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Usaid/Oti Macedonia Support Initiative Semi-Annual Report May 1, 2017 – October 31, 2017

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Usaid/Oti Macedonia Support Initiative Semi-Annual Report May 1, 2017 – October 31, 2017 • USAID/OTI MACEDONIA SUPPORT INITIATIVE SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT MAY 1, 2017 – OCTOBER 31, 2017 OCTOBER 2017 This publication was produced for review by the United States Agency for International Development. And prepared by AECOM International Development USAID/OTI MACEDONIA SUPPORT INITIATIVE SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT MAY 1, 2017 – OCTOBER 31, 2017 Submitted to: USAID Office of Transition Initiatives Prepared by: AECOM International Development DISCLAIMER: The authors’ views expressed in this document do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Agency for International Development or the United States Government. Semi-Annual Report | USAID/OTI MSI i TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Contents .............................................................................................................................................................. ii Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................................ 1 Political context.................................................................................................................................................................. 1 Program strategy ................................................................................................................................................................ 3 DEBATE PROGRAM REPRESENTS DIVERSE POLITICAL PERSPECTIVES .................................................. 4 CREATIVE CIVIC INITIATIVE TRIGGERS CHANGE ......................................................................................... 5 Grants Summary ................................................................................................................................................................ 5 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................................................... 5 USAID/OTI MSI ii INTRODUCTION In 2015, Macedonia’s four major political parties requested the European Union (EU) and the United States Government (USG) help Macedonia resolve its political crisis. To assist with this process, USAID launched the USAID/OTI Macedonia Support Initiative (MSI) in September 2015 to support the key reform processes outlined in the Przino Agreement. In December 2015, USAID increased its support to Macedonia by expanding this initiative to a full program, implemented by AECOM International Development. MSI is a three-year program with an activated contract ceiling of approximately US$16,200,000. From May 2017 to November 2017, the program worked to: • Support urgent priorities outlined in the reform process, • Expand civic engagement, and • Increase media outlets’ willingness to produce diverse, balanced, and/or fact-based content Through the implementation of MSI, USAID/OTI works closely with civil society organizations, media groups, and government institutions to increase access to reliable information, promote civic engagement, and support democratic reforms. POLITICAL CONTEXT In May 2017, a new coalition government composed of the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM) and the Democratic Union for Integration (DUI) formed. The transition came after four months of political deadlock and protest following the failure of the former ruling party, the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization – Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity (VMRO-DPMNE), to win a clear majority or form a coalition and President Gjorge Ivanov’s refusal to give SDSM the mandate to form a government. On April 27, a majority in Parliament paved the way for SDSM to assume governance after a majority elected Talat Xhaferi as speaker. Moments after the decision, approximately 200 people stormed Parliament in violent protest that left over 100 people injured. 1 The incident prompted widespread condemnation and increased pressure from citizens and the international community to resolve the crisis by formally recognizing the coalition formed between SDSM and DUI and the new speaker.2 On May 17, President Ivanov granted a mandate to SDSM leader Zoran Zaev to form a new government. On May 31, Parliament officially voted in the new SDSM and DUI coalition government. On July 4, the new government released the “3-6-9 Plan”, which outlines key reform priorities to improve governance and reorient the country’s trajectory towards Euro-Atlantic integration.3 The plan integrates recommendations from the Przino Agreement, the 2015 Priebe Report, and the EU Commission to put forth a reform agenda over nine months. The plan sets specific reforms to be 1 Hopkins, Valerie. “What Happened in Macedonia, and Why.” The Atlantic, 28 Apr. 2017, www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2017/04/macedonia-parliament-zaev-nationalist-violence-eu-europe/524733/. 2 Gjukovikj, Danilo, and Sarah Wilson Sokhey. “This Is Why the West Should Pay Attention to the Drama in Macedonia.” The Washington Post, 29 May 2017, www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2017/05/29/this-is-why-the-west-should-pay-attention-to-the-drama-in- macedonia/?utm_term=.2a3a45c28560. 3 Macedonia, The Government of the Republic of Macedonia, “3-6-9 Plan.” 3-6-9 Plan, The Government of the Republic of Macedonia Secretariat for European Affairs, 4 July 2017. www.sep.gov.mk/data/file/Dokumenti/Plan%203-6-9%20ENG.pdf. USAID/OTI MSI 1 implemented in the areas of elections, parliamentary procedures, cooperation with the President, civil society, the Ohrid Framework, public administration, the judicial system, intelligence and security services, corruption, migration, and media. The IREX Media Sustainability Index found Macedonia’s media landscape to have an “unsustainable, mixed system” with some forces opposing free media and other positive developments in professional journalism, and commitments to free press as too recent to assess.4 The ‘3-6-9 Plan’ highlights a number of critical reforms to support a more professional and independent media. The proposed reforms include ending government financing for commercial advertisements, professionalizing the public broadcasting service, drafting amendments for key media laws, adopting a code of ethics for media reporting, and establishing regular consultations between the media, government, and civil society.5 While the new government has identified a robust plan, it faces institutional capacity challenges that may limit its ability to deliver on reforms. Despite these limitations, the new change in government has improved citizens’ perceptions of the country’s outlook following the lengthy political crisis. Public opinion polling conducted by the International Republican Institute (IRI) in August 2017 revealed a dramatic uptick in optimism about the country’s trajectory following the change in government.6 Forty-four percent of citizens reported the country is “peaceful and stable” compared to just five percent in March 2017. The number of respondents who felt Macedonia was headed in the wrong direction dropped to its lowest level in three years. Ahead of local elections, 74 percent of citizens believed conditions were in place for them to be free and fair, compared to just 57 percent in March. On October 15, the country held the first round of local elections to select mayors and municipal council members. Of 81 municipalities, 46 elected a mayor in the first round with the remaining being elected in second round runoffs on October 29. In its Statement of Preliminary Findings and Conclusions, the OSCE/ODIHR determined media coverage of the contestants was balanced, though campaign advertising was overall negative. They found that “only eight debates were hosted by the public channel, MTV1, and the private channel, Kanal 5, between SDSM and VMRO-DPMNE candidates; no debates took place featuring ethnic Albanian and independent candidates.” 7 While local elections generally prompted media outlets to focus on local issues, access to high-quality, well-researched information remains a systemic challenge for citizens in rural communities and those without access to the internet as they can access only a limited number of television stations. Voter turnout was 59.51 percent in the first round and 51.92 in the second round.8 SDSM-supported candidates won in 57 municipalities up from four in the 2013, DUI in ten down from 14, and VMRO- DPMNE in five down from 56 . Newly-formed Albanian parties, the Besa Movement and the Alliance for Albanians (AA), won in one and three municipalities respectively. VMRO-DPMNE, AA and Besa all 4 Georgievski, Dejan. “Macedonia Media Sustainability Index 2017.” IREX, IREX, www.irex.org/sites/default/files/pdf/media-sustainability-index- europe-eurasia-2017-macedonia.pdf. 5 Macedonia, The Government of the Republic of Macedonia, “3-6-9 Plan.” 3-6-9 Plan, The Government of the Republic of Macedonia Secretariat for European Affairs, 4 July 2017. www.sep.gov.mk/data/file/Dokumenti/Plan%203-6-9%20ENG.pdf. 6 “Public Opinion in Macedonia August 4-21 2017.” International Republican Institute, International Republican Institute, 18 Sept. 2017, www.iri.org/sites/default/files/2017-9-18_macedonia_poll.pdf. 7 Election Observation Mission. “The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia – Municipal Elections, Second Round, 29 October 2017 Statement of Preliminary Findings and Conclusions.” OSCE/ODIHR 30 Oct 2017. http://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/fyrom/353276?download=true 8 “Local Elections 2017.” State Election commission – Republic of Macedonia.
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