Developing and communicating policies, supporting local and youth branches, and capacity building in Green Planet for All in North Macedonia

The partnership is aiming at supporting DOM in developing and communicating its policies; at strengthening DOM's local branches, including youth organizations and youth inclusion; and at supporting Green Planet for All in building enough capacity to function as a supporting partner to DOM. This partnership was initiated with a pilot phase clarifying objectives, strategies, expected outcomes, and future partnership priorities, and it was established as a long-term partnership in March 2023.

The initiation of the partnership was hindered by the complex social and political situation in North Macedonia: the country was in the middle of a political transition when the COVID-19 crisis struck, as the interim government had just dissolved itself, resulting in only partially operational national institutions. Moreover, North Macedonia was particularly hit by the pandemic, becoming one of the countries with the highest death rates worldwide. These factors contributed to a lengthy process of setting up the partnership. 

However, in November 2022, two representatives from the Green Left visited North Macedonia to facilitate a policy development seminar, which was a central part of the pilot project, and which was prepared during a fact-finding mission in 2021. The seminar turned out highly successful (with regards to its objectives), and it clarified the ways in which the Green Left could add value in a long-term partnership.

The long-term partnership between DOM and the Green Left was signed in March 2023 for a three-year-long period, which focuses on supporting DOM in developing and communicating its policies; strengthening DOM’s local branches, including youth organizations and youth inclusion; and supporting Green Planet for All to build enough capacity to function as a supporting partner to DOM.

Moreover, a twinning arrangement has been set up between the Green Left’s local branch in Norddjurs, and DOM’s local branches in Shtip and Kumanovo, which seeks to establish a cooperation based on mutual benefit and inspiration around issues of local governance, green activism, and running a local branch. This materialized as a visit of a delegation from Shtip and Kumanovo to Norddjurs in May 2023.

Most recently, Karsten Hønge, a Danish Member of Parliament for the Green Left, visited DOM in Skopje to meet with a vast range of party members, stretching from the executive board to local branch members, and focusing on training their capacity in policy development and policy communication.