About the Academy for Public Policy
The Academy for Public Policy (APP) is a capacity-building program designed for youth members of political parties in North Macedonia, with the objective of strengthening their meaningful participation in electoral and political processes. The Academy seeks to enhance young politicians’ ability to promote political accountability and to contribute to a political culture rooted in democratic governance.
Recognizing the significant electoral and political influence of young people in developing democracies, the Swiss Electoral Support Programme (ESP) aims to empower youth to engage constructively with political parties and policymakers and to shape public policies in impactful ways. Between 2019 and 2025, four generations of party youth participated in the Academy, bringing together a diverse group of 90 young politicians from across the political spectrum. Building on this experience, the Fifth generation of the APP will place a focused emphasis on strengthening youth representation within political parties, advancing innovative and effective electoral approaches, and supporting participants’ pre- and post-electoral engagement within their respective parties.
Specific Objectives
The specific objectives of the Fifth generation of the Academy are to:
- Strengthen the capacity of youth political party representatives to engage constructively and in line with ethical and democratic standards through dialogue, inclusion, and peaceful political participation;
- Equip participants with practical knowledge and skills to develop and advocate for responsible environmental policies as shared public goods;
- Promote cross-party cooperation, democratic political culture, and non-polarizing communication among young political actors.
The Academy will take place over a one-year period and consists of the following components:
Phase I: Learning and capacity-development (first half of 2026)
- Three comprehensive three-day learning workshops (Friday to Sunday)
Lecturers from across a broad spectrum of society will be engaged, including academics; senior policymakers and decision-makers; current and former ministers; members of parliament; young political leaders holding public office; CEOs; etc. The programme will be further enriched through the participation of guest speakers from civil society, the environmental and cultural sectors, and other relevant fields, as well as distinguished experts and practitioners from abroad.
Phase II: Practical application of knowledge (second half of 2026)
- One interactive training on project cycle management and public policy development;
- Development of a public policy brief, complimented through the design and implementation of Innovative Initiative activities[1];
- Presentation of the public policy brief.
The development of the public policy brief and the implementation of activities will be supported throughout the process through structured, step-by-step guidance and mentoring under IFES. To support the engagement with local communities, each participant will receive support to carry out the identified and agreed-upon outreach activities.
Additional follow-up activities
- A study visit to a country in the region or to an EU Member State will be organized as part of the program. Participation in the study visit will be conditional upon the successful completion of Academy activities, including participation in the workshops and the drafting of a public policy brief, supported by the implementation of Innovative Initiative activities. The study visit will take place upon completion of the program in the first half of 2027 and will include a selected group of participants from the Fourth and Fifth generations of the Academy;
- Alumni events bringing together participants from all five generations of the Academy for Public Policy.
To earn a certificate and a chance to participate in the study visit abroad, selected candidates must be committed to all components of the program:
- Active participation in all activities of the Academy’s program, including the three learning workshops (February to June 2026) and the interactive training on project cycle management and public policy development (August/September 2026);
- Development and presentation of a public policy brief, complimented through the design and implementation of Innovative Initiative activities.
Timeframe
The implementation of the activities for the Fifth generation of the Academy will take place in the period from February to December 2026.
What will participants in the Academy for Public Policy gain?
- Thorough and structured knowledge of political processes in the country, the role of political parties in a plural context, the importance of elections and the electoral process, creation of public policies and ways of their implementation, communication techniques and skills, public speaking and debating;
- Training materials, various analyses, background documents and policy briefs complementing the knowledge and experience shared by different domestic and international experts and trainers;
- Mentorship, peer-exchange and individual assistance in the preparation of policy document addressing citizens’ needs;
- Support for the implementation of innovative initiative activities, encompassing research on the developed policy and/or proposed solutions, and the testing and promotion of the policy within affected communities and the political party;
- Opportunity to enhance knowledge and individual career development as a politician or future leader, but also to network, discuss and share ideas with fellow politicians from political parties in the country;
- Recognition by the Swiss Embassy by awarding a certificate of participation;
- An opportunity to be part of regional events for peer-exchange with other young leaders, but also to participate in study visit to countries that implement similar policies and community actions;
- After-care activities within the vast and relevant alumni community.
Criteria for participation:
- To be member of the youth wing of a political party (18-29 years old);
- To have experience in the field of social sciences or related disciplines, including political science, economics, sociology, environmental studies, international relations, culture, philosophy, and related fields;
- To have strong analytical skills, motivation and ability for teamwork;
- No prior participation in the same or a similar academy will be an advantage;
- Knowledge of the English language will be considered an advantage;
- Work experience will be considered an advantage.
As the Academy is intended for members of political parties, it is envisaged that participants will have the support of their respective political party, particularly at the local level, and will engage in regular communication with relevant party structures throughout the program.
All interested candidates should complete the application at the following link no later than February 7, 2026.
It is mandatory to attach a short curriculum vitae (CV) and a motivation letter to the form.
It is mandatory to include in the motivation letter a few sentences about a local problem or challenge in the community, that could be the basis for the development of the public policy brief (explained above).
Please note that only complete applications will be reviewed. Applications that do not meet all submission requirements will be deemed ineligible.
Pre-listed candidates will be asked to participate in a short interview on Zoom.
Selected candidates will be notified of their selection by February 18, 2026.
When choosing the best candidates for participation in the Academy, the political, ethnic, gender, geographical and social representation of the participants will be taken into account.
All expenses for the program (including travel, accommodation and meals) will be covered by the organizer.
Questions?
If you have questions regarding the Academy and/or the process of application, please contact Cvetanka Mihajlovska at: cvetanka@frp.mk
