil society. CSI is initiated and implemented by and for CSOs. By seeking to combine valid assessment, broad-based reflection and joint action, the CSI attempts to make a contribution to the perennial debate on how research can inform policy and practice.

CSI is an interactive assessment of the needs and a project for planning activities that result from the assessment of the state of affairs of civil society in the countries in the world. The ultimate aims of the CSI are: to enhance the strength and sustainability of civil society; and to strengthen civil society's contribution to positive social change. CSI generates and shares useful and relevant knowledge on the state of civil society and increases the capacity and commitment of civil society stakeholders to strengthen civil society.

The research is conducted via an assessment of the structure of civil society, environment in which it is active, values that it promotes and practices, as well as the impact that it has.

The CSI is implemented in every country by a National Coordinating Organisation (NCO), in cooperation with a National Advisory Group (NAG) and the CSI project team in CIVICUS. NCO for the Republic of Macedonia is the Macedonian Center for International Cooperation, which is responsible for managing and coordination of the CSI implementation in Macedonia. The National Index Team made of experts and researchers, collected and summarised the data and information on civil society from various primary and secondary sources. These data were used by NAG to score 74 indicators, which give the complete assessment of civil society’s state of affairs.

The research findings were discussed and confirmed at a national conference, which included various members of civil society from all sectors. The participants of this conference identified the strengths and weaknesses of civil society and gave their recommendations on how to strengthen civil society in Macedonia. The international project team of CIVICUS provided training, technical aid and quality control of NCO during the CSI implementation.

The research findings were discussed and confirmed at a national conference, which included various members of civil society from all sectors. The participants of this conference identified the strengths and weaknesses of civil society and gave their recommendations on how to strengthen civil society in Macedonia. The international project team of CIVICUS provided training, technical aid and quality control of NCO during the CSI implementation.