Electoral Support Programme

Electoral Support Programme

The Fight Against Menstrual Poverty- Unaccomplished Electoral Promise

This initiative will monitor the accountability and realization of the election promise of DOM to eradicate menstrual poverty. In the pre-election program, in the section that refers to women’s rights, as well as in the “National Strategy for Gender Equality 2021-2026”, it is promised that they will fight for the eradication of menstrual poverty. One of the tools for this is that every girl involved in the regular education process receives a free package of menstrual products every month. In the meantime, in the past year, the city councilor from DOM succeeded to include in last year’s budget an item for free menstrual products for every high school student in the territory of Skopje. But from the information so far, no schoolgirl has received a free package of menstrual products. The obtained results of the monitoring will be disseminated to the public through: posts on social networks, guerilla action, media show room.

Implementer
Balkan WASH Network - Skopje
Location
Skopje
Budget
172000 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 Nо Until the end of the monitoring, no decision has been made to implement it, although the activities for the preparation of research by the professional services in secondary schools about the needs of free hygiene products for secondary schools are ending Assistant head of the Department of Education of the City of Skopje
      1.2 A procurement process is being/has been carried out related to the monitored item Nо Until the end of the monitoring, there is no information about the implementation of the procurement process since the beginning of the year after an amendment was passed to allocate funds for free menstrual products for secondary schools in Skopje https://www.e-nabavki.gov.mk/PublicAccess/home.aspx#/notices
      1.3 Informative meetings and gatherings with stakeholders have been held Nо Until the end of the monitoring, no meetings were held with stakeholders, although the commission and the education sector are available for opinions in certain stages of the implementation of the promise, and there is no response to the request from BVM Head of the Education Department of the City of Skopje BVM, an organization that monitors election promises https://www.facebook.com/balkanwashnet/posts/pfbid02TJiwv1tmxi7JW4fuMiS52mt7tgFtWE9tsFjBE7s89CC3dab92fnCNFjH8gkyCVvkl
      1.4 An implementation plan has been prepared for implementation of the monitored item Nо Although the research by the professional services in secondary schools is in the final phase until it is submitted, no next steps are foreseen in relation to the election promise to grant free menstrual products to secondary school girls in Skopje Head of the Education Department of the City of Skopje
      1.5 Necessary prerequisites to start with the implementation have been provided (e.g. permits, preparatory activities, staff, etc.) Yes An amendment was adopted, a budget was determined, a program was adopted, a positive opinion from the education committee for the implementation of research by professional services in secondary schools, research in the final stage Assistant head of the Department of Education of the City of Skopje Head of the Education Department of the City of Skopje https://skopje.gov.mk/media/9286/budget-2023.pdf http://ipserver1.skopje.gov.mk/e-skopje/sluzben%20glasnik%20so%20konverzija .nsf/82aa49069edfbbb780256a22004ba9e0/7b564524a7668cb6c125892e002ee9f7?OpenDocument&Highlight=0,%D1%81%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%B4%D0%BD%D0%B8,%D1%83%D1% 87%D0%B8 %D0%BB%D0%B8%D1%88%D1%82%D0%B0
      1.6 The municipality is implementing specific activities from the implementation plan Nо It is expected that the research will be delivered by the professional services in secondary schools (preparation of a questionnaire, selection of a sample), in the meantime no other activities are planned for the implementation of the election promise Assistant head of the Department of Education of the City of Skopje
      1.7 Initial results from implementation of the monitored item are visible Nо Until the end of the implementation of the monitoring, there are no visible results of the implementation, except that the research by the professional services in the secondary schools is in the final phase. Assistant head of the Department of Education of the City of Skopje
      2 Stagnation
      2.1 Lack of funds in the municipal budget Nо The funds are foreseen in the program for the activities of the City of Skopje from the area of secondary education in 2023 from item 3.1.2, for three activities for which funds will be drawn from the Budget of the City of Skopje from sub-programme NB http://ipserver1.skopje.gov.mk/e-skopje/sluzben%20glasnik%20so%20konverzija.nsf/82aa49069edfbbb780256a22004ba9e0/7b564524a7668cb6c125892e002ee9f7?OpenDocument&Highlight=0,%D1%81%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%B4%D0%BD%D0%B8,%D1%83%D1%87%D0%B8%D0%BB%D0%B8%D1%88%D1%82%D0%B0
      2.2 Lack of one/some of the basic prerequisites Yes The next steps in the realization of the election promise from the City of Skopje will follow after the research announced by the expert services in secondary schools on the needs of free menstrual products for secondary school girls has been reviewed. Head of the Education Department of the City of Skopje
      2.3 The implementation of the monitored item is no longer a priority Nо The next steps will be foreseen based on the research of the professional services from secondary schools, which is in the final phase but can be submitted at the beginning of the next school year. Assistant head of the Department of Education of the City of Skopje Head of the Department of Education of the City of Skopje http://ipserver1.skopje.gov.mk/e-skopje/sluzben%20glasnik%20so%20konverzija.nsf/82aa49069edfbbb780256a22004ba9e0/7b564524a7668cb6c125892e002ee9f7?OpenDocument&Highlight=0,%D 1%81%D1 %80%D0%B5%D0%B4%D0%BD%D0%B8,%D1%83%D1%87%D0%B8%D0%BB%D0%B8%D1%88%D1%82%D0% B0
      2.4 Halted due to an inspection, investigation, etc. Nо The promise has not been stopped, but the following dynamics depend on the expected research of the expert services on which the next steps are based, but there are no other activities for communication, consultation with other stakeholders Head of the Education Department of the City of Skopje
      2.5 The reasons for the stagnation of the implementation of the activity are unknown Nо The expected survey of professional services in secondary schools is a requirement for planning the next steps, it is in the final phase, but it can be submitted at the beginning of the next school year. Head of the Education Department of the City of Skopje Assistant head of the Department of Education of the City of Skopje

  • 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 Nо Until the end of the monitoring, there is not a single shared information about the election promise on the website of the municipality, and there is not even on the page of the City of Skopje on social media https://skopje.gov.mk/mk/vesti/ https://www.facebook.com/CityofSkopje
      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 Although a request for information of a public nature was submitted by the Balkan Water Network-Skopje as an organization that monitors the election promise, until the end of the implementation of the monitoring there is no feedback BWN, an organization that monitors election promises
      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 Balkan Wash Network-Skopje contacts and conducts discussions with representatives from the education sector of the City of Skopje Head of the Education Department of the City of Skopje; Assistant head of the education department of the City of Skopje; Head of the Department of Education of the City of Skopje; BVM - an organization that monitors election promises; Councilor in the city of Skopje
      4 There is practice of informal information sharing by the municipality with affected citizens (e.g. via informal discussions etc.) Yes There is no such practice, but the DOM councilor in the City of Skopje, proposer of the Amendment for free menstrual products for high school girls in Skopje, shares information on social networks https://www.facebook.com/teodora.krstevska.58/posts/pfbid032hfc54ieaGAUgr6hcwQSttouSnecBU48uTrqkm8gifXGzMrhJqzVmVCAaPQ7i3zRl https://www.facebook.com/zelenapartija/posts/533297332172981 https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=618336709426426

  • 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 The survey conducted by the municipality. Also, BMW conducted a survey with 328 high school girls and submitted a request to the City for a meeting and proactive cooperation Citizens, head of the education department of the City of Skopje, https://skopje.gov.mk/mk/vesti/ BVM, an organization that monitors election promises https://www.facebook.com/balkanwashnet/posts/pfbid02TJiwv1tmxi7JW4fuMiS52mt7tgFtWE9tsFjBE7s89CC3dab92fnCNFjH8gkyCVvkl
      2 Citizens have filed an initiative for participation in decision-making related to the monitored item Nо No initiatives have been submitted by citizens to participate in the decisions related to the monitored election promise, but BMW has submitted a request to the City for a meeting and proactive cooperation for the realization of the monitored election prom Head of the Education Department of the City of Skopje; Assistant head of the education department of the City of Skopje; Head of the Department of Education of the City of Skopje BVM, an organization that monitors election promises https://www.facebook.com/balkanwashnet/posts/pfbid02TJiwv1tmxi7JW4fuMiS52mt7tgFtWE9tsFjBE7s89CC3dab92fnCNFjH8gkyCVvkl
      3 Citizens participate in the implementation of the monitored item with their input and resources Nо Until the end of the monitoring, there was no citizen participation with a contribution to the realization of the election promise, but BVM did research and debates in schools about the need for free menstrual products, and submitted a request to the City Assistant Head of Department for Education of the City of Skopje; BVM, an organization that monitors the election promise https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=237168692285918&set=a.181629184506536 https://www.facebook.com/balkanwashnet/posts/pfbid02HkapJDDQTn68vEXHwVfAeVzwZVuHfFmuEv3HkrVtMrCsHr9Ddywyu L92S4iLysZrl https://www. facebook.com/balkanwashnet/posts/pfbid0PEVh7Q9WNuNY3RfWksDb9jkGcRmL7DjBtgkBkKSQJr9pkwNQLNvMRj5KfHx87hUsl
      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 The City of Skopje has not organized any public events, but within the framework of the monitoring of this election promise, BVM organized 5 debates in schools, guerilla action and press for the promotion of cost analysis for the election promise https://skopje.gov.mk/ https://www.facebook.com/CityofSkopje/ Советник во град Скопје https://www.facebook.com/balkanwashnet/posts/pfbid02J71stX4aNzoUEcE876QUy2gNACso8AVgcmn529tCuFsaXSSqaib5k4nSpBLVoQ6xl?__cft__[0]=AZU3u9_U4LgRDJbJG513bLHE-5_Dm8ztnVtqnyqfjKQy-KMYMbA6b6LxzovqOLNWSgq4pJ_wzFtRpQsHtOGbRkIETuE-NOtksXMCeLkqTK20t2ODhzaApJP-zQkqhVEttGDHNlPxIEasRaB6yo0vTGKJSfd4lBcquXjg9DTdEWa1fo92jInTqyEwqDFo87QeMK3iMk4bOhz3--E7yJqW0_w-&__tn__=%2CP-R https://www.facebook.com/balkanwashnet/videos/1593677624460184/
      4.2 Possibility for e-participation via mobile apps, website(s), electronic templates, etc. Nо There is no possibility of electronic participation for this election promise through mobile applications, except through a separate email to the City of Skopje or an email to the education sector, or through a message on the Facebook page of the City ofSk https://www.facebook.com/CityofSkopje/ https://skopje.gov.mk/mk/skopje/administracija/sektor-obrazovanie/ https://skopje.gov.mk/mk/kontakt/
      4.3 Open days of the municipality Nо Until the end of the monitoring of this election promise, no open days were organized, although on the portal of the city of Skopje it is stated that there is an office open 24 hours for the citizens, but BVM carried out a guerrilla action and requested https://skopje.gov.mk/mk/vesti/ https://skopje.gov.mk/mk/vesti/2019/31012022_otcet_otvorena_kancejarija_24casa/ https://fb.watch/kTfiMeg_bh/ https://www.facebook.com/balkanwashnet/posts/pfbid0PEVh7Q9WNuNY3RfWksDb9jkGcRmL7DjBtgkBkKSQJr9pkwNQLNvMRj5KfHx87hUsl
      4.4 Citizen initiatives Nо Until the end of the monitoring, there was no concrete initiative from the citizens for the election promise, but BVM carried out a guerrilla action, prepared a cost analysis and submitted a request to the City of Skopje for the implementation citizens, https://fb.watch/kTfiMeg_bh/ https://www.facebook.com/balkanwashnet/posts/pfbid0PEVh7Q9WNuNY3RfWksDb9jkGcRmL7DjBtgkBkKSQJr9pkwNQLNvMRj5KfHx87hUsl https://balkanwashnetwork.org/2023/05/27/%d1%82%d1%80%d0% be%d1%88%d0%ba%d0%be%d0%b2%d0%bd%d0%b0-%d0%b0%d0%bd%d0%b0%d0%bb%d0%b8%d0%b7 %d0%b0-%d0%bd%d0%b0-%d1%86%d0%b5%d0%bd%d0%b0%d1%82%d0%b0-%d0%bd%d0%b0-%d0 %bc%d0%b5%d0%bd%d1%81%d1%82%d1%80/