Olof Palme Center Programme MK 2023-25 (OPC)

This Conclusion of Performance (CoP) provides an overview of the project implementation processes and the results achieved during the period between October 2023 - October 2024. It provides a continuation of the performance reported in the previous CoP for 2023 and the developments until October 2024. For this CoP, multiple information sources have been utilized to document the achieved results, including: 1) the Narrative and Financial Report for 2023; 2) the Semi-Annual Narrative and Financial Report for January-June 2024; 3) Travel Reports; and 4) insights gathered from meetings with partners. Main project For the reporting period OPC has partnered with five partner organizations in the project implementation process: 1. Trade Union of Industry, Energy, and Mining (SIER); 2. Glasen Tekstilec; 3. Youth Cultural Center in Bitola (YCC); 4. NGO Info-Centar; and 5. IDEA Southeast Europe. Below are presented some key results wich reflect OPCs ongoing work in strengthening civil society capacity and promoting worker representation, local governance accountability, and participatory democracy. Key results: - With OPC's assistance, SIER expanded its membership and successfully organized workers in companies within the Technological Industrial Development Zones, including private companies where union presence had previously been unattainable. - With support from OPC and the Swedish trade union Handels, Glasen Tekstilec established a new trade union, "Glasen Sindikat." - OPC aided YCC Bitola in its efforts to expand Local Economic-Social Councils to additional municipalities, successfully establishing new councils in Kriva Palanka and Demir Hisar. - Through the OPC program, NGO Info-Centar launched a comprehensive monitoring initiative focused on municipalities' compliance with personal data protection laws and the adequacy of social services. - Supported by OPC, IDEA Southeast Europe revised its internal policies to promote gender balance, equal opportunities, and the inclusion of marginalized communities. They also formed partnerships with two social enterprises to promote green business development and create new employment opportunities for marginalized groups. Other results: Below is a summary of other results achieved during the project implementation for the reporting period for each of OPC's partner organization separately, based on the 2023 annual report and the semi-annual report for January to June 2024, as well as travel reports: Trade Union of Industry, Energy, and Mining (SIER): - They doubled their membership to nearly 10,000 members, strengthening the union's influence, especially in Technological Industrial Development Zones, and increasing its relevance in North Macedonias energy transition. - Developed an internal Women's Section and held a gender-discrimination assessment with members, enhancing representation for women and diverse groups. - Established an Education Fund from membership fees for shop steward training. - Advanced collaboration with IF Metall from Sweden to gain insights on industrial transformation and gender inclusion, and established a gender mainstreaming plan. Worked actively in areas of "Just Transition" to aid workers affected by shifts from coal to renewable energy. - In relation to addressing Gender Issues, SIER organised a conference and initiated a collaboration with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to promote diversity and inclusion. - Raised and addressed concerns over potential down-prioritization of labor issues due to a governmental reorganization, influencing strategy adjustments, affecting labour policies and cooperation. - Partnered with other partner organizations, with IDEA for awareness campaigns and Eko-Svest to support the green transition. Glasen Tekstilec: - Provided legal aid services to 3,562 workers, filed 4 inspection requests, and initiated 9 lawsuits for labour rights violations by end of 2023, then continued providing free legal assistance to 2,666 workers during 2024. - Established a cooperation between the municipality of Stip and the city of Borås, Sweden, as a result gained attention from global brands for ensuring compliance with labour laws. - Enhanced international recognition and collaboration for municipality of Stip by joining the ACTE network for European textile cities, which promotes sustainable practices in the textile industry. - Formed a new trade union, Glasen Sindikat, and established three local branches within private companies. Continued focus on building branches in Stip and expanded efforts to other regions like Kocani and Skopje. Youth Cultural Center in Bitola (YCC): - Facilitated the establishment and strengthening of Local Economic and Social Councils (LESCs) expanding to include Kriva Palanka and Demir Hisar, bringing the total to 11 councils (in the municipalities of Bitola, Struga, Stip, Tetovo, Gostivar, Resen, Kavadarci, Sveti Nikole, Demir Hisar, Demir Kapija and Kriva Palanka) which fostered local social dialogue. - Enabled municipal development initiatives, including an economic strategy for Resen. - Led a study visit to Slovenia to understand Just Transition processes, enhancing local readiness for green economy shifts - and hosted the "New Energy Vision of Bitola" youth fair to engage youth in sustainable development initiatives. NGO Info-Centar: - Enhanced citizen participation in decision-making across 13 municipalities by facilitating structured dialogue forums and public consultations, by holding holding 16 public events for participatory governance, with 503 participants. - Strengthened the Forum for Civil Dialogue coalition, enhancing local government accountability by monitoring local governments in six municipalities, by conducting 56 consultation processes and producing monitoring reports and infographics. - Initiated new monitoring efforts on local data protection policies and collaborated with 10 local CSOs to focus on transparency, gender mainstreaming, and social services provision, resulting in improved responsiveness by municipalities to citizen inquiries. - Expanded partnerships regionally, coordinating with organizations in Kosovo, Albania, and Bulgaria to enhance civic participation. IDEA Southeast Europe: - Produced video content on workers' rights, so reaching a record 4.7 million viewers with advocacy videos on workers rights, significantly increasing public engagement and awareness. - Collaborated with various partners, including Glasen Tekstilec, to highlight workplace rights and violations, especially focusing on womens workplace experiences. - Developed new content on unsafe working conditions in partnership with SIER, and produced media highlighting green business initiatives, supporting employment for marginalized communities. Overall, Sida views the programs progress positively. While OPC has faced challenges in fully reflecting the achieved results within its reporting documents, information gathered through travel reports and meetings with OPC and partner organizations indicates a positive trend in achieving outcomes. Recent efforts by OPC to adapt to Sida's requirements demonstrate a strong commitment to enhanced reporting and impact delivery. Given these recent improvements, Sida's general assessment is that the program is moving towards achieving the expected outcomes. Sida will continue monitoring this progress to ensure the momentum is maintained.

The intervention is part of OPC's overall programme for which the mission statement is "to support democratic organisations that come together in broad, strategic alliances in pursuit of progressive development." OPC's Objectives and Theory of Change (ToC) relates to the organisation as a whole. OPC applies the same ToC in all countries they work in whereas the specific intervention relates to the local context and is expressed in the "Vision" and "Mission" and the "Objective's framework". OPC's ToC is "firmly rooted in the conviction that social transformation is achieved through collective organising based on a human rights approach. We believe that a precondition for progressive development is the creation of broad alliances of citizens such as trade unions, civil society organisations, social movements and community-based organisations. Sustained and potentially long-lasting progressive change takes place when these alliances gather behind political agendas for reform and policy proposals promoting social justice, individual freedom, democracy and human rights. Empowerment and collective organising constitute the means to achieve change and lasting progress." In the case of this project proposal for North Macedonia 2023-2025, the overall objectives of the programme are defined in the "Programme Objectives Framework", annex 3 to the proposal, and have been formulated in dialogue with OPC's current partners as well as other relevant civil society actors. As explained by OPC, the results' framework is not a traditional results' matrix but provides an overview of outcome areas in which OPC expects to see changes, and which actors that need to change to contribute to this as a result of the interventions. The methodology has been tested by OPC. There is still some weaknesses as regards OPC's ability to communicate the results, something that has been discussed with OPC during the 2020-2022 project. Sida's central assessment, done during the appraisal of the frame support 2020-2024, is that OPC's results' based management is strong. The vision statement describes the long-term development changes that the programme aims to encourage while the mission describes how the project's contributions to the vision will be framed. Vision: Political and socio-economic processes in North Macedonia are transparent and participatory, reflecting the rights and interests of empowered and organized citizens that hold duty bearers accountable. Mission: To strengthen the capacity and legitimacy of civil society organisations and support activities that ensure the participatory nature of political, social and economic processes. Civil society organisations will empower citizens to claim and exercise their rights and contribute to the advancement of good governance and socio-economic rights. The outcome challenges identified by the intervention's target groups are: OPC partners: The intervention intends to see partner organisations develop competences, strengthen their legitimacy, build alliances for joint actions and have capacities to monitor and influence decision-making and policy agendas. Right holders: The intervention intends to see empowered citizens and civil society organisations be organised and actively participate and influence decision-making processes, demanding social justice and transparency and accountability of duty bearers. Duty-bearers: The intervention intends to see duty-bearers abide to the laws and regulations related to transparency and accountability and fulfilment of human rights, cooperate with relevant parts of civil society and be responsive to their demands. OPC notes that it initially focused on building partners internal capacities and legitimacy but that it now considers this phase completed although, as also noted, organisations will need to continuously work on these aspects. The evaluation report (annex 2 to the project proposal) states that Partners now have well-consolidated capacities and have reached a good level of legitimacy. Therefore, in future planning, less focus will be required on this area if the programme continues working with the same partners. Hence, OPC suggests to continue to strengthen partners internal capacities during this project period but to put an increased focus on creating and strengthening alliances within civil society and the direct dialogue and engagement with duty-bearers.