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25 October 2024
Land Consolidation in Chiflik, North Macedonia: A Key Step Towards Sustainable Agricultural Development with Strong Support from Local Landowners
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17 October 2024
FAO Human-interest story on #FoodHeroes
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17 October 2024
FAO Marks World Food Day in North Macedonia
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The Sustainable Development Goals in North Macedonia
The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth’s environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are the goals the UN is working on in North Macedonia:
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25 October 2024
Land Consolidation in Chiflik, North Macedonia: A Key Step Towards Sustainable Agricultural Development with Strong Support from Local Landowners
24 October 2024, Skopje, North Macedonia - The Chiflik agriculture area in the Municipality of Cheshinovo-Obleshevo, North Macedonia is set to undergo a major transformation, with the village’s land consolidation project reaching a key milestone. On 18 October, local landowners, by a qualified majority, have approved the Re-allotment Plan, marking Chiflik as the sixth village in North Macedonia in which land consolidation takes place. This initiative is part of the EU-funded “Enhancing Land Consolidation in North Macedonia” project, co-funded and implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Water Economy.Covering 156 hectares, the land consolidation effort will directly benefit 395 farmers. The Re-allotment Plan significantly reduces the number of land parcels by threefold – from 1,246 to just 454 and increases the average parcel size from 0.13 to 0.34 hectares, creating larger, more efficient plots that will streamline agricultural practices and improve productivity in the long run. With the Re-allotment Plan now in place, the next phase will focus on registering these newly formed parcels in the Real Estate Cadastre. At the same time, preparations are underway for a significant investment in agricultural infrastructure, with EU funding. Planned upgrades include improving access roads and constructing new ones, alongside the development of essential irrigation and drainage systems. These infrastructure improvements aim to enhance accessibility and ensure effective water management, supporting sustainable growth and higher yields for local farmers. Construction on the agricultural infrastructure in Chiflik is expected to begin next year. LINKS:Project webpage: Enhancing land consolidation in North MacedoniaFlickr album: Land consolidation area of Chiflik, North Macedonia - current situationFlickr album: Consultations with farmers in Chiflik, North Macedonia Media contact:Radmila SlavkovaNational Communications SpecialistFAO North MacedoniaRadmila.slavkova@fao.org
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17 October 2024
FAO Human-interest story on #FoodHeroes
Farmers are essential change-makers in our communities, driving collective efforts for healthy diets. They not only cultivate the land but also pave the way for equitable access to nutritious food. We must respect their rights to food and land, and honor their knowledge, culture, and traditions. By providing farmers with access to training, finance, and innovation, we can support them in producing safe, diverse, and nutritious foods for all.Toni Dimevski, a small family farmer from North Macedonia, founded "Domesno Pile" (Home Chicken Farm) in 1999, now called Toni’s Farm. Starting with laying hens, Toni expanded into broiler production in 2008. Today, his farm, located near Skopje, processes 20,000 fresh chickens monthly, supplying the domestic market with healthy and nutritious products.Toni’s passion for poultry farming grew from his European travels, especially inspired by Hungarian practices. With just 250 chicks, he steadily expanded, now processing over 250,000 chickens annually. His farm offers a range of fresh chicken products, always delivered fresh, never frozen.In the family business, Toni's wife, sons, and daughter-in-law all play vital roles. Together, they manage the farm and a small slaughterhouse, ensuring quality and freshness. The family’s hands-on approach, with his son even building most of the farm’s facilities, underscores their commitment to hard work and teaching the next generation responsibility. Expanding the business hasn’t been easy. Toni emphasizes the persistence and constant supervision needed to raise healthy chickens and ensure a smooth farm-to-table process. His fresh products are sold within 24 hours of processing, available in butcher shops and supermarkets across Skopje, with home delivery also offered.For Toni, farming is more than a livelihood—it's a family legacy and a passion for quality food and healthy diets. He encourages young people to view farming as a rewarding and viable career, helping to create a more sustainable food future for all.His dedication to family farming, sustainable practices, and community education makes Toni Dimevski a true #FoodHero, championing the right to food for all.Practicing Sustainable Agriculture
Toni Dimevski is a passionate advocate for sustainable farming, focused on promoting biodiversity, conserving resources, and minimizing environmental impact. His farm stands out for its commitment to producing nutritious, affordable, and sustainable food locally.Toni continuously invests in his education and adopts new technologies to ensure healthy food production. His chickens are fed homegrown, nutritious feed made from wheat and corn cultivated on family fields, ensuring high-quality products that have earned consumer trust.The farm's energy-efficient poultry houses, insulated with treated glass wool, maintain optimal temperatures year-round. Toni also uses a smart management system that allows him to remotely monitor and regulate conditions like temperature, humidity, and ventilation, ensuring both productivity and food safety.To combat North Macedonia's hot summers, Toni introduced an evaporative cooling system to prevent poultry heat stress. He’s also begun producing biofuel from pork lard, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving sustainability by repurposing a waste product from the meat industry.Advocating for Small-scale and Family Farmers
Toni is a strong advocate for small-scale and family farmers in North Macedonia's poultry industry. From 2019 to 2021, he participated in the FAO project "Development of a Green and Competitive Broiler Subsector that Contributes to Poverty Reduction and Improved Nutrition for the Population." As part of the project, FAO organized a study tour to Slovenia in 2019, where Toni visited leading poultry producers and gained valuable knowledge on sustainable production, value chain coordination, and food safety standards. These insights helped him and other Macedonian farmers adopt strategies to boost broiler production and compete with imports, meeting the growing demand for high-quality poultry.Engaging in Community Education
Toni plays a key role in educating his community on sustainable farming and nutritious food. He frequently shares his knowledge with fellow farmers, consumers, policymakers, and students at the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Food in Skopje. Through these efforts, Toni inspires positive change and fosters a deeper understanding of the connections between food, health, and the environment. Toni Dimevski’s dedication to sustainable family farming and community engagement makes him a true #FoodHero, demonstrating how perseverance and innovation can help secure a future where nutritious, safe, and sustainable food is accessible to all. His story reminds us that farmers are not only producers but also guardians of our food systems, ensuring that everyone has access to healthy food. MEDIA CONTACT:
Radmila SlavkovaCommunications and Monitoring Officer, FAO
Ul. Aminta Treti 2, 1000 Skopje
radmila.slavkova @fao.org
Tel.: +389 71 21 23 08
Toni Dimevski is a passionate advocate for sustainable farming, focused on promoting biodiversity, conserving resources, and minimizing environmental impact. His farm stands out for its commitment to producing nutritious, affordable, and sustainable food locally.Toni continuously invests in his education and adopts new technologies to ensure healthy food production. His chickens are fed homegrown, nutritious feed made from wheat and corn cultivated on family fields, ensuring high-quality products that have earned consumer trust.The farm's energy-efficient poultry houses, insulated with treated glass wool, maintain optimal temperatures year-round. Toni also uses a smart management system that allows him to remotely monitor and regulate conditions like temperature, humidity, and ventilation, ensuring both productivity and food safety.To combat North Macedonia's hot summers, Toni introduced an evaporative cooling system to prevent poultry heat stress. He’s also begun producing biofuel from pork lard, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving sustainability by repurposing a waste product from the meat industry.Advocating for Small-scale and Family Farmers
Toni is a strong advocate for small-scale and family farmers in North Macedonia's poultry industry. From 2019 to 2021, he participated in the FAO project "Development of a Green and Competitive Broiler Subsector that Contributes to Poverty Reduction and Improved Nutrition for the Population." As part of the project, FAO organized a study tour to Slovenia in 2019, where Toni visited leading poultry producers and gained valuable knowledge on sustainable production, value chain coordination, and food safety standards. These insights helped him and other Macedonian farmers adopt strategies to boost broiler production and compete with imports, meeting the growing demand for high-quality poultry.Engaging in Community Education
Toni plays a key role in educating his community on sustainable farming and nutritious food. He frequently shares his knowledge with fellow farmers, consumers, policymakers, and students at the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Food in Skopje. Through these efforts, Toni inspires positive change and fosters a deeper understanding of the connections between food, health, and the environment. Toni Dimevski’s dedication to sustainable family farming and community engagement makes him a true #FoodHero, demonstrating how perseverance and innovation can help secure a future where nutritious, safe, and sustainable food is accessible to all. His story reminds us that farmers are not only producers but also guardians of our food systems, ensuring that everyone has access to healthy food. MEDIA CONTACT:
Radmila SlavkovaCommunications and Monitoring Officer, FAO
Ul. Aminta Treti 2, 1000 Skopje
radmila.slavkova @fao.org
Tel.: +389 71 21 23 08
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17 October 2024
FAO Marks World Food Day in North Macedonia
Skopje, 16 October, 2024 – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Water Economy, celebrated World Food Day today under the theme ‘’Right to Foods for a Better Life and a Better Future: Leave No One Behind’’.As part of the event, participants visited the "Domesno Pile" poultry farm owned by farmer Toni Dimevski in the village of Ognjanci, municipality of Petrovec, commonly known as Toni's Farm, which has been in operation since 1999. The event aimed to highlight the critical contribution of smallholder farmers, who produce approximately one-third of the world’s food.“We must raise the visibility of our ‘Food Heroes’ and strengthen support for small farms, which play a pivotal role in ensuring the production of healthy, quality, and affordable food for all citizens. By empowering them, we enhance competitiveness, create jobs, and improve living conditions in rural areas,” said Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Water Economy Cvetan Tripunovski during his welcoming remarks. “Our policies focus on guaranteeing equal access to nutritious and safe food for everyone, particularly the most vulnerable groups in society," he added.In his address, Professor Mile Markoski, Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Food – Skopje, emphasized the vital role of domestic agricultural production, not only in ensuring food security but also in contributing to economic growth and environmental protection. He urged young generations to view agriculture as a dynamic, rewarding, and long-term career path, one through which they can actively help build sustainable food systems. "Agriculture is not just a profession," he said, "but a mission that directly impacts the future of food, human health, and the protection of our planet."Kristina Mitic Arsova, FAO National Programme Coordinator, highlighted the significance of World Food Day, observed every year on October 16, marking the establishment of FAO in 1945. “This day is dedicated to raising awareness of global hunger and urging collective action to build a sustainable future for food, people, and the planet,” she noted. She also acknowledged an important milestone this year—the 20th anniversary of the Voluntary Guidelines on the Right to Food, a fundamental human right recognized in international law, which FAO has actively promoted. "With collective action in over 150 countries, World Food Day remains one of the most important dates on the United Nations calendar," Mitic Arsova said. Achieving these goals requires a strong commitment, innovation, and collaboration among governments, the private sector, and civil society. Only through joint efforts can we ensure that everyone has access to safe, diverse, and nutritious food, paving the way for a better future for all.Toni Dimevski, who started with egg production, transitioned to raising laying hens, and since 2008 has specialized in broiler production, shared his journey. Beginning with processing just 250 chickens, he now processes 20,000 chickens per month—250,000 per year—all for the domestic market. As the event host, Toni, alongside his 13-year-old grandson Maxim, who actively participates in the family business, presented the four modern facilities for growing broiler chicks, equipped with advanced, energy-efficient technologies for automatic feeding, water supply, ventilation, and heating. Toni also discussed his plans to expand, with six more facilities under construction to double production. Additionally, he is building a new slaughterhouse for processing and distributing fresh chicken to markets and butcher shops. To ensure the health of his chickens, Toni produces his own feed, ensuring it is nutritious and homemade."Toni’s Farm is a true family enterprise, with every member—including my wife, sons, and their families—contributing to its success. Together, we work hard and continuously improve, striving to ensure sustainability, build consumer trust, and guarantee the high quality of our domestic products while passing on the business to future generations,” Toni Dimevski shared. For him, farming is more than a livelihood—it’s a family tradition and a deep commitment to producing high-quality, locally sourced food and promoting healthy eating habits.The event gathered over 50 participants, including representatives from various institutions, academia, farmers’ associations, international organizations, and students from the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Food. MEDIA CONTACT:
Radmila SlavkovaCommunications and Monitoring Officer, FAO
Ul. Aminta Treti 2, 1000 Skopje
radmila.slavkova @fao.org
Tel.: +389 71 21 23 08
Radmila SlavkovaCommunications and Monitoring Officer, FAO
Ul. Aminta Treti 2, 1000 Skopje
radmila.slavkova @fao.org
Tel.: +389 71 21 23 08
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Story
16 October 2024
UN North Macedonia launches Sustainable Living Challenge
Skopje |16 October 2024 – The United Nations (UN) family in North Macedonia invites all people living in the country to join a special seven-day Sustainable Living Challenge that seeks to raise awareness of the urgent need for greater sustainability, through practical and easy-to-implement actions. “By introducing small, conscious, impactful actions in their everyday lives, everyone can contribute to the creation of a more sustainable future, for us and for all future generations”, says Rita Columbia, UN Resident Coordinator in North Macedonia. “It is vital for everyone to understand that no matter how small some changes might seem, they can have a massive impact, if everyone starts doing them.” All people living in the country can join the challenge by documenting their experiences in the next seven days, on the journey that will lead them through seven different areas of sustainable living, and by posting the experiences on their social media challenge with the #ITooHaveAGoal #ИЈасИмамЦел hashtags. The themes that will be covered in the Challenge organized in the run-up to UN Day (24 October 2024), include: - Day 1: Plastic Free Day – Spending a day without any single-use plastic. We are so accustomed to the plastic around us that we fail to even notice some of the things that can have detrimental effect on our environment. The challenge is – how hard it is to find and use more sustainable alternatives, for at least a day? - Day 2: Waste audit – On the second day, the challenge is simple - we invite everyone to look at their garbage! It may sound weird, but if we truly want to learn what our impact on our environment really is, this is the first place to go. - Day 3: Energy Saving – Smart, conscious use of energy is extremely important for reducing the negative impact of fossil fuels. We invite you all to be mindful about the energy (electricity, gas, petrol) that you spend during the day? The challenge here is to find the action that will bring the largest save. - Day 4: Water Conservation – This challenge is a call to save water, especially high-quality drinkable water, through small actions, such as fixing leaks and taking shorter showers. - Day 5: Sustainable Transport – On this day we seek to promote environmentally friendly transport options such as walking, cycling and public transport. Take a walk to your workplace and back, take a photo and share it with the #ITooHaveAGoal #ИЈасИмамЦел hashtags. - Day 6: Exploring Plant-Based Diets – Greater use of plant-based foods is not only good for the environment but for our health. The challenge here is to try to incorporate more plants in all meals of the day, at least for the day. Participants are encouraged to share some recipes with the #ITooHaveAGoal #ИЈасИмамЦел labels. - Day 7: Think Globally, Act Locally – On the last day of the Sustainable Living Challenge we call everyone to be mindful about their choices of products and services that they use. Supporting local businesses and initiatives that contribute to sustainable development is not only good for the economy, but for our environment as well. All interested participants are invited to document all their daily activities on social media using the hashtag #ITooHaveAGoal #ИЈасИмамЦел and to share how they are contributing to a more sustainable world, inspiring others with their actions. The challenge will culminate on 24 October 2024 with an event in Skopje City Park, where we can all jointly celebrate the importance of sustainability and mark UN Day together. UN Day marks the anniversary of the UN Charter, the foundational treaty of the United Nations, which came in force on 24 October 1945. This day is a reminder of the role the UN plays in addressing global challenges, fostering peace and promoting human rights, development and sustainability around the world.
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14 October 2024
The Right to Food in Europe and Central Asia: A Call for Stronger Commitments
The right to food is a fundamental human right, involving not just access to food or the means of its procurement, but access to sufficient, safe, nutritious, and culturally acceptable food. Enshrined in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), to which all European and Central Asian states are parties, realization of this right today remains too distant for too many. This year we commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Voluntary Guidelines on the Right to Food, which the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has been instrumental in promoting. FAO has played a crucial role in advancing the progressive realization of the right to adequate food globally, joining forces with international organizations, the civil society and the private sector, and offering guidance and technical support to Members, including those in Europe and Central Asia, in implementing policies and programs that align with this right. This anniversary makes it an opportune moment to reflect on progress and the challenges that remain across the region. The Right to Food guidelines offer a vast array of recommendations to foster the progressive realization of this right in the context of national food security. While governments bear a primary responsibility, taking steps to ensure that their citizens have access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food, the guidelines also encourage the international community, civil society, and the private sector to support these efforts and engage actively. Any implementation over the past two decades, however small, has contributed to the progressive realization of the right to food, regardless of who or when it has occurred. Indeed, all stakeholders, including governments in Europe and Central Asia have followed a vast number of these guidelines that seek to ensure food availability, accessibility, suitability, and adequacy. Examples of such actions include subsidies for farmers, food stamps, school feeding programs, food safety standards, promotion of sustainable agriculture, GLOBALG.A.P., and many civil society organizations (CSOs) that have implemented community-based initiatives to address food insecurity directly, like food banks, community gardens, and nutrition education programs. While the effectiveness of these actions can vary, they collectively contribute to the progressive realization of this right in the region. Every little helps. The European Union (EU) policies like the Farm to Fork Strategy and the European Pillar of Social Rights aim to create a fair, healthy, and environmentally sustainable food system while promoting adequate living standards and social inclusion. Beyond the EU, countries like Georgia have benefited from FAO’s expertise through programs, such as the European Neighborhood Program for Agriculture and Rural Development (ENPARD), which has focused on strengthening small-scale farmers and food business operator’s capacities and position in agrifood systems, developing cooperatives to improve local food systems, and strengthening the governance and official food control system for safe food. In Central Asia, countries like Uzbekistan have made significant strides in food safety through national programs aimed at improving hygiene standards in food production and processing, ensuring that food products meet international safety standards to protect consumer health. It is concerning that specific right-to-food legislation remains underdeveloped within the EU and other European and Central Asian countries. The Council of Europe has yet to establish a legal instrument explicitly protecting this right, and many nations in the region lack comprehensive legal frameworks to enforce it. The Voluntary Guidelines make a number of recommendations, including the development of national food security strategies, legal frameworks and institutional arrangements, the promotion of sustainable food systems, the provision of social protection, fostering international cooperation, and the establishment of monitoring mechanisms. However, policies and programs are only means to an end. What really matters are real world progress, leaving no one behind, in particular vulnerable groups like children, women, the elderly (the fastest growing sector in rural areas), and marginalized ethnic groups. In this sense, the progressive realization of the right to food has been unevenly across the region. According to FAO, the number of moderately or severely food-insecure people in 2023 surpassed 111 million. Significant disparities in access to nutritious healthy diets food persist, particularly among vulnerable populations in both urban, peri-urban and rural areas. Food affordability is also a real concern. In 2022, due to high inflation, 8.3 percent of EU citizens could not afford a meal containing meat, fish, or a vegetarian equivalent every second day, and in countries like Armenia, nearly 15 percent of the population face similar challenges in accessing adequate nutrition. The increasing concentration of food production and distribution in the hands of a few large corporations exacerbates these disparities, limiting food diversity and accessibility. This has led to a food environment dominated by ultra-processed products high in sugars, fats, and additives, linked to rising levels of obesity and diet-related diseases across the continent. In Central Asia, traditional diets are increasingly being replaced by less nutritious options, leading to a dual burden of malnutrition, including undernutrition and anemia in women aged 15 to 49 years, with both under nutrition, particularly stunting, in children under five, is still high in some countries in Central Asia, the Caucasus and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Europe and Ukraine: Azerbaijan (13.3 percent), Tajikistan (13.1 percent), Ukraine (12.3 percent) and Kyrgyzstan (10.3 percent). Overweight in children under five, anemia in women aged 15 to 49 yearsa, and adult obesity are on the rise in a number of countries of the region. The Western Balkans (10.3 percent) and the Caucasus (9.1 percent) have the highest rate of overweight in children under five. The regional prevalence of adult obesity is on the rise and is above the global estimate. Anaemia values in women aged 15 to 49 years exceed the global estimate (29.9 percent) in Kyrgyzstan (35.8 percent), Tajikistan (35.2 percent) and Azerbaijan (35.1 percent). To address these challenges related to malnutrition, all stakeholders in European and Central Asia should focus on nutritional quality, ensuring all citizens have physical and economic access to a sufficient, diverse and balanced diet. Nobody should be left behind. This must be supported by education and public awareness campaigns that encourage healthier and more sustainable food choices. Actions by the private sector on food ingredients and composition, retailing and marketing practices matter. There is also a need to strengthen support for sustainable agriculture that promotes biodiversity, including preserving local and traditional food systems in regions like the Western Balkans, Caucasus and Central Asia. Engaging civil society, small-scale farmers, and local communities in policymaking is crucial to creating inclusive policies that effectively address food insecurity. A very recent and significant step in this direction was the II Forum on the Right to Food, held in Geneva in May 2024. This event brought together specialists from across Europe to discuss critical issues related to food security, food sovereignty, and the right to food, moving towards a European Citizens’ Initiative focused on securing comprehensive proposals for sustainable food systems. The region has the potential to lead global right-to-food initiatives by promoting sustainable, equitable, and inclusive food systems in international trade agreements and development cooperation anchored in human rights As we commemorate the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the Voluntary Guidelines on the Right to Adequate Food, Europe and Central Asia must seize this opportunity to strengthen their commitment. By leading the way in developing and implementing robust right-to-food legislation, policies, and cooperation globally, the region can set a powerful example, ensuring that all its citizens have access to the food they need for a healthy, active and fulfilling life.
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Press Release
16 November 2023
New “green” loan options for underserved SMEs and individuals in North Macedonia
SKOPJE| 3 November 2023| New loan options with Performance-Based Payments (PBP) will be made available to Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), targeting groups of creditworthy but underserved individuals/households from North Macedonia to finance their investments in Renewable Energy (RE) and Energy Efficiency (EE) solutions. This was announced at the Green Finance Facility (GFF) Product Launch event today in Skopje, where representatives from the Government of North Macedonia, the United Nations (UN) family, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and from commercial banks from the country met to mark this significant milestone in the implementation of the project.
“Considering that all countries are dealing with many challenges, such as the post-covid economic recovery, the economic and energy crisis, I believe that this project with products aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises and individuals from underserved categories is an excellent opportunity to express our strong commitment to accelerating the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals“ - said Mr. Fatmir Bytyqi, the Deputy Prime Minister in Charge of Economic Affairs, Coordination of the Economic Departments, and Investments in the Government of North Macedonia.
Sparkasse Banka, ProCredit Bank and Silk Road Bank are the first commercial banks that will provide sub loans to SMEs and target groups for investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency, while the GFF will subsidize 5-30% of the loan principal. PBP loans of this kind are now going to be made available to seven target groups of creditworthy but underserved individuals/households, including female-headed households, single parents, households with people with disabilities, Roma, employees affected by Covid-19, remittance recipients and returning migrants. The investments from both SMEs and the seven target groups of individuals/households are expected to improve and reduce energy consumption, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and contribute to cleaner air in North Macedonia.
“GFF aims to bring the benefits of green transition to SMEs and groups of society who are usually the last to join and benefit from the green transition, such as single parent households, Roma, households with persons with disabilities, and recipients of remittances. I hope GFF loans will make investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency easier and more affordable for small businesses and homes“ – said Ms. Rossana Dudziak, UN Resident Coordinator in North Macedonia.
The programme is aligned to and supports the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (SDCF) targets. It is expected to result in 70,068 MWh of annual energy savings, 80,510 tons of CO2-eq emissions avoided, and 10.7 MW in new renewable energy capacity. Furthermore, enabling access to affordable financing for renewable energy and energy efficiency solutions will contribute to advancements towards SDGs 7 and 13.
The performance-based payment loans will be available starting from 3 November 2023, until the end of 2025 or until the GFF’s financial resources allocated for PBPs have been fully awarded to project beneficiaries. Letters of Agreement with other local partner financial institutions responsible for implementation of performance-based payment (PBP) loans in the country are expected to be signed in 2024.
The "Green Finance Facility" project is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), together with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) as the partner international financial institution, and it is financially supported by the Joint SDG Fund, with co-financing from the Government of North Macedonia.
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Press Release
26 July 2023
Call for Participation to Tender for “Construction of hydro meliorative objects and objects for improvement and landscaping of agricultural land in village Dabjani, Municipality of Dolneni”
The EU-funded project “Enhancing Land Consolidation in North Macedonia”, co-funded and implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has launched a public tender (Reference number: 2023/REUXD/REUTD/122655) for the provision of services for “Construction of hydro meliorative objects and objects intended for improvement and landscaping of agricultural land (gravel access/service roads) in the village Dabjani, Municipality of Dolneni’’.
Activities to be carried out as part of this tender include construction works for enhancement of the agricultural infrastructure in the land consolidation area of Dabjani. More specifically, this will involve both rehabilitation of existing gravel access/service roads and construction of new ones. Additionally, hydro meliorative interventions will be implemented to improve the drainage system, including the construction of passages over existing drainage channels using pipes and tubular culverts.
Potential bidders can be all construction companies registered in the Republic of North Macedonia, which possess at least License B for construction, issued by the Ministry of Transport and Communication of the Republic of North Macedonia.
In order to access the tender documents and submit a proposal, interested companies should first register in the United Nations Global Marketplace (UNGM) portal (www.ungm.org/Vendor/Registration), as only UNGM registered companies are eligible to participate. After successful registration, companies will be able to access the tender documents and submit their proposals through the same UNGM portal (www.ungm.org/Account/Account/Login).
The deadline for submitting an electronic proposal for the tender is 21 August (Monday) 2023, no later than 13:00 hrs, CET.
Background note:
The land consolidation area of Dabjani is situated in the Municipality of Dolneni, approximately 22 km away from the city of Prilep. It is currently the largest ongoing land consolidation project in North Macedonia. The area covers 742 hectares (ha) of agricultural land, with ownership divided between 85 private landowners (435 ha) and the State (307 ha).
A Feasibility Study for Dabjani was conducted in 2019 to assess the potential for land consolidation, examining the agricultural land, landownership and legal issues, conditions of the existing agricultural infrastructure, and the level of interest among landowners to participate in the land consolidation process. The study also confirmed majority-based land consolidation approach which is applied for land consolidation in Dabjani.
After conducting the Feasibility Study, the re-allotment planning was conducted including the design of the necessary agricultural infrastructure interventions within the land consolidation area. The Re-allotment Plan was adopted in January 2022. Through the land re-allotment process supported by the EU-funded MAINLAND project, the number of land parcels in Dabjani has been significantly reduced from 602 to 127 parcels, resulting in regularly shaped parcels with an average size of 5.84 hectares, a substantial increase from the previous average of just 1.23 hectares before the land consolidation process.
In the frame of the EU-funded ‘’Enhancing Land Consolidation in North Macedonia’’ Project, Main Design was prepared for construction of hydro meliorative objects and objects intended for improvement and landscaping of agricultural land (gravel access/service roads) in the village Dabjani.
Construction permit was issued by the Municipality of Dolneni on 13 July 2023 with No. 33-970/11.
About the EU-funded ‘’Enhancing Land Consolidation in North Macedonia’’ Project
Building directly on the results of the MAINLAND project, this project aims to assist MAFWE in further enhancing land consolidation in North Macedonia by improving the national policy on land consolidation, including strategic, legal, and institutional frameworks, as well as to continue supporting the implementation of the National Land Consolidation Programme through a full-fledged implementation of land consolidation projects in two project areas, combined with construction of agricultural infrastructure. The Project budget is EUR 1.2 million, financed from the EU IPA II 2019 Assistance (EUR 1 million) and FAO contribution (EUR 0.2 million). The project will be implemented over a period of 42 months, starting from August 2022 until January 2026.
For more information related to the press release please contact:
Radmila Slavkova, FAO National Communication Specialist
tel: +389 (0)71 21 23 08
e-mail: radmila.slavkova@fao.org
This channel should not be used to obtain clarifications on issues related to the tender itself. Only channels indicated in the tender document should be used for that purpose.
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Press Release
13 July 2023
Germany and North Macedonia: UN expert welcomes efforts to repatriate, reintegrate and prosecute nationals returning from Syria and Iraq
GENEVA (13 July 2023) – A UN expert today welcomed the substantial efforts made by Germany and North Macedonia to address the complex situation of their citizens returning from conflict zones, in particular the Syrian Arab Republic, through repatriation, reintegration and prosecution.
“Countries such as Germany and North Macedonia have shown that repatriation is both practical and possible,” said Fionnuala Ní Aoláin, the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, at the end of a 10-day visit to Germany and North Macedonia.
Ní Aoláin highlighted the dire conditions of mass arbitrary detention in the camps and prisons of North-East Syria, stressing the particularly heinous consequences for vulnerable children who remain detained without access to education, health care, security and other fundamental rights.
“I welcome Germany’s efforts to promote a vibrant and expert civil society engagement in disengagement, deradicalization and reintegration processes, demonstrating the importance of a ‘whole of society’ approach to return and providing a route to human rights compliant, holistic and non-stigmatising reintegration into society,” she said.
The Special Rapporteur noted that North Macedonia has started to develop a model of community-based reintegration based on multidisciplinary expertise, involving social workers, clinical psychologists and security actors, to meaningfully reintegrate families, especially women and children, into their communities.
The expert underlined the importance of prosecutions in accordance with the rule of law for the devastating international crimes committed by ISIL in Syria and Iraq. She welcomed the innovative and unique approach taken by Germany to address core international crimes and the country's apparent willingness to close the immense impunity gap for crimes committed by ISIL.
“I expressly call for the repatriation of men and women from both Germany and North Macedonia to ensure that the return and accountability efforts continue,” she said.
Ní Aoláin said that both countries must continue to be vigilant to ensure that countering violent extremism policies and practices related to return and reintegration are truly human rights compliant. She expressed concern that some reintegration efforts may, in practice, create rather than prevent stigma and exclusion.
“The prosecution and trial of returnees must meet international standards of due process and fairness, sentences must be proportionate and prison conditions must be adequate to ensure that returnees have an equal opportunity for rehabilitation and reintegration into society,” the UN expert said.
The Special Rapporteur welcomed the proactive approach of both Governments to this challenging legal and political issue, which provides a valuable example to other States on how to facilitate the return and reintegration of their citizens from conflict zones, including Syria.
ENDS
Ms. Fionnuala Ní Aoláin was appointed as Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism by the United Nations Human Rights Council. She took up her functions on 1 August 2017. Ms. Ní Aoláin is concurrently Regents Professor and Robina Professor of Law, Public Policy and Society at the University of Minnesota Law School and Professor of Law at the Queens University, Belfast, Northern Ireland. Her mandate covers all countries and has most recently been renewed by Human Rights Council resolution 49/10.
The Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.
UN Human Rights country page: Germany and North Macedonia
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Press Release
20 February 2023
Joint work key for boosting quality of life for all people in North Macedonia
The members of the Joint Steering Committee discussed the 2022 UN annual results, the opportunities and challenges facing the country, and endorsed the 2023 Joint Workplans.
“Only with joint efforts we can protect humanity and nature, especially if we are committed to the achievement of Agenda 2030, nationally and globally. Full implementation of the Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework is the pathway towards achieving tangible change for people in North Macedonia, resulting in better legal, more efficient and more responsible institutions and greater future for everyone”, said Fatmire Isaki, Deputy Minister of foreign Affairs.
SDCF is a key strategic document that guides the work of UN in North Macedonia and represents the UN development system’s collective offer to support the country in achieving sustainable development goals. To ensure that it reflects the interest and priorities of all people in the country, the SDCF has been developed through a participatory and consultative process, starting with the analysis of the country’s development context, strategic prioritization and its operationalization through annual workplans of UN entities and stakeholders.
“The context has evolved significantly since SDCF’s inception in 2020. COVID-19 and its immediate and long-term socio-economic impact, followed by the current energy, food security and finance crises – all shaped by the war in Ukraine – have put a significant strain on the Government to continue prioritizing reform processes and structural changes as the fiscal space has been shrinking and vulnerabilities increasing,” says Rossana Dudziak, UN Resident Coordinator in North Macedonia. “Targeted and focused expert advice and support, underpinned by the focus on leaving no one behind will remain the key pinnacle of UN work in North Macedonia in 2023 and beyond.”
The 2021-2025 UN SDCF also reflects the UN Secretary General’s plea for accelerated action to implement Agenda 2030 through a Decade of Action.
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Press Release
28 December 2022
Systematic solutions as an answer to the global food and energy crisis
Skopje, December 21, 2022. - At the conference entitled "Look further", which was held today in Skopje in the organization of the United Nations, representatives of several UN agencies together with international experts and representatives of the government discussed the key measures that the Republic of North Macedonia is taking and should take plans in the future in order to overcome the challenges in the food and energy crisis.
"The current crisis is in many ways unprecedented. However, the root causes and drivers are neither new nor surprising and reflect our inability to prioritize the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals. Policy solutions are complex. We need to respond to the immediate needs to lift people out of poverty, but we also need to support businesses in order to save jobs, with concrete measures to ensure the best possible results with the available resources. Most importantly, policies should be systemic, sustainable and visionary to ensure that, despite the challenges, we remain strongly focused on sustainable growth and development. That requires timely and accurate data, cooperation and coordination," said the UN Resident Coordinator, Rossana Dudziak, at the opening of the conference.
During the panel, the Vice Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Fatmir Bytyqi, emphasized that the problems should be solved systematically. "If they are not solved systematically, the problems increase. For example, we have been talking about digitization for years, but it was only superficial and not essential. Digitization requires a fundamental change in the behavior of stakeholders and citizens. We have not entered any segment to solve the problem in the way we should solve it", says Bytyqi. "Regarding the energy crisis, we understand that production is important, but we knew that we are 35 percent dependent on energy imports. It was nice because the price was good. As soon as a crisis comes, everyone asks why the problem is not solved. That problem is not solved overnight. The problem is again systemic. It should have started to be solved 10 years ago, and that in the field of alternative energies. Green energy. We are now trying to get old timers back into traffic with little intervention. But that is not a solution. The solution is green energy, a transition to green energy," added the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs.
The deputy representative of UNICEF, Artur Ayvazov, pointed out that shocks from price growth disproportionately affect households with more children and poorer families, due to their lower incomes and the greater share of food and energy consumption in their household budgets. Rising food prices leave these families with very little means to meet other basic needs. Ayvazov indicated that the Government should consider additional measures to reduce the burden on children and other vulnerable groups, including by expanding the access and volume of existing cash transfers and to ensure that the budget crisis does not disrupt basic health care services. , social protection and education.
Addressing the conference, the Deputy Regional Representative of FAO for Europe and Central Asia, Nabil Gangi, emphasized that from a long-term perspective, it is important to consider the structural causes of the food crisis, and in order to have a better approach to solving this problem, distinguishes between issues affecting access to food and issues affecting food availability. In terms of access to food, the situation is multidimensional and reflects the complex interrelationship between food, energy and financial crises. According to Gangi, addressing food security challenges caused by current crises requires an "agri-food systems" approach, which FAO promotes to act outside the usual sectoral frameworks. It is a systematic combination of policies, investments and solutions focused on sustainable improvements in productivity and efficiency, greater resilience and ensuring enough healthy food for all.
"Empirical research shows that a well-developed financial system can increase growth by up to 1 percent, and more importantly, reduce poverty. Financial systems contribute to encouraging savings and channeling them into investments, which are important for increasing the volume of capital and productivity, which in turn are the main determinants of long-term growth," said the Governor of National Bank of the Republic of North Macedonia, Anita Angelovska - Bezhoska. "The importance of finance is especially great in these crisis circumstances that emphasize structural weaknesses and the need for a green and digital transformation of the economy. It is positive for us that credit support for green transformation is growing, i.e. loans for this purpose in the past three years have recorded an increase of 80%", says Angelovska - Bezhoska.
According to the Permanent Representative of the UNDP, Armen Grigoryan, the crisis will probably continue in 2023 and it is difficult to predict in which direction things will develop. "UNDP and other UN agencies in the country, together with other development partners, are here to support institutions and citizens and contribute to public dialogue and consensus building around specific policies and other measures that will contribute to addressing current development challenges and the impact of the global crisis. However, we now have a better understanding of the vulnerabilities and root causes of the crisis, internal and external factors, and propose systemic pathways in response to the crisis. One of the things that should be paid attention to is the gray economy, which, according to research, amounts to somewhere around 35 percent entering the system, to pay taxes. The second thing is the encouragement of small and medium-sized enterprises and regional cooperation," Grigoryan said.
The Minister of Finance, Fatmir Besimi, emphasized that the past three years, which have been marked by crisis, have moved the mid-term framework of the planned fiscal targets, aimed at the consolidation of public finances and their long-term sustainability. "But at the same time, the policy makers give us the opportunity and show us where in the system we need changes. That's why we think it's good to implement the reform agenda in crisis episodes."
He added that this year, contrary to expectations, was not a year suitable for fiscal consolidation, and there was a need for measures to support citizens, the economy and for greater production of electricity from domestic capacities to deal with the energy and price crisis.
"In these conditions, the Government successfully resorted to rationalization of the expenditure side of the Budget, with which the achieved deficit is largely kept within the framework of the fiscal targets, which by 2027 should be reduced to 2.8% of the GDP budget deficit and public debt below 60%", said Besimi.
The goal of the United Nations agencies, UNDP, FAO and UNICEF, together with national and international partners, is to find sustainable and long-term solutions that will respond to the needs of vulnerable groups and at the same time support growth and development, in conditions of high inflation. and modest financial resources.
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