The Future Makers Programme brings together motivated university students who volunteer their own time, ideas and skills to contribute to sustainable development and advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the country. Through their own idea design, volunteering, consultations, campaigns and capacity-building activities, participants gain hands-on experience while strengthening the role of young people in shaping their communities and contributing to national priorities. The Future Makers do not work in vacuum –through the programme, young people have the chance to interact with relevant institutions, private sector stakeholders and UN entities, helping them contextualise and link their ideas with other actors. This joint initiative of the SustainEd University Coalition and the United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office in North Macedonia brings together 20 students from eight universities in North Macedonia (UKIM, SEEU, UACS, UKLO, UT, IBU, Goce Delčev, Mother Teresa), organised into thematic teams working on practical initiatives that respond to environmental, social and development challenges. At its heart, Future Makers recognizes that young people are not only the leaders of tomorrow, but also important contributors to change today. Five active groups: Climate Action Group The Climate Action Group identided that the key challenge to textile recycling in the country is the limited public awareness of existing collection points. Following a survey and meetings with textile recycling companies, the team identified that recycling infrastructure is available, but people often do not know where they can drop off unwanted textiles. The team plans to develop a digital map showing textile collection points in Skopje and Kumanovo. A QR code linking directly to the map will be promoted through schools, universities, residential buildings, shops, shopping centres and social media, making information easier to access. By connecting citizens with existing recycling opportunities, the initiative aims to increase the use of textile collection bins, reduce textile waste and encourage more sustainable everyday habits. Team members: Monika Stojkovska, Stefan Vulovski Ivanov and Fjolla Jusufi SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) & SDG 13 (Climate Action) Education Group Through surveys, the Education Group concluded that traditional library environments may not always provide modern quiet study areas, spaces for group work or access to digital facilities that support contemporary learning. The team is exploring opportunities to build on the existing services of the City Library “Brothers Miladinovci” and the University library in Skopje. The proposed initiative focuses on better-designed individual study cubicles, collaborative project rooms and improved digital facilities. The Group is also planning a 24-hour study Marathon for students during midterm exams. By strengthening the role of public libraries as accessible learning hubs, the project seeks to support students' motivation, productivity and collaboration, while encouraging stronger partnerships between young people and public cultural institutions. Team members: Tamara Belevska, Aleksandar Miguel Lakovski, Ivana Panovska and Nina Velichkovska SDG 4 (Quality Education) & SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) Health Group The Health Group noticed that young adults aged 18–23 can fall between existing preventive health screening/well-person check-ups approaches designed for school-age populations and the general adult population, leaving important gaps in understanding their specific needs. The Group wishes to address the lack of comprehensive, student-specific data on health risks, healthcare access and health-related rights among undergraduate students in North Macedonia. The team plans to design and conduct surveys covering key areas, including access to primary healthcare, disease screening, immunisation, tobacco and nicotine use, mental health, sexual and reproductive health, financial barriers to care, trust in the health system and health literacy. The project aims to establish an evidence base that reflects students' experiences and challenges. Its findings will be compiled into a report that can help inform future policies and interventions by health institutions, universities and relevant partners, supporting more responsive and evidence-based approaches to student health. Team members: Ivan Kochoski and Milka Mukaetova SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) & SDG 4 (Quality Education) Gender Equality Group The Gender Equality Group is focusing on women's inheritance rights and the connection between economic independence and gender-based violence. They identified that despite legal protections for equality, social norms and traditional inheritance practices can discourage women from claiming their rightful share of family property. Limited ownership of assets can affect women's financial independence and their ability to access economic opportunities or leave abusive situations. The initiative aims to create space for young people to discuss equal inheritance rights, challenge social taboos and better understand the consequences of economic inequality. Through open discussions at universities, surveys and consultations with relevant institutions and civil society organisations, the team will gather evidence on young people's knowledge, attitudes and experiences and try to put a limelight to this often overlooked but important topic. The findings will inform a youth policy recommendations brief to be presented to decision-makers and international partners. By encouraging informed dialogue and amplifying young people's perspectives, the project seeks to advance awareness of women's rights and promote greater economic equality. Team members: Enisa Sinani, Mihail Krstevski, Stefan Atanasovski Trajkovic, Stefani Lingurovska and Angjelina Vukasovlevikj SDG 5 (Gender Equality) Social Cohesion and Inclusion Group The Social Cohesion and Inclusion Group noted that barriers such as inaccessible entrances, damaged or blocked pavements, inadequate pedestrian crossings and limited accessible public transport information can make everyday activities difficult for persons with disabilities. Those barriers also limit their independent participation in public and community life. The Group wants to highlight the lack of structured information about these barriers can also make it harder for institutions and communities to identify where improvements are most urgently needed. To respond to this challenge, the team proposes the Access Skopje Mapathon, a community mapping initiative bringing together young volunteers, persons with disabilities and relevant organisations to document accessibility barriers at public locations in Skopje. The team also aims to develop and validate assessment criteria in collaboration with persons with disabilities and organisations with relevant expertise. The collected information will help identify recurring barriers, prioritise locations for action and develop evidence-based recommendations for responsible institutions, supporting more accessible and inclusive public spaces. Team members: Bojan Gjoshev, Zorica Spiroska and Matej Stojanovski SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) & SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) Looking Ahead The SustainEd Future Makers Programme is envisaged as a recurring programme, with the next call for new students to apply envisaged for the fall of 2026. The call is published on the United Nations Website. The vision for the Future Makers programme is to grow in a wider initiative for young people’s engagement and volunteering and extend to high school students and young people outside universities, connecting them to municipalities, youth centers and high schools. With the energy, creativity and commitment of its young people, Future Makers is helping turn bold ideas into meaningful action, and building a brighter, more inclusive and sustainable future for everyone in North Macedonia.

Equal rights, social protection and better access to land, finance, knowledge and markets were central messages at the observance of the International Day of Rural Women in Strumica. The United Nations and FAO called for greater investment in women farmers’ economic empowerment and their participation in decision-making.The event, “Women Farmers – Leaders in Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development”, was organized by the National Federation of Farmers (NFF), with support from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Embassy of Sweden and the Swedish development organization We Effect.The observance took place during the International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026, proclaimed by the United Nations to highlight women’s contributions to food production and encourage concrete action towards greater gender equality.“You feed this country. That is not a compliment; it is a fact,” said Rita Columbia, United Nations Resident Coordinator in North Macedonia, emphasizing that investing in women farmers means investing in the future of rural communities.Kristina Mitic Arsova, National Programme Coordinator and Project Manager at FAO North Macedonia, emphasized that supporting smallholder farmers is central to FAO’s mandate to build a world free from hunger, where those who produce food can earn a decent living and work with dignity.“The International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026 is a call for collective action and greater investment in rural women’s knowledge, opportunities and leadership,” she said.Borche Serafimovski, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy, highlighted the open call for applications under Measure 115, “Support for an Active Female Member of an Agricultural Household”, which provides up to MKD 360,000 per beneficiary. He also drew attention to maternity benefits and the need to make modern technologies more accessible to women farmers.“We will work to make these opportunities more accessible to women through expert advice, training and investment support,” Serafimovski said.Building on the opportunities offered by Measure 115, Stevanche Jordanoski, President of the NFF, emphasized that lasting economic empowerment requires support that goes beyond funding.“Financial support should be complemented by practical training, better access to markets and opportunities for business development,” Jordanoski said, also calling for permanent social protection mechanisms for women farmers.Lolo Darin, Head of Development Cooperation at the Embassy of Sweden, welcomed the initiative to provide paid maternity leave for registered women farmers and expressed hope that it would lead to lasting, systemic change.“Experience from Sweden and many other countries shows that when women thrive, communities thrive,” Darin said.Sasho Angelovski, National Manager for Europe at We Effect, emphasized that women farmers’ leadership, work and entrepreneurial spirit are essential to food production, local economies and the sustainable management of natural resources.During the panel discussion “From Resources to Results”, participants shared their experiences of accessing advisory services, finance, technologies and markets. The discussion underscored the need for support measures that respond to women’s practical needs and strengthen their participation in shaping agricultural policies.The event concluded with the NFF presenting awards to four women and one civil society organization in recognition of their contributions to agriculture, rural development and gender equality.More about the initiative ‘’FAO 100 Women Heroes in Agrifood Systems and Rural Development’’https://www.fao.org/100-women-heroes/en 

Sustainability is not a requirement, but rather a major opportunity for greater competitiveness of the private sector in North Macedonia. This was the conclusion of today’s Business Forum entitled “Turning Sustainability into Competitiveness: Building Resilient Businesses in an Uncertain World”. To promote sustainability as a source of greater competitiveness for the private sector, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of North Macedonia, the Economic Chamber of North Macedonia, and the United Nations family in the country, in cooperation with other domestic and international partners, organized the Forum today.  “Today’s forum is much more than just another conference dedicated to the economy. It is an opportunity to discuss how we envision the future of our country and what kind of economy we want to build in the years ahead,” stated Hristijan Mickoski, Prime Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia.  Participants of the Forum emphasized that sustainability is not a destination but a transformative journey, where success depends on adaptability, innovation, and resilience rather than size. Companies that invest early in resource efficiency, innovation, responsible management, and workforce development are better positioned to manage risks and seize opportunities.  “Sustainability is good for business development and growth. Investing in a more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable future is not only a shared responsibility—it is a competitive advantage that helps companies manage risk, adapt to change, and thrive amid uncertainty,” says Rita Columbia, UN Resident Coordinator in North Macedonia. “That is why the UN stands ready to partner with the private sector, offering the knowledge, partnerships, and practical tools to align business success with sustainable development.”  Among many other issues, participants on the forum discussed about Sustainability / ESG in Practice, such as Innovation, Digitalization and Green Investments for Resilience, Sustainable Supply Chains and Export Readiness and Access to Sustainable Finance and ESG‑Linked Investments. The participants of the Forum concluded that stronger collaboration among government, the private sector, financial institutions, chambers, and development partners is essential to make sustainability a driver of growth, exports, and resilience. They recommended establishing a national multi‑stakeholder platform to promote sustainable business practices, providing tailored support and financing for SMEs to meet EU market requirements, expanding access to blended sustainable financing, empowering business chambers to deliver practical ESG solutions, and measuring progress through a national dashboard on sustainable competitiveness. Together, these steps aim to turn sustainability into a source of long‑term economic strength and improved living standards. “Sustainability should be integrated into every niche of the societal framework, from education to private sector, so that in the spirit of Agenda 2030, no one is left behind and that everyone can contribute to the societal development,” participants recommended.  In addition to many institutional representatives, including the National Bank of the Republic of North Macedonia, the Macedonian Stock Exchange and others, people from numerous private companies also joined the discussion with their own experiences and practices, aiming to inspire other companies to follow suit. Among them were representatives from EVN, Telekom, Pakomak,  Zavar, TAV airports, ECO Fluid, Alkaloid, Vitaminka, Makstil, Tikvesh, Comfy Angel, Kostal, several domestic banks (NLB, ProCredit and Halk Bank) and international financing institutions, such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Timcho Mucunski, and the United Nations Resident Coordinator in the Republic of North Macedonia, Rita Columbia, held the first meeting of the Joint Steering Committee for the implementation of the new United Nations–North Macedonia Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for the period 2026–2030 today.At the meeting, the joint workplans for the upcoming period were adopted. A review was also made of the achievements to date in implementing the Cooperation Framework, as well as of the priorities for the period ahead.In his address, Minister Mucunski emphasized that the role of the United Nations remains essential as a platform for dialogue, a driver of development policies, and a guarantor of the rules‑based international order.“It is particularly significant that we are entering a new cycle of global leadership within the United Nations system, with the upcoming election of a new Secretary‑General. This opens new opportunities to further strengthen the effectiveness, reforms, and relevance of the Organization in addressing contemporary challenges, as well as to renew and reinforce trust in multilateralism. The new Cooperation Framework 2026–2030 represents a strategic foundation for further deepening the partnership between the Government and the United Nations system,” Mucunski stated.The UN Resident Coordinator, Rita Columbia, highlighted the importance of the joint efforts of all societal actors in the sustainable development process and expressed gratitude for their contributions.“In 2025, the United Nations in North Macedonia acted in unity in support of the country’s national priorities, while at the same time completing the 2021–2025 Cooperation Framework and laying the foundations for the new vision for the 2026–2030 period. The progress achieved is a shared success. I thank the Government for its strong partnership, as well as our development partners for their trust, support, and cooperation. I particularly value the role of civil society organizations, the academic community, youth and women’s organizations, and the private sector, whose contributions were essential. Together, we are building a greener and healthier future for the generations to come,” Columbia said.During the discussion, members of the Joint Steering Committee from the Government and the United Nations Country Team exchanged views on the Government’s priorities in the current period, as well as on the continued support that the UN system can provide in implementing national development goals and the new Cooperation Framework for 2026–2030.