North Macedonia municipal development initiatives

In North Macedonia, government efforts to strengthen local governance and social infrastructure are progressing through both direct funding and international cooperation.

Minister of Social Policy, Demography and Youth Djoko Velkovski has signed grant agreements with nine municipalities to enhance local social services. These grants, part of the Second Project for the Improvement of Social Services, aim to decentralize social protection by funding home care for the elderly in Gazi Baba, Petrovec, Saraj, and Valandovo; day centers for active aging in Plasnica, Bogovinje, and Jegunovce; and disability support centers in Prilep and Krivogashtani.

Simultaneously, Minister of Local Self-Government Ivan Stoilković met with United Nations representatives, including officials from the UNDP and UNOPS, to discuss municipal support. The discussions focused on fostering balanced regional development and inter-municipal cooperation through initiatives such as ‘Strengthening Municipal Councils’ and ‘Building Municipal Capacities for Project Implementation’ to improve local living standards.