USAID Municipal Climate Change Strategies Project (MCCSP) Implemented By: Milieukontakt Macedonia Final Program Performance Repo

USAID Municipal Climate Change Strategies Project (MCCSP)

Implemented by: Milieukontakt Macedonia

Final Program Performance Report

Cooperative Agreement #: AID-165-A-1 2-00008

Submitted to:

Jennifer Connolly, Agreement Officer’s Representative,

(DEC) Development experience clearinghouse

Bureau for management/Office of chief information officer/Knowledge Management Divisions (M/CIO/KM)

USAID agency for International Development

1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W

Washington D.C. 20523

Skopje, Macedonia

May 25, 2017

Submitted by:

Igor Slavkoski, MCCSP Chief of Party

Milieukontakt Macedonia

1 COMPENDIUM

THE USAID MUNICIPAL CLIMATE CHANGE STRATEGIES PROJECT

Project Report

Prepared by: Milieukontakt Macedonia

Authors: Maja Markovska; Igor Slavkoski; Blagica Andreeva; Stole Georgiev; Denis Zernovski; Radmila Slavkova

2 Contents

I. List of Abbreviations ...... 6

II. Executive Summary ...... 7 Green Agenda ...... 9 Three international Green Agenda Conferences ...... 9 Capacity Building ...... 9 Visibility ...... 11

III. Introduction ...... 12

IV. About Milieukontakt Macedonia ...... 12

V. Description of the project ...... 13

VI. Project Partners and main stakeholders ...... 14 Municipalities ...... 14 CSO partners ...... 14

VII. Project Management ...... 15 Project setup ...... 15 Implementation and management ...... 15

VIII. Green Agenda Methodology – Component 1 ... 17 Introduction ...... 17 The Methodology ...... 17 Implementation ...... 20 Selection of municipalities and local partners ...... 20 First meeting with selected organizations ...... 22 Organizing meetings with the candidates for Mayors in Municipalities...... 22

Municipal Climate Profiles and Green House Gasses (GHG) Inventories ...... 22

The first stakeholder meetings ...... 23

The GA process implementation ...... 25

Second stakeholder meeting ...... 26

3 Preparation of Reports on Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) on Climate Change Strategies ...... 27

Municipal Climate Change Strategy documents – Adopted by municipal councils ...... 27

Establishment of a local monitoring mechanism ...... 28

National Strategy Meeting ...... 28

National strategy meetings of the Environmental CSOs – 2012 ...... 28

National strategy meetings of the Environmental CSOs – 2013 ...... 29

National strategy meetings of the Environmental CSOs – 2014 ...... 29

National strategy meetings of the Environmental CSOs – 2015 ...... 30

National strategy meetings of the Environmental CSOs – 2016 ...... 31

First International Green Agenda Conference - promotion of the strategies ...... 31

SECOND International Green Agenda Conference 2015 – Experience exchange symposium ...... 32

Development of Manual –The Green Agenda Methodology as a tool for development of Municipal Climate Change Strategies ...... 36

IX. Capacity Building - Component ...... 37 Introduction ...... 37 Implementation ...... 37 Project year 1 ...... 37

Train the trainers ...... 37

Needs assessment in each municipality ...... 38

Project year 2 ...... 40 Project year 3 ...... 43 Project year 4 ...... 47 Achievements: ...... 48

X. Pilot Projects and Urgent actions – Component 3 ...... 49

4 Introduction ...... 49

Urgent Actions ...... 49

First Priority of the Strategies (Pilot Projects) ...... 52

Implementation of Urgent Actions and Pilot Projects ...... 53

Municipality of Tearce ...... 54

Municipality of Pehcevo ...... 56

Municipality of Krivogashtani ...... 59

Municipality of Bogdanci ...... 62

Municipality of Vinica ...... 64

Municipality of Bogovinje ...... 68

Municipality of Studenichani ...... 70

Municipality of Mavrovo and Rostushe ...... 72

Municipality of Prilep ...... 74

Municipality of Delchevo ...... 76

Achievements ...... 77

Municipality of Tearce ...... 77

Municipality of Pehchevo ...... 78

Municipality of Krivogashtani ...... 78

Municipality of Bogdanci ...... 79

Municipality of Vinica ...... 79

Municipality of Bogovinje ...... 80

Municipality of Studenichani ...... 80

Municipality of Mavrovo and Rostushe ...... 81

Municipality of Delchevo ...... 82

Municipality of Prilep ...... 82

XI. Visibility and promotion ...... 83 Introduction ...... 83 Implementation ...... 83 Achievements ...... 109

XII. Monitoring and evaluation ...... 143 Introduction ...... 143 Implementation ...... 144

5 Results ...... 145 Achievements ...... 161

XIII. Obstacles and Challenges ...... 162

XIV. Lessons Learned ...... 166

XV. Financial Report...... 169

List of Abbreviations

MCCSP - Municipal Climate Change Strategies Project USAID - United States Agency for International Development MKM – Milieukontakt Macedonia GA - Green Agenda MOEPP – Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning IPCC – Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change UNDP – United Nations Development Program AOR – Agreement Officers Representative GAP – Green Agenda Process CC – Climate Change MCP – Municipal Climate Profile GHG – Green House Gasses USAID GCC – USAID Global Climate Change LMG – Local Monitoring Group

6 Executive Summary

The Municipal Climate Change Strategies (MCCS) project was a four-year project (2012-2017) implemented by the Association for Sustainable Development Milieukontakt Macedonia with financial Assistance by United Stated Agency for International Development (USAID) in ten Municipalities in Macedonia.

This compendium has been prepared to describe MCCSP activities, products, findings, and key accomplishments. It also provides links to connect some suggestions for future work to advance USAID’s MCCSP development approach.

Over the course of the project, the MCCSP team conducted a wide range of activities to help define and advance the methodology for wide participation of the public in developing municipal climate change strategies. MCCSP collaborated with 10 municipalities to create, test, and implement activities on local level that contribute towards global climate change combat. Technical assistance and training were provided by the MCCSP team of trainers on climate change knowledge, climate risks related to rapidly changing weather conditions, adaptation, and mitigation measures as well as capacity building of the municipal administration and CSOs. The MCCSP team conducted Knowledge share based trainings, Local Tailor-made trainings for each municipality, trainer workshops, convened peer learning and knowledge-sharing events, developed climate planning tools, and provided small grants to researchers, trainers, and practitioners.

The USAID MCCS Project was led by MKM implementation team, and included a pool of trainers and local experts as well as international monitoring expert and support from local CSOs and municipal administration.

Aim of the project: The primary objective of the Municipal Climate Change Strategies Project is: Municipal Stakeholders Better Prepared to Manage Local Climate Change Challenges.

Period of implementation: September 26, 2012 – February 28, 2017

Budget: The total budget of the project is estimated at $2,800,000 which will be implemented in ten municipalities.

Results: The project hypothesizes that achieving this goal will require the project to focus on two Intermediate Results: 1) Improve Local Democratic Processes; and 2) Increase Capacity to Adapt to Climate Change.

1) Improve Local Democratic Processes;

‐ increased civic activism;

‐ more responsive local governments;

7 ‐ increased cooperation among CSOs, citizens, and local governments; and

‐ Increased CSO involvement in policy and oversight.

2) Increase Capacity to Adapt to Climate Change.

‐ improved local policy environment for climate change;

‐ reduced emissions of greenhouse gases by municipalities;

‐ increased resilience of stakeholders to climate change; and

‐ Increased citizens’ awareness of climate change.

The project was implemented in ten municipalities Municipality of Pehcevo, Delcevo, Vinica, Bogdanci, Prilep, Mavrovo Rostushe, Tearce, Bogovinje, Kivogashtani, Studenicani. There was a local CSO Partner responsible for the implementation of the activities on a local level: Ambrozija Association – Pehcevo; Regional Advocacy Center – Delcevo; Agro Vinka – Vinica; Polymath 13 – Bogdanci; Center for Civic Initiative – Prilep; Association for Local Rural Development – Skopje; Krste Jon – Struga; Center for Education and Development – Tearce; Karshiaka – Studenicani; Rural Development Network RDN – Skopje. The implementation of all activities under this component, as well as with the other project components, was divided into three separate timely divided rounds. The reason for this was the limited budget and time of the project at the very beginning of the project – aiming at smaller target group. After the project was extended than a new strategy was developed and implemented. All activities were divided into three rounds, starting with nearly one year time difference.

The first round of municipalities, started with the project start, and included full project implementation of all components. This were the Municipalities of: Tearce, Pehcevo, Kivogashtani and Bogovinje.

The Second round of Municipalities started at the beginning of the project, but only with the Capacity Building component. After the project was officially extended, during the second project year, the other project components started with the implementation also in the second round of municipalities: Bogovinje, Mavrovo Rostushe, Studenicani and Vinica. The third round of municipalities started the full process at the end of the third project year, after a separate call for applications, where a participation of 50% in the implementation process was required. Two Municipalities were selected for the third round: Delcevo and Prilep. The Green Agenda component of the USAID MCCS Project is the central activity that connects all other components and provides sustainability of the project and the project results. The component implementation started at the beginning of the project and continued throughout the entire project lifetime. The component implementation was a great challenge for the project team since it linked and networked all project stakeholders and produced results that are directly connected with the successful implementation of other project components.

8 Green Agenda The centerpiece of the project is the participatory Green Agenda method (GA), created by Milieukontakt International, a Dutch NGO that worked capacity building, citizen involvement, and environmental problem solving for over 20 years. The GA is used to develop and implement local sustainable development strategies and plans through active involvement of local community members. The GA achieves its goals through a 5-stage, 14-step process. After the first stakeholder meeting has been finished and the working groups established, each working group selected a WG coordinator and prepared a working plan. The working plans included dynamics of process implementation, and this dynamic was different in each municipality. The dynamics of implementation depended on the type of working group, size of the group, occupation of the members, local conditions etc. Each WG held a series of meetings. For some of the meetings and some GA steps additional trainer or facilitator was invited to assist the WG. The period of implementation of the process was also different and usually took between 6 and 12 months to complete all GA steps. The process implementation continued until step 12 of the methodology with support of the GA component coordinator trainers and experts. After step 12 was finished, the process of compiling the document started. The process was consisted of compiling the material from all working groups in one document, adding geographical and historical data about the municipality, GHG inventory, providing sources for the data used in the strategy. The writing process is monitored by the Green Agenda component coordinator and the trainer. As a final stage of the documents preparation, the working group coordinators in cooperation with the project staff, and the project experts have worked in preparation of the final version of the documents. After each CC Strategy was prepared on a stage of final draft a last round of commenting have been initiated where all project experts gave their opinion on each segment of the strategy and strategies were sent for comments to the USAID CCRD Project (Climate change resilience development project). Valuable input was received from the USAID CCRD Project, which were included in the final strategies. The final documents were submitted to municipal councils for final review and adoption. On behalf of the citizens that participated in the process of development Municipal Climate Change Strategies the local partner organizations submitted the final versions of the strategies to each of four Municipal Councils for final approval and adoption as an official Municipal Climate Change Strategy. Separate Municipal Council Meetings were held in Each Municipality for the adoption of the CC Strategy. During the lifetime of the MCCS Project, five National strategy meetings have been organized. This activity has been sub-contracted to the Macedonian Green Center, CSO that is organizing this meeting for the last 8 years.

Three international Green Agenda Conferences After the first four municipal climate change strategies were adopted by the municipal councils and the Green Agenda process was finished in the four municipalities a final version of the Green Agenda Process Manual was developed and finalized. This new version of the process included lessons learned from the first round of municipalities implementation. It also incorporated the recommendation from the Dr. Glen Anderson and Charlotte Mack from the USAID Climate Change Resilient Development Project. The new methodology was designed and published as a Manual on the Green Agenda for Climate change process, and it was printed and published online. Capacity Building The Capacity Building component is implemented as a parallel process with the other project components. The focus of this component is strengthening the capacity of municipal administration, local CSOs and citizens. The goal is to increase stakeholders’ knowledge of climate change and to empower citizens and CSOs to take over the project and prepare them to apply their new skills and knowledge to other issues and sectors.

9 The capacity building measures undertaken during the project implementation, have contributed to achieving the following results: Partner municipalities and CSOs reported improvement of their capacities for developing and implementing Green Agenda process. Partner NGOs are more confident in organizing and delivering activities within the Green Agenda process. They are also actively engaged in planning and preparation of the urgent actions and have increased capacities for successful implementation of urgent actions and pilot projects. The Capacity of partner municipalities and CSOs for assessing vulnerability and adapting and mitigating climate change effects has been improved as well monitoring and advocacy skills have been improved through practical experience. The Municipal Climate Change Strategies of partner municipalities have been elaborated in a quality manner with assuring participatory approach and continuous learning process. Awareness on climate change issues has been increased among the broader public in partner municipalities and are ready to share their experiences and knowledge gained through the capacity building process. M&E teams actively contribute to effective implementation of GA process and express high level of motivation to receive further coaching within the capacity building program The capacities of the partner organization on various leadership and management skills has been significantly improved. Better-managed CSOs with more sustainable, effective administrative functions.

During the project implementation period, in total – 9 Urgent actions and 9 Pilot projects have been implemented. The general rule was that in each municipality one urgent action and one pilot project will be implemented.

For these strategies and urgent actions to be both relevant and sustainable, it is necessary that they are generated by stakeholders in conjunction with input from the implementers, municipal authorities, and local environmental experts. During step 4 of the Green Agenda methodology - Determine Trends and Develop Scenarios, the GA method includes a parallel process for urgent actions which helps participants and stakeholders to see immediate, tangible results and act as incentives for municipalities’ participation.

In total….

The First Priorities of the Strategies or so-called Pilot Projects were implemented during the Phase 5 of the development of the strategy- Implementation and evaluation. To keep the Green Agenda alive, it is necessary to conduct projects that are feeding into the aims mentioned in the Green Agenda document. After the strategy became an official municipal document, the implementation body further developed the strategies’ first priorities. They developed the identified projects in a project concept format and then a municipal task force was established to implement the selected priority. It was important to prepare a list of possible pilot projects that would visualize the solving of problems mentioned and analyzed during the process. A fundraising activity was initiated so that when the document was ready and adopted, work can begin and can show people what they were working for. It was very useful to run such small projects with concrete, visible and attractive results already during the previous steps, based on ideas and with help from the working groups

10 Visibility To create a project visibility and successful promotion of project activities and results, there was a separate component “Communication, publicity and visibility” in the frame of MCCSP. It was coordinated by a communication officer hired by MKM. All project activities and events were publicly announced and promoted through MKM website, social media (FB, Twitter, Instagram), as well as through local and national media (press releases were sent to relevant media for each event and public activity). This component has been implemented through the following activities:

 Organization and media promotion of project events (workshops; trainings; public hearings; public presentations; ribbon cuttings for UA and PP…)  Media promotion of Annual National meetings of the Environmental Organizations in Macedonia  Media promotion of Project International Conferences  Publishing Newsletters  Publishing and promotion of all Project activities and events on MKM website and social media  Development and publishing of interactive tools for project results presentation (Green Agenda online tool; online interactive map; project activities calendar)

There were also activities that were directly planned, organized, coordinated, and implemented by this component:

 MCCSP Climate Change National Campaigns  Organization and media coverage of activities for “EARTH DAY”  Climate Challenge: Your City Depends on You! “It’s up to us”  Youth Climate Change Summer Camps in Struga

11 Introduction

About Milieukontakt Macedonia

MILIEUKONTAKT MACEDONIA - Association for sustainable development

Milieukontakt Macedonia is a non-profit, civil society organization supporting the initiatives of the civil society organizations active in the field of environment, nature, and sustainable development.

Milieukontakt International registered Milieukontakt Macedonia in 2012 after 12 years of successful implementation of programs in Macedonia. Our vision is to achieve a “strong, visible, professional, self- sustainable environmental CSO movement in Macedonia, based on the principles of democracy and openness”. This means a movement that has a high visibility in society, can raise public awareness and can play an important role in policy and decision-making processes, on a local, national and international level.

Our mission and approach: Milieukontakt initiates partnerships to improve the quality of life by enhancing people’s participation in the development of environmentally sustainable societies.

Milieukontakt cooperates with international partners because environmental problems do not stop at national borders. Many of the current environmental challenges are worldwide. On local level people can be supported and learn from the experiences of others working on the same problems in other parts of the world. Milieukontakt connects people, organizations, and networks that deal with the same challenges and want to cooperate towards enhancing people’s participation in defining their own future. Milieukontakt provides people with the means and skills to use the possibilities for participation, including training, (legal) advice, assistance and seed financing. Participatory decision-making processes are essential in these partnerships. Milieukontakt focuses on the research and development of tools for participatory learning, decision-making, and project implementation.

Our strengths lie in:

 the application of methodologies to involve people in decision making and implementation processes  capacity building through mobilization of participants’ knowledge and skills in training sessions  advise and coaching of networks for sustainable development

Milieukontakt Macedonia is a part of Milieukontakt International Network

Milieukontakt International is a network of organizations, committed experts and trainers in Europe and Asia. We believe that public participation and stakeholder involvement are essential to achieve result in projects for sustainable development.

We operate from 20 countries in Europe and Asia supporting citizens to improve their quality of life through the principles of sustainability: (1) A healthy environment, (2) Social justice and (3) Economic prosperity.

12 Description of the project

Aim: The primary objective of the Municipal Climate Change Strategies Project is: Municipal Stakeholders Better Prepared to Manage Local Climate Change Challenges.

Period: September 26, 2012 – February 28, 2017

Funder: United States Agency for International Development - USAID

Themes: Climate Changes; Democratic government, strategic planning; capacity building; public participation

Budget: The total budget of the project is estimated at $2,800,000 which will be implemented in ten municipalities.

3) Improve Local Democratic Processes;

‐ increased civic activism;

‐ more responsive local governments;

‐ increased cooperation among CSOs, citizens, and local governments; and

‐ Increased CSO involvement in policy and oversight.

4) Increase Capacity to Adapt to Climate Change.

‐ improved local policy environment for climate change;

‐ reduced emissions of greenhouse gases by municipalities;

‐ increased resilience of stakeholders to climate change; and

‐ Increased citizens’ awareness of climate change.

Approach: The project addressed both the need to strengthen civil society and the need to raise awareness, boost activism, and bolster local resilience to global climate change. Using an innovative methodology called the Green Agenda method (GA), this project managed to bring together stakeholders, including CSOs, citizens, the private sector, and municipal authorities, to develop a consensus-based strategies and action plans to address adaptation to climate change and mitigation of its effects.

13 Project Partners and main stakeholders

Municipalities ‐ Municipality of Pehcevo

‐ Municipality of Delcevo

‐ Municipality of Vinica

‐ Municipality of Bogdanci

‐ Municipality of Prilep

‐ Municipality of Mavrovo Rostushe

‐ Municipality of Tearce

‐ Municipality of Bogovinje

‐ Municipality of Krivogashtani

‐ Municipality of Studenicani

CSO partners

‐ Ambrozija Association - Pehcevo

‐ Regional Advocacy Center – Delcevo

‐ Agro Vinka - Vinica

‐ Polymath 13 – Bogdanci 1

‐ Center for Civic Initiative – Prilep2

‐ Association for Local Rural Development - Skopje3

‐ Krste Jon - Struga4

‐ Center for Education and Development – Tearce

‐ Karshiaka – Studenicani

‐ Rural Development Network RDN – Skopje5

1 Polymath 13 is a new established NGO as a result of the Green Agenda Process implemented in Bogdanci. 2 Center for Civic Initiative - Prilep was partner NGO responsible for the implementation of the process in two municipalities – Krivogashtani and Prilep. 3 Responsible for the implementation of the process in Bogovinje Municipality 4 Responsible for the implementation of the process in Mavrovo Rostushe Municipality 5 RDN Skopje, initiatied the process in Bogdanci Municipality, and after the Polymath was established they transferred this responsibility to the local NGO 14

Project Management

Project setup

One of the first tasks for the project implementation was setting up the project management structure, project staffing, administrative registration of the project as well as procurement of the necessary equipment needed for project implementation.

During the first trimester of the project staff had to ensure all administrative procedures are in place and comply with the recommendations and requirements from the USAID Pre-award assessment. During this period, the following documents were prepared:

 Milieukontakt Macedonia Business Plan 2013  Milieukontakt Macedonia Sustainability plan  Milieukontakt Macedonia Procurement Policy - revised  Milieukontakt Macedonia – Cost Allocation Methodology – revised  Milieukontakt Macedonia – Travel and Per Diem Policy - revised  MCCSP Project work plan 2012-2013  MCCSP Performance Monitoring Plan

For the needs of the project management, a web based software has been developed, and the entire project management procedures, human resource management and tasks implementation monitoring has been transferred to this online tool.

For effective project implementation regular coordination meetings and staff meetings, were scheduled and organized - weekly staff meetings were held and monthly meetings with the trainers and regular by- weekly coordination meetings were held with the USAID AoR.

The office was fully operational after the Procurement of Equipment and furniture was finished.

The goal of the Project Management component during the first project year was to ensure smoot project start up and building strong interpersonal relations among the project staff.

During the second project year, after coordination and analysis, changes in the project staff were made. The change of staff was natural process since, the work dynamics was established and the results of the yearly evaluation of project staff showed that some positions need change and some positions need shifting. The financial officer position had a temporary replacement because of maternity leave. All the changes during project implementation were communicated and approved by the AoR.

Implementation and management

After the successful project startup, the goal of the project management was shifted from building strong interpersonal relations among the project team to building strong project image to the public and to the target groups. This included strong communication activities, coordination meetings with the municipal administration, the Mayors, the project CSO partners, media etc.

15 At the same time the procurement procedures for project monitoring and survey company was finished and the baseline assessment was conducted. Al procurement procedures for service providers were finished.

The project staff was prepared for successful implementation of the activities as well as for successful communication with project partners and target groups.

The implementation of all activities under this component, as well as with the other project components, was divided into three separate timely divided rounds. The reason for this was the limited budget and time of the project at the very beginning of the project – aiming at smaller target group.

After the project was extended than a new strategy was developed and implemented. All activities were divided into three rounds, starting with nearly one year time difference.

The third round of municipalities started the full process at the end of the third project year, after a separate call for applications, where a participation of 50% in the implementation process was required. Two Municipalities were selected for the third round: Delcevo and Prilep.

This dynamic of implementation was kept during the entire project lifetime.

16 Project components

Green Agenda Methodology – Component 1

Introduction The Green Agenda component of the USAID MCCS Project is the central activity that connects all other components and provides sustainability of the project and the project results.

The component implementation started at the beginning of the project and continued throughout the entire project lifetime.

The component implementation was a great challenge for the project team since it linked and networked all project stakeholders and produced results that are directly connected with the successful implementation of other project components.

The Methodology The centerpiece of the project is the participatory Green Agenda method (GA), created by Milieukontakt International, a Dutch NGO that worked capacity building, citizen involvement, and environmental problem solving for over 20 years. The GA is used to develop and implement local sustainable development strategies and plans through active involvement of local community members.

The GA achieves its goals through a 5-stage, 14-step process.

Stage One - Initiation and Preparation: The implementer identifies existing strategies and documents to understand the policy and legal environment in which the Green Agenda will take place. This is needed to ensure that the GA does not develop in isolation and to conduct a stakeholder analysis.

Stage Two - Preparation to Work in the Communities: The method is explained; local values are identified and prioritized by stakeholders during initial public meetings.

Stage Three - Detailed Analysis of Key Issues in Working Groups: GA Working Groups are developed in a series of workshops and the community is prepared to take part in participative strategy development meetings. WGs identify trends on community life and values, set minimum standards that describe the types of impacts that stakeholderс are willing to accept in relation to community values; point to the existing problems; seek to identify the potentials and opportunities that can be used to address the problem causes.

Stage Four - Synthesis and Planning: WGs begin prioritizing and are now ready to begin developing strategic plans that will build local government’s capacity to effectively respond to climate-related changes. After municipal council adopts strategies and action plans are developed, each council will select a body responsible for strategy implementation that will monitor the implementation process and implement at least one strategic priority.

17 Stage Five - Pilot Projects: Design and implementation of pilot projects and urgent actions that allow stakeholders to see immediate, tangible results and promote municipalities’ participation. Such urgent actions may include, but are not limited to building support walls to prevent landslides or soil erosion, building river-bed regulation facilities to better drain water and prevent flooding during torrential rains, or converting public buildings using green technologies. Other urgent actions or pilot projects might include improving soil quality and halting erosion, both projected to increase under climate change, by introducing better land management techniques; restoring wetlands and re-introducing indigenous vegetation to absorb water; and replanting high slopes to prevent mudslides.

To make these strategies and urgent actions both relevant and sustainable, they must be generated by stakeholders in conjunction with input from the implementers, municipal authorities, and local environmental experts

PHASE 5 PHASE 1

IMPLEMENTATION PREPARATORY

PHASE 4 PHASE 2 SYNTESIS & SCOPING DESIGN

PHASE 3

ASSESS

19 Implementation The process of implementation of the project started in September 2012. After signing the agreement, the process started with administrative preparations and completing project staff and external personnel as well as creating a detailed action plan for the first project year Sept 2012 -Sept 2013.

The implementation of the first component of the Project- The Green Agenda Method started with working on:  Adaptation of the Green Agenda Methodology,  Selection of communities and local partners, and  Organization of the National Strategy Meeting of the Environmental Organizations in Macedonia, and Project Kick-off meeting.

The realization of the activities was very closely coordinated with the other project components, especially with the Project management and monitoring and evaluation component of the project.

The adaptation of the Green Agenda methodology was initiated and preparatory activities have been implemented. It started with selection of the Climate Change Expert (CC Expert) (in close cooperation, and coordination with the Project Management), where all necessary preparatory activities have been implemented, ToR have been prepared, call have been prepared and published and selection procedure has been conducted. After the signing of the agreement with the CC expert, several preparatory meetings have been held with the ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, UNDP Macedonia, GIZ representative, and a communication has been initiated with the Ministry of Economy.

Selection of municipalities and local partners The preparations for the process of selection of partners and communities was one of the first activities of the project.

Selection process stages:  Discussion paper on the selection process and selection criteria was prepared and shared, among the project staff, USAID, and the impact evaluation team.  Final criteria and selection process has been developed  Open call for CSOs and municipalities has been prepared and published in two national newspapers, MKM website, MKM and USAID Macedonia social media pages, in Macedonian, Albanian and English language.  Workshop on explanation of the public call and criteria for participation has been organized during the National Strategy Meeting of the Environmental CSOs.  Applications have been collected, by December 31st, 2012.  In total 55 organizations have requested for project documents, by the deadline.  25 applications have been received

In general, the number of requests is higher than expected which can show that the call was very well published, and the information was well spread around the country. The number of applications received is satisfactory and expected. The geographical allocation of the applicants covers the entire territory of the country, and is equally spread.

20 The application criteria that were sent to the organizations with the application package were used and a specially designed scoring system has been developed

The criteria are divided in four groups:  eliminatory criteria;  criteria with a maximum score of 3 points;  criteria with a maximum score of 5 points; and  criteria with a maximum score of 10 points.

The process of selection of partners and municipalities started and was reported in the first quarterly report. In this reporting period, the received applications were evaluated. An evaluation meeting took place on January 10, 2013 at MKM’s premises which was attended by the following people:

1. Igor Slavkoski, Executive Director on Milieukontakt Macedonia 2. Stole Georgiev, Coordinator of Component 1 – Green Agenda Process 3. Aleksandar Karaev, coordinator of the Component 2 – Capacity building 4. Vladimir Ognjanovski, coordinator of the component 3 - Pilot Projects 5. Metodija Dimovski, CC expert 6. Jennifer Connolly, AOR, USAID

Following the evaluation criteria published in the Open Call, 12 applications were shortlisted, out of the 25 received. These 12 applications were delivered to USAID for final evaluation and selection. After USAID reviewed the proposed 12 short-listed applications, the following 8 municipalities were selected to participate in the project:

‐ Municipality of Bogovinje; ‐ Municipality of Bogdanci; ‐ Municipality of Mavrovo-Rostushe; ‐ Municipality of Tearce; ‐ Municipality of Studenicani; ‐ Municipality of Krivogastani; ‐ Municipality of Pehcevo; ‐ Municipality of Vinica;

The final selection process ended after collecting the information from baseline survey, and in open communication and discussion among the Project Management team, DTS and representatives of USAID. An evaluation meeting took place on May 13, 2013 at MKM’s premises on which, the following people attended:

1. Igor Slavkoski, Executive Director on Milieukontakt Macedonia 2. Stole Georgiev, Coordinator of Component 1 – Green Agenda Process 3. Vladimir Ognjanovski, coordinator of the component 3 - Pilot Projects 4. Metodija Dimovski, CC expert 5. Jennifer Connolly, AOR, USAID. 6. Maja Markovska, MKM 7. DTS representatives (on conference call)

Following the results from the conducted baseline survey, regarding geographical distribution of the municipalities, regarding climate change vulnerability, and ethnic and demographic distribution, following 4 municipalities were selected to be included in GA process: - Municipality of Bogdanci; - Municipality of Tearce;

21 - Municipality of Krivogastani; - Municipality of Pehcevo;

Other four municipalities should be included only in the capacity building component and public awareness campaign: ‐ Municipality of Vinica, ‐ Municipality of Bogovinje, ‐ Municipality of Mavrovo-Rostushe, ‐ Municipality of Studenicani.

The information on the selection of the first four municipalities was very much welcomed by the leading organizations and municipal authorities, and for the second group of four, after a small disappointment, the municipalities showed commitment to continue with the process as project partners. During the first activities of the capacity building process, the CSO Center for interethnic tolerance and refugees, which is Partner of the Municipality of Studenicani – shows a lack of capacities to carry out this kind of process, and an extensive Capacity building program should be conducted to prepare the organization for potential future cooperation.

First meeting with selected organizations

On May 21, 2013, the partner organizations from selected Municipalities together with the responsible trainer for each selected Municipalities and the members of Project Team, attended the first Coordination Meeting. On this meeting, the MKM Executive Director and chief of Party Mr. Igor Slavkoski gave introduction about the selection process and the requirements on the USAID project, obligation and responsibilities of the partner organization that will develop Municipal Climate Change Strategies for the selected Municipalities. On these meeting, the e-tool GA process was presented in front of participants. This e-tool was designed for project purposes only, aiming to help partner’s organization leading the GA process in their communities. The GA component coordinator presented the steps of GA process and delivered introduction for successful kick-off of the activities in the selected municipalities. During the second session of the meeting, participants developed and presented draft-action plans for next two months about their activities in communities.

Organizing meetings with the candidates for Mayors in Municipalities. During this period, the local elections were ongoing and several meetings were organized by all partner CSOs with all mayor candidates in each of our partner municipalities. Each candidate for mayor signed a memorandum of cooperation with our partner CSOs. The memorandum stated the Mayors interest to continue the cooperation with the CSO on the implementation of the Municipal Climate Change Strategies Project if he is elected for mayor. The activity was implemented very successfully and without any interference with the election process and the election campaign in our targeted municipalities.

Municipal Climate Profiles and Green House Gasses (GHG) Inventories

During the coordination meetings, the partner organizations suggested that it is necessary to have a baseline situation to be able to further measure the project impacts. As a best tool for measuring the Climate Change mitigation measures was selected the development of Municipal Climate Profiles including GHG inventories for all 8 targeted municipalities. It was identified that the project team in cooperation with the CC expert and the team of trainers, have enough experience and tools to develop municipal climate profiles and the GHG inventories. This MCP were used for the needs of the working groups during the development of the Climate Change

22 Strategy and to measure and track the project impact to the Climate indicators on a municipal level. The MCP is consisted of an GHG inventory of the municipality and analysis of the historical climate data and prediction for the future period. The GHG inventory is an accounting of greenhouse gases (GHGs) emitted to or removed from the atmosphere over a period. The Municipal GHG Inventory tool developed based on the IPCC methodology for GHG inventories was already prefilled with data corresponding to Macedonian national circumstances. The tool represents an adaptation of the IPCC tool for creation of national GHG inventories. Additionally, for the energy sector are added tables for calculating the emissions from electricity usage and heating in households and public buildings. The inventories are used to establish a baseline for tracking emission trends, developing mitigation strategies and policies, and assessing the progress. The GHG inventory of the GA municipalities was the first step taken to develop a strategy that will reduce their GHG emissions. The GHG Inventory and climate profile helped the municipalities to: ‐ Identify the sectors, sources, and activities within their authority that are responsible for greenhouse gas emissions ‐ Understand emission trends ‐ Quantify the benefits of activities that reduce emissions ‐ Establish a basis for developing a local action plan ‐ Track progress in reducing GHG emissions ‐ Set goals and targets for future reductions ‐ Implement mitigation actions based on the GHG inventory

After receiving the questionnaires from municipalities, the Climate Change experts engaged for the project started to analyze and evaluate the received data. Using standardized methodology for calculation, the CC experts assessed for the first-time Carbon Footprint in Municipalities of Bogdanci, Krivogastani, Pehcevo and Tearce. The GHG inventories were for a first time presented in October 2013 during the National Strategy Meeting of the Environmental CSOs in Macedonia. The first stakeholder meetings

After the selection of municipalities, the first meetings with the partner CSOs and Mayors, and development of the MCP and GHG Inventories, the field work of the GA process included site-visits and meetings were organized in each municipality to coordinate start-up activities for GA process. In addition, second coordination meeting was held at premises of MKM in Skopje. At the meeting, the GA process coordinator with local coordinators discussed and evaluated the progress of the implementation GA process in the municipalities and developed a plan for the implementation of the GA steps in the municipalities.

To identify the community Values as one of the first steps of the preparation phase of GA process in the Municipalities, the local partner organizations prepared questionnaires to identify local values. A survey was conducted in each municipality. Based on the survey, the local partner CSOs prepared a presentation and during the first stakeholder meeting the working groups were established for each identified value:

23 Municipality of Bogdanci WG1: Vegetables and Fruits WG2: Water resources WG3: Energy WG4: Аarcheological sites

Municipality of Krivogastani WG1: Agriculture and food WG2: Local Infrastructure/ livestock market WG3: Water resources

Municipality of Pehcevo WG1: Water Resources WG2: Energy Efficiency WG3: Agriculture and Rural Development

Municipality of Tearce WG1: River Bistrica and Water Resources WG2: Local Agricultural products and food WG3: Shar mountain Hills and fauna.

Municipality of Bogovinje WG 1: Biodiversity and agriculture WG 2: Local infrastructure WG 3: Water resources

Municipality of Mavrovo I Rostushe WG 1: Tourism, culture, and public facilities WG 2: Water and water resources WG 3: Biodiversity

Municipality of Vinica WG 1: Water and water resources WG 2: Forests and biodiversity WG 3: Agriculture and food Municipality of Studenicani WG 1: Water and water resources WG 2: Forests and biodiversity WG 3: Agriculture and food

Municipality of Delcevo WG 1: Mountain Golak WG 2: Agro Industry WG 3: Cultural Heritage of Delcevo WG 4: Water and Water resources Municipality of Prilep WG 1: Local infrastructure and public buildings WG 2: Water resources WG 3: Agricultural Lands WG 4: Forests and forest belts

Organization of FIRST STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS is a second step of GA process. The first step of the GA process was mapping of stakeholders, community values and local relevant documents. Each partner organization made a list of stakeholders, conducted a questionnaire for identification of local community values, and reviewed all relevant local documents (such as adopted strategies, regulations, etc.).

The project implementation plan has timely divided the implementation of the process in three different rounds. Accordingly, all the activities concerning the timing of the implementation of the process was in three different rounds:

For the round one Municipalities:  11.06.2013 First stakeholder meeting in Tearce. On this meeting attend 40 participants (34 male; 6 female).  12.06.2013 FIRST stakeholder meeting in Kivogashtani. On this meeting attend 68 participants (44 male; 24 female).  13.06.2013 FIRST stakeholder meeting in Pehcevo. On this meeting attend 70 participants (31 male, 39 female).  14.06.2013 FIRST stakeholder meeting in Bogdanci. On this meeting attend 92 participants (48 male, 44 female).

For the round two Municipalities:  07.05.2014 First stakeholder meeting in Vinica. On this meeting attend 165 participants (77 male, 88 female).  20.05.2014 First stakeholder meeting in Bogovinje. On this meeting attend 68 participants (40 male, 28 female).  22.05.2014 First stakeholder meeting in Mavrovo-Rostushe. On this meeting attend 37 participants (29 male, 8 female).  28.05.2014 First stakeholder meeting in Studenicani. On this meeting attend 55 participants (45 male, 10 female).

For the round three Municipalities:  23.09.2015 First stakeholder meeting in Delcevo. On this meeting attend 70 participants (34 male; 6 female)  08.10.2015 First stakeholder meeting in Prilep. On this meeting attend 40 participants (34 male; 6 female)

On each stakeholder meeting the main community values were defined and according the values 3-4 local working groups were formed, also working group coordinators were elected.

The GA process implementation

After the first stakeholder meeting has been finished and the working groups established, each working group selected a WG coordinator and prepared a working plan. The working plans included dynamics of process implementation, and this dynamic was different in each municipality. The dynamics of implementation depended on the type of working group, size of the group, occupation of the members, local conditions etc. Each WG held a series of meetings. For some of the meetings and some GA steps additional trainer or facilitator was invited to assist the WG. The period of implementation of the process was also different and usually took between 6 and 12 months to complete all GA steps.

The process implementation continued until step 12 of the methodology with support of the GA component coordinator trainers and experts.

After step 12 was finished, the process of compiling the document started. The process was consisted of compiling the material from all working groups in one document, adding geographical and historical data about the municipality, GHG inventory, providing sources for the data used in the strategy. The writing process is monitored by the Green Agenda component coordinator and the trainer.

Second stakeholder meeting

After finishing the step 12 from GA methodology for development of climate change strategies, the local partner organizations with local working group members during December 2013 -January 2014 drafted their Municipal Climate Change Strategies, based on a concept- template designed by the GA Process Coordinator and National CC Expert. In this period, there was a daily and weekly communication with the Local Coordinators.

In the second half of February 2014 Second Stakeholder Meetings in each of four Municipalities were organized where the Draft Strategic Documents were presented in front of wider local audience.

 11.02.2014 – Second Stakeholder Meeting in Pehcevo

 13.02.2014 – Second Stakeholder Meeting in Kivogashtani

 19.02.2014 – Second Stakeholder Meeting in Tearce

 24.02.2014 – Second Stakeholder Meeting in Bogdanci

For the second round of Municipalities, the second stakeholder meetings were held in the second half of 2015, except for the meeting in Studenicani, which took place one year later.

 23.12.2015 - Second Stakeholder Meeting in Bogovinje

 19.08.2015 - Second Stakeholder Meeting in Vinica

 23.11.2016 - Second Stakeholder Meeting in Studenicani

 26.10.2015 - Second Stakeholder Meeting in Mavrovo Rostushe

For the third round of municipalities, the second stakeholder meeting during the last several months of the project implementation:

 24.02.2017 - Second Stakeholder Meeting in Prilep

 22.12.2016 - Second Stakeholder Meeting in Delcevo

After organizing second stakeholder meetings the local partner organizations collected and received comments and inserted in the strategy. Also, short versions of strategies with most important points were prepared and send it to Ms. Nora Ferm (Global Climate Change Office US Agency for International Development in Washington) to review and comments. Editing and review was also done by the National

26 Climate Change expert Mr. Metodija Dimovski, and the Gender expert Ms. Neda Maleska engaged in the project.

Preparation of Reports on Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) on Climate Change Strategies

According National Environmental Legislation, all strategic documents that are prepared by National and Local Authorities or on behalf of National and Local Authorities, should prepare Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and should prepare SEA Reports, according rules and ordinance prepared by Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning (MoEPP) and adopted by Government. This report can be prepared by authorized National SEA expert by the MOEPP.

MKM in frame of the project engaged National SEA expert to review of the drafted Climate Change Strategies and to make SEA report for each of the ten Strategies. For each SEA report a public hearing was organized in each municipality.

Municipal Climate Change Strategy documents – Adopted by municipal councils

As a final stage of the documents preparation, the working group coordinators in cooperation with the project staff, and the project experts have worked in preparation of the final version of the documents.

After each CC Strategy was prepared on a stage of final draft a last round of commenting have been initiated where all project experts gave their opinion on each segment of the strategy and strategies were sent for comments to the USAID CCRD Project (Climate change resilience development project). Valuable input was received from the USAID CCRD Project, which were included in the final strategies.

The final documents were submitted to municipal councils for final review and adoption.

On behalf of the citizens that participated in the process of development Municipal Climate Change Strategies the local partner organizations submitted the final versions of the strategies to each of four Municipal Councils for final approval and adoption as an official Municipal Climate Change Strategy. Separate Municipal Council Meetings were held in Each Municipality for the adoption of the CC Strategy. • Municipal Climate Change Strategy of Pehcevo – adopted on 14 May 2014 • Municipal Climate Change Strategy of Krivogastani – adopted on 23 May 2014 • Municipal Climate Change Strategy of Tearce – adopted on 30 May 2014 • Municipal Climate Change Strategy of Bogdanci – adopted on 30 May 2014

• Municipal Climate Change Strategy of Vinica – adopted on 27 August 2015 • Municipal Climate Change Strategy of Mavrovo & Rostuse– adopted on 30 November 2015 • Municipal Climate Change Strategy of Bogovinje – adopted on 30 May 2014 • Municipal Climate Change Strategy of Studenicani – adopted on 30 May 2014 • Municipal Climate Change Strategy of Delcevo – adopted on 30 May 2016 • Municipal Climate Change Strategy of Prilep – adopted on 27 Feb 2017

27 Establishment of a local monitoring mechanism

Together with the strategic document the council adopted the proposed list of members for the Municipal Climate Change Strategy - Local Monitoring Group (LMG). The list of members for LMG were verified and formally established as the local monitoring group in each of the ten Municipalities.

Each of the monitoring groups received trainings to increase their capacities as a monitoring body and had a joint training with input from the monitoring experts Jerphaas Donner and Denis Zernovski. All the teams at the end of the training completed monitoring action plans and presented the plans to the experts and other participants. To follow up on the plans each monitoring group revised their monitoring plan and sent to Denis Zernovski for final consult and comments on the documents.

National Strategy Meeting During the lifetime of the MCCS Project, five National strategy meetings have been organized. This activity has been sub-contracted to the Macedonian Green Center, CSO that is organizing this meeting for the last 8 years. The process of organization of this event, every year has been implemented through several stages:

 Development of program description for the organization of the upcoming National Strategy Meetings (NSM),  Development of detailed scenario for the current year NSM  Coordination of the activities with the Ministry of Environment and Physical planning and UNDP, and players in the field of Climate Change in Macedonia  Organization of the event,  Media coverage  Preparation of the final report of the event.

National strategy meetings of the Environmental CSOs – 2012

In December 2012 was the first National Strategy Meeting of the Environmental Organizations in Macedonia organized within the MCCS Project. At the same time the event was used as a project Kick-off meeting.

The NSM 2012 took place in Struga, in Hotel Makpetrol, from 14 to 16 of December 2012.

In total 84 participants took part at the NSM 2012. The Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning and UNDP funded separate sessions and side events of the NSM.

National strategy meetings of the Environmental CSOs – 2013

The National Strategy Meeting of the Environmental Organizations in Macedonia in 2013, took place in Dojran from 17 to 20 of October. In total 68 participants took place, out of which 23 female and 45 male.

The Minister of Environment and Physical Planning attending the opening of the event, and also held a Q&A session with the environmental CSOs.

At a parallel session to the National Strategy Meeting, all mayors of the targeted municipalities were discussion on the developments of the Green Agenda process in their municipalities. The mayors showed open gratitude to USAID and the MCCS Project for assisting the Municipalities in combating climate change and increasing their capacities.

National strategy meetings of the Environmental CSOs – 2014

During the period of 19-21 September 2014 in Mavrovo, under organization of Macedonian Green Center, in the frame of the USAID municipal climate change strategies project, the 11th annual meeting of NGOs working in the field of environment and sustainable development was held. The meeting was also supported by the Ministry of environment and physical planning of R. Macedonia. 52 participants took place at this NSM, out of which 22 female and 30 male participants.

29 The main topics discussed during this year’s NSM were towards the organization’s involvement in the environmental processes in Macedonia. The main remarks were in direction of the conclusions of the environment chapter of European commission, as well as current problems related to major polluters, lack of human resources in department for water administration, avoidance of procedures for participation of the public when adopting strategic documents related to environment, investments in environment etc.

Coordination meeting with local partner organizations and local working group coordinators was organized at National Strategic Meeting (NSM 2014) event in Mavrovo on 20th of September 2014. On this meeting instructions and guidelines for implementation of GA process were delivered to the representatives from local partner organizations and local working groups from all 8 municipalities. Also on this meeting the expected outcomes were presented and discussed. Third coordination meeting with the Mayors of the Municipalities included in implementation of USAID Municipal Climate Change Strategies Project held on 19th September 2014 in frame of the National Strategic Meeting (NSM 2014) in Mavrovo. On this meeting attend 6 mayors and MKM team responsible for implementation of the project. The Mayors presents their satisfaction from the project implementation in their communities, stress the importance of the implementation of the defined strategies priorities for climate action in their municipalities and emphases their orientation to fully implement the Climate Change Action Plans in their Strategies.

National strategy meetings of the Environmental CSOs – 2015

In the period of 03-05.10.2015 in Hotel Izgrev in Struga, USAID’s Municipal Climate Change Strategies Project (MCCSP), in collaboration with the Macedonian Green Center, hosted the 12th annual Meeting on the Environment and Sustainable Development. The three-day meeting, started on 2nd of October, the focus was on climate change issues. This annual gathering strengthens the environment CSOs networking and joint approach towards institutions concerning Climate Change issues as well as coordination among CSOs concerning the COP21 meeting in Paris.

30 National strategy meetings of the Environmental CSOs – 2016

In the period of 28-30.10.2016 in Hotel Epinal Bitola, USAID’s Municipal Climate Change Strategies Project (MCCSP), in collaboration with the Macedonian Green Center, hosted the 13th annual Meeting on the Environment and Sustainable Development. The three-day meeting, started on 28th of October, the focus was on climate change issues. This annual gathering strengthens the environment CSOs networking and joint approach towards institutions concerning Climate Change issues as well as coordination among CSOs since the COP22 Marrakech started a week from the NSM and two representatives from MKM attended the COP.

First International Green Agenda Conference - promotion of the strategies

The first international Green Agenda Conference was held in the premises of the South East European University in Tetovo from May30 until June 1, 2014. The goal of this conference was to gather relevant representatives from the region in South East Europe such as Local and National Authorities, Civil Society Organizations, Scientific Institutions, International Organizations, and other guests to promote the project results on an international level, using the Green Agenda Methodology for development of Municipal strategies for climate changes and to establish and promote regional cooperation for join activities for combating climate change.

The conference was opened by the Minister of Environment and Physical Planning – Abdulakim Ademi, US Ambassador in Macedonia –Paul Whollers and Executive Director of Milieukontakt Macedonia – Igor Slavkoski, and the Rector of The South-East University – Zamir Dika. The conference program included session on: local climate change strategies; the Green Agenda model for development of local Climate Change Strategies; preparation of local Inventories for GHG emission; involvement of vulnerable groups in process especially women and youth; international, regional, and national efforts for combating climate change; the role and policies developed by national institutions, responsibilities of local authorities for adaptation on climate change; the role of civil participation in decision making for local sustainable development. The conference also included three panel discussions:  Panel discussion 1: The role of Local Governance in designing activities for combating climate change  Panel discussion 2: Civic initiatives and their participation in decision making process for climate change

31  Panel discussion 3: Regional approach using Green Agenda model for combating climate change

SECOND International Green Agenda Conference 2015 – Experience exchange symposium

For the aim of promoting the project activities, the Second International Climate Change Conference was held 8-10 June 2015, in Hotel Inex Gorica, Ohrid, Macedonia

Through this conference, MKM encouraged collaborative efforts and regional links in addressing climate change, fostering an exchange of best practices, as well as promoting the use of the “Green Agenda Methodology,” the project’s unique localized approach, as an effective way to tackle climate change.

The conference offered significant range and diversity of national and international participation. About 100 representatives from civil society organizations and municipal governments from Macedonia, Albania, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, Montenegro, as well as the US and the Netherlands attended the conference. Officials from UNDP, Global Environmental Fund, Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe (REC), as well as embassies and other diplomatic missions in Macedonia also participated. Academics from the fields of natural sciences, forestry, agriculture, and civil engineering, members of the Parliament, and representatives from the National Energy Agency, National Hydro- meteorological Service, the Crisis Management Center, the Protection and Rescue Directorate, Secretariat for European Affairs, and various ministries also took part of the three-day event.

The active participation of the climate change adaptation and international development practitioners and decision-makers during the conference resulted with achievement of the main goals of the event, including:

 Sharing lessons learned from USAID’s Municipal Climate Change Strategies project;  Exchange of Climate Change-related approaches and experiences;  Identifying new ways to advance urban climate resilience development in the region and encourage climate considerations in development planning and decision-making processes on local level  The three-day conference agenda offered a rich spectrum of relevant climate change topics, organized in eight Panels with more than 40 panelists in total. Topics were related to sustainable community development through strengthening the mechanisms of good governance, developing the capacity of local organizations, citizens, and public administration within the USAID MCCSP project, results from Pilot Projects and Urgent Actions, the Green Agenda Methodology, national initiatives on climate change, adaption and resilience efforts related to climate change in Europe, International Efforts in Climate Change. In addition, Panel 7 was led by two representatives from the USAID Climate Change Resilience Development Project (CCRD) from Washington DC who elaborated on the Climate Change Resilience Framework. During the Conference, the Memorandums for cooperation was signed with the two new municipalities Delcevo and Prilep, which were chosen to take part in the activities of the USAID’s Municipal Climate Change Strategies Project and develop local Strategies for climate change.

33 Third international Climate Change Conference

The International Climate Change Conference, organized for the third time in frames of the MCCSP, has become a benchmark for strengthening a multi-stakeholder approach to climate action and encouraging cooperation on joint activities to advance climate change resilience in the country and the region.

This conference brought together over 150 participants, including national and international experts, decision-makers, scientists, and practitioners in the field of climate change adaptation and mitigation, experts on sustainable development, and environmental CSOs from Macedonia and the region (Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia, Albania) to:

1) share USAID MCCSP’s achievements and results; 2) exchange climate change-related approaches and experiences; 3) identify new ways to advance urban resilience to climate change; 4) encourage climate considerations in development planning and decision-making processes on local level; 5) establish a scientific component in the climate process by promoting academic findings on climate change and their practical application.

USAID Macedonia Mission Director, James Stein, Rector of FON University, Nano Ruzin, the National Coordinator for Climate Change at the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, Teodora Obradovic Grncarovska and the Executive Director of Milieukontakt Macedonia, Igor Slavkoski gave remarks marking the opening of the three-day conference.

As the four-year MCCS Project ends on February 28, 2017, the Third International Climate Change Conference marked the closing of the project and leveraged this forum to promote the project’s results, celebrate successes, and share knowledge and experiences gained throughout the project’s lifecycle.

The conference also increased the momentum for development and implementation of converging de- carbonization pathways as discussed at COP 22 in Marrakesh. Decision-makers, CSOs, representatives from public and private sector, the National coordinator for climate change at the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, the Director of the National Energy Agency, the Head of Energy, Environment, and Disaster Risk Reduction Unit from UNDP, together with members of the municipal governments held a constructive discussion on the integrated approach and coordinated actions needed in support of the Paris Agreement.

34 In recognition of the importance of academia in climate change, this year’s conference, in cooperation with the FON University, incorporated the role of science in the climate change debate, highlighting the practical application of scientific findings on climate change through the principles of sustainable development.

Additionally, through this conference we encouraged continuation of the constructive spirit and the firm foundations laid together with our project partners to tackle local climate change challenges in the future. Experts in the field of climate change and sustainable development leaded eight Panel sessions on different topics aimed to identify new ways to creatively work together to solve local climate challenges in the future.

This conference marked the successful accomplishment of the USAID MCCS Project. The event demonstrated to the domestic and international community that the implementation of this project by Milieukontakt Macedonia strengthened the bottom-up and multi-stakeholder approach to climate action and encouraged strong partnerships among all community stakeholders on joint activities to advance climate change resilience on local level.

Bringing together local governments, citizens and CSOs the project devised effective, home-grown, locally-owned strategies to lower emissions and promote adaptation. In addition to strengthening local resilience to climate change, this project strengthened civil society by promoting civic activism and increasing the community’s commitment to partner on issues of shared concern

35 Development of Manual –The Green Agenda Methodology as a tool for development of Municipal Climate Change Strategies

After the first four municipal climate change strategies were adopted by the municipal councils and the Green Agenda process was finished in the four municipalities a final version of the Green Agenda Process Manual was developed and finalized. This new version of the process included lessons learned from the first round of municipalities implementation. It also incorporated the recommendation from the Dr. Glen Anderson and Charlotte Mack from the USAID Climate Change Resilient Development Project.

The cooperation with the USAID CCRD project was of a crucial importance for the incorporation of the climate change vulnerability assessment into the methodology. There were two visits of the CCRD team in Macedonia, a training that took place in September 2014 and an extensive online communication to finalize the methodology. After the methodology was finalized and polished, the CCRD project invited the MCCSP project team to present the methodology on the Climate change symposium in Washington DC, organized under the USAID CCRD project.

The new methodology was designed and published as a Manual on the Green Agenda for Climate change process, and it was printed and published online.

36 Capacity Building - Component

Introduction The Capacity Building component is implemented as a parallel process with the other project components. The focus of this component is strengthening the capacity of municipal administration, local CSOs and citizens. The goal is to increase stakeholders’ knowledge of climate change and to empower citizens and CSOs to take over the project and prepare them to apply their new skills and knowledge to other issues and sectors.

Implementation Project year 1 The Capacity Building started with activities during the second half of November, with the detailed activity planning, and coordination of the activities with the other project components.

The first implemented activity under this component was Selection of pool of trainers. To successfully select the new trainers and establish a good quality pool of trainers several activities have been implemented:

 Prepare call for trainers  Publishing the call in two national newsletters, MKM website and MKM and USAID social media profiles in Macedonian, Albanian and English Language.  Two rounds of interviews have been conducted and 9 Trainers have been selected out of 94 applications, 28 were selected for interviews and a second interview was organized with 12 of them.

Train the trainers

A team of trainers, selected within the project Municipal Climate Change Strategies (MCCS), participated in the Training of Trainers (ToT) program, which was conducted in two modules: - Module 1: January 19-20, 2013, and - Module 2: January 31 and March 1 at Milieukontakt’s office. The main objective of the ToT was to qualify the project’s team of trainers and to enable them to act as multipliers and support the partner municipalities and local institutions in managing local climate challenges. The first module focused on fostering exchange of experiences of participants and setting a base for creating an intensive co-operation for implementing project activities. In addition to getting an overview of the MCCS project, the participants have acquired the basic methodical-didactical knowledge for applying participatory training methods. During the second module, the local trainers have developed a standardized approach for delivery of a high-quality training and coaching for the partner institutions.

37 Needs assessment in each municipality

Trainings needs assessment was conducted in each municipality. Needs assessment questionnaires for partner municipalities and CSOs have been designed and distributed to the team of trainers. The questionnaire consists of two sections,

1) general information and main data about assessing the organizational capacity and 2) specific training needs assessment. The information gathered through the first part will be used for developing baselines for the monitoring system and the second part will serve as a base for developing detailed training plans. The detailed procedures for conducting the needs assessment were agreed with the team of trainers.

Development of a detailed training plan for each municipality

The team of trainers and the representatives of local partner organizations have established first contact and have jointly developed a draft training plan. Representatives from the municipalities were introduced to the general working plan of the capacity building component of the project. A detailed capacity building program (training plan) was developed in each of the partner municipalities with a support of the local training specialist. The training plan was developed until the end of 2013. To assure coordination between trainers, a summary of identified training topics have been developed, including the preference of each of the trainers of covering selected topics. The training plans will be used for further coaching and tailored trainings, as well as for assistance in facilitation and moderation of the GA process, meetings, public hearings etc.

Joint training to the local partners on GA methodology

The joint training of the Local partners on the GA methodology was held in Veles from March 15 to 17 2013. Representatives of eight partner organizations and the team of local trainers were introduced to the GA method and GA steps to be implemented and because of the workshop each partner CSO understands the GA process and can initiate the process in their own community

Coaching and implementation of the tailored trainings

The local trainers, in addition to providing high quality training delivery of the joint training workshops, have successfully started capacity building program in each municipality in close cooperation with the CSOs. SWOT analysis has been elaborated in each of the partner municipalities Partner organizations, both CSOs and municipalities have developed high commitment for implementing project activities. They are open for cooperation and working on the GA process and have demonstrated high interest in climate change issues.

Joint training to the local partners on Climate Change and gender participation in the CC process

2 Days Event- Joint training of the local partners on Climate Change and gender participation in the Climate Changes was held in May. Besides being introduced to main influences of climate changes the representatives of local CSO’s and partner municipalities have developed techniques on including and involving women in the decision-making processes. During the workshop, a separate session was organized on inclusion of people with disabilities, and encouraging participation in the framework of the project activities on a municipal as well as national level

Joint Training of the local partners on Facilitation techniques

Joint training on Facilitation techniques for the local partners was conducted from 24 to 26 May 2013 in Veles. Two of the local trainers have introduced the representatives of partner organizations (CSOs and municipalities) on facilitation techniques and technical aspects on working with group of citizens. The training aimed at increasing the capacity of the CSO’s and municipality administration for implementing the Green Agenda process in their municipality.

Joint Training of the local partners on Team building

Twenty-four representatives of MKM, Macedonia, local team of trainers and partner organizations participated in the Team building workshop, organized between 14-16 June 2013 in Dojran. The main objective of the Team building workshop was strengthening the team spirit and improving cooperation, for assuring more effective implementation of project activities. At the end of the workshop the participants:  have learned about the strengths/weaknesses of their team at an interaction level  have increased their awareness about importance of interpersonal communication for strengthening team effectiveness.  have been stimulated further to improve their internal communication  have initiated discussions about solving emerging issues related to project implementation

Joint Training of the local partners on Administrative procedures and Financial management

Joint training on financial management and administrative procedures for the local Partner CSO was organized on 10-12 May in Berovo. Two local trainers trained the representatives of the partner organizations and municipalities in financial management and administration procedures for implementing project activities according the Programme demands and local legislation. The training ensured that all partner CSO’s and municipalities comply with the financial procedures, improve their reporting skills, and implement activities according procedures. Numbers in 2013

39 Municipality No of number of Female Male participants meetings/ trainings Pehcevo 25 185 80 105 Bogdanci 28 230 107 123 Krivogastani 33 316 123 193 Tearce 23 252 70 182 Total 109 983 380 603 Table 1: Meetings on Green Agenda, SWOT analysis etc. outside the working group meetings and training sessions

Municipality number of number of female male meetings/ participants trainings

Pehcevo 4 56 20 36 Bogdanci 27 106 48 58 Krivogastani 3 32 7 25 Tearce 5 55 25 30 Bogovinje 2 25 8 17 Studenicani 4 38 14 24 Mavrovo & Rostusha 11 57 14 43 Vinica 3 34 16 18 Total 59 403 152 251 Table 2: Capacity building training sessions per community

Nr of Participants Female Male meetings

Facilitation 1 19 12 7 Finances 1 19 11 8 Team building 1 26 11 15 Green agenda 1 28 12 16 Gender 1 18 7 11 TOTAL 6 110 53 57 Table 3: Joint Training events on specific topics

Project year 2 Within the Capacity Building component during the second year of project implementation the capacity of local CSOs and citizens has been strengthened. Both citizens and CSOs have received training designed to develop their leadership and advocacy skills, while partner municipalities have also received training for improving their skills, which are required for successful implementation of the Green Agenda process (i.e. facilitation skills, fund raising, project management, strategic planning, administrative and financial management, etc.).

In addition to delivering training and coaching sessions to the partner municipalities according the working plan, the team of local trainers have facilitated working groups meetings and provided advisory services to NGO coordinators. To benefit from exchange of experiences and improve coordination and communication with the municipalities and partner CSOs, joint workshops have been organized covering various topics related to better understanding of climate change issues and more effective implementation of GA process.

The capacity building measures undertaken during the second year of the project, have contributed to achieving the following results:  Both partner municipalities and NGOs reported increased capacities for developing and implementing Green Agenda process.  Capacity of partner municipalities and NGOs for adapting and mitigating climate change effects has been improved  Capacity of partner municipalities and NGOs to engage in monitoring and advocacy has been improved  Participants from the communities are satisfied with both the process and the achieved results  Awareness on climate change issues has been increased among the broader public in partner municipalities  Better-managed CSOs with more sustainable, effective administrative functions.  All 4 strategies on Climate change were adopted by the Community councils.

Team of trainers At the end of the second year of implementation of the project, the performance of team of local trainers has been evaluated highly positive, by both, partner institutions and MKM team. Contracts of all the local trainers have been extended, except one who did not express interest to continue his engagement.

Training of trainers The Training of Trainers on Climate Change and Municipal Adaptation Planning, was conducted by representatives from USAID and Climate Change Resilient Development / CCRD in, from 29-31 October 2013 in the MKM offices. The aim was to train the team of local trainers to implement training on municipal adaptation strategies in the partner municipalities. The ToT workshop was attended by the local team of trainers, consultants on climate change and project staff. The MKM staff and local trainers participated in designing of the case studies, by providing information on climate changes in Macedonia, and partner municipalities.

Twenty representatives of MKM, local trainers and partner organizations were trained in CC Advanced Adaptation Measures, on a three days Training of Training event which was held in September 2014 in Strumica. The primary objective of the advanced adaptation training was to strengthen capacity of MKM staff, trainers, and representatives from the municipalities to conduct analysis of climate change vulnerability and adaptation options. This workshop incorporated considerable hands-on small group work to demonstrate advanced analytical tools that can be used in vulnerability and adaptation assessment. The training has also helped MKM to: (1) develop more

41 advanced training courses on climate change adaptation for their municipal partners and (2) support municipal partners in utilizing assessment tools to champion adaptation programming and implementation.

Workshops and coaching sessions All training/coaching events took place in the planned period. In addition to delivering training and coaching sessions and providing advisory services to partner municipalities, the trainers were given possibility to conduct joint training sessions, based on their skills and competence for the addressed topics.

Project year 2 in numbers

Municipality number of training/ number of participants male female coaching sessions

Pehcevo 13 144 27 117 Bogdanci 16 115 21 94 Kivogashtani 18 159 100 59 Tearce 9 75 75 0 Bogovinje 6 64 42 22 Studenicani 4 30 26 4 Mavrovo Rostushe 57 472 312 160 Vinica 10 120 51 69 Total 133 1179 654 525 (55%) (45 %) Table 4Capacity building training sessions per community

Table 4 shows that the average number of participants per training is nine. Despite good average gender balance (55% male and 45% female), there is a need for further increasing the participation of women, especially in the municipalities of Studenicani, Mavrovo Rostuse, and particularly in Tearce, where no a single woman has attended the capacity building activities. In the municipality of Tearce the efforts for encouraging female participation have produced no results, due to strong conservative culture, dominated by male in every segment of social life. Following their great demand and need for training, most of the workshops have been delivered in the municipality of Mavrovo Rostushe. With almost no trainings received in the past, this municipality has been neglected by the international organizations for a long period of time, which explains their high commitment and eagerness for capacity building. It should be noted, however, that due to their very low starting point, the number of trainings does not necessary correlate with the number of positive impacts and effectiveness in the process of implementation of GA.

No of Participants Female Male meetings GA methodology 1 32 21 (66%) 11 (34%)

Climate changes, mitigation, and 1 19 11 (58%) 8 (42%) adaptation

42 GA – Strategic planning, 1 24 15 (63%) 9 (38%) preparation of local strategies for cc Municipal Climate Change 1 24 15 (63%) 9 (38%) Strategies TOTAL 4 99 62 (63%) 37 (37%) Table 5Joint Training events on specific topics

The municipality of Studenicani has faced difficulties, caused by changing their partner NGO, which caused delay in provision of capacity building measures. However, their representatives showed high level of commitment, by actively participating in all joint workshops.

Also, the municipality of Bogovinje has received few trainings only, but because of different reasons. Regular attendance of every project activity shows the commitment of their representatives, but due to their broad experience in implementing projects and already existing capacity, there is a lower demand for classical training events. For that purpose, most of the capacity building measures have been delivered to them, in a form of advisory services when needed only, aiming at solving concrete problems which have been emerging during the implementation of GA.

The table also indicates differences between the intensity of implementation of capacity building measures in rural and urban communities. According to reports from local trainers, in some of the rural municipalities seasonal impacts are higher than in the more urban ones. For that purpose, more intensive support in planning is needed. Another way for addressing this issue is, when it is difficult to assure physical presence of participants, alternative communication tools to be used, such as on-line coaching for example.

The Table 5 indicates that there is higher gender balance at Joint workshops compared to individual trainings in some of the municipalities (Studenicani, Mavrovo Rostuse and Tearce), but still there is a room for improvement. For that purpose, much stronger focus in encouraging women participation is needed, especially when invitation lists are created.

Project year 3 The measures undertaken under the Capacity Building component have significantly contributed towards strengthening the capacities of local CSOs and citizens, which is particularly evident by the intensity, quality, and level of participation of their implemented activities. In addition to being supported in improving various types of skills, the partner CSOs have received assistance in their institutional and organizational development. After being introduced to main aspects of strategic dealing with the climate change issues and after acquiring necessary skills for implementation of GA in the first two years, during the third year of project implementation the partner municipalities have been exposed to more advanced topics, such as vulnerability and adaptation and mitigation measures for tackling CC, monitoring and evaluation, advanced project management skills, etc. During the analyzed period, also the gender aspect in dealing with CC has been more integrated into the capacity building measures. Both, the training, and coaching sessions continued to be tailor made based on the training needs assessments and emerging issues into the broader community context. In addition to their regular activities of

43 delivering training and coaching sessions, the team of local trainers have facilitated working groups meetings of the monitoring teams established within the GA process and aided in elaboration of Municipal Climate Change Strategies and selection of pilot projects. Aiming at further developing their training skills they also participated in Training of Trainers programs and team building events and actively participated in moderating CC related conferences and National Strategy Meeting for Environmental CSOs. Following the fact that the partner municipalities have gone through different stages of the development and implementation of GA, and to benefit from exchange of experiences and improve coordination and communication, joint workshops have continued to be organized covering various CC topics. Sharing the lessons learned has been of importance for the second group of municipalities, which have started the GA process later.

At the end of the third year of implementation of the project, the performance of team of local trainers has been evaluated highly positive, by both, partner institutions and MKM team. While continuing to be responsible for assigned partner municipalities, the local trainers also provided technical assistance to the rest of the municipalities, based on their skills and specific competences. Although it required additional coordination efforts, being responsible for one partner municipality and combining their experiences proved to be adequate model for effective capacity building. One of the trainers who have left the country has been replaced with the former coordinator of the GA component, which enabled even more intensive training measures related to implementation of the GA.

The team of local trainers participated a Team building event which was conducted after the Joint training workshop on Green Agenda in Mavrovo in February 2015.

The Training of Trainers on Climate Change and Municipal Adaptation Planning, was conducted by representatives from USAID and Climate Change Resilient Development / CCRD in, from 29-31 October in the MKM offices. The aim was to train the team of local trainers to implement training on municipal adaptation strategies in the partner municipalities. The ToT workshop was attended by the local team of trainers, consultants on climate change and project staff. The MKM staff and local trainers participated in designing of the case studies, by providing information on climate changes in Macedonia, and partner municipalities.

Workshops and coaching sessions

All training/coaching events took place in the planned period. In addition to delivering training and coaching sessions and providing advisory services to collaborate municipalities, the trainers were given possibility to conduct joint training sessions, based on their skills and competence for the addressed topics.

44 Municipality number of training/ number of participants coaching sessions

Pehcevo 4 33 Bogdanci 22 158 Krivogashtani 5 46 Tearce 9 72 Bogovinje 9 88 Studenicani 37 296

Mavrovo Rostushe 25 207 Vinica 10 114 Total 121 1070 Table 6: Capacity building training sessions per community

The table shows that the average number of participants per training remains constant compared to previous years. Following the need of some of the partner municipalities, especially those who have already implemented GA and to offset sessional effects, when assuring presence of participants at trainings can be challenging, in the third year of project implementation on-line coaching was more intensively used.

The second-round municipalities, those who has started the GA process later, received were supported more intensively, while the municipalities which have already implemented the GA process received advisory services on topics related to implementation of their CC strategies. One of the challenges for the next period is how to involve them more into both, sharing their experiences with others and increasing their skills and capacities for effective managing of the implementation of the process without external assistance.

In the reporting, period the municipality of Studenicani received highest number of training and coaching sessions, to compensate for lower involvement in the capacity building measures in the 2013-2014. Following the same logic, and aiming at providing more balanced technical assistance of all partners, the activities in the municipality of Mavrovo Rostuse, decreased since previously they were the most exposed to training and coaching.

Two new municipalities – Prilep and Delcevo – were added to the project capacity building activities. Before starting with more intensive capacity building program, first Training Needs After conducting Training Needs Assessments, they have been assigned local trainers, who will be responsible for implementation of the capacity building program. It was agreed the rest of the trainers to provide training and coaching sessions on specific topics, based on their experience and competence. The working group for Delchevo have been established in September, while the one for Prilep is planned for the first half of October.

Joint workshops Two out of four joint workshops that were planned for the reporting period have not been held, the one for climate change issues in April and the one in September with a same topic, but which was aimed at local partners from the municipalities that were added in the third round. The first one was canceled, since the local partners have meet and discussed the CC issues at the 2nd

45 International Conference on Climate Change from 8th to 10th June, in Ohrid, and the second has been postponed for November because there was a delay in setting up monitoring group od the municipality of Prilep. Joint workshop on Monitoring the Climate Change Strategies was held in Berovo from 30 October – 1 November 2014. The joint workshop was organized on request of four partner municipalities (Bogdanci, Krivogastani, Pehcevo and Tearce) for defining the role of the municipalities monitoring groups as well as standardizing the process of monitoring of the local Climate Change Strategies. During the workshop the representatives of the monitoring groups were assisted to prepare the documents, which were than submitted to the Municipality Councils before adopting the working plans and budget for 2015

Joint workshop on the new updated Green Agenda methodology and Team building - Joint training workshop on Green Agenda and Team building was held in Mavrovo from 20-23 February 2015.

The workshop was aimed at MKM staff and team of local trainers. Green Agenda manual which includes new revised GA methodology was presented to the team of local trainers. The new methodology was jointly developed with partners from USAID funded CCRD project, is about mainstreaming climate resilient development into the GA.

No of Participants Female Male meetings Monitoring of the CC 1 24 13 (54%) 11 (46%) strategies

GA methodology 1 16 8 (50%) 8 (40%)

TOTAL 2 40 21 (52%) 19 (48%) Table 7: Joint Workshops on specific topics

The gender balance is satisfactory, but for the next year the joint workshops should be organized more frequently, since they have proved to be very effective platform for joint learning and exchange of experience.

In addition to implementing regular coaching and training activities the team of local trainers have participated at the 2nd International Conference on Climate Change from 8th to 10th June, in Ohrid. At one of the panels, the local trainers, and representatives of CSOs discussed the effectiveness of the capacity building measures within the project and provided recommendations for more efficient and sustainable knowledge and experience sharing. A conclusion was derived that the understanding, awareness, and capacities to cope with climate change issues among the local actors, as well as democratic capacity of the whole society, have been significantly increased in the last few years, but, however, sustainability remains as one of the biggest challenges in the forthcoming period.

46 Project year 4 Most of the support in the last project year, has been provided through coaching sessions, mainly through providing technical assistance of partner municipalities and organizations in periodical review of implementation of the GA. Because of the capacity building program, the local NGOs and working groups responsible for coordination and implementation of the GA process are able effectively to facilitate the process. The GA process has been finalized in the municipalities of Prilep and Delcevo with support of the local trainers, who provided valuable input for the final version of the documents.

Given the GA process has been finalized in all the partner municipalities, in the reporting period the focus was on exchange of experience in addressing issues related to implementation and monitoring of the municipal climate change strategies.

In the second quarter of 2016, no classic type of training workshops was conducted, but the team of local trainers had regular contacts with their counterparts closely monitoring partner organization progress. The following topics have been reviewed on regular basis: ‐ Project Cycle Management, with focus on implementation phase and progress report ‐ Human resource management ‐ Monitoring the implementation of the municipal climate change strategies Local trainers have continued to assist the partner municipalities in planning and implementation appropriate adaptation and mitigation measures in the pilot projects, based on relevant information from the municipal climate change strategies, working groups’ outputs, and anecdotal evidence from partner organization members.

47 Achievements: The capacity building measures undertaken during the project implementation, have contributed to achieving the following results:

 Partner municipalities and CSOs reported improvement of their capacities for developing and implementing Green Agenda process.  Partner NGOs are more confident in organizing and delivering activities within the Green Agenda process. They are also actively engaged in planning and preparation of the urgent actions.  Increased capacities for successful implementation of urgent actions and pilot projects  Capacity of partner municipalities and CSOs for assessing vulnerability and adapting and mitigating climate change effects has been improved  Capacity of partner municipalities and CSOs to engage in monitoring and advocacy has been improved through gaining practical experience  The Municipal Climate Change Strategies of partner municipalities have been elaborated in a quality manner with assuring participatory approach and continuous learning.  Awareness on climate change issues has been increased among the broader public in partner municipalities  Partner municipalities are ready to share their experiences and knowledge gained through the capacity building process  M&E teams actively contribute to effective implementation of GA process and express high level of motivation to receive further coaching within the capacity building program  The capacities of the partner organization on various leadership and management skills has been significantly improved.  Better-managed CSOs with more sustainable, effective administrative functions.

Pilot Projects and Urgent actions – Component 3

Introduction

Urgent Actions

The Urgent Actions are relatively small activities that can be initiated even during the process implementation to show the possibilities of the Green Agenda and Green Agenda process. For these strategies and urgent actions to be both relevant and sustainable, it is necessary that they are generated by stakeholders in conjunction with input from the implementers, municipal authorities, and local environmental experts. During step 4 of the Green Agenda methodology - Determine Trends and Develop Scenarios, the GA method includes a parallel process for urgent actions which helps participants and stakeholders to see immediate, tangible results and act as incentives for municipalities’ participation.

For the successful implementation of this step, a detailed procedure plan for implementation of the urgent actions has been prepared. The working groups identified the needs for an urgent action and with a support of the local partner CSO and a trainer prepared an action plan with responsibilities, so that they are effective and consider all risks associated with the urgent action implementation. This process also included Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study if needed; and all permits and administrative procedures on local and national level. After the urgent action was identified and developed the program team in cooperation with USAID was selecting the urgent actions that are to be implemented.

Within MCCS Project, the implementation of the urgent actions was coordinated by the MILIEUKONTAKT Macedonia, leaded by the Pilot Projects component coordinator Mr. Vladimir Ognjanovski. All decision on the selection of the urgent actions for each municipality have been undertaken jointly by the Component coordinator, the CoP and the USAID’s AOR. After the Urgent actions have been selected, an additional Environmental review have been conducted and the implementation could start only after approval by the USAID Bureau Environmental Officer.

49 The urgent actions were implemented through the following steps: 1. Identification and design of urgent actions  Drafting the format for the development of the urgent actions A format for the development of urgent actions has been drafted (April-June 2013) and shared with the partner organizations. On a joint meeting in Skopje the format has been explained and discussed with partner CSO’s representatives.

 Attending the First stakeholder meetings The component coordinator attended the stakeholder meetings in the municipalities and established close contacts with all working group members. The ideas for the working group topics have been discussed, as well as first ideas on the potential urgent actions.

 Meetings with the local Partner CSOs as well as members of the working groups on ideas for the potential urgent actions

The component coordinator also attended some of the working group meetings as well as kept close communication with the working group leaders and CSO representatives on the process of development and selection of the urgent actions. It was agreed that each working group will develop one idea for an urgent action and will select it with a consensus. All the ideas will be submitted to the Pilot projects component coordinator. The Climate Change expert will assess the influence of all submitted ideas and will develop indicators on the influence of each separate urgent actions towards the indicators of the PMP plan. After the CC expert opinion, a separate meeting will be held in the premises of MKM together with USAID representatives to assess and to make the final decision on the urgent actions that will be supported by the project.

 Meetings with the Mayor of the municipalities with the Pilot projects coordinator

 Presentation of concept paper formats for Urgent Actions (UA) and development of initial ideas

After the concept paper format was developed in the period April-June 2013, intensive communication between the project and the partner organizations has been in place to explain the expectations and how UA should be developed. Meetings in all the municipalities were held, where the component coordinator, together with the Green Agenda component coordinator presented to the working group members what the purpose of the concept paper is, how they should fill it out, and what kind of UA the project expects to receive. Guidance was given to the WG members about the direction they should pursue when developing their UAs.

 Collection concept papers and selection of UA

50 After the presentations, the partner organizations developed ideas for Urgent Actions (UA), which were then developed into concept papers and submitted to the project component coordinator.

The received concept papers were preliminary reviewed by the CoP, GA component coordinator and the PP component coordinator. Then they were sent for review to the CC expert in order to assess UA’s impact on climate change.

 Selection of UA

Later, the project staff together with the AOR made a selection of one UA for each of the municipalities which sent their concept papers.

 Technical design (if needed)

2. Implementation of the Urgent Actions  Selection of contractors for implementation of UA

After the selection of UA, the local partners made a detailed cost estimate of the UA, which were reviewed by the project’s consultant contractor for construction issues. Their representative made field visits to assess the cost estimates and checked them for accuracy.

For each UA an open call was announced and based on previously developed and agreed criteria, best offer was selected by a Procurement Committee established for the MCCSP and contracts were signed.

 “Environmental review checklist for identifying potential environmental impacts of project activities and processes” was developed and approved by USAID for each UA prior to the field implementation

 UA implementation (more details for each UA in the next section “Implementation”)

 UA Supervision

A Supervision company was selected and contracted for doing supervision and making final supervision report for each of the UA, based on which report the UA construction works documentation were finalized.

3. Promotion of the results of the UA  A ribbon cutting events were organized for the launch of the results of the Urgent Actions (more details for each UA in the next section “Implementation”)

 Citizens were informed about UA during the Climate Changes Campaigns

51 First Priority of the Strategies (Pilot Projects)

The First Priorities of the Strategies or so-called Pilot Projects were implemented during the Phase 5 of the development of the strategy- Implementation and evaluation. In order to keep the Green Agenda alive, it is necessary to conduct projects that are feeding into the aims mentioned in the Green Agenda document. After the strategy became an official municipal document, the implementation body further developed the strategies’ first priorities. They developed the identified projects in a project concept format and then a municipal task force was established to implement the selected priority.

It was important to prepare a list of possible pilot projects that would visualize the solving of problems mentioned and analyzed during the process. A fundraising activity was initiated so that when the document was ready and adopted, work can begin and can show people what they were working for. It was very useful to run such small projects with concrete, visible and attractive results already during the previous steps, based on ideas and with help from the working groups.

One of the most important risks of long planning processes is dissatisfaction of the participants at the end of the process if they perceive they were just talking and preparing a document and that in reality nothing will change in their community. This disappointment should be avoided at almost all costs, because it will harm the credibility of all organizations involved and will make people less open to cooperation in future. This means that it is important to focus not only on the discussions and the development of a document (which is needed as a basis for future actions) but also on the actions to follow from there. For this, concrete ideas had to be developed and elaborated and fundraising had to be done. Fundraising had to start at an early stage, as it is usually a time-consuming activity. In some cases, the municipality have assigned a budget line to Green Agenda from which pilot projects can be financed.

The municipalities were obliged to finance at least 20% of the pilot project (it was a selection criteria when municipalities were selected). In this regard, co-financing Contracts were signed with the Municipalities.

The Pilot projects were implemented through the following steps: 1. Implementation of the priority of the strategies  Identify pilot projects

As part of the strategies each municipality listed their priorities. After the Adoption of the Strategies, the working groups have continued with the activities for identification and selection of their municipal priority.

Out of the priorities listed, each of the working groups selected one from within their domain and proposed it for implementation. Out of them possible projects were indicated and have been considered for viability and whether they fit within the allocated budget. The Project staff visited the municipalities for the purposes of analysis, planning and coordination of the pilot projects selection process.

 Selection of PP

Based on all previous analysis and planning, the project staff together with the AOR selected one PP for each of the municipalities.

52  Technical design (more details for each PP in the next section “Implementation”)

 Selection of contractors for implementation of PP

After the selection of PP, the local partners or municipality or contracted company (depending on the specific action- see more details in the next section for each PP) made a detailed cost estimate of the PP, which were reviewed by the project’s consultant contractor for construction issues. Their representative made field visits to assess the cost estimates and checked them for accuracy.

For each PP an open call was announced and based on previously developed and agreed criteria, best offer was selected by a Procurement Committee established for the MCCSP and contracts were signed.

 “Environmental review checklist for identifying potential environmental impacts of project activities and processes” was developed and approved by USAID for each PP prior to the field implementation

 PP implementation (more details for each PP in the next section “Implementation”)

 PP Supervision

A Supervision company was selected and contracted for doing supervision and making final supervision report for each of the PP, based on which report the PP construction works documentation were finalized.

4. Promotion of the results of the PP  A ribbon cutting events were organized for the launch of the results of the Pilot Projects (more details for each PP in the next section “Implementation”)

 Citizens were informed about PP during the Climate Changes Campaigns

Implementation of Urgent Actions and Pilot Projects During the project implementation period, in total – 9 Urgent actions and 9 Pilot projects have been implemented. The general rule was that in each municipality one urgent action and one pilot project will be implemented. There were only two cases where this rule was not fully meet:

 Municipality of Delcevo - during the implementation of the project activities in the Municipality of Delcevo, the municipality requested to merge the Urgent action and Pilot project into one larger scale intervention. There have been several reasons for this – the short timeframe for implementation, having in mind that this was a third- round municipality, the size of the budget and the municipal co-funding which was 50 % of the total intervention budget.

53  Municipality of Prilep – where only the urgent action was implemented and the municipality failed to provide technical engineering project for the pilot project implementation so the budget for this intervention was reallocated.

In both cases the decision was made jointly after extensive consultations with the Municipality, partner CSO, MCCS component coordinator, CoP and the USAID AOR.

Municipality of Tearce

Urgent Action

Replacement of traditional street lights with energy-efficient in the public lighting system in Tearce- Measure for mitigation of Climate change

USAID contribution: 841.710 Denars MUNICIPALITY contribution: In kind: Staff replaced the old with new light bulbs and provided transport of the crew to all 13 settlements in the Municipality of Tearce

ACTIVITIES:  Procurement of new energy efficient light bulbs  mercury light bulbs removed and replaced with energy-efficient bulbs  Effective Timeline street light timers

The process of selection and development of the Urgent Action of Municipality of Tearce took several months during June-October 2013. It has been agreed that all traditional, mercury based light bulbs used in the public lighting system in 13 settlements in the Tearce Municipality that have not been replaced to date will be replaced with energy efficient bulbs. In addition, it has been decided to also replace the old timers used in the system because they do not have internal memory to remember the settings so each time a power cut happens, the settings are lost and must be reset anew. Several broken casings will also be replaced.

The procurement of materials was split from the procurement for installation to achieve better prices. In December 2013, Contracts were signed with two contractors – one for supply of the materials and another for installation of the light bulbs in the field.

A total of 1116 bulbs, 38 timers and 28 glass casings were replaced within this urgent action in the period December 2013-January 2014.

Pilot Project

Reconstruction of the Riverbed and the damaged Cut-off Walls of Ponika River in the village of Dobroshte

USAID contribution: 4.082.687 Denars MUNICIPALITY contribution: 1.020.672 Denars

54 CONTRACTOR: CEACON DOOEL Tetovo

ACTIVITIES:  Cleaning the Ponika riverbed of flood stream borne sediments  Repairing flood-damaged cascade cut-off walls to a length of about 1 km  Restoration of the existing erosion control dams  Implementation of technical solutions that help prevent water-related disasters during extreme climate events

A pilot project has finally been selected in the period January-March 2015.

The PP initially proposed by Tearce turned out not feasible. The pre-feasibility study conducted by the USAID Small Business Expansion Project showed that it is not possible to implement any of the proposed projects for improvement of the irrigation situation in the region within the available time and budget. The working groups later proposed another activity as a pilot project, which was to clean two of the rivers that pass through some of the villages in the municipality.

But after an intensive storm in August 2015 the rivers flooded and the proposed project become obsolete. Ponika river brought a large quantity of coarse grained sediments from its upper part within a very short time period posing a threat for the local population of Dobroshte village. The river bed was filled with stone blocks and sand and the flood waters caused serious damage to the public buildings downstream (houses, roads, bridges and alike). Large quantities of soil and debris completely clogged the river bed which made the project obsolete. Several international agencies got involved to assess the damages and identify possible measures that can be taken to prevent such disastrous events from happening in the future. Because of that, it has been decided to wait for all these international efforts to be complete and to select a possible project from among the actions identified by these international agencies.

After the reports of the international agencies’ in regards of assessments of the damages and identify possible measures that can be taken to prevent disastrous flood events from happening again in the future, USAID MCCSP has engaged a local expert to made assessment and give recommendation for the pilot action in Tearce. Experts from the municipality local administration were consulted by our local expert and a final report and recommendation for the action were drafted. The action will be: Drafting of a Study for Flood Risk Management in the Municipality of Tearce and reconstruction of the riverbed of river Ponika in the village Dobroshte.

During December 2015, USAID bureau environmental officer together with USAID and MCCSP staff have site visited the place for action in Municipality of Tearce to confirm the scope of the action and to get expert recommendations for the action from the USAID bureau environment officer.

Expert engaged by USAID MCCSP has prepared documentation and requests for selection of company for designing project for the action in December 2015.

55 A company for technical design of the project was selected and the technical solution was finalized and approved during February 2016.

The principal objective of the Pilot Project and its realization was to rehabilitate the part of the Ponika river course flowing through the Dobroshte village and into the immediate river basin. This has reduced the risks and minimized the damages to the populated place and its surrounding due to floods in future.

Construction company was contracted in March 2016 and the field works were finished in June 2016.

On the 27th of June, 2016 a ribbon cutting event was organized in the village of Dobroshte, in Tearce Municipality to promote the successfully implemented pilot project - completed reconstruction of the banks of the Ponika River in Dobroshte.

Photos: Ribbon cutting event in Tearce

Municipality of Pehcevo

Urgent Action

Installation of water purification filter for cleaner drinking water in Pehcevo

USAID contribution: 603.561 Denars MUNICIPALITY contribution: 76.875 Denars CONTRACTOR: Infoset DOOEL Skopje

ACTIVITIES:  Old filter removed  New filter installed with additional sand layer  New regulation valves mounted on existing pipelines  Purchased new equipment for water quality testing laboratory

This mitigation measure was selected because, by replacing the filtering layer in the filter and the equipment accompanying it in the existing filtering station, the problem of pollute drinking water will be eliminated. The measure was selected in the period April- June 2013.

56 Contractor was selected and the Action implemented in the period July-Sept 2013.

The Actions consisted of: removing existing filter filling; supply and filling with new filtering layer; mounting of regulation valves on the existing piping and supply of laboratory equipment (flocculator, PH Meter) in the purification station.

The official launch of the implemented new filter installed in the water purification station of Municipality of Pehcevo was on 11th of February 2014.

Photo: official launch of the implemented new filter installed in the water purification station of Municipality of Pehcevo

Pilot Project

Improving the energy efficiency of several public buildings in Pehcevo

USAID contribution: 5.357.921 Denars MUNICIPALITY contribution: 402.096 Denars GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT FUND-SMALL GRANTS PROGRAM contribution: 2.309.904 Denars CONTRACTOR: CIVKON AGI DOOEL Skopje

ACTIVITIES:

57  MUNICIPAL BUILDING: Thermal insulation of external walls, roof thermal insulation, replacement of doors and windows; delivery and installation of thermostatic valves  MUNICIPAL PRIMARY SCHOOL “VANCO KITANOV”: Delivery and installation of thermostatic valves  MUNICIPAL KINDERGARTEN “7th SEPTEMBER”: Delivery and installation of thermostatic valves  SPORTS HALL “JANE SANDANSKI”: Delivery and installation of thermostatic valves;  CENTRAL HEATING UNIT: Preparation of technical documentation; Construction of power station for central heating and provision of appropriate central unit which will use woodchips as fuel connection of the central unit with the facilities  Replacement of HG with LED Lights in the public lightning system

In the period April-June 2014, the First Priority of the Strategy of the Municipality of Pehcevo was selected. The technical planning and design were conducted in June-July 2014; the implementation started August 2014.

Photo: Replaced street lights in municipality of Pehcevo

The construction work of the implementation of the full pilot project in Municipality of Pehcevo has completed in November. The pilot project, contributed to improvement of the energy efficiency of several public buildings in Pehcevo. Part of the works for the project were paid by the municipality which was their cost-sharing part in the project in the amount of around $16000. The municipality participated (cost-share) by building the auxiliary building in which the boiler room equipment was housed.

Additional cost sharing was achieved by funding from the UN Global Environmental Fund – Small Grants Project (GEF-SGP) which covered the costs for installation of an additional pellet powered boiler in the central heating of the local kindergarten. The amount of cost sharing was around $20000.

Photo: New thermostatic valves

The completion of energy efficient renovations and upgrades at the municipal building, “Vancho Kitanov” primary school, “7 September” Kindergarten, “Jane Sandanski” Sports Hall, and the “Jane Sandanski” House of Culture was celebrated on 18th of December 2014.

Photo: Reconstruction of the municipal building

Municipality of Krivogashtani

Urgent Action

Replacement of roof and windows of municipal building to make it more energy efficient

USAID contribution: 1.022.480 Denars MUNICIPALITY contribution: 75.240 Denars CONTRACTOR: Gradba Group DOOEL Skopje

ACTIVITIES:  Old roof and 23 windows removed  New roof and 23 windows mounted

As energy efficiency was one of the main goals of the Municipality of Krivogashtani, they have selected this Urgent Action. The selection process was in the period April- June 2013.

The technical design was completed in the period July-Sept 2013. The contacting of construction company was conducted at the final quarter of 2013. The field works, installation of new 23 windows and the roof reconstruction of the municipal building of Krivogashtani, were finalized until January and launched on 13th of February 2014.

Photo: Legacy board in front of Municipality of Krivogastani * * All Urgent Actions had their proper marking and branding

Pilot Project

Thermic insulation and installation of a central heating system in a public building housing a local school and kindergarten

USAID contribution: 4.733.352 Denars MUNICIPALITY contribution: 1.395.066 Denars CONTRACTOR: Arshin DOOEL Skopje

ACTIVITIES:  Renovation at the “Manchu Matak” primary school by replacing the roof and windows

60  Adding a thermal facade, and installing a new energy-efficient heating system

The pilot project was selected in April 2014 and the technical design was finished until end of July 2014. The construction company was selected in August when the field works have started.

As the one in Pehchevo, it was also implemented as a join force by MCCSP and the municipality. Two Contractors were implementers, one selected by the municipality and one selected by MCCSP. The project costs turned to be higher than expected so the municipality decided to finance part of the works itself to an extent higher than the required 20% cost share. The project covered for the rehabilitation of the façade, roof and windows and for the installation of the inside installation for the central heating, while the municipality covered the costs for the boiler room.

Photo: Construction works in Krivogashtani

All works in the implementation of the pilot project in Krivogashtani were completed in October. The Municipality contributed with around $30,000 in the costs for the construction of the boiler room and the boiler room equipment.

61 Photo: The new façade of the school building in Krivogashtani

The launch of the pilot project result was on 4th December 2014 as a ribbon cutting event.

Municipality of Bogdanci

Urgent Action

Thermal isolation of the roof construction of the public kindergarten “Kosta Pop Ristov-Delchev” in Bogdanci

USAID contribution: 840.000 Denars MUNICIPALITY contribution: 78.786 denars CONTRACTOR: CIVKON AGI DOO Skopje

ACTIVITY: A layer of thermal insulation added in the roof of the kindergarten

This Urgent Action was selected because the energy lost in winter and heating in summer were very high as there was no any thermal isolation at the roof of the kindergarten previously.

The Measure was selected in the period May-June 2013; the technical designs for the works were conducted in Jul-Sept 2013; the construction company contracted in October 2013. The field works were completed by the end of 2013.

The official launch of the results of the action was on 6th of February.

Photo: Official launch of Thermal isolation of the roof construction of the public kindergarten “Kosta Pop Ristov-Delchev” in Bogdanci

Pilot Project

Construction of new water supply tank

USAID contribution: 6.142.129 Denars MUNICIPALITY contribution: 1.132.244 Denars CONTRACTOR: AnolImpeks DOOEL Skopje

ACTIVITIES:  Elaborate on environmental protection  Earthworks  Pipeline  Concreting and reinforcement works  Insulation works  Installation works

The pilot project was selected in the period April-June 2014. The aim of the selected pilot project in Bogdanci was to build a new water tank to improve the water supply to the Bogdanci residents who experience low water pressure and insufficient quantity of water supply in the periods of high summer temperatures and low precipitation. To start the project design and implementation, the Municipality had to provide all the necessary approvals and permits that need to be issued. This process took more than 6 months, so the tender for construction company has started in December 2014 and the construction works at the beginning of February 2015.

Photo: construction activities for the water supply tank in Bogdanci

All works were completed in April 2015, but the project finalization was postponed because the supervising consultant needed to assess the implemented excess works, that were unforeseen in the original bill of quantity. Due to an error in the project design prepared by the Municipality, large quantities of soil were excavated, the quantity of which had to be measured to close all project documents. The municipality

63 people disputed the truthfulness of the final quantities presented and requested additional examinations to be performed. The examinations showed that the measured quantities are even larger than reported by the contractor. The mayor again requested additional examinations, this time to be performed by a specialized Court Forensics Bureau. The results from this investigation were expected in order a final decision to be made as to how the extra costs are to be distributed among the project and the municipality and what the final cost share of the municipality will be. The results from this investigation have confirmed the measured quantities. The Municipality of Bogdanci has officially refused to share the additional cost, so the final payment was made by USAID MCCSP. The total cost made by MCCSP was in accordance with the project budget. The final project documentation was issued in February 2016 by the project Supervision after what the water supply tank with a capacity of 500 cubic was officially handed to the Municipality and putted into function on 18th of April 2016.

Photos: Official handling of the new water supply tank from USAID MCCSP MKM to Municipality of Bogdanci

Municipality of Vinica

Urgent Action Cleaning and regulation of “Kajanecki dol” ravine in the village of Istibanja

USAID contribution: 881.460 Denars CONTRACTOR: VIA Inzenering DOO

ACTIVITIES:  Engagement of machinery for cleaning and disposal of sediments from the valley  Adaptation of the valley for the purpose of protection against floods and terrestrial sediments  Consolidation and protection of the local road in the vicinity of the valley to increase the security of local houses

Municipality of Vinica has prepared the concept papers and proposed urgent actions for their municipality in the period April-June 2014. But, upon more detailed analysis of the proposed urgent actions in Vinica, it turned out that none of the proposals were viable – they were either significantly outside of the available

64 budget or impossible to implement within the time envisaged for the urgent actions. It was therefore decided to perform the selection process in Vinica all over again and select completely new urgent actions.

The Urgent Action selected in the Municipality of Vinica was cleaning and leveling of the “Kajanec” ravine in the village Istibanja. The contractor for the Urgent Action has been selected in the period October- November 2014 and the implementation started right after the Environmental Review Checklist was approved by USAID, which has taken a little longer because the USAID environmental team suggested few actions that the municipality should do in the future. The MKM team started checking whether these can be implemented within the current urgent action.

Construction of culverts and gabions was suggested in order to make the river bed cleanup and forming more sustainable. The municipality of Vinica agreed to fund the extended activities for procurement and placement of gabions as well as construction of three small bridges across the ravegne. The contractor was asked to submit a quote for these activities which the municipality decided to pay for.

The implementation of the first stage of the Urgent Action (cleaning of the Kajanecki Dol ravine) has started in the period April-June 2015. Because the estimated value of the second, expanded part of the project, was above €15.000 threshold, according to MKM’s Procurement Manual, it was necessary to conduct a full procurement procedure with publication of a call in national newspapers. After the procurement procedure has finished, the municipality didn’t manage to agree with the company on the payment schedule, and this part was never finished.

The implementation of the MCCSP part of the Urgent Action, cleaning of the Kajanecki Dol ravine has been finalized in November 2015.

The Municipal obligations for this urgent action were not fully implemented. Because of this the second phase of the intervention – gabions placement and construction of the bridges was not implemented by the municipality and this makes the sustainability of the results not certain, due to the exposure of the revenge to erosion.

65 Photo: Field works in “Kajanecki Dol” / The Mayor of Vinica visiting Kajanecki Dol

Pilot Project

Regulation of Osojnica riverbed Downstream and Upstream the Bridge over Osojnica river in Jakimovo Village

USAID contribution: 4.341.524 Denars MUNICIPALITY contribution: 1.085.381 Denars CONTRACTOR: CVET- KOMPANI DOOEL Studenicani

ACTIVITIES:  Restoration of the flood-damaged banks of the Osojnica river downstream and upstream the bridge in Jakimovo village  Protection of the bridge structure from river-borne debris  Repairing flood-damaged cascade cut-off walls  Erosion control measures  Clearing the riverbed of trees

The PP was selected in October-November 2015. During December, USAID bureau environmental officer together with USAID and MCCSP staff have site visited the place for action in Municipality of Vinica. The goal of the visits was to confirm the scope of the action and to get expert recommendations for the actions from the USAID bureau environment officer. After that, expert engaged by USAID MCCSP has prepared documentation and requests for selection of company for designing construction project for the actions. Company for technical design of the project was contracted in January 2016 and the technical design was communicated and approved by USAID bureau environmental officer during February-March, after what a construction company was selected and contracted. ERC was prepared and approved by USAID. But, although the construction company has been selected and contracted, the field works were postponed. The reason was administrative preparations for the action- permits by the Ministry of environment and physical planning and by the Water management company that had to be issued prior to the field works. The procedure for issuing these permits took several months. On 11.06.2016, prior to the field works start, the MCCSP’s team, together with the local partner organization Association of Women Farmers AGRO-VINKA Vinica, organized a public presentation of the main project of the flood prevention measure in the Municipality of Vinica “Regulation of Osojnica riverbed downstream and upstream the bridge over Osojnica river in Jakimovo village”, identified as one of the top priorities in the fight against climate change in Vinica, by the local stakeholders involved in the MCCSP’s Green Agenda process. This presentation was organized on local stakeholders request. At the public presentation the local population in Vinica was informed about the specific activities that are part of the technical solution for the ongoing pilot project in frames of USAID’s MCCSP, including: Protection and stabilization of the Osojnica riverbed downstream and upstream the bridge in Jakimovo village, protection of the bridge structure, erosion control measures and clearance of the river bed.

Photo: Public Presentation of the PP in Jakimovo, Municipality of Vinica

The public presentation was attended by local citizens and local media. After the meeting, a visit was organized to the bridge over Osojnica River in Jakimovo village. After all administrative preparations for the action- permits by the Ministry of environment and physical planning and by the Water management company were issued, the work on field have started.

Photo: from the field works in Osojnica River v. Jakiumovo

Photo: Osojnica River v. Jakiumovo, Ribbon cutting event

67 The project results were launched at ribbon cutting event on 6th of October 2016. By allocating the leftover funds from the pilot project in Prilep and supporting additional financial commitment from the municipality of Vinica we have completed the implementation of all the phases of the pilot project arrangement of riverbed of river Osojnica downstream and upstream of the bridge on the river in the village Jakimovo, Municipality of Vinica.

Municipality of Bogovinje

Urgent Action Cleaning of the Riverbed in Pirok, Kamenjane and Palchiste and planting trees around them

USAID contribution: 1.108.569 Denars MUNICIPALITY contribution: 396.598 Denars CONTRACTOR:Fedzo Company DOOEL, Slatino

ACTIVITY:  Cleaning of the river bed in Pirok, Kamenjane, Palchiste  Replanting trees along the riverbed

The action was selected in the period April-May 2014. The action consisted of cleaning up of several river beds and planting trees around them in order to prevent future flooding of the area around the river beds. The procurement process was completed and a contractor selected in the period July- August.

The works, initially planned for completion in October were delayed due to bad weather and were finished in December. The municipality has contributed in the urgent action with around $7000, by covering the costs for cleaning of additional parts of the river bed in Kamenjane and planting additional trees around the river.

The ribbon cutting event happen on 19th of February 2015.

Photo: Field works, UA in Bogovinje

Pilot Project Procurement and installation of water meters for Municiaplity of Bogovinje

USAID contribution: 4.503.209 Denars MUNICIPALITY contribution: 2.712.727 Denars CONTRACTOR: CMC EKOKON DOO Skopje

ACTIVITIES:  Delivery and installation of 2.800 water meters in households in the above- mentioned settlements

The pilot project was selected in October 2015. Main reasons for selecting this particular priority were the need of the municipality for rational use of water, water supply 24 hours and reducing the additional cost of citizens (for installation of hydrophones, water wells, tanks etc). The procurement procedure for 2800 water meters for the municipality of Bogovinje (settlements of: Kamenjane, Pallçishte, Kallnik and Siniçane) was successfully conducted and a company was contracted at the 1st quarter of 2016. The water meters were branded and the delivery started as soon as USAID approved the ERC. The delivery was done based on agreed schedule among MKM, the Municipality and the company. It started in April 2016 and finished in September 2016. Municipality of Bogovinje co-financed part of the water meters, as well as the full installation of the 2800 water meters. The ribbon cutting ceremony of this pilot project was held on September 16th 2016 with the presence of US ambassador His Excellency Jess Bailey.

Photo: ribbon cutting ceremony in Bogovinje

Municipality of Studenichani

Urgent Action

Renovation of the Municipal Storage Tank for Drinking Water in Studenicani

USAID contribution: 1.468.587 Denars CONTRACTOR: BIBAJ KOMPANI Tetovo

ACTIVITIES:  Sanding, plastering, and waterproofing internal walls, floor, and ceiling;  Mounting window sills;  Installing electrical sensors to measure and control water levels  Upgrading and maintaining the water reservoir infrastructure (lights, security, cleaning)  Acquisition and installation of drinking water distribution pipes to end users  Putting up a fence around the facility

Preliminary plans for the UA in Studenichani were made in the period July-September 2014 and the action was selected in October 2014. It was expected to be implemented in the first quarter of 2015. However, it turned out that the project proposal was incomplete and budget estimates were not realistic. A project deign company was hired to draw the project design. The project designs were ready in April 2015, after what a contractor selection procedure was initiated and contractor selected. The field works started in July and ended in October 2015.

Photo: Urgent Action in Studenichani

70 On the 14th of October, the completed urgent action - renovated municipal drinking water reservoir and its accompanying equipment in the village of Studenicani was promoted in a ribbon cutting ceremony organized by the MCCSP staff.

Photo: Ribbon cutting event in Studenichani

Pilot Project Management of floods and erosion in the central area of the village Studenichani- Rehabilitation of the riverbed of Meriz River and landslide prevention in Studenicani Village

USAID contribution: 4.472.289 Denars MUNICIPALITY contribution: 1.098.106 Denars CONTRACTOR: BIBAJ KOMPANI Tetovo

ACTIVITIES:  Reconstruction of collapsed support walls that line the riverbed of Meriz river  Rehabilitation of major landslide in the upper part of the village through: geotechnical investigations to determine the reasons for the landslide; erection of a four-meter high gabion wall in the lower part of the slope to stabilize the landslide; slope inclination  Design and installation of a drainage concrete channel with steel grid cover in the asphalt road, as well as a drainage system to collect storm water and channel it through a pipeline to the Meriz River

Photo: Constructed support wall for landslide prevention in Studenicani

71 The first priority of the Strategy of the Municipality of Studenichani was selected in October-November 2015. In the central part of the village Studenichani, an instability of the terrain appeared on the right bank of the river Meriz which threatens the road and several residential houses. Also, the river is in danger to be filled with landslide material which may cause floods in that part of the village. A company for technical design of the project was contracted in January 2016 and the technical designs were approved by MKM and USAID in April-May 2016, prior to the announcement of open call and of construction company in May-June 2016. The field works started in July, as soon as USAID approved the ERC. The project was finished in September and the official launch of the results of the action was on 28th of September 2016.

Photo: Ribbon cutting event in Studenichani

Photo: Prof. Steve Mc Nulty form US Forestry Services visits the pilot project intervention in Studenicani

Municipality of Mavrovo and Rostushe

Urgent Action Energy efficient adjustment of the municipal building

USAID contribution: 1.133.564 Denars MUNICIPALITY contribution: 189.000 Denars CONTRACTOR: Altea Palanka DOOEL Kriva Palanka

72 ACTIVITIES:  Building an energy efficient facade of the municipal building  Replacing the old dilapidated wooden windows with new energy efficient PVC five-chamber windows  Reconstructing the roof structure of the municipal building

Municipality of Mavrovo & Rostushe has prepared the concept papers and proposed urgent actions for their municipality in the period April-June 2014. After approving the concept and technical design, as well as the ERC in July-August 2014, the field works were completed in September 2014.

With the Urgent Action in Mavrovo and Rostusha, the energy efficiency of the municipality building was improved, trough thermal insulation of the external walls and replacement of windows in the municipality building. The action was completed with the municipality sharing the costs for the Action with around 20% of the total costs, or around $4000.

Photo: New windows of municipal building of Mavrovo and Rostushe Pilot Project Rehabilitation of the Landslide in Prisojnica village, Construction of retaining walls for protection against landslides

USAID contribution: 4.373.123 Denars MUNICIPALITY contribution: 1.006.070 Denars CONTRACTOR: CEACON DOOEL Tetovo

ACTIVITIES:  Stabilization of two major landslides in Prisojnica village by building support walls to stabilize the main roads  Construction of a drainage channel in the area above the landslides to change the pattern of rainwater and prevent future landslides

The First priority of the Strategy of Municipality of Mavrovo and Rostushe was selected in October 2015. During December 2015, USAID bureau environmental officer together with USAID and MCCSP staff have site visited the place for action in Municipality of Mavrovo and Rostushe. The goal of the visits was to

73 confirm the scope of the action and to get expert recommendations for the actions from the USAID bureau environment officer. Expert engaged by USAID MCCSP has prepared documentation and request for selection of company for designing construction project for the actions.

Photos: Construction works in Municipality of Mavrovo and Rostushe

A Company for technical design of the action was contracted in January 2016. The detailed project designs were communicated and approved by USAID bureau environmental officer in March/April 2016. The action is “Rehabilitation of the Landslide in Prisojnica village by construction of retaining walls for protection against landslides”. This action was selected because at the entrance of the village Prisojnica, an instability of the terrain appeared which threatens the main road and one of the local streets. For that reason, it was necessary to adopt measures for rehabilitation in order to stabilize the landslide mass. In the period, May-June, open call for selection of constructing company was announced and a compony was contracted. In parallel, the ERC was preparade and approved. Тhe pilot project “Construction of retaining walls for protection against landslides in the village Prisojnica” was finished in September 2016. By these construction works in this municipality the community of Prisojnica has solved a big issue with the landslides. This construction undertaking was very demanding but has brought excellent results for the whole municipality and helped to minimize the consequences of the snows and rains in this municipality. Concerning the fact that this is a territory of a national park with strict construction procedures, we are very satisfied and proud of the work done in this municipality. Ribbon cutting ceremony for this pilot project has happen on October the 3th with presence of USAID Mission director Mr. James Stein.

Municipality of Prilep

Urgent Action + Pilot Project Revitalization of the old water wells in Prilep Considering the timeframe for implementation of PP and UA in the third-round municipalities and the priorities of the WG in the municipality of Prilep and after consulting USAID MCCSP staff a mutual decision was to combine the PP and UA in one action.

MR. Mike Kamiya, USAID Bureau Environmental Officer for Europe and Eurasia on his visit on site in Prilep on 9th of May 2016 also recommended a joining of the PP and UA.

74 On a meeting at the public water management company in Prilep on 25th of May 2016 a draft implementation plan was developed. The biggest concern for implementation was the time limit for developing construction plan and collecting the necessary permits for the reconstruction of the pipeline of the old water wells in Prilep. After few months of planning and trying to finish and deliver the planning and permits (in the period July- September), the project team together with municipal representatives from Prilep decided to divide the project in 2 phases. - Rehabilitation of old city springs of Prilep - Reconstruction of the pipeline of the old water wells in Prilep

For the first part of the project, reconstruction of the old water wells in Prilep the procedures of selecting construction company was finished in August 2016 and the implementation ended in the 1st quarter of 2017, at the end of the MCCS Project. The second stage of the project was not implemented, since municipality of Prilep didn’t completed the documentation, planning, and permits in the timeframe of the Project. In coordination with AOR and based on availability of funds and documents MKM started with completing another phase of the pilot project in Vinica. Rehabilitation of old city springs of Prilep

USAID contribution: 550.840,00

MUNICIPALITY contribution: 550.840,00

The purpose of the Project for rehabilitation of water catchments of old city springs in Prilep is to provide protection of these springs from external influences and to obtain additional quantities of clean drinking water for the City of Prilep. Water catchments of the old city springs in Prilep were built in 1947 as a main source of drinking water for the citizens. It is a network of 5 springs connected with a pipeline to a centered gathering tank where the water is checked, purified if necessary and distributed into the city main pipeline network. The springs were main source of drinking water for Prilep until 1983. In 1983 Prilep was connected to the regional water supply system Studencica. Since 1983, mostly due to the lack of finances, the springs have not been reconstructed. Now, there is water loss of these springs of about 65 to 70% due to the bad conditions of the catchment basins including pipelines from springs to the collecting chamber. There is a risk of worsening conditions that could lead to completely losing the spring water supply, which would further decrease the supply and quality of the drinking water for Prilep.

75 Photos: the new fencing of the old Prilep wells

And for the second stage of the project, since municipality of Prilep didn’t completed the documentation, planning, and permits to implement activities to complete the planned pilot project, in coordination with AOR and based on availability of funds and documents MKM started with completing another phase of the pilot project in Vinica.

Municipality of Delchevo

Urgent Action + Pilot Project Construction of Sewerage and Pavement of Street in the Settlement “MilkovoBrdo”

Construction of sewerage USAID contribution: 3.300.000 Denars LOCAL COMMUNITY contribution: 1.734.792 Denars Pavement of “PituGuli” Street in Delcevo LOCAL COMMUNITY contribution: 5.093.659Denars CONTRACTOR: AK INVEST DOOEL Tetovo

ACTIVITIES:  Construction of independent pipeline system with reinforced concrete shafts  Cutting and excavation of the existing asphalt  Excavation of the ground bed of the channels and embedding PVC pipes  Building the shafts  Covering the pipes with dirt material, sand (different fractions), under mechanical compression  Asphalting part of the streets “Gjorche Petrov” and “Vera Jocic”

Photos: from the construction activities in Delcevo

Initially the urgent action was selected in January-February 2016. After consultation made with experts, including USAID bureau environmental officer, a decision has been made that the urgent action and pilot project in Municipality of Delchevo will be implemented as a join action: construction of sewerage in

76 settlement Milkovo Hill, Municipality Delchevo, with a main goal “To increase the capacity of Delcevo to adjust to climate change and to moderate the potential damages, caused by floods.” The technical design of the action- construction of sewerage in settlement Milkovo Hill, Municipality Delchevo, was prepared by the municipality. During July-August, the open call for construction company was prepared and announced and construction company was contracted.

The construction has started in September and the activities finished mid November 2016. This was a joint undertaking of the municipality of Delcevo with great financial contribution from USAID MCCSP and EU. Nearly a quarter of the town of Delcevo is part of this great infrastructural project that will solve the rain water problems of the municipality.

The ribbon cutting ceremony in Delcevo was on 25th of January 2017.

Achievements

Municipality of Tearce

Urgent Action Replacement of traditional street lights with energy-efficient in the public lighting system in Tearce- Measure for mitigation of Climate change  1116 traditional street lights-bulbs, 38 timers and 28 glass casings replaced with energy efficient one  CO2 emissions reduced by 25%  Return of investment in 4 to 5 months  Annual savings of 287 937 kw/h  Annual financial savings 57.34 %

Pilot Project Reconstruction of the Riverbed and the damaged Cut-off Walls of Ponika River in the village of Dobroshte  Cleared the riverbed of river Ponika of flood stream borne sediments  Repaired flood-damaged cascade cut-off walls to a length of about 1 km  Restored the existing erosion control dams  Implemented technical solutions that help prevent water-related disasters during extreme climate events

77  Reduced risks of flooding in Dobroshte village  Greatly enhanced capacity for civic activism because of the pilot project

Municipality of Pehchevo

Urgent Action Installation of water purification filter for cleaner drinking water in Pehcevo  New filter installed with additional sand layer  New regulation valves mounted on existing pipelines  New equipment for water quality testing installed  The new filter and the accompanying equipment in the existing filtration station solved the problem of contamination of the drinking water with suspended particles during intensive precipitation  Lower costs for drinking water  Lower costs for transport of drinking water from mountain sources

Pilot Project Improving the energy efficiency of several public buildings in Pehchevo  MUNICIPAL BUILDING: Thermal insulated external walls, roof thermal insulated, replaced doors and windows; new thermostatic valves installed  MUNICIPAL PRIMARY SCHOOL “VANCO KITANOV”: Installed new thermostatic valves  MUNICIPAL KINDERGARTEN “7th SEPTEMBER”: installed new thermostatic valves  SPORTS HALL “JANE SANDANSKI”: installed new thermostatic valves;  CENTRAL HEATING UNIT: Prepared technical documentation; Constructed power station for central heating and provided appropriate central unit which uses woodchips as fuel connection of the central unit with the facilities  Replaced of HG with LED Lights in the public lightning system  Heat loss reduced due to energy-efficiency of the public buildings  Reduction of CO2 emissions due to replacement of fossil fuels with biomass  Reduced energy expenses of the municipality

Municipality of Krivogashtani

Urgent Action Replacement of roof and windows of municipal building to make it more energy efficient  New roof and 23 windows mounted  Heat loss reduced by 35%.  Energy consumption reduced by about 20% compared to previous years  CO2 emissions reduced by 25% as a result of lower consumption of fossil fuels 

78 Pilot Project Thermic insulation and installation of a central heating system in a public building housing a local school and kindergarten  Renovated primary school “Manchu Matak” by replaced roof and windows; new thermal façade and new energy-efficient heating system  Improving the energy efficiency of public buildings  Saving energy  Saving costs for heating of public buildings  Reducing CO2 emission  Because of the improved energy efficiency of the school building, the municipality was able to open and furnish a space for a kindergarten. This is the first kindergarten to exist in Krivogastani

Municipality of Bogdanci

Urgent Action Thermal isolation of the roof construction of the public kindergarten “Kosta Pop Ristov-Delchev” in Bogdanci  A layer of thermal insulation added in the roof of the kindergarten  Heat loss reduced by 10-20%.  Energy consumption reduced by about 20% compared to previous years  CO2 emissions reduced as a result of lower consumption of fossil fuels 

Pilot Project Construction of new water supply tank  New water supply tank constructed (Earthworks; Pipeline; Concreting and reinforcement works; Insulation works; Installation works)  6.011 residents of Bogdanci have increased capacity to adjust to the effects of climate change due to sustainable management of local water resources  Solved problem with water shortages caused by extreme temperatures  Greatly enhanced capacity for civic activism because of the pilot project  The adaptive measure increases Bogdanci’s resilience to the negative impacts of climate change by reducing energy consumption and increasing energy efficiency of the entire water supply system, thereby reducing the carbon footprint of the Municipality of Bogdanci

Municipality of Vinica

Urgent Action Cleaning and regulation of “Kajanecki dol” ravine in the village of Istibanja  Cleaning and disposal of sediments from the valley  Adapted valley for the purpose of protection against floods and terrestrial sediments

79  Consolidated and protected local road near the valley to increase the security of local houses  Reduced risks of flooding in the valley “Kajanecki dol”  Melting snow in the spring or torrential rains no longer threaten the security of local houses

Pilot Project

Regulation of Osojnica riverbed Downstream and Upstream the Bridge over Osojnica river in Jakimovo Village  Restored flood-damaged banks of the Osojnica river downstream and upstream the bridge in Jakimovo village Protection of the bridge structure from river-borne debris  Repaired flood-damaged cascade cut-off walls  Erosion control measures  Cleared riverbed of trees  Improved flood protection capacity of the river

Municipality of Bogovinje

Urgent Action Cleaning of the Riverbed in Pirok, Kamenjane and Palchiste and planting trees around them  Cleaned river bed in Pirok, Kamenjane, Palchiste  Replanted trees along the riverbed  Regulated river bed and improved river flow  Reduced risk of floods  Clean water (cleaning of the river)  Greatly improved efficiency of the municipal irrigation system of canals

Pilot Project Procurement and installation of water meters for Municiaplity of Bogovinje  Delivered and installed 2.800 water meters in households in the above- mentioned settlements  Solved problem with water scarcity as a direct consequence of climate change  Local population is aware of the importance of sustainable use of water to better adapt to climate change.  Public water supply enterprise increased capacity to control non-rational water use in the community and to improve water supply system maintenance

Municipality of Studenichani

Urgent Action

Renovation of the Municipal Storage Tank for Drinking Water in Studenicani

80  Renovated municipal storage tank that included: o Sanding, plastering, and waterproofing internal walls, floor, and ceiling; o Mounting window sills;  Installing electrical sensors to measure and control water levels  Upgrading and maintaining the water reservoir infrastructure (lights, security, cleaning)  Acquisition and installation of drinking water distribution pipes to end users  Putting up a fence around the facility  Improved water supply  Increased energy efficiency of the community's water-supply system  Lowered carbon footprint and energy expenses of Studenicani  Pilot Project Management of floods and erosion in the central area of the village Studenichani- Rehabilitation of the riverbed of Meriz River and landslide prevention in Studenicani Village

 Reconstructed collapsed support walls that line the riverbed of Meriz river  Rehabilitated major landslide in the upper part of the village through: geotechnical investigations to determine the reasons for the landslide; erection of a four-meter high gabion wall in the lower part of the slope to stabilize the landslide; slope inclination  Designed and installed drainage concrete channel with steel grid cover in the asphalt road, as well as a drainage system to collect storm water and channel it through a pipeline to the Meriz River  Increased community resilience to future flood and landslides disasters during extreme weather conditions  Greatly enhanced capacity for civic activism as a result of the pilot project

Municipality of Mavrovo and Rostushe

Urgent Action Energy efficient adjustment of the municipal building  Energy efficient facade of the municipal building  Replaced old dilapidated wooden windows with new energy efficient PVC five-chamber windows  Reconstructed roof structure of the municipal building  Reduced energy consumption for heating and cooling for 30%

Pilot Project Rehabilitation of the Landslide in Prisojnica village, Construction of retaining walls for protection against landslides  Stabilization of two major landslides in Prisojnica village by built support walls to stabilize the main roads

81  Constructed drainage channel in the area above the landslides to change the pattern of rainwater and prevent future landslides  Reduced growing pressure on land resources due to extreme weather conditions  Reduced risks of potential landslide disasters  Increased capacity for civic activism as a result of the pilot project 

Municipality of Delchevo

Urgent Action + Pilot Project Construction of Sewerage and Pavement of Street in the Settlement “Milkovo Brdo”

 Constructed independent pipeline system with reinforced concrete shafts  Cut and excavated the existing asphalt  Excavated of the ground bed of the channels and embedding PVC pipes  Built shafts  Covered the pipes with dirt material, sand (different fractions), under mechanical compression  Asphalted part of the streets “Gjorche Petrov” and “Vera Jocic”  Independent pipeline system leads the rain water away from the inhabited area in the river Gabrovica  Lessened pressure of climate change on the community sewerage system  Increased capacity of the sewerage system to convey rising volumes of water  Increased security of local buildings

Municipality of Prilep

Urgent Action + Pilot Project Revitalization of the old water wells in Prilep  Reconstructed the old water wells in Prilep  Construction of a protection zone 20x20m at the 4 catchment sites  Rehabilitation of the Water meter shafts in 4 catchment sites  Paddling works in water meter manhole:  Supply, transport, and installation of the AF Ø150  Supply, transport, and installation of the OZ Ø150  Supply, transport, and installation of the water meter Ø150 mm

82 Visibility and promotion

Introduction In order to create a project visibility and successful promotion of project activities and results, there was a separate component “Communication, publicity and visibility” in the frame of MCCSP. It was coordinated by a communication officer hired by MKM.

All project activities and events were publicly announced and promoted through MKM website, social media (FB, Twitter, Instagram), as well as through local and national media (press releases were sent to relevant media for each event and public activity).

This component has been implemented through the following activities:

There were also activities that were directly planned, organized, coordinated and implemented by this component:

Implementation

 Organization and media coverage of activities for “EARTH DAY 2013”

Milieukontakt Macedonia took a leading role in organizing central national event for celebrating EARTH DAY 2013 joining several environmental organizations, MOEPP (Ministry of environment and physical planning) and the City of Skopje under “Acclimate!” motto. Milieukontakt Macedonia managed to get in touch with the world organization EARTH DAY and obtain rights to use their logo and motto for the central event. Campaign, event, scenario for the event, design for promotion materials was created. Unfortunately, because of unpredicted third round of local elections in Center municipality the event was cancelled.

83 As part of the EARTH DAY 2013, “Climate change and me” photo competition for best photography which describes climate change was organized by Milieukontakt Macedonia during 2013. It was very well received by the public which went even beyond our expectations. Target groups were informed about Municipal Climate Change project and the competition was successfully accepted by the young population which contributes for increased visibility of USAID Municipal Climate change strategies project.

The photo exhibition from the photo contest – Climate Changes and Me, has continued with the tour around the municipalities. After the promotion of the exhibition during the NSM 2013 in Dojran during this reporting period the exhibition was presented in the Municipality of Tearce, Krivogashtani and Bogdanci.

Photo: „Climate change and me” - photo exhibition in the central supermarket in Municipality of Krivogastani

 Media Promotion of the Annual National meetings of the Environmental Organizations in Macedonia (please see Component 1 for details for the events)

The 11th Annual meeting of civil organizations for environment and sustainable development, held in Mavrovo has attracted huge media attention. Beside the project media communication which was published in more than 30 local and national media, each organization that took part on the meeting informed the local media about their presence on this meeting. Immediately after the opening the Director of Milieukontakt Macedonia, Igor Slavkoski was speaking for regional television „Menada“from Tetovo, and Darko Leshoski, communication officer gave his statement for regional television from „Iris“ from Shtip.

 MCCSP Climate Change Campaign 2014

At the beginning of June 2014, the USAID Municipal Climate Change Strategies Project implemented public campaign focused on climate change in four partner municipalities. A PR agency was hired to develop the visual elements for the campaign and to plan, organized and implement the campaign in coordination of MKM. The campaign introduced the citizens with the Green Agenda methodology model as well as with Climate Change effects and the principles of global warming. The citizens were introduced with activities that each household can undertake to adapt to Climate change and decrease the greenhouse gasses emission, to contribute towards the global combat with Climate Change. The campaign raised a lot of interest in the municipalities and great number of citizens visited the big Climate Change Tunnel that was settled on very attractive and easy accessed locations. Except citizens, each mayor of the four municipalities was present on the event and contribute towards popularization of the project and campaign. Each of them had TV interview from local and regional TV’s.

Timetable of the campaign:

 Municipality of Krivogastani – 11 June 2014  Municipality of Tearce – 13 June 2014  Municipality of Bogdanci – 15 June 2014  Municipality of Pehcevo – 16 June 2014

Photos: Climate Change Campaign

87 Specific goals achieved:

- Raised awareness about the USAID Municipal climate change strategies project among local residents; - Informed citizens about the Urgent Actions being implemented - Raised awareness about climate change issues - Promotion of the project on regional level with the First International GA Conference - President of Republic of Macedonia was informed about the significance of USAID Municipal Climate Change Strategies Project

Target groups:

- General public at local level: all local residents to be informed about the implementation of the USAID Municipal climate change strategies project - Selected public: Local people from the community who already work on the project implementation. - General public at regional level: Citizens from neighboring municipalities informed about USAID MCCS and inspired to conduct similar activities

 The Climate Challenge: Your City Depends on You! It was an initiative jointly launched by USAID MCCSP implemented by Milieukontakt Macedonia, together with UNDP Macedonia, Embassy of Sweden in Macedonia. The challenge was launched in January 2015. The aim of the competition is to encourage individuals to propose innovative ways to reduce their impact on the climate and to increase urban resilience to climate change. All Macedonian citizens who have an innovative idea were invited to apply to the open call for ideas.

The first phase of the climate change challenge organized by Milieukontakt Macedonia within USAID’s Municipal Climate Change Strategies Project in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Embassy of Sweden and The Social Innovation Hub in association with the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning was the open call for innovative ideas (from December, 9th 2014 until February, 28th 2015) and 129 submissions were received. The second phase was the selection of the best ideas by the selection board consisting of representatives from Milieukontakt Macedonia, UNDP Macedonia, Embassy of Sweden in Macedonia, Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning and external technical experts - professors from the Faculty of Technology in Skopje.

The 24 pre-selected candidates were invited to explain their concept in front of the selection board on so called “pitching event”. After the “pitching”, 10 ideas (8 of which are technical ideas/solutions for innovative products/projects and 2 is awareness rising inventive campaign about climate change) were selected as finalists to participate on the climate challenge innovation camp - “It Depends on You.” Besides the 10 selected candidates, local experts from IT sector, mobile app developers, electrical and mechanical engineers are invited to the event.

88 The announcement of the finalists was posted on the MKM web site under the title: “#It depends on you” – „From sun solutions to climate cafés: Nationwide campaign taps into local talent“

“CLIMATE CHALLENGE FOR THE CITIZENS: YOUR CITY. IT DEPENDS ON YOU” – A SUCCESSFUL STORY - Selection of winning idea as part of the nationwide campaign ”Your city. It depends on You”, 17-19 April, 2015, Telekom’s building – the Innovation Hub, Skopje, Macedonia

USAID’s Municipal Climate Change Strategies Project (MCCSP), implemented by Milieukontakt Macedonia, together with UNDP Macedonia, and the Embassy of Sweden in Macedonia hosted a climate challenge innovation camp - “It Depends on You”, as the third phase of this Climate Challenge. It was an invitation based event, where, besides the selected participants and the representatives from the organizers, technical experts - professors from the Faculty of Technology in Skopje, local experts from IT sector, mobile app developers, electrical and mechanical engineers were invited.

The camp was organized as two days event on April 17-18, 2015 at Telekom Innovative Centre at T- Mobile building at City Square (indoor venue). This was one of a kind event organized on national level. The event, commonly called “the camp”, was imagined as a place where selected candidates will work on their climate challenge concept-ideas under guidance of their mentors/experts in order to bring the ideas to the point of actual realization.

The main aim of the competition was to encourage individuals to propose innovative ways to reduce their impact on the climate and to increase urban resilience to climate change. Citizens came up with smart and innovative proposals for ways they can contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change that directly affects their lives. The competition provided over 130 innovative ideas and proposals for green projects – and ten finalists of the best were shortlisted.

Each of the ten teams – finalists from April 17 to April 19, had the opportunity to work with a mentor and to further develop their idea to the final representation of the applications before the jury, on the last day of the camp on Sunday morning. Exactly at noon, two teams – winners were selected by the professional jury.

The best two teams that promoted their design solutions for the topic received 10.000 dollars each to turn their idea into reality within the following period.

89 Team 1 was working on a concept for development of shoe inserts and bicycles that generate electricity for charging batteries.

Team 8 was working on viral videos and humorous sketches, a proposal called "Viral Videos Campaign“ Director Igor Slavkoski awarded the team leader of the „Viral Videos Campaign“ winning application - Zarko Dimitriovski

The USAID Mission Director in Macedonia, Mr. James Stein participated on this event together with the Minister of Environment and Phisical Planning Mr. Nurhan Izairi, Swedish ambassador, Mr. Mats Staffansson, the United Nations resident coordinator and United Nations Development Rresident Representative, Ms. Louisa Vinton, Assistant Administrator and Director of Regional Bureau for Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (RBEC), Ms. Cihan Sultanoglu (TBC), and MCCSP’s Chief of Party, Mr. Igor Slavkoski. After the official opening if the event by Ms. Vinton, Mr. James Stein spoke about the leading position that the United States government has worldwide in order to adapt and mitigate towards climate change. Also, he highlighted the importance of projects such as USAID’s Municipal Climate Change Strategies Project, through which American people are helping Macedonia to “go green”. “Through this innovative camp, the teams had the opportunity to upgrade their initial concepts, to develop new ideas, to learn more about the technical opportunities and to revive their ideas. The exchange of ideas may generate a lot of creative energy. And this exact energy is the one with reduced greenhouse gas emission, simple for transfer, virtually unlimited, and probably very powerful”, was also stated by Mr.James Stein, Director of USAID’s Mission in Macedonia. Last speaker was MKM Executive director, Mr. Igor Slavkoski, who spoke about the initiative Climate Challenge: Your City Depends on You and the USAID’s Municipal Climate Change Strategies Project. “The interest and the efforts of our organization in this initiative were to choose and implement a creative campaign from the received applications, which at national level, through day-to-day and current topics will speak of the challenges brought by climate change. A creative campaign that will indicate to the ordinary citizens that indeed – it depends on all of us!” – stated the executive director of Milieukontakt Macedonia, Mr. Igor Slavkovski.

The aim of the event was to transform a set of early-stage concepts into ideas for real prototypes (or the early stage campaign concept into actual public awareness campaign). Each candidate together with the mentor/technical expert presented the concept idea and got the opportunity to further work to precise the possibilities for the realization and sustainability of the ideas. The event ended by a competition, and at the end prizes were awarded for two winning ideas that demonstrated the greatest potential to create real change. The last phase of the Climate Challenge initiative will be finalization and utilization of the 2 selected ideas in a period of 3 months.

 Media coverage of the Second International Climate Change Conference, 8-10 June, 2015, in Hotel Inex Gorica, Ohrid, Macedonia

USAID MCCSP branding was displayed in the Conference hall where the event took place.

Journalists were invited to cover the event. In parallel, the event was communicated and promoted through variety of communication channels, including the conference web page, www.conference.mkm.mk, the MKM web page, www.mkm.mk, Youtube, as well as social media coverage of the event was spread via Facebook and Twitter. Media corner was placed at the entrance of the Conference hall where the journalists took their media materials and asked for statements from the guests at the Conference. Moreover, media that covered the event included several national TV stations (MTV 1, Telma, Kanal 5, Sitel). On 01.06.2015 the Communications officer of MKM, Ms. Meri Bakalova, attended the morning show of Telma TV to announce and discuss about the Conference as part of the USAID MCCSP. The video was also posted on the USAID Macedonia’s official Facebook page. Also, the above-mentioned TV stations broadcasted the official opening of the event on the 8th of June, with information about the conference and statements taken from the US Ambassador, the Mayors and the Executive director of MKM in their breaking news on 08.06.2015.

 Earth day event, April 22, 2015, Skopje, Macedonia - It’s Our Turn To Lead!

The Earth Day 2015 event was hosted by Milieukontakt Macedonia within the USAID`s Municipal Climate Change Strategies Project. The event took place at the Francophonie Park (near Skopje City Park) at day time (12-15h) Participants of the event were: Scout Association of Macedonia, the finalists from #ItDependsonYou Climate Challenge, primary school “Braka Miladinovci” – Aerodrom, primary schools from Center Municipality, SOS Children Village Macedonia, as well as representatives from UNDP and Embassy of Sweden in Macedonia. Master of ceremonies was Zarko Dimitrioski (TV presenter). The motto of Earth Day 2015 was – It’s Our Turn to Lead! The focus was the eco and climate change challenges in modern world. This year too, MKM was part of the global Earth Day Network (http://www.earthday.org/). MKM posted on its official web site the moto of the event - It’s our turn to lead!, together with information and concept of the event. “Let this Earth Day’s 45th anniversary be the year in which economic growth and sustainability join hands. The year in which citizens and organizations divest from fossil fuels and put their money into renewable energy solutions. These are tough issues but we know what’s at stake is the future of our planet and the survival of life on earth. On Earth Day we need you to take a stand so that together, we can show the world a new direction. The young leaders have a stand towards the future of our planet we are leaving to the future generations” was part of the MKM moto on its web site related to this event. In light of the event moto, children from both primary schools presented their costumes made from various materials and reflecting the climate change and ecology themes. After their show, they drew in the park their view of climate change. Moreover, SOS Children Village youth leaders read their prepared speeches about climate change and Macedonia, whereas scouts from Scout Association of Macedonia spoke on their views of global climate change challenges. Presentation of the finalists and their

92 developed concept – ideas from the #ItDependsOnYou Climate Challenge was also part of the Earth Day event organized by MKM.

As part of the branding, USAID MCCSP banner was displayed on stage. Also, during the event the “Me and climate change” photo exhibition was displayed in the park. Also, the children’s drawings during the event were exposed. MKM staff prepared packed-flower seeds with Earth Day message and USAID MCCSP and MKM logos displayed on the package, which were distributed to the quests.

Photo: Seed cover / Earth day activities with the school Braka Miladinovci

The celebration of Earth Day continued in the office of Milieukontakt Macedonia with the children from primary school “Braka Miladinovci” from Skopje, who had the role of the youngest leaders and advocates for a cleaner and greener environment and drew pictures with environmental motives. This activity was posted on MKM Facebook and Twitter page.  First Youth Climate Change Summer Camp in Struga

93 In the period from 21st to 27th of August at the Scout Camp “Krste Jon” in Struga, Milieukontakt Macedonia, within the frames of the Municipal Climate Change Strategies Project, organized the First seven-day Youth Summer Camp dedicated to climate change. Participants of this camp were young people aged between 15 and 17, from the ten municipalities where the MCCSP is being implemented – Tearce, Bogdanci, Krivogastani, Pehcevo, Bogovinje, Vinica, Studenicani, Mavrovo Rostusa, Prilep and Delcevo.

Participants in this camp were the first young leaders in transferring their new-found knowledge and experience to other members of their local communities. They will help increase public awareness of the ways of dealing with climate changes on local level.

The summer camp had both, educational and entertaining character and was part of the campaign for raising awareness about climate changes, organized by Milieukontakt Macedonia in the frames of the MCCSP. During the seven days different types of activities were held with sole purpose of actively involving the young people and encouraging creative thinking in directions of specific climate issues which we are already facing. The camp offered rich agenda to the young people, consisting of discussions, theories, team-building activities, fun and educational games, presentation of movies and documentary movies on climate change topics, as well as time for beach and free activities.

 USAID MCCSP “It’s Up To Us” Climate Change Awareness Campaign 2015

MCCSP, implemented by Milieukontakt Macedonia, organized a five-weekend campaign for raising awareness about climate change, with the slogan “It’s up to us”, from 23rd of October until 17th of November 2015, visiting ten partner municipalities in Macedonia. Main goal of the campaign was raising awareness among young people about climate change and its negative effects on the living conditions and possible changes in the environment. Although attractive for the older members of the community, the campaign targeted young people between the ages of 10-17 in the ten partner municipalities where the MCCSP is being implemented: Bogovinje, Tearce, Mavrovo and Rostusha, Pehcevo, Delcevo, Vinica, Studenicani, Bogdanci, Prilep and Krivogastani. Nine out of ten campaign events were held outdoors, on municipal squares or municipal school playgrounds and were attended by 280 citizens on average per event. The campaign message was: climate change and environmental decline are largely the result of human behavior and through our individual efforts we can reduce the global threats of climate change to help our local communities.

Events were hosted by popular Macedonian hosts, Mr. Zarko Dimitrioski, from the talk show “Eden Na Eden”, Mr. Branko Ognjanovski, former “K-15” member, and Ms. Nertila Dika, from ALSAT M TV. Combining elements of education and entertainment, the hosts encouraged the young audience to take an active role in the climate change lessons and games, as well as invited them for a climate change lesson into the green truck – the USAID’s entirely unique environmental classroom on wheels. By emphasizing the unique characteristics of the solar-powered green truck that was part of the campaign, MCCSP highlighted to the local population the need for taking action that will support clean energy and reduce carbon pollution.

95 Main promotional material of the campaign included posters, leaflets and T-shirts. A total of 2.000 promotional leaflets, made of bio-degradable material and incorporating seed material for a garden plant, were distributed in the ten municipalities.

(Leaflet – Front and Back position)

 A climate challenge for all citizens – Again It Depends on You Pak #OdTebeZavisi

On the 27th of March, 2016 the second climate challenge open to all citizens of the country was launched by USAID and UNDP, in partnership with Milieukontakt Macedonia, the Embassy of Sweden, the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, and the Faculty of Computer Science and Engineering. The start of the climate challenge was marked with a teaser campaign under the slogan “Paint the Future” on Mount Vodno, where the famous Macedonian artist Simonida Filipova Kitanovska was painting on a large plexiglass easel the city of Skopje below the following words: ‘The invisible is starting to be even harder to erase…’ (the‘invisible’ gas emissions of the cars, the polluted air, the litter) The idea was to make bystanders ask themselves what we are doing to the environment as a whole.

The climate challenge teaser campaign continued with a series of teasers – interesting messages employing humour to engage the public and raise awareness of the importance of their decisions when buying everyday items and encourage their participation in the challenge. Fun messages were displayed in selected areas on mini cardboard stands in order to promote the campaign in cafes, lounge bars, fitness centres, bookstores, super-markets, restaurants, shopping malls and insurance companies. The same messages were simultaneously shared through the social media by USAID Macedonia, Milieukontakt Macedonia, UNDP and the partners in the climate challenge in order to achieve wide coverage and attract public attention.

The second competition invites citizens to submit proposals for innovative projects aimed at the overarching goal of “urban resilience” that will work to:

• Fight climate change; • Reduce pollution; • Protect green spaces; or • Reduce solid waste. The challenge has an urban focus since cities are major contributors to climate change and also face dramatic risks from its consequences, including floods and extreme weather events. Beginning of June 2016 ideas will be evaluated by a selection panel, shortlisting the best 10 applications that meet the minimum criteria i.e. those that have ideas with greatest potential to create social change. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend the Prototyping event called “Innovation Camp” in the middle of June, where they will work together with mentors to translate ideas and early-stage concepts into prototypes. The most innovative idea will be awarded with a grant of $10,000, of which $1,000 will be given as a cash prize and $9,000 will be granted to the winner in the form of in-kind contributions to translate the idea into the prototype of a solution. The second climate challenge “Again It Depends on You”, launched by USAID and UNDP, in partnership with Milieukontakt Macedonia, the Embassy of Sweden, the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, and the Faculty of Computer Science and Engineering, which was launched end of March continued with the public promotion during April and May 2016. The teaser campaign continued with the series of teasers and interesting messages employing humor to engage the public and encourage their participation in the challenge. Fun messages were displayed in selected areas on mini cardboard stands in order to promote the campaign in cafes, lounge bars, fitness centers, bookstores, super-markets, restaurants, shopping malls and insurance companies. USAID Macedonia, Milieukontakt Macedonia, UNDP and the partners promoted these messages on the social media to further increase coverage and attract public attention.

97 As part of this social media promotion, the teams of USAID Macedonia and Milieukontakt Macedonia joined the social media campaign with team photos, promoting the challenge on Facebook and inviting citizens to apply (MKM’s Facebook post reached more than 1.830 people and incurred around 400 user engagements)

Press conference

The official launch of the climate challenge Again “It Depends On You” was on the 15th of April, 2016 when a press conference was organized in the Social Innovation Hub in frames of the Faculty of Computer Science in Skopje.

“Climate change doesn’t discriminate. It doesn’t care if you’re rich or poor, young or old. It doesn’t care about ethnicity, religion, political affiliation, or nationality. It affects every single person on the planet and each of us needs to be a part of the solution. Good ideas aren’t the domain of just scientists and engineers. We invite everyone to put their thinking caps on in support of the global clean energy goals. As the contest slogan says ‘od tebe zavisi’.” said USAID Mission Director James Stein, announcing the official launch of the campaign.

Ms. Louisa Vinton, UNDP Resident Representative, Mr. Mats Staffansson, Swedish Ambassador, Mr. Bashkim Ahmeti, Minister of Environment and Physical Planning and Mr. Ivan Chorbev, Ph.D, Dean of the Faculty of Computer Science and Engineering, also made brief remarks and invited citizens to submit proposals for innovative projects aimed at the overarching goal of “urban resilience” that will work to: fight climate change; reduce pollution, protect green spaces, and/or reduce solid waste.

Involving youth

In parallel, from 18th of April until 18th of May 2016 series of ‘itch-workshops’ with faculty students, inspiring them and helping them to come up with fresh and creative ideas and apply for the challenge were held in several towns in Macedonia, incuding Skopje, Ohrid, Bitola, Tetovo and Stip.

Some of the workshops were also covered by local TV stations:

*TV report by TV Kanal Plus – “OdTebeZavisi” Youth Workshop in Stip (17.05.2016)

99 Innovation Camp

Beginning of June 2016, the 68 submissions from the citizens were evaluated by a selection panel, shortlisting the best ten applications that meet the minimum criteria i.e. those that have ideas with greatest potential to create social change. Ten shortlisted applicants were invited to attend the two-day Prototyping event called “Innovation Camp” in the Innovative Center Telekom in Skopje, in the period 24-26th of June, where they worked together with mentors (professors from relevant fields, technical experts, experts from the private sector, business consultants, environmental experts, programmers, designers, PR and marketing experts, IT experts, mobile app developers, electrical and mechanical engineers, etc) to translate ideas and early-stage concepts into prototypes and compete for the main prize of USD 10.000.

By the end of the 48 hours, finalist teams came up with a basic working model for a new venture, which they were given a chance to present in front of an expert jury, comprised of representatives from UNDP, USAID MCCSP/Milieukontakt Macedonia, the Embassy of Sweden in Skopje, the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, the Fund for Innovations and Technology Development and an external expert from the start-up business community.

100 The event closed with a Show and Tell pitching competition and award ceremony. The winning idea – “Re-Bot” – A Machine that Recycles Plastic in Supermarkets won the $10,000 grant, which will be used for the development of their prototype. Re-Bot team aims to help overcome the challenges of solid waste disposal with the smart machine that will encourage better recycling habits among citizens. This idea also includes a game in which participants can gain points and win awards when they actively recycle waste such as plastic and cans.

 Earth Day 2016: TREES ARE KEY ALLIES IN COMBATING CLIMATE CHANGE (22.04.2016)

On the 22nd of April, 2016 MCCSP’s team together with UNDP observed this year’s Earth Day event under the moto: “Trees Are Key Allies in Combatting Climate Change”. The event took place in the yard of the primary school “Partenij Zografski” in Skopje and it matched the theme of this year’s Earth Day, which aims to mobilize the planting worldwide of nearly eight billion trees by 2020—one tree for every man, woman and child.

Schools’ greening, climate change lectures in the Green truck, interactive social-innovation workshops for addressing climate challenges, as well as children’s environmental-themed exhibition, were all part of this year’s Earth Day event in Skopje.

101

MCCSP COP, Mr. Slavkoski, together with UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, Mr. Fracassetti, and officials from the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning planted trees in the back-yard of the school and joined the participants in celebration of the event, spreading the main message, that by planting trees we will contribute to three major global goals: mitigating climate change and air pollution, protecting biodiversity and supporting our communities and their livelihoods.

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This year’s Earth Day event in Skopje was another opportunity for USAID, UNDP and their partners to present the country’s second Climate Change Challenge launched in April 2016.

 Second Youth Climate Change Summer Camp in Struga

In the period from August 9 until August 15, 2016, in Struga, Milieukontakt Macedonia organized the second Youth Climate Change (CC) Summer Camp in the “Krste Jon” Scout Camp. The camp was for young people aged between 15 and 17 from the ten partner municipalities: Tearce, Bogdanci, Krivogashtani, Pehchevo, Bogovinje, Vinica, Studenichani, Mavrovo Rostushe, Prilep, and Delchevo. The main purpose of this year’s youth CC camp in Struga was capacity building, educating and mobilizing young leaders in Macedonia to effectively contribute to the climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts and to promote the sustainable development at the local level.

During this year’s camp, young people determined what was learnt from last year’s climate camp, and had the opportunity to learn about the method of preparation of the climate change strategies of their municipalities in frames of the MCCSP. In addition, they worked on developing concepts and tools that will assist them, as future leaders, to transfer the newly found knowledge and experience to other members of their communities, as well as to help increase public awareness on climate change. Moreover, the young people from the ten partner municipalities participated in the creation of initial concepts for the promotional and educational activities that were intended to be part of this year’s “It’s up to us” CC public campaign commencing in September 2016.

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 Climate Change Awareness-Raising Campaign “It’s up to us” (“Klimata se menuva, od nas zavisi”) 2016

On September 19, 2016, in the center of Pehcevo, MCCSP’s team started realizing the second campaign aimed at raising public awareness and encouraging local efforts in the fight against climate change under the motto “Climate is changing, it’s up to us” (Klimata se menuva, od nas zavisi)

The campaign visited the ten partner municipalities where the USAID’s MCCSP is being implemented: Pehcevo, Vinica, Mavrovo Rostuse, Tearce, Bogdanci, Studenicani, Krivogastani, Bogovinje, Prilep and Delcevo. The MCCSP’s team engaged with the local people to inform them about climate change, the specific climate challenges their communities are facing, and the importance of local action in responding to this global threat.

The campaign advocated the message that no challenge poses a greater threat to our planet and future generations than climate change. It affects us all and we all have a role in the solution.

All campaign events were held on market days and outdoors - in front of the local green markets or in the central municipal squares to reach as much local audience as possible in the target regions.

For promotional purposes, educational and promotional materials were specially designed and produced, in both Macedonian and Albanian language, including:

Magnets:

Pads for drinks served in local cafes/restaurants (two formats)

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Promotional posters for campaign announcement:

Sunshades for automobiles

Paper pads for food served in local cafes/restaurants

Car refreshers

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20 different messages with CC-related content distributed in local cafes and restaurants

Many local cafés and restaurants joined in this year’s campaign promotion, where through the specially designed promotional materials, local visitors were informed and encouraged to think about the importance of the human factor in overcoming the challenges of climate change.

These messages were also used as “Climate Change Tips of the Day” Facebook posts published through USAID Macedonia’s and Milieukontakt Macedonia’s Facebook page to further promote the campaign and encourage individual efforts to act on climate. Per Facebook (FB) insights, the ten “CC tips of the day” FB posts on the USAID Macedonia’s FB page had a total reach of 10,569 people, in addition to the 4,637 people in total, reached through the MKM’s FB page.

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Newspaper “Klimatski novosti” For the second “It’s up to us” campaign, a newspaper named “Klimatski novosti” (or “Climate Change News”) was specially prepared and designed as an informative material to be distributed in the target municipalities. Combining climate change-related topics, including general information about climate change, effects of global warming, negative effects of climate change on global and local level, together with a separate section with key information about the USAID’s MCCSP and the specific measures that have been implemented locally to enhance the partner municipalities’ capacity to adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change, this newspaper was intended to further increase public awareness not only about the topic of climate change, but also about the results of the MCCSP among the local target population.

Total of 3,000 newspapers were distributed throughout the campaign, both, during the pre-campaign period and during each central event in the ten partner municipalities. Young people from the CC Youth Summer camp helped in the newspaper distribution prior each event.

107

The central events in several municipalities were enriched with additional activities, designed and organized by the young people who, once again this year, were part of the Climate Change Youth Summer Camp in Struga. Climate change-themed film screenings and presentations in local primary and secondary schools were part of the program in the municipalities Bogdanci, Pehcevo, Vinica, Krivogastani and Delcevo, aimed to encourage young people, as future leaders, to effectively act on climate, promote sustainable development and inspire change at the local level.

A common element of each central event was the Green truck – MCCSP’s unique environmental classroom on wheels, which same as last year, was opened for all visitors who were interested to know more about its function, the climate change-related topics, renewable energy sources, energy efficiency, as well as to become familiar with the method of preparation of the climate change strategies of their municipality within the USAID’s MCCSP

In addition, for the first time throughout this campaign was promoted the latest innovation which won in this year’s Skopje Climate Change Social Innovation Camp to fight climate change and boost urban resilience “Again, it depends on you”, organized by USAID and UNDP – “Re-bot” - the smart machine which selects plastic and aluminum waste in supermarkets. The young team of engineers, who are currently working on the construction of the machine, joined the campaign to inform the local population about the machine and thus encourage better recycling habits among the citizens, presenting the great relevance of solid waste reduction as one of the ways to preserve the environment and to combat climate change.

108 Achievements Following are some of the most important achievements of the Communication, publicity and visibility activities of the MCCS Project:

 More than 1000 fans and subscribers on Facebook MKM fan page) in the 2nd quarter of project and more than 1400 fans and subscribers on Facebook MKM fan page until the 3rd project quarter

 As a result of the MCCSP First International Green Agenda Conference and Local campaign as crucial events in 2014, during May and June 2014 there were over fifty publications & announcements in all medias (traditional and new: TV, Radio, Newspapers, Web and social medias)

 More than 30 press articles were published about the NSM event in 2014. The NSM post on MKM Facebooks profile has been seen by 7001 user.

 Extract from the Facebook and MKM website statistics and the outreach October 2014 ( https://www.facebook.com/milieukontakt.mk; and www.mkm.mk

o The MKM Facebook profile has more than 1700 followers. o The MKM website in the period of March – October 2014 has 41.868 visits, or in average of 8000 visits monthly. The number of unique visitors during this period is 20.257.

 Specific goals achieved as a result of the 1st MCCSP Climate Change campaign:

o Raised awareness about the USAID Municipal climate change strategies project among local residents;

o Informed citizens about the Urgent Actions being implemented

109 o Raised awareness about climate change issues o Promotion of the project on regional level with the First International GA Conference o President of Republic of Macedonia was informed about the significance of USAID Municipal Climate Change Strategies Project

 The Climate Challenge: Your City Depends on You! Launch- 4,964 people reached the Facebook post for this particular news

 Project and Green Agenda Process presented in front of high school children in Bogdanci, Febryary 2, 2015- Facebook post about this activity reached 317 readers

 Event in Bogovinje, Urgent Action promotion, February 19- 2015- During the event social media coverage “happening now” was done, and reached approximately 1000 people

 Media coverage of the start of the pilot project in Bogdanci, March 10 2015

110

 Climate Change cards on social media, weekly publishing

The goal of these cards is to present interesting climate change or environmental facts to the readers. Each card has the USAID MCCSP logo and MKM logo. 150 to 200 people reached these cards on Facebook.

 Second International Climate Change Conference, 8-10 June, 2015, in Hotel Inex Gorica, Ohrid, Macedonia

Around 15 press articles were published about the event on the web pages of TV stations, the web page of the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, as well as local and national web portals. Through the MKM Facebook profile there were 23 posts in total with different news regarding the conference, which received around 400 likes and 39 shares.

Furthermore, several videos about the Conference were posted on YouTube, all of which reached 27.994 views in 1 month.

The Conference announcement video (Second International Green Agenda Conference) was published on June 5, 2015, reached 27.946 views, from which 90 % in the first 3 days of publishing.

TIME SUBSCRIPTIONS VIEWS SHARES WATCHED DRIVEN

27,938 48 28 days 5

111 Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPHIO4V5XME&feature=youtu.be (Video statistics through Jul 26, 2015)

 The Climate Challenge: Your City Depends on You!

Media advisory and press release were distributed prior the event. USAID MCCSP branding was also displayed. Journalists were invited to cover the event. In parallel social media coverage of the event was spread via Facebook, Twitter and the web page of Milieukontakt Macedonia. The event was covered by almost all web portals, web news - aggregators and several national TV stations – MTV, Kanal 5, Sitel, Alfa. Through the MKM Facebook profile there were 18 posts with different news regarding the event, which received 194 likes and 4 shares.

 Earth day event, April 22, 2015, Skopje, Macedonia - It’s Our Turn To Lead!

The event was covered on MKM Facebook and Twitter accounts. Through the MKM Facebook profile there were 5 posts with different news regarding the event, with 65 likes and 2 shares.

Moreover, there was media coverage of by two national TV stations (MTV 1, Alfa TV). On the day of the event, two media interview were conducted. The communications officer of MKM, Ms. Meri Bakalova, attended the morning show of MTV 1 TV to announce and discuss about the Earth Day event organized by MKM as part of the USAID MCCSP (208 views of this video which was posted on the USAID Macedonia Facebook page) Also, for the same purpose, Mr. Darko Leshoski, MKM project manager, attended a morning show on Alfa TV announcing the program of the event.

 First Youth Climate Change Summer Camp in Struga

The event was communicated and promoted through Web media, including the MKM web page, www.mkm.mk, as well as through more than 15 Web portals where news article about the summer camp were published.

Social media coverage of the event was spread via MKM Facebook page. The event promotion through the social media received significant reach. There were several posts on the Milieukontakt Facebook page from the daily activities at the summer climate change camp reaching more than 3.650 people.

 Milieukontakt Macedonia Website and Facebook page statistics for the period July- September 2015

112 The MKM website in the period July – September 2015 had 46.373 visits in total, or 15.457 visits per month, on average. The number of unique visitors during this period was 678.

*Extract from the MKM website statistics (www.mkm.mk) With regards to the Milieukontakt Macedonia Facebook fan page, according to statistics, as of 30.09.2015 the MKM Facebook page has 2.011 fans. In the period from 1st of July until 30th of September 2015, it was liked by 54 unique users per day. The total daily reach for this period was 31.146 people in total (339 people daily average). The number of unique users who engaged with MKM’s Facebook Page (with a like, click, share or a comment) during quarter four 2015 was 3.752 (or 41 unique users per day on average)

113

 12th Annual National Strategy Meeting of the environmental CSOs

Local media were invited to cover the event and requested media statements from the Chief of Party at USAID’s MCCSP, Mr. Igor Slavkoski and the president of the CSO “Macedonian Green Centar”, Mr. Metodija Sazdov at the event’s opening. A press release for the event was published by seven national web portals, such as http://kanal5.com.mk/vesti_detail.asp?ID=80111, http://mia.mk/mk/Inside/RenderSingleNews/134/132830371, http://strugalajm.com/index.php/ne- struge-takim-per-ambientin-jetesor-dhe-zhvillimit-te-qendrueshem/ etc. In parallel, the event was communicated and promoted through the MKM website http://milieukontakt.mk/?p=5533, as well as through the MKM’s Facebook page. Through the MKM Facebook page there were three posts about the event with a total reach of 1.088 people and 51 user engagements through post clicks, likes, comments and shares.

 First Stakeholder Meeting in the Municipality of Prilep

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Journalists from the regional television MEGA TV covered the event and took media statements from the Chief of Party of MCCSP, Mr. Slavkoski and the Mayor of Prilep, Mr. Risteski, which were released on the daily news. (http://clipping.sette.com.mk/SetteMasterSystem/sette/clip/14f07bb-faf0-ee4d-6893- a8ec3ba) At the same time, news about the event was released by six web portals (setaliste.com.mk, mia.mk/en, sitel.mk, kurir.mk, 10bez10.com) as well as the official website of the Municipality of Prilep: http://www.prilep.gov.mk/news/mk/prv-javen-sobir-za-izgotvuvanje-na-lokalna-strategija-za- klimatski-

In parallel, the event was promoted through the MKM’s website: http://milieukontakt.mk/?p=5556 and on the MKM Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/milieukontakt.mk/insights/?section=navPosts. The FB post reached 1.510 people and 78 post engagements through post clicks, likes, comments and shares.

 Ribbon cutting event for promoting the completed urgent action in the Municipality of Studenicani

Media advisory and press release was distributed prior the event. USAID MCCSP branding was displayed at the entrance of the Municipal Building in Studenicani where the first part of the Ribbon cutting event took place.

Milieukontakt Macedonia promoted the event through the MKM’s website http://milieukontakt.mk/?p=5564 and on the MKM’s Facebook page with three FB posts with a total reach of 1.677 people and 59 user engagements through post clicks, likes, comments and shares.

The event was covered by local and national media. The USAID Macedonia’s Mission Director, Mr. James Stein, the mayor of the Municipality of Studenicani, Mr. Azem Sadiki and Chief of Party for MCCSP, Mr. Igor Slavkoski, made remarks and gave media statements for the local television station TV ART and the national television MTV on Albanian language (MTV2) which were released in the daily news (http://tvart.mk/studenican-merr-fund-problemi-me-ujesjellesin/ - TV ART; http://clipping.sette.com.mk/SetteMasterSystem/sette/clip/3f360d6-7c3b-3549-baaa-db4c410 - MTV2) The Albanian TV station “Koha” released information about the event on their website: http://www.tvkoha.tv/22597/rrjeti-i-ujesjellesit-ne-studenican-renovohet-teresisht.html.

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Nine news articles about the event were published on different national web portals, such as http://www.albeu.com/foto-lajm/rinovohet-rrjeti-i-ujesjellesit-ne-studenican-foto-lajm/216607/ ; http://www.novamakedonija.com.mk/NewsDetal.asp?vest=1016151441221&id=14&prilog=0&setIzdan ie=23592; http://shqip.republika.mk/?p=276162; http://al.mrt.com.mk/node/20264 http://mia.mk/sq/Inside/RenderSingleNews/290/132846605; http://ilirida.net/rinovohet-rrjeti-i- ujesjellesit-ne-studenican/; http://lider.mk/2015/10/14/renoviran-rezervoarat-za-voda-za-pienje-vo- studenicani/

News about the renovated water-supply tank in Studenicani was also released in two print media – the daily newspapers “Lajm” (Albanian) and “Nova Makedonija”(Macedonian)

116

 Second Working Groups meeting in the Municipality of Delcevo

On 28.10.2015, Milieukontakt Macedonia on its website (http://milieukontakt.mk/?p=5594) and through the Facebook page promoted the Second meeting of the working groups involved in the process on developing a local climate change strategy for Delcevo, which took place on the same day in the meeting room at the municipal building in Delcevo. The FB post reached 1.038 people and 37 post engagements through post clicks, likes, comments and shares.

 USAID MCCSP “It’s Up To Us” Climate Change Awareness Campaign

The campaign was communicated and promoted through variety of media channels - web, TV, print and radio - and achieved significant reach out to the target audience and to the broader public, as shown by the number of news releases on the web, the TV reports, as well as the social media reach and engagement levels.

Media advisory and press release were sent before each event. Journalists from local televisions visited the events and took media statements from the MCCSP Chief of Party, Mr. Slavkoski, MCCSP Information officer, Mrs. Slavkova and one of the event hosts who spoke about the ongoing campaign and its main goals. There were a total of nine TV reports about the events, which were released on the daily news of several local and one national television. (all news releases can be seen in the Press Clipping document for the campaign, attached to this report)

The event was covered by almost all web portals, web news - aggregators and major regional/local and national TV stations, including – MTV 1 (Skopje), KANAL 5 TV (Skopje), SITEL TV (Skopje), KISS TV (Tetovo), ULTRA TV (Tetovo), Koha TV (Tetovo), MEGA TV (Prilep), VIZIJA TV (Prilep and Krivogastani), TVK TV (Vinica), KANAL 8 TV (Vinica), TV Kocani, KANAL PLUS TV (Delcevo), TV STAR (Pehcevo), TV IRIS (Stip, Kocani)

Around 90 press articles in total for all events were published on local and national web portals, on Macedonian, Albanian and English language.

117 In addition, through the MKM Facebook page there were around 45 posts in total with different news regarding the ten local events, with a significant reach of 953 people per post on average and a maximum reach of 4.569 people per post.

The MCCSP awareness-raising campaign about climate change was also communicated through the USAID Macedonia’s official Facebook page, and it was also promoted by the U.S. Ambassador to Macedonia, H.E. Jess Baily on his Twitter account.

118

The MCCSP “It’s up to us” campaign was communicated in the Print media, including one news article in the daily newspaper “Vecer” and another one in “Zenit”- a weekly local newspaper in Prilep.

*Daily newspaper “Vecer” - Skopje * Weekly newspaper “Zenit” - Prilep

119 Furthermore, separate videos were recorded from each event, aimed at promoting the MCCSP climate change awareness-raising activities in the forthcoming period, after the end of the campaign, on the MKM’s website and through the social media, mainly Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. By the moment of preparation of this report, the average reach of the videos posted on the MKM’s Facebook page is 1.661 people per post, while the maximum post reach has been 3.913 people.

 Public hearing on the Draft Strategy on Climate Change and the Strategic Environment Assessment Report for the Municipality of Mavrovo Rostusha

There were two posts about the event on the MKM’s Facebook page with an average reach of 257 people per post. The event was also communicated through the official web page of the Municipality of Mavrovo and Rostuse: http://www.mavrovoirostuse.gov.mk/?p=1984

 First Working Groups meeting in Prilep

The event was covered by local media who took statements from Mr. Stole Georgiev, trainer from Milieukontakt Macedonia in the field of environment and the Green Agenda Process, who moderated the meeting.

The meeting was also promoted through the MKM’s website http://milieukontakt.mk/?p=5614 and the MKM’s Facebook page, through two posts reaching 414 people on average. The Municipality of Prilep also communicated the event on its official website http://www.prilep.gov.mk/news/mk/prv-javen- sobir-za-izgotvuvanje-na-lokalna-strategija-za-klimatski-prtomeni-na-opshtina-prilep/

120  MCCSP’s Information officer presented the “It’s up to us” campaign on the national television channel- MTV 1

On 05.11.2015 the MCCSP’s information officer, Ms. Radmila Slavkova, attended the morning show of the national television channel MTV 1 to present the ongoing MCCSP awareness-raising campaign on climate change “It’s up to us. Along with the main topic, she discussed about the project, its main goals, ongoing activities, results and future plans, as well as reminded the public about the Second International Climate Change Conference which took place in Ohrid in June 2015, in frames of the USAID MCCSP.

The video was also posted on the MKM’s website http://milieukontakt.mk/?p=5667 as well as on the MKM’s YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8v1coLxEcU. The Facebook post reached 306 people, while the video had 46 views on YouTube.

 Officially adopted Climate change strategy of Mavrovo Rostusa by the Municipal Council

The event was communicated to the public through the MKM’s website (http://milieukontakt.mk/?p=5768) and via Facebook. There were two FB posts reaching 817 people on average per post and total of 59 post engagements through post clicks, likes and shares, including a post share by the Mayor of the Municipality of Mavrovo and Rostuse, Mr. Mukrem Mehmedi, through his FB profile.

 MCCSP “It’s up to us” campaign was promoted on the Radio

For the aim of promoting the activities which were undertaken within the MCCSP campaign for raising public awareness about climate change - “It’s up to us”, MCCSP’s information officer, Ms. Slavkova was invited to speak to a radio program of “Radio Slobodna Evropa”, on the 05.12.2015.

The overall interview was released in the Saturday’s analysis of the radio channel “Radio Slobodna Evropa” in Macedonian language, named “Our children will be the next to encounter climate change” (Original text: Борбата со климатските промени ќе ја водат и нашите деца”) The radio channel

121 “Radio Slobodna Evropa” released the text interview on their website: http://www.slobodnaevropa.mk/content/article/27407770.html. The original text was overtaken and shared through several other web portals and news aggregators, such as: http://www.time.mk/c/cb561f5963/borbata-so-klimatskite-promeni-ke-ja-vodat-i-nasite-deca.html; http://daily.mk/vesti/borbata-klimatskite-promeni-vodat-nashite-deca-5; http://grid.mk/news/511449229/borbata-so-klimatskite-promeni-kje-ja-vodat-i-nashite-deca; http://www.novini.mk/cluster/97725229ba15376d5f86fe1f9ece46da/borbata-so-klimatskite- promeni-kje-ja-vodat-i-nashite-deca

The above radio interview and analysis were also communicated through the MKM’s Facebook page, reaching 348 people.

 Joint Training on Green Agenda Process - Strategies implementation monitoring process

The joint workshop was communicated through the MKM’s website (http://milieukontakt.mk/?p=10110) and the MKM’s Facebook page. The Facebook post reached 509 people and 16 post engagements.

 Public hearing on the Climate Change Strategy and the Strategic Environment Assessment Report of the Municipality of Bogovinje

122 The event was promoted through the MKM’s website and Facebook page (http://milieukontakt.mk/?p=10206;

https://www.facebook.com/milieukontakt.mk/insights/?section=navPosts) The FB post about this event had a significant reach of 1.143 people. The Mayor of the Municipality of Bogovinje, Mr. Hazbi Idrizi also shared information about the event through his Facebook profile, reaching 242 people.

 Social media promotion of the video materials from the MCCSP First Youth Climate Change Summer Camp and the “IT’S UP TO US” climate change awareness-raising campaign in 2015

In January 2016 Milieukontakt Macedonia promoted to the public for the first time the video materials from the MCCSP First Youth Climate Change Summer Camp (one video) and the “IT’S UP TO US” climate change awareness-raising campaign 2015 (ten videos) through the MKM’s Website and Facebook page, as well as through the MKM`s YouTube Channel. The main goal was to remind the target audience of the last year’s main project activities for raising public awareness about climate change in the target regions.

123

*FB Post Reach recorded in the period 01.01.2016-01.02.2016

According to Facebook insights, the video materials received significant reach and target audience engagements. The MCCSP First Youth Climate Change Summer Camp video had a total reach of 1,434 people, as well as 101 user engagements through post clicks, likes, comments and shares. On YouTube the video had 91 views.

In addition, the ten “It’s Up To Us” climate change campaign videos were promoted in ten separate Facebook posts that had a significant total reach of 12,566 people (1,257 views per video on average), and 307 user engagements through post clicks, likes, comments and shares.

The video materials from the “It’s Up to Us” campaign were also promoted on YouTube, with a total of 594 views.

 Training of primary school teachers on climate change practical education

124 The activity was communicated and promoted through the MKM’s Website http://milieukontakt.mk/2016/02/19/climate-change-practical-education-for-primary-school- teachers/ MKM’s Facebook page and Twitter. The event had a significant social media reach. On Facebook there were five different posts about the event with a total reach of 6,247 people and 2,478 user engagements through post reactions (2,349 post clicks alone) The photo gallery from the event was promoted on Facebook and reached 674 people.

 Practical education caravan with the Green truck in the ten partner municipalities

The event was promoted through press releases distributed to national and local media. Local media were invited to cover each event and to report about it on local TV stations.

As of 31.03.2016, press releases for the event were published by fourteen national and local web portals, including:

http://www.mia.mk/mk/Inside/RenderSingleNews/134/133069581; http://www.zenitprilep.com.mk/petka/9509-zelena-praksa-na-trkala.html; http://setaliste.com.mk/top-vesti/makedonija/ФОТО-Караван-во-Општина-Кривогаштани/; http://markukule.mk/eколошкиот-карван-на-усаид-денес-во-кри/; http://www.mia.mk/mk/Inside/RenderSingleNews/380/133061448; http://sitel.com.mk/ekoloshkata-uchilnica-na-trkala-na-usaid-megju-osnovcite-vo-krivogashtani; http://lider.mk/2016/03/04/ekoloskata-ucilnica-na-trkala/; http://www.libertas.mk/usaid-zapochna-so-realizatsija-na-prakt/; http://www.podgorci.info/servis/?p=2219139; http://www.radiomof.mk/trgna-zeleniot-kamion-ekoloshkata-uchilnica-na-trkala-za-osnovci/; http://maqedoniashqiptare.com/2016/03/karvani-i-usaid-it-per-mesim-praktik-per-ndryshimet- klimaterike-nekomunen-e-bogovines/; http://www.kiss.com.mk/mak/novosti1.asp?id=21844; http://kanalplus.mk/подвижната-лабараторија-за-борба-про/; http://www.televizijastar.com/index.php/2013-12-12-17-26-39/2013-12-12-17-54-11/item/8067- ekoloshkauchilnica-na-trkala-denes-vo-pehchevo.

125

As of 31.03.2016 there were seven TV reports from local TV stations which covered the event in different municipalities:

TV “Vizija”-Prilep and Krivogastani: http://clipping.sette.com.mk/SetteMasterSystem/sette/clip/1d56ffd-a04e-c838-5e4b-862467c http://clipping.sette.com.mk/SetteMasterSystem/sette/clip/34e31e8-e2f8-65b4-3fe9-c5f64c1

TV “Kiss” - Tetovo http://clipping.sette.com.mk/SetteMasterSystem/sette/clip/21eaec6-6998-596f-0287-6692999

TV “Kanal 8”- Vinica http://clipping.sette.com.mk/SetteMasterSystem/sette/clip/24e2749-2e2f-a77f-1dc7-e3d3c19

TV “Kanal Plus” - Vinica http://clipping.sette.com.mk/SetteMasterSystem/sette/clip/237753b-d93a-72e4-3115-8f7e126

TV “TVK” - Vinica http://clipping.sette.com.mk/SetteMasterSystem/sette/clip/1f9ec52-7650-ce29-910a-d35137f

TV “Star”-Pehcevo http://clipping.sette.com.mk/SetteMasterSystem/sette/clip/24df313-307a-2579-b804-7a67186

In parallel, the event was communicated and promoted through the MKM’s Website, Facebook page and Twitter.

Through the MKM Facebook page, as of 31.03.2016 twenty posts were published about the climate change practical education in the Municipalities of Prilep, Krivogastani, Pehcevo, Delcevo, Vinica, Tearce and Bogovinje, with a total reach of 24,667 people and 2,187 user engagements through post clicks, likes, comments and shares (average reach per post being 1,233 people, with a maximum reach per post of 3,370 people) Moreover, USAID Macedonia joined in the social media promotion of this activity by sharing several posts from the local events to boost reach.

126 Additionally, the events were promoted on MKM’s Twitter account. The Mayor of Prilep, Mr. Marjan Risteski also twitted about the practical education taking place in Prilep through his Twitter account: https://twitter.com/MarjanRisteski1/statuses/701793672015306752

Events in Studenicani, Bogdanci and Mavrovo and Rostusa were promoted through MKM’s Website, Facebook page and Twitter, while local media also covered the events in Mavrovo and Bogdanci. Five Facebook posts were published with a total reach of 2,012 people and 430 user engagements through post clicks, likes, comments and shares. USAID Macedonia also joined in the social media promotion of this activity by sharing several posts from the local events to boost reach.

127  A climate challenge for all citizens – Again It Depends on You Pak #OdTebeZavisi

A teaser press release, mentioning the main purpose of the event and the hashtag Pak #OdTebeZavisi was sent out to the media. Some of the press releases include: http://media.mk/article/156075/skopje-niz-edna- poinakva-prizma; http://www.radiomof.mk/foto-zagadenosta-na-skopje-niz- prizmata-na-umetnicata-simonida-filipova-kitanovska/; http://plusinfo.mk/vest/64231/niz-prizmata-na-umetnicite- vizuelen-prikaz-na-zagadenosta-vo-glavniot-grad-galerija-; http://a1on.mk/wordpress/archives/595830; http://reporter.mk/2016/03/28/фото-вест-низ-призмата-на-уметниците/ http://emagazin.mk/vesti/vest/20662 ; http://republika.mk/?p=574156 http://www.idividi.com.mk/vesti/makedonija/1062600/index.html http://www.popularno.mk/2016/03/28/фотогалерија-уметниците-го-насликаа/

Official press release

On the 5th of April, 2016 an official press release was sent out to all media announcing the this year’s climate change competition and inviting all citizens to submit their innovative ideas for fighting climate change and increasing urban resilience on the official web page www.odtebezavisi.mk

Twenty news articles in total were published by two Print media (Dnevnik and Utrinski Vesnik) and eighteen national and local Web portals, including: bi.mk, emagazin.mk, idividi.com.mk, a1on.mk, vistina.mk, pozitiv.mk, puls24.mk, kanal5.com.mk, mia.m k, podgorci.info,skopjeid.mk, republika.mk, dnevnik.mk, kurir.mk, denesen.mk, lider.mk, sitel.com.mk, n etpress.com.mk.

In parallel, the call for ideas was continuously promoted via MKM’s Facebook and Twitter account.

128 TV interviews For the aim of promoting the climate change contest and increasing public awareness about the possibilities to apply, MCCSP Communication officer, Ms. Slavkova attended two media interviews on morning shows of two national TV stations, Sitel and MTV 1, on the 19th of April and 26th of May, respectively.

*Sitel TV Morning Show, 19.04.2016 (MCCSP Communication officer, Ms. Radmila Slavkova together with UNDP Project Manager, Ms. Pavlina Zdraveva)

*MTV 1 TV Morning Show, 26.05.2016 (MCCSP Communication officer, Ms. Radmila Slavkova together with UNDP Project Manager, Ms. Pavlina Zdraveva)

Radio interview

In addition, on the 26th of April, 2016 MCCSP Communication officer talked about the contest, as well as the achievements in frames of the MCCSP during a radio interview on Makedonsko Radio, a national radio station.

In parallel with these activities, coordinated joint social media promotion of the climate challenge took place on the Facebook and Twitter pages of Milieukontakt Macedonia, USAID, UNDP, the Embassy of Sweden in Macedonia, the Faculty of Computer Science (including the Social Innovation Hub) and the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning and received significant reach and target audience engagements.

129 Print magazine - Joint interview

In order to further promote the this year’s urban resilience challenge “Od Tebe Zavisi” as a joint initiative of USAID and UNDP, the MCCSP communication officer in coordination with the UNDP Macedonia’ s communication officer organized a joint interview of USAID/UNDP Chief of Missions in a week-end edition of Vest Magazine, which was released on the 23rd of May, 2016.

They both discussed on topics related to the new climate challenge, the results from last year challenge, the climate change risks for Macedonia and how both, USAID and UNDP help the country in building climate change resilience, as well as what the citizens can do in the fight against this global threat.

The climate challenge was also communicated in an interview with the Dean of the Faculty of Computer Science in Skopje, Mr. Chorbev, for the web portal www.fakulteti.mk (http://www.fakulteti.mk/news/16- 05-06/intervju_so_prof_d-r_ivan_chorbev_dekan_na_finki.aspx, 16.05.2016)

The Innovation Camp received significant media attention. Numerous national and local media covered the event. Press release was distributed from MCCSP and UNDP on the day of the event to all national and local media. A significant media presence was achieved in the Web, Print and TV media, with total of 74 news articles covering the event (63 web articles, 4 print articles and 7 TV reports from national and local TV stations)

130

Newspapers: Nova Makedonija (27.06.2016); Dnevnik ( 28.06.2016)

TV: MTV 1 (26.06.2016) TV Alfa (26.06.2016) TV21 (26.06.2016)

Most remarkably, the “OdTebeZavisi” climate change contest 2016 also featured in The Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/a-solution-for-smart-recycling- triumphs-in-skopje_us_577174c8e4b0fa01a1406cfd (27.06.2016)

In parallel, the event was communicated and promoted through the MKM’s Website, Facebook page and Twitter.

131 According to Facebook insights, posts related to the CC innovation camp received significant reach and target audience engagements. MKM posted 26 posts on Facebook with different content related to the event, with a total post reach of 11.378 people and more than 600 post consumptions.

In parallel to the whole event, a “Climate Tweet-up” was organized where all camp participants and guests, including the VIPs, as well as influential members of the Macedonian Twitter community, created social media buzz about the challenge and tweeted posts with event-related hash-tags (#climatechange #itdependsonyou #ОдТебеЗависи #OdTebeZavisi #ClimateAction etc). The Wall Of Tweets was screened in the event venue of the Telekom Innovation Center, with the large compilation of Tweets made available on the “Od Tebe Zavisi” web page: http://www.odtebezavisi.mk/home/tweets/

Given the joint social media activity with the organizers and the partners of the contest, the social media campaign about the event was highly effective, measured by the respectful volume of news, the reach, exposure, engagements and the increase in the “Od Tebe Zavisi” climate contest’s share of voice.

 Official hand-over of the new water tank in Bogdanci (18.04.2016)

Press release was distributed on the day of the event to all national and local media. As of 18th and 19th of April, 2016, thirty one news articles were published by national and local web portals, including: bi.mk, a1on.mk, podgorci.info, mia.mk, sitel.com.mk, start.mk, vecer.mk, denesen.mk, reprter. mk, idividi.com.mk. One local TV station (Telekanal A1 Strumica) covered the event with a TV report:

132 There was one news article in the print magazine Vecer, as well:

The event was communicated and promoted through the MKM’s Website (http://milieukontakt.mk/2016/04/18/usaid- helps-bogdanci-to-improve-the-quality-and- efficiency-of-water-supply/ ) and Facebook. Through the MKM’s Facebook page, the event was promoted in two posts with a total reach of 703 people and 31 user engagements. Social media promotion was also supported by USAID Macedonia through Facebook:

 Earth Day 2016: TREES ARE KEY ALLIES IN COMBATING CLIMATE CHANGE (22.04.2016)

National and local media were invited to cover the event. Press release was distributed on the day of the event to all national and local media. 47 news releases were published by national and local web portals, including: telegraf.mk, netpress.com.mk, kanal5.com.mk, alfa.mk, start.mk, iris.mk, aktuelno24.mk, a1on.mk, repor ter.mk, telma.mk,press24.mk, hajdpark.mk, republika.mk, podgorci.info, zdravstvo24.mk, sitel.com.mk, denesen.mk, 24vesti.mk, vistina.mk,skopjeinfo.mk, lider.mk, kanal77.mk, tocka.com.mk, indeks.mk, kurir .mk, english.republika.mk, idividi.com.mk, vecer.mk, utrinski.mk,mia.mk/en, puls24.mk, yllpress.com, mia.mk/en, kanal5.com.mk, utrinski.mk, tetovasot.com, english.republika.mk, denar.mk,makfax.com.mk, novamakedonija.com.mk, plusinfo.mk, tetova1.mk, tvkoha.tv, tocka.com.mk, al.mrt.com.mk, radiovala.com,independent.mk

Two national TV stations (МТВ 1, МТВ 2) covered the event with TV reports, and the event was also communicated in two Print daily newspapers Нова Македонија and Утрински весник.

133

The event was communicated and promoted through the MKM’s Website (http://milieukontakt.mk/2016/04/22/earth-day-observed-trees-are-key-allies-in-combating- climate-change/) Facebook page and Twitter. Two posts on MKM’s Facebook page reached 800 people and more than 85 post consumptions.

 Public presentation of the pilot project in Vinica – “Regulation of the river bed of Osojnica river in Jakimovo village” in front of the local community (11.06.2016)

Two local web portals published an article about the event and the planned activities in frames of the MCCSP’s pilot project in Vinica (http://start.mk/article/169861/regulacija-na-koritoto- na-reka-osojnica-vinicko, http://vecer.mk/makedonija/regulacija-na-koritoto-na-reka- osojnica-vinichko; 13.06.2016)

134 The event was communicated and promoted through the MKM’s Web page: http://milieukontakt.mk/2016/06/13/public-presentation-of-the-pilot-project-in-vinica-regulation-of- the-river-bed-of-osojnica-river-in-jakimovo-village-in-front-of-the-local-community/, Facebook page and Twitter. The MKM’s Facebook post reached 727 people and 43 user engagements through post clicks, likes, comments and shares.

 Ribbon cutting event for celebrating the completed pilot project in Tearce (27.06.2016)

National and local media were invited to cover the event. Press release was distributed on the day of the event to all national and local media. As of 27th and 28th of June, 2016, thirty one news releases were published by national and local web portals, including: a1on.mk, vistina.mk, kurir.mk, mia.mk, press24.mk, zhurnal.mk, kanal5.com.mk, ping.mk, sky.mk, novamakedonija.com.mk, sitel.com.mk, kurir.mk, kanal5.com.mk, mia.mk, idividi.com.mk/shqip, radiovala.com,zhurnal.mk, makfax.com.mk, al.mrt.com.mk, alfa.mk, tvart.mk, ilirianews.mk, tvnova.mk, tetovasot.com, iris.mk, denar.mk

Seven TV stations (two national and five local) covered the event with TV reports: Канал 5, УЛТРА, TV Art, Алфа, КИСС, KohaTV, MTV 2.

The event was communicated and promoted through the MKM’s Website, Facebook page and Twitter. Through the MKM’s Facebook page, the event was promoted in two posts with a total reach of 3,742 people and 91 user engagements through post clicks, likes, comments and shares.

Additionally, the event was promoted on Twitter, through MKM’s Twitter account.

135

The U.S. Ambassador in Macedonia, Mr. Baily also twitted about the event through his Twitter account:

 Second Youth Climate Change Summer Camp in Struga

The event was communicated and promoted through the MKM’s Website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram profile. The young camp participants also published and shared posts via Facebook and Twitter, boosting the social media coverage of the event.

The camp was also promoted on August 16, on the national TV station MTV 1, where Ms. Maja Markovska, Green agenda coordinator at the MCCSP, talked about the results from this year’s CC youth summer camp on the morning show “Makedonija denes.”

In addition, there were three Web articles (vecer.mk, start.mk; bi.mk) and one print article (Вечер) about the event.  Climate Change Awareness-Raising Campaign “It’s up to us” (“Klimata se menuva, od nas zavisi”) 2016

The activities were promoted on Facebook and Instagram and were also part of the Instagram photo competition organized by MKM in frames of this year’ CC campaign. Young people from the ten partner municipalities, formed their teams, created special campaign-related Instagram profiles, and shared photos from their engagement in distribution of promotional materials and the realization of educational activities in the local schools. 458 Instagram posts in total were published under the hashtags #климатасеменува and #MKM. After the end of the campaign, MCCSP team will evaluate and select the winning entries (individual or team), based on the previously announced criteria (relevant content,

136 originality, impact) to the young people who were part of the MCCSP’s Climate Change Youth Summer Camp in Struga. The winner or the winning team members will receive a bicycle(s).

In addition to the social media promotion, this year’s campaign was also announced to the local audience through local radio and TV stations, for which special 33-seconds audio and video animations were created, inviting the citizens to join in the campaign and have a role in the global climate action The media coverage and the social media promotion of this year’s campaign was highly effective, measured by the respectful volume of news on the TV and web media, as well as the relatively high reach, and number of user engagements throughout social media, primarily Facebook and Twitter.

137 According to FB insights, FB posts on the MKM’s FB page had a total reach of 12,302 people for all campaign events. USAID Macedonia joined in the social media promotion of this year’s “It’s up to us” campaign, publishing posts for each campaign event, reaching 17,261 people in total for the whole campaign period.

Local partner CSOs, municipalities and Mayors also shared information about the local events through their web pages, Facebook and Twitter accounts, enhancing the total coverage of the campaign (http://pehcevo.gov.mk/vo-pehchevo-kampana-za-klimatskite-promeni-klimata-se-menuva-od-nas- zavisi/; https://goo.gl/hB2xkV; http://www.prilep.gov.mk/news/mk/vo-prilep-se-oddrza- kampanja-klimata-se-menuva-od-nas-zavisi/; http://marjanristeski.mk/novosti/detali/klimata-se- menuva-od-nas-zavisi; https://twitter.com/zatkoskitoni/status/780763623404830720 )

In the period September 19 until September 31, 2016, eight campaign events were organized for which 17 news releases were published by national and local web portals, including: kurir.mk, idividi.com.mk, mia.mk, televizijastar.com, mia.mk, kiss.com.mk, lider.mk, tocka.com.mk, mia.mk, iris.mk, makfax.com.mk; maqedoniashqiptare.com; http://pehcevo.gov.mk; http://www.ekologist.mk.

In addition to web news, 14 TV news were released by national, regional and local TV stations, including: Телма, Канал 8, ТВК, ТВ Стар, УЛТРА, КИСС, ТВ А1, Мега, Визија, УЛТРА, KohaTV and Д3.

TV interview

On September 12, the campaign was announced through a TV interview on the national TV TELMA’s morning show “Утринска на ТЕЛМА”. MCCSP’s information officer, Ms. Radmila Slavkova talked about the upcoming campaign activities in the ten partner municipalities. In addition, the MCCSP’s achievements to date were shortly discussed.

TV reports from the local events by regional and local television stations:

138 Starting from the first event held on September 19 in Pehcevo, the campaign was covered by regional and local TV stations, with local journalists reporting from each event.

TV Ultra - Tetovo TV Koha – Tetovo (Bogovinje event, 30.09.2016)

TV Mega – Prilep TV Kanal Vizija – Prilep (Krivogastani event, 28.09.2016)

Kanal A1 – Strumica (Bogdanci event, 25.09.2016)

TV Ultra – Tetovo TV KISS – Tetovo (Tearce event 24.09.2016)

139

TV Kanal 8, TV Star and TV TVK - Pehcevo and Vinica event (19.09.2016; 20.09.2016)

In addition, the MCCSP’s team recorded each of the campaing events and it is planned to produce videos for further promotion of the campaing via social media.

 Ribbon cutting event for celebrating the completed pilot project in Bogovinje (16.09.2016)

The event had great media coverage. National, regional and local media covered the event.

As of September 16, 2016, twenty two news releases were published by national and local web portals, including: mia.mk, al.mrt.com.mk, mia.mk/sq, bi.mk, lajmpress.com, shqipmedia.com, sitel.com.mk, akt uale.mk, idividi.com.mk, sdk.mk,maqedoniashqiptare.com, vecer.mk, start.mk, idividi.com.mk/shqip, ilir ianews.mk, zhurnal.mk, kurir.mk, tvart.mk, ekonomski.mk,alfa.mk, kiss.com.mk, yllpress.com

Four TV stations (one national, one regional and two local) covered the event with TV reports: MTV 2, УЛТРА, KohaTV and КИСС

140 Two print newspapers wrote about the event: Вечер and Koha

The event was communicated and promoted through the MKM’s Website, MKMs’ and USAID Macedonia’s Facebook page and MKM’s Twitter account.

The Facebook post on the MKM’s Facebook page reached 6,088 people, incurred 102 user engagements and 667 post clicks. The USAID Macedonia’s Facebook post reached 3,444 people, had 26 user engagements and 212 post clicks.

In addition to the MKM’s Tweet, the U.S. Ambassador in Macedonia, Mr. Baily also twitted about the event through his Twitter account: “Proud to help municipalities from #Bogovinje to #Pehcevo in developing sustainable adaptations to #climatechange”

141

 Ribbon cutting event for celebrating the completed pilot project in Studenicani (28.09.2016)

It was well attended by various municipal stakeholders and covered by both, national and local media.

There were two TV reports on the national television stations MTV 1 (on Macedonian) and MTV 2 (on Albanian language) as of September 28, 2016.

The daily print newspapers wrote about the event: Вечер

In addition, twenty two news releases were published by national and local web portals, including: novamakedonija.com.mk, sq.kurir.mk, mia.mk, ditari.mk, mia.mk/sq, maxim.mk, zhurnal.mk, s hqip.republika.mk,tetovasot.com, vecer.mk, tvnova.mk, al.mrt.com.mk, idividi.com.mk/shqip, maqedoni

142 ashqiptare.com, almakos.com, sitel.com.mk,press24.mk, start.mk, kurir.mk, tetova1.mk,sitel.com.mk, maqedoniashqiptare.com, http://studenicani.gov.mk/?p=1837

The event was communicated and promoted through the MKM’s Website, MKMs’ and USAID Macedonia’s Facebook page and MKM’s Twitter account.

The Facebook post on the MKM’s Facebook page reached 3,173 people, incurred 43 user engagements and 223 post clicks. In addition, USAID Macedonia’s Facebook post reached 4,664 people, had 97 user engagements and 371 post clicks.

 Third international Climate Change Conference

The event was communicated and promoted through the MKM’s Website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram profile. Also, there was a huge media coverage of the event. On 3 live info shows on 3 different Television with national coverage USAID MCCSP representatives promoted the conference and its goals.

Monitoring and evaluation

Introduction The Monitoring and evaluation component has been implemented as part of this project by International Consultant Jerphaas Donner, from the Netherlands, with assistance from a National Monitoring and evaluation expert Denis Zernovski.

Monitoring and evaluation of performance was continuing collaborative process with the participation of the project implementer, USAID, and other stakeholders. In the frame of this process Monitoring and Evaluation Plan has been developed. Monitoring and Evaluation Plan delineated plan to achieve the project’s anticipated results, indicators which have been used to measure those results, process of the collection of data for these indicators, and timeframe for achieving the results

143 Implementation The implementation of this component was conducted during the implementation of the project activities and on a periodical basis. With the following performance indicators of the project has been identified together with the USAID monitoring and evaluation officer:

OBJECTIVE: Municipal Stakeholders Better Prepared to Manage Local Climate Change Challenges

1. Number of stakeholders with increased capacity to adapt to the impacts of climate variability and change as a result of USG assistance  Intermediate Result 1: Improved Local Democratic Processes 2. Percent of citizens that trust the local governments  Sub-IR 1.1 - Increased Civic Activism 3. Number of citizens activated on climate change  Sub-IR 1.2 - More Responsive Local Governments 4. Number of actions taken by the local governments on climate change  Sub-IR 1.3 - Increased Cooperation among CSOs, Citizens, and Local Governments 5. Number of cooperation activities between citizens and CSOs and local governments  Sub-IR 1.4 - Increased CSO Involvement in Policy and Oversight 6. Number of activities by CSOs to involve in policy and oversight on climate change 7. Number of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) receiving USG assistance engaged in advocacy interventions  IR 2 - Increased Capacity to Adapt to Climate Change 8. Quantity of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, measured in metric tons of CO2e, reduced or sequestered as a result of USG assistance 9. Number of institutions with improved capacity to address climate change issues as a result of USG assistance (PPR)  Sub-IR 2.1 - Improved Local Policy Environment for Climate Change 10. Number of Municipally Councils agendas item related climate change  Sub-IR 2.2 - Increased Citizens’ Awareness of Climate Change 11. Number of citizens with increased awareness of climate change

Including the three indicators which have been introduced in the 2015

12. Person hours of training completed in climate change supported by USG assistance 13. Amount of investment leveraged in U.S. dollars, from private and public sources, for climate change as a result of USG assistance 14. Expected lifetime energy savings from energy efficiency or energy conservation as a result of USG assistance

144 At the beginning of the project implementation the basic values of all M&E Plan indicators with exception of the following indicators: Percent of citizens that trust the local governments and Number of citizens with increased awareness of climate change, have been defined. Basic value of the following indicators: Percent of citizens that trust the local governments and Number of citizens with increased awareness of climate change have been defined on the basis of the results from the conducted survey in the municipalities cover with the project. Also annual and Life of Project targets value for each indicator have been defined at the beginning of the project implementation.

Mid-term values of the indicators of project M&E Plan ( after the each year of the project ) have been determined according to the instruments and procedures for data collection, evaluation of the impact of any data collected on the value of the indicator and the procedure for determining the indicators of project monitoring plan are defined . Collection of the necessary data have been conducted, throw analysis of the reports prepared by the coaches for the events held within the project, in terms of defining the value of the indicator number of people who are active in the processes of climate change mitigation, including percentage of women in these processes. Mid-term values of the indicators: Percent of citizens that trust the local governments and Number of citizens with increased awareness of climate change have been determined according to the results from the conducted surveys for each year respectively.

In the frame of the monitoring and evaluation activities, four internal monitoring reports have been prepared. The internal monitoring reports gives an overview of the targets and milestones reached in the respective period in the project MCCS Project. These reports are internal document for management and staff of Milieukontakt Macedonia, with the aim presentation of the complete overview of what has been done in the respective year of the project. Each of the internal monitoring report have been prepared on the base of the analysis of the existing data and conducted interviews and meetings with the project stakeholders. Series of meetings with the represents of the municipalities, CSO partner organizations and participants of the Green Agenda Process from the municipalities cover by the project have been held. Purpose of these meetings was consideration the views of the participants and stakeholders in the process of the project implementation, and in particular the preparation of the Municipal Climate Change strategies, the Green Agenda process and selection and implementation of the urgent measures and pilot projects. Also, analysis of the data from the reports from the conducted events have been performed. All collected data have been summarized and analyzed including data for the activities undertaken. Each Internal monitoring report has been presented to the project team.

Respective recommendations for improvement of project implementation have been noted in some of the prepared internal monitoring reports.

Results

The following table presents the achieved values of each project indicator, over each project year and for the entire project period:

145 -M&E Plan

OBJECTIVE: Municipal Stakeholders Better Prepared to Manage Local Climate Change Challenges

Number of Adaptive Number of Data for this Annually 2012 0 30 50 80 40 200 stakeholders with capacity is the stakeholders, indicator should increased ability to adjust as defined by come from project Actual Actual Actual Actual Actual capacity to to climate the project documentation 38 42 84 43 207 adapt to the change, to (e.g., about activities impacts of moderate individuals, and stakeholders climate potential decision- engaged, ideally variability and damages, to makers, or validated by change as a take advantage organizations). surveys or result of USG of opportunities, interviews to assistance or to cope with ensure the use, the retention, and consequences. continuation of USG support to risk-reducing increase measures, adaptive information use, or capacity should other forms of aim beyond adaptive capacity. only the near term, to also have benefits in the middle and longer term.

146 -M&E Plan

IR 1 - Improved Local Democratic Processes

Percent of Trust is defined Percent Survey for base- Annually 2012 39.64 41.64% 45,46 47,46%(+ 49,46%( 49.64(+ citizens that trust through line, middle term 10%) %* (+2%) % 2%) +2%) the local complete trust monitoring survey Actual governments and trust to a 2013.Final Survey Actual (+4%) Actual Actual 48,94% certain extent. 2014 Interviews with CSO 47,17% Actual 46,77%*4 47,96%* representatives 47,49 5 %

Sub-IR 1.1 - Increased Civic Activism

Number of Number of Number / Interviews with Semi-annual 2012 0 160 80 240 120 600 citizens activated citizens that gender representatives of 300 Actual Actual Actual Actual on climate either CSO and female change individually or municipalities, 220** 116*** 227 131 Actual through CSOs reports from 684 are active in the working groups 96 38 101 87 Green Agenda Project files, 322 female female process quarterly or semi- female female female annual reports

* The figure refers to the 8 municipalities covered by the project. Two new municipalities which should be selected during 2015 are not included in this figure. ** Total number of the participants in the working groups (WG) fo r Green Agenda and Urgent actions meetings and events is 762. Figures showed above are numbers of citizens involved/activated in the climate change. In each municipality at least 3 WG are established and each WG conducted at least 3 working sessions. In total 83 WG meetings on Green Agenda in all communities are conducted and 30 WG meetings on urgent actions in all communities.

147 -M&E Plan

Frequency of Baseline Targets and Actuals Unit of Data Source / Performance Data Collection Life of Definition Measurement / Data Collection Indicator / Person Year Value 2013 2014 2015 2016 Disaggregation Method Project Responsible *** Only for municipalities which are part of second round of the Green Agenda ( 4 municipalities) *4 including baseline from two new municipalities (third round) *5 Only for municipalities which are part of the first and second round of the Green Agenda ( 8 municipalities), and for the muni cipalities from the third round, the survey will be held after im plementation of pilot projects

Data Source Frequency of Baseline Targets and Actuals Unit of Performance / Data Data Collection Definition Measurement / Life of Indicator Collection / Person Year Value 2013 2014 2015 2016 Disaggregation Project Method Responsible

Sub-IR 1.2 - More Responsive Local Governments

148 Data Source Frequency of Baseline Targets and Actuals Unit of Performance / Data Data Collection Definition Measurement / Life of Indicator Collection / Person Year Value 2013 2014 2015 2016 Disaggregation Project Method Responsible

Number of Actions taken Number Interviews Semi-annual 2012 0* 0 4 4 2 10 actions taken by by local with the local governments in representativ Actual Actual Actual Actual Actual governments on defining policy es of CSO 0 4 4 0** 10 climate change and planning and measures for municipalitie mitigation of s , Municipal climate change, official such as gazette, preparation of information local climate from action plans, medias, financial Project files, incentives, and quarterly or other measures semi-annual that encourage reports climate-friendly behavior. * There were five different actions that are related with climate change, but these activities are implemented for other reasons (improvement of school environment, regular a forestation, reduction of cost etc.) – 2012

** Draft version of the Municipal Climate Change Strategies (third round municipalities) have been prepared, but not adopted by the Municipal Councils until the end of 2016. These documents were adopted in 2017.

149 Data Source Frequency of Baseline Targets and Actuals Unit of Performance / Data Data Collection Definition Measurement / Life of Indicator Collection / Person Year Value 2013 2014 2015 2016 Disaggregation Project Method Responsible

Sub-IR 1.3 - Increased Cooperation among CSOs, Citizens, and Local Governments

Number of Joint efforts Number Interviews Annually 2012 2* +4 +4 +0 +2 10 cooperation (initiation and with activities preparation) of representativ Actual: Actual: Actual Actual Actual between citizens citizens and es of CSO 4** 4*** +1*4 +1*5 10 and CSOs and CSOs and local and local governments in municipalitie governments area of climate s , Municipal change. official

Joint gazette, implementation information of measures from local (works - medias. construction). Project files, quarterly or semi-annual reports

150 Data Source Frequency of Baseline Targets and Actuals Unit of Performance / Data Data Collection Definition Measurement / Life of Indicator Collection / Person Year Value 2013 2014 2015 2016 Disaggregation Project Method Responsible

*Local activities finished in 2012. Figures are not transferrable in 2013 ** Green Agenda (GA) process is in the implementation in 4 municipalities. *** Green Agenda (GA) process is in the implementation in 4 municipalities (second round). *4 Green Agenda (GA) process is in the implementation in 1 municipality (third round) *5 Green Agenda (GA) process is in the implementation in 1 municipality (third round) Sub-IR 1.4 - Increased CSO Involvement in Policy and Oversight

Number of Involvement of Number / Interviews Semi-Annually 2012 0 +4 +4 +8 +4 +20 activities by CSOs in disaggregated by with repre- 4 4 Actual:

CSOs to involve processes of policies and sentatives of policie 4 policie 2 20 in policy and formulation of oversight actions CSO & mu- s oversigh s policie policies oversight on local policy and nicipalities , Actual: t & s 10 climate change oversight of Municipal 4 4 & & oversight implementation official policie Actual: oversig 2 10 of policy throw gazette s ht 4 oversig participation in Project files, (4 GA oversigh Actual: ht working CSO recor- proces t 4 Actual: groups, expert ds, quarterly s) policie discussion, and semi- s round table,

151 Data Source Frequency of Baseline Targets and Actuals Unit of Performance / Data Data Collection Definition Measurement / Life of Indicator Collection / Person Year Value 2013 2014 2015 2016 Disaggregation Project Method Responsible

committees annual & 2

etc.” reports 5 policie oversig s ht &

oversig ht

Number of Civil Involvement of Number Interviews annual 2012 0 8 4 4 2 18 Society Civil Society with repre- Organizations Organizations sentatives of Actual Actual Actual Actual Actual (CSOs) receiving in the process CSO & mu- 9 4 5 3 21 USG assistance of definition of nicipalities, engaged in the local reports from advocacy priorities the events interventions.

IR 2 - Increased Capacity to Adapt to Climate Change

152 Data Source Frequency of Baseline Targets and Actuals Unit of Performance / Data Data Collection Definition Measurement / Life of Indicator Collection / Person Year Value 2013 2014 2015 2016 Disaggregation Project Method Responsible

Quantity of The CO2e Metric tons CO2 According to Annual 2012 0 0 80 80 40 200 greenhouse gas emissions equivalent the imple- (GHG) reduced or (annual) mented mea- Actual: Actual Actual Actual Actual emissions, sequestered as sures an calcu- 0 270,41* 323,4 323,44 323,44 measured in a result of USG lation of metric tons of programs in quantity of 4 CO2e, reduced climate change, reduced or sequestered natural resource emissions of as a result of management, greenhouse USG assistance agriculture, gas (CO2) with biodiversity, use of energy, Greenhouse industry, urban, Gas transport and Equivalencies other relevant Calculator or sectors. Waste Re- duction Model (WARM) * the figure is calculated empirically

153 Data Source Frequency of Baseline Targets and Actuals Unit of Performance / Data Data Collection Definition Measurement / Life of Indicator Collection / Person Year Value 2013 2014 2015 2016 Disaggregation Project Method Responsible

Number of Institutions with Number of Interviews Semi - Annual 2012 0 8 16 12 6 30 institutions with improved institutions with improved capacity will be representativ Actual Actual: Actual Actual: Actual: capacity to better able to es of : 14 : 7 48 address climate govern, institutions, change issues as coordinate, Project 16* 11 a result of USG analyze, monitoring assistance (PPR) advise, or make expert will decisions gather data

related to about adaptation, institutions clean energy, with or sustainable improved landscapes. climate “Improvement” change can be capacity ascertained through using an standard assessment of M&E capabilities procedures, compared with such as a baseline questionnair assessment es, quarterly and annual reports. pre and post training tests

154 Data Source Frequency of Baseline Targets and Actuals Unit of Performance / Data Data Collection Definition Measurement / Life of Indicator Collection / Person Year Value 2013 2014 2015 2016 Disaggregation Project Method Responsible

*In total represents of 29 Institutions were present on at least one event from the GA process . In the WG for Green Agenda, Urgent Actions development and capacity building trainings represents of 16 institutions were involved

Sub-IR 2.1 - Improved Local Policy Environment for Climate Change

155 Data Source Frequency of Baseline Targets and Actuals Unit of Performance / Data Data Collection Definition Measurement / Life of Indicator Collection / Person Year Value 2013 2014 2015 2016 Disaggregation Project Method Responsible

Number of Number of Number Municipal Annual 2012 0 +4 +16 +12 +6 +38

Municipally articles on the Official Actual Actual Actual: Actual: Actual:

Councils agendas of the gazette 4 18 +12 +4* 38 agendas item Local Council Project files, related climate which discusses quarterly or change topics or semi-annual

measures reports

related to climate change

* Municipal Climate Change Strategies (third round municipalities- Delchevo and Prilep) are not adopted by the Municipal Councils by the end of 2016, but were adopted in 2017

156 Data Source Frequency of Baseline Targets and Actuals Unit of Performance / Data Data Collection Definition Measurement / Life of Indicator Collection / Person Year Value 2013 2014 2015 2016 Disaggregation Project Method Responsible

Sub-IR 2.2 - Increased Citizens’ Awareness of Climate Change

Number of Increased Number/ Survey for Annual 2012 0 200/ 600/ 800/ 400/ 2000/ citizens with awareness is disaggregation by baseline, 100 300 400 200 1000 increased defined as gender middle term female female female female female awareness of change in monitoring climate change awareness pre survey 2013 Actual: Actual Actual Actual Actual and post Final 220 692 761 364 2037 training events monitoring Female female female female female Survey 2014 96 258 362 221 937 Interviews with representativ es of CSO

157 Data Source Frequency of Baseline Targets and Actuals Unit of Performance / Data Data Collection Definition Measurement / Life of Indicator Collection / Person Year Value 2013 2014 2015 2016 Disaggregation Project Method Responsible

NEW INDICATORS

4.8.2-6 Person Hours of USG Number of person Reporting by Annual 2014 0 / / Actual Actual Actual hours of training supported hours of training in implementin 3953 1060 5013 completed in training course x each reporting g partners climate change Number of period. using supported by people standard USG assistance completing that M&E training course procedures

on an annual basis

158 Data Source Frequency of Baseline Targets and Actuals Unit of Performance / Data Data Collection Definition Measurement / Life of Indicator Collection / Person Year Value 2013 2014 2015 2016 Disaggregation Project Method Responsible

4.8.2-10 Amount Funding U.S. dollars Project Annual 2014 0 / / Actual Actual Actual of investment leveraged, as a implementer leveraged in U.S. result of USAID s will gather 3.178.8 1.297.4 4.476.377 dollars, from assistance, for data about 87 90 private and climate change funding public sources, programs, leveraged for climate including by through change as a REDD+, that standard result of USG support actions, reporting assistance activities, procedures, projects or such as programs that quarterly reduce or and annual sequester reports. GHGs or increase capacity to adapt to the impacts of climate variability and change.

159 Data Source Frequency of Baseline Targets and Actuals Unit of Performance / Data Data Collection Definition Measurement / Life of Indicator Collection / Person Year Value 2013 2014 2015 2016 Disaggregation Project Method Responsible

4.8.2-31: Estimating tCO2e Data Annual 2014 0 / / Actual Actual On the end Expected lifetime energy savings provided by GJ of the energy savings and greenhouse USG GHG GHG from energy gas (GHG) implementer reductio reductio project efficiency or emission s as part of energy reductions from standard n n Actual conservation as a a variety of reporting 4089,6 3748,83 GHG result of USG activities under procedures assistance the Clean through, for 3 tCO2e tCO2e reduction Energy Pillar of example, Energy Energy 3592,63 the Global quarterly Climate and annual savings savings tCO2e Change reports. 1360,72 1247,33 Energy Initiative. Data from Energy GJ GJ savings passports for 1195,36 GJ implemented Measures CLEER protocol

160 Achievements In the following table, the percent of the achievement of the planned value of each indicator at the end of the project has been presented.

Indicator Planned Actual Achievement %

Number of stakeholders with increased capacity to 200 207 104% adapt to the impacts of climate variability and change as a result of USG assistance Percent of citizens that trust the local governments 49.64 48.81 98%

Number of citizens activated on climate change 600 684 114% female 300 322 107% Number of actions taken by the local governments on 10 10 100% climate change

Number of cooperation activities between citizens and 10 10 100% CSOs and local governments

Number of activities by CSOs to involve in policy and 20 20 100% oversight on climate change

Number of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) receiving 18 21 117% USG assistance engaged in advocacy interventions.

Quantity of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, 200 323.44 162% measured in metric tons of CO2e, reduced or sequestered as a result of USG assistance Number of institutions with improved capacity to 30 30 100% address climate change issues as a result of USG assistance (PPR) Number of Municipally Councils agendas item related 38 38 100% climate change

Number of citizens with increased awareness of climate 2000 2037 102% change female 1000 937 94% 4.8.2-6 Person hours of training completed in climate / 5013 / change supported by USG assistance

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4.8.2-10 Amount of investment leveraged in U.S. / 4.476.377 / dollars, from private and public sources, for climate change as a result of USG assistance 4.8.2-31: Expected lifetime energy savings from energy / GHG / efficiency or energy conservation as a result of USG reduction assistance / 3592,63 / tCO2e / Energy / savings / 1195,36 GJ /

Presented M&E plan shows that the Municipal Climate Change Strategies project in Macedonia is well implemented and all planned results have been achieved, or overachieved. Obstacles and Challenges

During the project implementation, the project team has faced difficult situations, that required special attention and potentially could influence the successful implementation of the project. These obstacles and challenges were divided into several groups depending on the nature of the obstacle: Force Majeure, Lack of local Capacity, Administrative Challenges, Challenges with technical solutions and technical implementation, External Influences and Cost share challenges.

 Force Majeure

o Delay due to weather conditions in the implementation of the pilot project in Bogdanci, building a new water tank in order to improve the water supply to the Bogdanci residents who experience low water pressure and insufficient quantity of water supply in the periods of high summer temperatures and low precipitation, due to unfavorable weather. The implementation continued as soon as the weather conditions were ok. The delay was not significant and it did not influence other project activities.

o The works for the UA in Bogovinje, Cleaning of the Riverbed in Pirok, Kamenjane and Palchiste and planting trees around them, initially planned for completion in October 2014 were delayed due to bad weather and were finished in December 2014.

o After the second proposal and selection of PP in Teace, which was to clean two of the rivers that pass through some of the villages in the municipality, an intensive storm in August 2015 the rivers flooded and the proposed project become obsolete.

After the reports of the international agencies’ in regards of assessments of the damages and identify possible measures that can be taken to prevent disastrous flood events from happening again in the future, USAID MCCSP has engaged a local expert to conduct assessment and give recommendation for the pilot action in Tearce. The action was finally selected: Drafting of a Study for Flood Risk Management in the Municipality of Tearce and reconstruction of the riverbed of river Ponika in the village Dobroshte.

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Because of all these issues, the PP in Terace was implemented together with the PP in the 2nd round municipalities. Overall, it did not have negative influence on the overall project implementation.

 Lack of local capacity (municipality and/or partner CSOs)

o The urgent action of the municipality of Terace was delayed because of the quality of the project proposals submitted by the the municipality. The proposal was sent back and new and improved proposals were requested. The challenge in this case was to find the balance between identifying and implementing a good project and the need for spending the budget on time. The UA was afterwards selected and implemented and the delay did not influence other project activities.

o The partner CSOs in Vinica and Studenicani lacked the needed project management capacity which delayed the implementation of the urgent actions in these municipalities. The delay did not influence other project activities.

o For the second stage of the project in Prilep, which was “Reconstruction of the pipeline of the old water wells in Prilep”, since municipality of Prilep didn’t completed the documentation, planning, and permits to implement activities to complete the planned pilot project, in coordination with AOR and based on availability of funds and documents MKM started with completing another phase of the pilot project in Vinica.

 Administrative challenges o The pilot project in Bogdanci turned out to be more time consuming than expected. The municipality had difficulties obtaining the necessary permits that are issued by the central government. After several postponements, a final deadline was set to have all paperwork ready. If the municipality failed to obtain the necessary documents by this deadline, then another project would be implemented, but fortunately the paperwork was done on time and the project started its implementation without influencing other project activities.

o Although construction company has been selected and contracted for the PP in Vinica, the field works were postponed. The reason was administrative preparations for the action- permits by the Ministry of environment and physical planning and by the Water management company that had to be issued prior to the field works. The procedure for issuing these permits took several months. After all administrative preparations for the action- permits by the Ministry of environment and physical planning and by the Water management company were issued, the work on field have started.

 Challenges with technical solutions and technical implementation

o The identified and proposed pilot project by Municipality of Tearce was subject to discussion among USAID, MCCSP and the municipality, during the approval phase.

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It was agreed that instead of the originally planned improvement of the water irrigation channels a more sustainable solution of the irrigation problem will be sought in cooperation between the MCCSP and the USAID SBEP project in order create synergies between the two projects. One of the SBEP contractors has done a pre-feasibility study to find the optimal irrigation solution for the entire Polog region.

After thorough analysis of the options for improvement of the irrigation situation in Tearce, it has been concluded that the project initially foreseen for implementation in Tearce is not feasible. Therefore, the process of project identification had to start all over again which further delayed the implementation of the pilot project there.

The working groups later proposed another activity as a pilot project, which was to clean two of the rivers that pass through some of the villages in the municipality.

 External influences

o All activities related to the round 2 municipalities were postponed due to the early parliamentary elections that were called at the beginning of March 2015. The elections were not planned and had an impact on some of planned activities. The first stakeholder meetings were not held and it was not possible to proceed with the identification of the urgent actions. These activities remained to be implemented with a delay of several months. Due to this delay, the whole GA process including PP component was postponed and had an influence on the due dates for adoption of the Strategies and on the timing of implementation of the PP. o The political situation in the country has been directly influencing project activities on several occasions. Namely during the project implementation there have been several elections that influenced the project time frame. During the last project year, the political situation escalated, there is a total insecurity in the society and the several attempts for scheduling elections have also influenced the action plan, especially the planning of the public awareness raising campaign and the public events, which had to be rescheduled. This has direct influence on the whole timeframe of the project implementation and the project end was postponed for 5 months. o Because of the reasons mentioned above, the following project activities have been rescheduled for September- December 2016: Print and promotion of 6 MCCS, Youth Camp, Public Campaign, NSM, Conference, Pilot projects implementation in third round municipalities, ribbon cutting for 7 pilot projects, final project results survey, capacity building component final assessment. o In the process of data collection, related with the determination of the indicators from the M&E Plan, from the municipalities, part of the public administration was not willing to cooperate and did not submit data on time. According to the monitoring experts some of the people from the administration were not used to cooperate with people from outside. After the intervention of the respective Mayors, cooperation has been enhanced. o During the interviews with the stakeholders involved in the process of preparing the green agenda which have been hold in the frame of the monitoring process, the participants coming from NGOs, as well as citizens and representatives of the private sector, does not always freely express their real opinion in the presents of the representatives of the municipality. Because of this, interviews have been hold separately with each group of stakeholders. According to the opinion of the monitoring experts, even then, still part of the stakeholders do not gave honest answers on some questions.

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o Some of the stakeholders had the wrong picture about the mission and purpose of the monitoring missions within the meetings and interviews have been performed and therefore some of them were quite reserved in terms of the answers they gave. Therefore, purpose and mission of the monitoring have been elaborated by the monitoring experts, before each meeting or interviews.

 Cost-share challenges

o Municipality of Bogdanci was not able to fully meet its obligation to participate in the cost sharing with 20% of the value of the pilot project. The final costs for the pilot turned out to be more than originally envisaged in the bill of quantities, which actually raised the value of the cost share the municipality has to participate with. The Municipality raised an examination for the bill of quantities. The examinations showed that the measured quantities are even larger than reported by the contractor. The mayor again requested additional examinations, this time to be performed by a specialized Court Forensics Bureau. As the results from this investigation have confirmed the measured quantities and the Municipality of Bogdanci has officially refused to share the additional cost, so the final payment was made by USAID MCCSP. The total cost made by MCCSP was in accordance with the project budget. Having in mind all events discussions with the municipality about meeting their obligation for 20% cost sharing, it happened that the municipality was unable to meet the unanticipated difference. However, this was not a serious concern regarding the MKM’s obligation to provide the cost share required in the project contract as other municipalities have already exceeded their 20% obligation which at the end will offset the lower amount of cost share that Bograndci might participate with.

o Delays in the obligations for cost-share. Several Municipalities delayed the payments for cost-share. MKM and the contractors had to re-plan and adapt the time-frame of the implementation in order to have the expected results with not significant delays. There were significant delays in the cost share payments by the municipalities of The Municipalities of Bogovinje, Studenicani and Prilep, and insignificant delays with the municipalities of Tearce and Mavrovo Rostushe.

o The implementation of the second stage of the urgent action in Kajanecki Dol – Istibanja, was not implemented by the Municipality of Vinica. This was not contractual obligation by the municipality, but after the final recommendations from the USAID BEO, after the contractor for the phase one has been selected, the Mayor voluntarily agreed that the Municipality will cover all additional activities concerning Kajanecki Dol project. Nevertheless, the project implementation - first phase that was subject to the UA funding was completed on time, so far, until the project end date the municipality did not implement the second stage of the UA. This endangers the sustainability of the UA results having in mind that stage two supposed to stop further erosion and debris in the ravine in the village of Istibanja.

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Lessons Learned

 Following the strong need for exchanging experiences between the municipalities, especially when they are in different stage in implementation of GA process, joint workshops need to be organized more frequently focusing on more specific topics and not necessarily involving all partner municipalities.  Specific instruments for encouraging more intensive women participation in the municipalities where there is weaker participation of women in GA process and capacity building measures proved to be effective. Local communities expressed strong interest for the separate training module on gender issues, which was developed and implemented since October 2014.  To achieve more sustainable results, instead of direct support by writing the strategies by themselves, the local trainers of the “new” partner municipalities, need to start collecting documentation for elaboration of Strategy for addressing the climate changes and assist the partner organizations indirectly by providing comments, giving directions, and monitoring the progress.  More intensive assistance is needed for the process of selection of pilot projects, since not always the proposed ones are related to addressing climate change challenges  More balanced provision of training services need to be provided to the partner municipalities, meaning those who have received less support to intensify activities, and those who have been more actively involved in capacity building measures to focus more on other project components (i.e. implementing urgent actions)  The fact that every trainer is responsible for one municipality only, produces positive results, because of developing strong relationship with both partner organizations and local communities. In addition, the trainer gets familiar with the local context and can facilitate meetings and assess the capacity building needs. However, there was a need additional trainers to be involved in providing training for each of municipalities, mainly because of two reasons: o specialization - not everybody is competent to deliver every topic, and o the participants need to be introduced to different training styles even when the existing trainer is competent to deliver the training  In addition to regular joint workshops, aimed at addressing all the partner municipalities, for certain topics smaller joint workshops are needed, which would be attended by representatives of two or three neighboring municipalities.

 In order for the Urgent Actions and Pilot Projects to be both relevant and sustainable, it is necessary that they are generated by stakeholders in conjunction with input from the implementers, municipal authorities, and local environmental experts.

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 One of the most important risks of long planning processes is dissatisfaction of the participants at the end of the process if they perceive they were just talking and preparing a document and that in reality nothing will change in their community. This disappointment should be avoided at almost all costs, because it will harm the credibility of all organizations involved and will make people less open to cooperation in future. This means that it is important to focus not only on the discussions and the development of a document (which is needed as a basis for future actions) but also on the actions to follow from there. For this, concrete ideas had to be developed and elaborated and fundraising had to be done. Fundraising had to start at an early stage, as it is usually a time-consuming activity. In some cases, the municipality have assigned a budget line to Green Agenda from which pilot projects can be financed.  The obligation for the municipalities to finance at least 20% of the pilot project (it was a selection criteria when municipalities were selected) should be regulated by Contract at an early stage in order the Municipalities to budget the activities and ensure on-time payments.  Local capacities of Municipalities and partner CSOs should be assessed at the Contracting stage, as well as re-assessed during the project implementation in order to ensure that they are ready to respond to the tasks at each step of the GA process.  Each UA and/or PP proposal must be checked in details and by experts for permits and/or other administrative procedures needed prior to selection, and not after the selection.  Technical experts should be involved in the selection process and in the technical design phase of the UA and PP in order to confirm the technical viability of the actions.  After the final UA and PP has been selected, all the paperwork is finished, and contractors selected – it is of crucial importance that the intervention measures are clearly communicated with the target groups and concerned public. This will prevent future dissatisfaction and discrepancies of the expectations of the concerned public and the project real objectives. There has to be a public event organized in order to present the intervention measures and communicate it with local people. Other possible tools for public communication can be used.  There should be clear communication channel between the local partner CSO and the municipality, and also a clear and open communication among the CSO, Municipality and the concerned public in order to avoid discrepancies in the expectations of the public, which at a later stage might lead to dissatisfaction and negative feedback.  As a vertical component (directly connected with all other project components), the Communication, publicity and visibility part of the MCCSP (and all other projects of this kind) has crucial importance in order the project results to be brought to the project stakeholders and especially to final “clients”- the citizens That is why, this component had to be continuously involved in all project activities. Also, the component had crucial role for achieving one of the most important project goals- Climate change awareness rising  As USAID has “black-out” rule as a pre-election measure, and as mentioned in the previous section, during MCCSP implementation several elections had happen, the activities of this component were many times influenced and had to be postponed. This have made a lot of changes in the planning, organization and execution of the activities. And from other side, in the promotional activities, most of the times politically exposed people are being involved, and their COMPENDIUM - MAY 5, 2017 167

schedules are busy. So, the overall schedule of the promotional activities of the project had to be planned flexible, but in the same time very well organized. Because of that a lot of planning and organization efforts, as well as time had to be dedicated to this component in order to have best results.  Larger number of representatives of the municipal administration should be included in the process of preparing of municipal climate change strategies. It is necessary to be involved in the process, but not as a public administration representative, but to be involved as citizens also who are interested in for their future.  Develop IT monitoring system that will allow electronic data entry and updating of data required for monitoring by the coordinators of the components and other persons from the project team, including representatives of partner non-governmental organizations involved in the project.  The GA process is a dynamic process that needs time to be implemented.

Timeframe of GA implementation  Recommendation: The process needs to be not shorter than six months, but also not longer than 18 months. The timeframe is different for each municipality and it depends on the dynamics, the commitment of the local CSO and the size of the community.  Lessons learned: First round municipalities implemented the process for the longest period and the third round had the shortest time for implementation. The timeframe for implementation of the GA process in the communities must be defined according the dynamics of work for each community separately. This is a recommendation for future implementation of the methodology.  Who should implement the process? During the implementation of the GA methodology in 10 municipalities in Macedonia in 3 rounds, we had CSOs project partners from with a different background, experience and from different areas. We had implementation of the process by local CSO in the community, implementation by a CSOs from another community, implementation from a national CSO network that has a representative in the community. The GA process was finished in all 10 municipalities. From the analysis of the process in the aftermath of the events we concluded that the best implementators of the GA process is local grassroot CSO from the community where the process is implemented. In the communities where we had a grassroot local CSO as implementing partner the process was domesticated, introduced to the citizens easier and the dynamics of implementation were better. The process of introduction is shorter and the citizens show more confidence and are easy to mobilize and take part in the process. The local familiar faces encourage the citizens to take part and to get involved in the GA process. The communication during the process is faster, constructive, and less formal if the CSO is local. The project showed that the process can be implemented by CSO that is not from the community. The results are also excellent, the process is implemented the GA strategy developed and adopted by the municipal council. The difference is that when the CSO is not local the engagement of it is strictly professional and within the timeframe for implementation. After the process is finished there is no further engagement.

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Financial Report

Budget line Description Budgeted Actual % 1 Personal $321.244 $329.006 102,42% 1.2 Fringe benefits $166.282 $163.791 98,50% 2 Consultants $358.641 $359.974 100,37% Travel and 3 Transportation 3.1 International travel $51.800 $29.712 57,36% 3.2 Domestic Travel $141.980 $140.109 98,68% 4 Equipment $66.509 $71.134 106,95% 5 Other Direct Costs $1.377.050 $1.393.814 101,22% 6 Office Expenses $154.560 $153.917 99,58% 7 Other Expenses $161.934 $162.832 100,55%

Total $2.800.000 $2.804.289 100,15%

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