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 Nо No informative meetings are scheduled for the month of April since the local youth council has already been established. Youth Affairs Administrator in the municipality of Gostivar
      1.4 An implementation plan has been prepared for implementation of the monitored item Yes A decision is adopted to establish a local youth council with the signature of the Mayor of Gostivar Municipality. 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.) Yes All prerequisites have been fulfilled, and the council has already been formed. Youth Affairs Administrator in the municipality of Gostivar
      1.6 The municipality is implementing specific activities from the implementation plan Yes Gostivar Municipality continues its collaboration with local youth organizations in the city, where they together organized an informative session for students and young people. There are no specific new activities in April. https://www.facebook.com/YCCGostivar/posts/pfbid0Ah6y7P5Ly7iFQD1iXPfB34fcnQhS6erBwThpjZRx2MVMA8tQuJDF3ESg1HdbWbD7l
      1.7 Initial results from implementation of the monitored item are visible Yes Significant progress has been achieved, and things are moving in the right direction. All procedures for establishing the youth council, following the law on youth participation and youth policies, are being diligently followed. LYC has already been formed 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 have been met, and the process of forming a local youth council has been completed. Youth Affairs Administrator in the municipality of Gostivar
      2.3 The implementation of the monitored item is no longer a priority N/A The promise was and remains a priority, and the council has already been formed. Youth Affairs Administrator in the municipality of Gostivar
      2.4 Halted due to an inspection, investigation, etc. N/A The project is not cancelled. 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, and the council has already been formed. 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 The information regarding this matter has been published on the website of Gostivar Municipality, as well as on their Facebook page. However, there have been no new updates in the month of April. 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 opportunity, but the organization monitoring the matter has not submitted a request for access to public information, as the municipality was prepared to provide all 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 Affairs Administrator in the municipality of Gostivar

  • 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 No other public events were held regarding this issue in April. Youth organizations Mobilizers
      4.2 Possibility for e-participation via mobile apps, website(s), electronic templates, etc. Nо There are no specifically designed tools for electronic participation specifically for this issue, apart from the contact form on the municipality's website where any type of question related to the municipality can be submitted. 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 April. https://gostivari.gov.mk/mk/pocetna/
      4.4 Citizen initiatives Nо There have been no civic initiatives submitted regarding this issue Youth organizations