IPA - Civil Society Facility and Media
Synthesis of the Macedonian action document 2014-15
----------------DRAFT---------------1) Conducive Environment
Needs/priorities
(ref. to national
baseline reports)
2) Changing relations-CSOs and Government
3) CSOs Capacities
NB: Please see attached the Country Baseline brief
Main expected
results (ref. to CS
Guidelines)
Civil Society Facility 2014:
Total of 5 MEur
Component 1: Civil Society Horizontal Measures
Financing actions in 3 measures:
a. Enabling legal and financial environment
b. Cooperation between the Government and CSO's
c. CSO's effectiveness, transparency and accountability
In the period 2014-2015, this component will contribute to achieve Objectives 1 to 6 of the EC
CSF Guidelines:

All individuals and legal entities can express themselves freely, assemble peacefully and
establish, join and participate in non-formal and/or registered organisations

The policies and legal environment stimulate and facilitate volunteering and employment in
CSOs

National and/or local authorities have enabling policies and rules for grass-roots organisations.

Easy-to-meet financial rules for CSO, which are proportionate to their turn-over and noncommercial activities;

Donations are stimulated with adequate legislation and regulations

Financial (e.g. tax or in-kind) benefits are available

Public institutions recognise the importance of CSOs in improving good governance through
CSOs’ inclusion in decision making processes

CSOs' internal governance structures are transparent and accountable to members/ constituents/
beneficiaries

CSOs are able to publicly demonstrate the results of their activities

CSOs participation with Government is representative and with mechanisms in place to
engage/inform constituents and beneficiaries

CSO activities are guided by strategic long-term organisational planning

CSOs regularly network within and outside country borders and make use of coalition-building
for increased impact in campaigning and advocacy

Fund-raising activities are rooted in CSOs' long-term strategic plans and the core mission of the
organisation
Component 2: Freedom of expression and media (FEM)
Financing actions in 2 measures:

Enabling Media environment (Capacity-building to regulatory environment, including selfregulator of the journalists, etc)

Supporting media-related initiatives (monitoring the work of media and journalists; free legal
assistance provided to journalists for defamation or libel; civil society and think tanks
becoming active participant in media environment, etc.)
In the period 2014, this component will contribute to achieve Objectives 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the EC
Media Guidelines and achieve the following results:

Independent and professional regulators preserve media pluralism and prevent unfair
competition in media market.

Media outlets (owners/editors) assume responsibility for improved internal governance and
production. Increased resilience of media against external pressures. Growing audience’s
confidence in them.

Improved conditions for quality investigative journalism and Increased cooperation between
journalists, their groups and CSOs for benefiting investigative journalism, ensuring qualitative
and trustworthy investigative journalism
Component 3: Intercommunity Relations
Financing actions in 2 measures:

Implementation of the Ohrid Framework Agreement (watchdog and monitoring activities of
CSOs including partnership with municipality councils, etc);

Improving intercommunity relations (CSOs networking in this area to act on community level
vis- a vis intercommunity relations and involving also relevant community stakeholders –
possible re-granting component).
In the period 2014, this component will contribute to achieve Objectives 3 and 5 of the EC CSF
Guidelines and achieve the following results:

Public institutions recognise the importance of CSOs in improving good governance through
CSOs’ inclusion in decision making processes

CSOs use research and other forms of evidence to underpin their activities

CSOs regularly network within and outside country borders and make use of coalition-building
for increased impact in campaigning and advocacy
Civil Society Facility 2015:
Total of 5 MEur
Component 1: Civil Society Horizontal Measures –
Financing actions in 3 measures:
a. Enabling legal and financial environment
b. Cooperation between the Government and CSO's
c. CSO's effectiveness, transparency and accountability
In the period 2014-2015, this component will contribute to achieve Objectives 1 to 6 of the EC
CSF Guidelines, as listed above.
Component 2: Public Administration Reform
Financing actions for ssupporting civil society in watchdog and monitoring activities to the
public institutions in the following specific action measures:
a.
b.
c.
d.
Public procurement, budget expenditure and execution
Public employment
Access to information and regulatory impact assessment
Quality of public services.
In 2015, this component will contribute to achieve Objectives 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the EC CSF
Guidelines and EC Media Guidelines Objective 3 and 4 to achieve the following results:

Government support to CSOs is provided in a transparent, accountable, fair and nondiscriminatory manner

Public institutions recognise the importance of CSOs in improving good governance
through CSOs’ inclusion in decision making processes

Public institutions include and collaborate with CSOs in the implementation,
monitoring and evaluation of public policies, strategies and operational programs

CSOs monitor and evaluate the results and impact of their work

CSOs activities are guided by strategic long-term organisational planning

CSOs use research and other forms of evidence to underpin their activities

CSOs regularly network within and outside country borders and make use of coalitionbuilding for increased impact in campaigning and advocacy

Increased cooperation between journalists, their groups and CSOs for benefiting
investigative journalism.

Regular dialogue within the media community established on press freedom and
integrity issues. Broad platforms (journalist professional organisations, NGOs, thinktanks, editors and owners) formed.
Component 3: Fundamental rights/Justice and Education & Employment Purpose
Financing actions in enabling non-discrimination environment for Roma, marginalised groups and
LGBTI group, in the following action measures:
a. Rights of the child (need to increase child protection in residential care, detention,
awareness rising on human and fundamental rights for pre-school children, child
protection over internet and media, empowering Roma children, etc.)
b. Combating different forms and manifestations of non-discrimination (improving the
redress and monitoring and reporting mechanisms, methods and practices of hate
speech in media and society, establishing a dialogue platform within the state
institutions on central and local level and advocacy for the key role of civil society
and media in promoting fundamental rights and non-discrimination)
c. Enhanced/Improved understanding and tolerance of LGBTI community (increasing
tolerance and prevent homophobia, support of LGBTI networks, ect).
In 2015, this component will contribute to achieve Objectives 1, 3 and 4 of the EC CSF
Guidelines and Objective 1 of the EC Media Guidelines and achieve the following results:

Public institutions recognise the importance of CSOs in improving good governance
through CSOs’ inclusion in decision making processes

Public institutions are legally obliged to include CSOs in the process of planning,
programming and development of public policies, strategies and operational programs,
in particular those related to EU integration

Public institutions include and collaborate with CSOs in the implementation,
monitoring and evaluation of public policies, strategies and operational programs

Creating a functional system for communication between public institutions and CSOs
(adoption of legally binding document)

All individuals and legal entities can express themselves freely, assemble peacefully
and establish, join and participate in non-formal and/or registered organisations

National and/or local authorities have enabling policies and rules for grass-roots
organisations.

The policies and legal environment stimulate and facilitate volunteering and
employment in CSOs

CSOs are able to publicly demonstrate the results of their activities

CSOs participation with Government is representative and with mechanisms in place to
engage/inform constituents and beneficiaries

Initiative and creativity by state institutions in using tools at their disposal to promote free
speech and media diversity
Main activities
The EUD will launch not more than 8 calls for proposals awarding of action grants. The
Grants will be concluded from 12 to up to 48 months maximum period.
Budget (EU
contribution)
Total EUR 10 000 000
2014: EUR 5 000 000 (contracting deadline 31/12/15; end of operational implementation
Contracting deadline
End of
implementation
Modes of
implementation
(Direct
management) &
Expected date
(quarter) of the
Cfp/ ToR
publication/
contracting, etc.
period 31/12/2019)
2015: EUR 5 000 000 (contracting deadline 31/12/2016; end of operational implementation
period 31/12/2020)
Grants to CSOs:
- 7 Call for proposal (approximately 50 contracts)
Grants to CSOs& Media:
- 1 Call for proposal (approximately 20 contracts)