Македонски центар за меѓународна соработка - МЦМС

The program Enabling Communities and Institutions (OZI) 2001 – 2004 was aimed at contributing for sustainable development of communities, particularly the marginalized rural and suburban settlements. The implementation of this Program has enabled the communities and institutions to organize and govern the developmental initiatives.

The target group of the Program was comprised of the residents of the communities and the institutions in Macedonia, with focus on the regions that faced significant problems in water supply and sanitation.

The target area included the villages and Roma suburban settlements in Macedonia, while the operational area covered the entire territory of Macedonia divided in three levels: focus areas, project communities and communities with limited involvement, in accordance with the program Water Supply and Sanitation of Communities (VSZ).

Total of 54 projects were carried out under the OZI program, aimed at enabling the communities and institutions for organization and governance of developmental initiatives. This goal has reflected the strategy for resolving the institutional problem of communities and institutions, which was directed towards providing sustainable development.

The following projects were realized within the Program:

• Training, consultation and guidance for project management (project cycle management, institutional development and organizational strengthening) and other complementary topics through regular and tailored courses, workshops, individual consultation and on-job-training;
• Information for communities (public) and public institutions through brochures, leaflets, publications, studies, etc.;
• Advocacy and lobbying for providing access to funds, specific lobbying and building the public awareness;
• Financial support for pre-project activities and operational strengthening of institutions (JKP).

These instruments have complemented each other.

The program was implemented by the Macedonian Center for International Communication (MCIC), the Development Department.

The foreseen timeline was 2001-2003. However, in February 2004 the program was amended and the timeline was extended until June 2004, i.e. the project activities were prolonged for six months. This was needed in order to complete and finalize the started projects.

The Program ensured strengthening of the local communities, mostly the small rural municipalities, which managed to continue their functioning as a result of their enhanced institutional and organizational capacity.

The total budget of the mid-term program amounted to MKD 15,681,729.