Meeting of the Joint Steering Committee of the Cooperation Framework for Sustainable Development of the United Nations and North Macedonia 2021-2025

On March 27th, 2025, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Timcho Mucunski and the Resident Coordinator of the UN in the Republic of North Macedonia, Rita Columbia, held the fifth  consecutive meeting of the Joint Steering Committee on the Implementation of the UN North Macedonia Cooperation Framework for Sustainable Development 2021-2025.

"The joint activities undertaken in 2024 have demonstrated the country's commitment to sustainable development, just transition, and the protection and non-violence of human rights, even now, after we become members of the UN Human Rights Council," Mucunski stated in his introductory remarks.

“The UN’s work in North Macedonia is shaping a future where prosperity, inclusion, and sustainability go hand in hand." underlined Columbia. She also expressed her sincere gratitude to the UN financial partners without whom the results would not have been possible. 

The purpose of the meeting was to present and discuss the UN Joint Work Plan for 2025 and the Annual Results Report for 2024, which were approved by the Joint Steering Committee. 

“It is critical to accelerate national actions toward the SDGs, taking into account the priorities outlined in the Pact for the Future, stated Columbia. 

"With the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, we are increasingly approaching our main goal of jointly building a prosperous and inclusive country and striving towards the goal of ensuring the full realization of the 17Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2030, as well as the “Pact for the Future”, which gives us a trajectory for future global actions and paves the way for strengthening multilateralism," underlined Mucunski.

During the discussion, the members of the JSC Committee from the Government and the UN Country team reflected upon the needs of the government for the current year and the added value of the UN to assist the country in the implementation of the Cooperation Framework . 

Some of the key results of the UN support last year are: 

• 1,850 (6 persons with disabilities) opened 1,620 new businesses.
• 10 new social service providers and 330 certified caregivers assisted 9,126 people in 50 municipalities (covering for 63 children with disabilities)
• 21,641 or a quarter of the estimated Youth NEET (11,032 women and 2,203 hard-to-reach participants) registered for the Youth Guarantee, securing 14,394 (7,323 women) jobs— up for 55% from 2023.
• 2,076 Roma accessed Employment Service Agency activation services, including 1,265 assisted by Roma mentors
• 156 ha of agricultural land covered by a new land consolidation plan in Chiflik.
• 3.08 km of agricultural infrastructure improved in Dabjani, including new/ rehabilitated access roads and crossings over drainage channels.
• 11.1% increase in Hepatitis vaccination coverage, 10% in DTP/IPV primo-vaccination, and a 150% in booster doses.
• 20,115 users received information on childcare, healthy nutrition, self-care, and expert advice from Bebbo parenting app.
• 500 VET teachers (25%) trained in green skills development.
• 2 new regional functional assessment bodies increased child assessments by 38%, with average of five support services.
• 6,300 vulnerable people on the move received humanitarian and protection assistance.
• 16 Days of Activism campaign reached 786,849 people (962,475 impressions, 600,337 video views).
• 76 investment projects (46 SMEs and 30 households with vulnerable conditions) financed  è 0.289 MW of renewable capacity and avoiding 281 tCO2e/year in emissions.
• 22.5 metric tons of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) recovered and recycled.
• 450 tons of HCH waste and 250 tons of contaminated soil removed from old chemical industry complex (OHIS).
• 267.93 tons of waste redirected to a regulated landfill in Prespa Basin.
• 68 communities (361,962 people) in the Drini River Basin and Polog regions strengthened disaster resilience
• 145 apple producers (40% women and 43% young people) from the Prespa region empowered on sustainable and good Agriculture Practices (GAP)
• Over 500 youth (327 girls, 222 boys) led the development and implementation of social and technical innovations to address air pollution, environmental sustainability and climate change
• 52 municipalities had upgraded ICT infrastructure, enabling livestreamed council sessions, interactive websites, and e-kiosks for better local services.
• 41 municipalities produced 80 gender responsive sectoral programmes within the 2025 plans
• First 4 environmental justice cases submitted at the Ombudsman’s, a 200% increase in citizen complaints, and three joint cases with CSOs.
• 6 individuals granted refugee status for the first time in eight years.
• Demographic Policy Strategy 2024-2044 developed