Electoral Support Programme

Electoral Support Programme

Improving transparency through debates

This initiative will monitor the implementation of the electoral promise related to “Increased transparency and accountability of the local self-government by encouraging public debate and involvement of young people in decision-making”. Key community mobilization activities will include: online campaign to exert pressure on the local authorities; public debates; awareness raising videos disseminated on social and traditional (TV, radio) media and similar.

The subject matter of the local monitoring is the reestablishment of a local youth council in the Municipality of Gostivar.

Implementer
Organized Youth Association OYA Gostivar
Location
Gostivar
Budget
300000 denars
Status
Active

MONITORING MATRIX

November 2022

December 2022

January 2023

February 2023

March 2023

April 2023

May 2023

June 2023

  • I. Status of the monitored item
      Monitoring criteria Status Brief description and comments Source of information
      1 Implementation
      1.1 A decision has been reached to start the implementation of the monitored item Yes Starting November of 2022, the implementation process regarding the promise for the creation of the local youth council has begun. https://gostivari.gov.mk/2022/11/thirrje-per-krijimin-e-keshillit-nismetar/
      1.2 A procurement process is being/has been carried out related to the monitored item Nо The project does not require a public procurement process
      1.3 Informative meetings and gatherings with stakeholders have been held Yes A meeting was held with the elected leadership of the youth council and a decision was made for the president of the youth council, but no settlement has been reached as of yet Youth Affairs Administrator in the municipality of Gostivar
      1.4 An implementation plan has been prepared for implementation of the monitored item Yes A declaration is awaited from the municipality of Gostivar, which will most likely be announced in the first coming weeks of April, along with the elected leadership of the youth council. Youth Affairs Administrator in the municipality of Gostivar
      1.5 Necessary prerequisites to start with the implementation have been provided (e.g. permits, preparatory activities, staff, etc.) N/A
      1.6 The municipality is implementing specific activities from the implementation plan Yes The municipality of Gostivar has continued its cooperation with the local youth organizations of the city, in which together they organized an informative session for the students and youth. There have been no new activities held during March. https://www.facebook.com/YCCGostivar/posts/pfbid0Ah6y7P5Ly7iFQD1iXPfB34fcnQhS6erBwThpjZRx2MVMA8tQuJDF3ESg1HdbWbD7l
      1.7 Initial results from implementation of the monitored item are visible Yes The initial progress is noticeable, things are moving in the right direction, all procedures for the formation of the youth council are being followed based on the law on youth participation and youth policies. https://gostivari.gov.mk/2023/01/thirrje-publike-per-keshillin-rinor-lokal/ https://gostivari.gov.mk/2022/11/thirrje-per-krijimin-e-keshillit-nismetar/ https://gostivari.gov.mk/2023/01/mbahet-seanca-konstituive-e-kuvendit-lokal-te-te-rinjve/ https://gostivari.gov.mk/2022/12/thirrje-publike-per-kuvendin-rinor-lokal/
      2 Stagnation
      2.1 Lack of funds in the municipal budget Nо Based on the budget for 2023, 0.1% of the funds have been allocated from the general budget of the municipality of Gostivar, which suggests around 1,500,000 denars. https://gostivari.gov.mk/2022/12/komuna-e-gostivarit-prezantoi-propozim-buxhetin-e-vitit-2023-para-qytetareve/
      2.2 Lack of one/some of the basic prerequisites Nо All prerequisites are met and the project is being implemented Youth Affairs Administrator in the municipality of Gostivar
      2.3 The implementation of the monitored item is no longer a priority N/A The project remains a priority and activities are being implemented Youth Affairs Administrator in the municipality of Gostivar
      2.4 Halted due to an inspection, investigation, etc. N/A The project has not been canceled Youth Affairs Administrator in the municipality of Gostivar
      2.5 The reasons for the stagnation of the implementation of the activity are unknown N/A There is no stagnation Youth Affairs Administrator in the municipality of Gostivar

  • II. Transparency and accountability of the municipality related to the monitored item
      Monitoring criteria Status Brief description and comments Source of information
      1 Information about the status of the monitored item is available on the municipality's website and social network Yes Information regarding this matter is published on the website of the municipality of Gostivar, as well as on the official Facebook page. https://gostivari.gov.mk/2023/01/thirrje-publike-per-keshillin-rinor-lokal/ https://gostivari.gov.mk/2022/11/thirrje-per-krijimin-e-keshillit-nismetar/ https://gostivari.gov.mk/2023/01/mbahet-seanca-konstituive-e-kuvendit-lokal-te-te-rinjve/ https://gostivari.gov.mk/2022/12/thirrje-publike-per-kuvendin-rinor-lokal/
      2 Information about the status of the project is obtained through a Request for Access to Public InformationInformation about the status of the monitored item is obtained through a Request for Access to Public Information Yes The municipality offers that possibility, however, the organization monitoring the issue has not submitted a request for access to public information, because the municipality was willing to provide information, with or without a request. Youth Affairs Administrator in the municipality of Gostivar
      3 Information about the status of the monitored item is shared with stakeholders by municipal officials (via e.g. interviews, focus group discussions, meeting requests etc.) Yes All interested parties can retrieve information regarding the status of the election promise Youth Affairs Administrator in the municipality of Gostivar
      4 There is practice of informal information sharing by the municipality with affected citizens (e.g. via informal discussions etc.) Yes All stakeholders can informally contact the municipal employees to obtain information Youth, youth organizations

  • III. Citizen participation in decision-making related to the monitored item
      Monitoring criteria Status Brief description and comments Source of information
      1 The municipality has involved the citizens in decision-making related to the monitored item Yes Yes, now all the youth, particularly those between the ages of 15-29, which are residents of the municipality of Gostivar, have the right to involve themselves in the process of the formation of the youth council and become active members. Youth Affairs Administrator in the municipality of Gostivar
      2 Citizens have filed an initiative for participation in decision-making related to the monitored item Nо Citizens have not submitted an initiative to participate in decision making process regarding this matter Youth Affairs Administrator in the municipality of Gostivar
      3 Citizens participate in the implementation of the monitored item with their input and resources Yes The youth, particularly those between the ages of 15-29, which are residents of the municipality of Gostivar, have the right to involve themselves in the process of the formation of the youth council and become active members. https://gostivari.gov.mk/2022/12/komuna-e-gostivarit-prezantoi-propozim-buxhetin-e-vitit-2023-para-qytetareve/
      4 Mechanisms utilized by the municipality to ensure citizen participation, specifically as related to the monitored item:
      4.1 Public gatherings, debates and forums Nо Apart from the informative session (see matter 1.3), no other public events were held regarding this issue Youth organizations
      4.2 Possibility for e-participation via mobile apps, website(s), electronic templates, etc. Nо There are no special tools for electronic participation made particularly for this issue, other than the contact form found on the website of the municipality, where any questions can be posed within the jurisdiction of the municipality. https://gostivari.gov.mk/mk/%d0%ba%d0%be%d0%bd%d1%82%d0%b0%d0%ba%d1%82/
      4.3 Open days of the municipality Nо The municipality of Gostivar has not organized open municipal days during March https://gostivari.gov.mk/mk/pocetna/
      4.4 Citizen initiatives Nо There have been no civic initiatives submitted regarding this issue Youth organizations