The project contributes to the development of a digital public portal to provide information on and improve communication around North Macedonia’s National Reform Agenda. The Reform Agenda is part of the Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans, a financial instrument that was established in 2024 to support the implementation of socio-economic and fundamental reforms in EU accession countries of the Western Balkans. The agenda outlines key reforms in public administration, rule of law, human rights, education, green transition, and digitalization, reforms with a potential positive impact on the daily life of citizens in North Macedonia.
The digital platform, which is going to be implemented on the website of the Ministry of European Affairs of North Macedonia, will inform citizens and other stakeholders about the Reform Agenda and encourage public participation in its implementation. As the Reform Agenda process is multidimensional and complex, particularly for the general public, the software design must consider citizens’ information needs and communication habits, allowing them to inform themselves on the Reform Agenda and engage in its implementation process meaningfully. By conducting a participatory needs assessment and providing expert-informed recommendations, the project aims to ensure that the portal provides a citizen-friendly access to information on the reform steps as well as digital tools for active online citizen participation.
Specific objectives:
- Develop a user-friendly, citizen-driven portal to enhance transparency and participation
- Gain a better understanding of public expectations regarding (digital) policy communication
Planned activities:
- Carrying out initial research on civic participation and (digital) policy communication
- Conducting two focus groups with citizens and other stakeholders, and one expert workshop
- Drafting a guidance report including inputs from the focus groups and expert workshop, and formulated recommendations for the implementation of the public portal module
The digital public portal is part of a project by Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) to develop a Software System for Reform Agendas, facilitating coordination, communication, and consultation of stakeholders and policy/reform documents.
Duration: 01.07.2025 – 31.12.2025
Budget: 5.000€
Donor: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)