STRATEGY FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION, SOCIAL PROTECTION AND ALLEVIATION OF POVERTY IN MUNICIPALITY OF BEROVO July 2011
Publisher Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights – BIM-FV Skopje
The preparation and the printing of this publication is supported by The Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC)
Prepared by Biljana Manaskova – Local consultant on behalf of BIM-FV
Contact person from the Municipality of Berovo Gjorgji Peovski Coordinator of the Local Partnership Group
Project Social Inclusion and Human Rights in Macedonia Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights Skopje (BIM-FV Skopje) Veljko Vlahovik 1a 1/4 1000 Skopje SOCIAL PROTECTION FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION, STRATEGY OF POVERTY OF BEROVO IN MUNICIPALITY AND ALLEVIATION Phone num: +389 (0)2 3216 956 Fax: +389 (0)2 3216 982 1 Support Team of BIM-FV Skopje Petranka Delova Miladinova –Project Manager Stojan Misev – Human Rights Advisor Ninoslav Mladenovik - Human Rights Advisor Jagoda Iljov – Administrative Assistant
Contact person from the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy Irena Todoroska - Head of Unit for Social Inclusion
Translation from Macedonian into English Svetlana Spasovska
The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily re ect the views of the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights and the Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC)
When using data from the text, please quote the source: Strategy for Social Inclusion, Social Protection and Alleviating Poverty in the Municipality of Berovo CONTENT
Foreword of the Mayor of Berovo municipality 3 Execuive summary 4 Abbreviation list 4 De nitions 5 Chapter I – The strategic and action planning process 5 1.1. Objective, role and tasks 5 1.2. The key principles of the Strategy 6 1.3. The methodological approach 7 Chapter II – Overview of the current strategic documents 8 2.1. Strategy on Sustainable Development 2006-2011 – Berovo municipality 8 2.2. Local Environmental Action Plan of Berovo municipality 8 2.3. Sub-strategy on Rural Development of Berovo municipality 2008-2013 8 2.4. Berovo and Pehchvo municipalities – Local Action Plan for Employment 2009 – 2010 9 2.5. The Malesh-Pijanec region – Tourism Action Plan 9 2.6. Eco-tourism Development Strategy in Berovo 9 2.7. National Strategy for Alleviation of Poverty and Social Exclusion in the Republic of Macedonia 10
2 2.8. Social Inclusion Index on local level 11 Chapter III – Strategic documents on social inclusion, social protection and poverty alleviation in Municipality of Berovo 11 AND ALLEVIATION IN MUNICIPALITY OF BEROVO OF POVERTY STRATEGY FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION, SOCIAL PROTECTION 3.1. Social pro le of the Berovo municipality 11 3.2. Identi ed vulnerable groups 16 3.3. PESTL Analysis 18 3.4. Priority action areas 19 3.5. Focus groups 22 Chapter IV - Action Plan on the Implementation of the Strategy for Social Inclusion, Social Protection and Alleviation of Poverty in Berovo municipality 23 Annex 1 - Participant list 33 Annex 2 -Conclusions and recommendations - Findings from the Study on Poverty and Social Exclusion 34 in the Republic of Macedonia - Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights Annex 3 - Agendas from held workshops 37
FOREWORD
Dear readers,
It is my honour to present the STRATEGY FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION, SOCIAL PROTECTION AND ALLEVIATION OF POVERTY in Berovo municipality, developed within the project Social Inclusion and Human Rights in Macedonia – a human rights’ based approach. The bearers of the project are the municipalities of Berovo and Pehcevo and it is nancially supported by the Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC) and the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights – Research Association Skopje (BIM-FV) in cooperation with the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy (MLSP) and the Community of Local Self-government Units.
The project aims at introducing and implementing the human rights-based approach in the EU accesion process of the Republic of Macedonia, as well as at capacity strenghtening of the bearers of the obligations, especially on a local level, in the process of de ning of responsibilities and adequate policies in the social inclusion and alleviation of poverty.
This document consists of two parts. The rst part covers the strategic planning process, more speci cally, the principles, methodology and the existing strategic documents, including also the social inclusion index on a local level. The second part gives the overview of the strategic documents on social inclusion, social protection and SOCIAL PROTECTION FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION, STRATEGY OF POVERTY OF BEROVO IN MUNICIPALITY AND ALLEVIATION alleviation of poverty, the priority development areas and the Action Plan for the Municipality of Berovo. In order to implement the decentralization in the social protection sphere, Berovo municipality has developed this strategic document with the objective of successfully providing adequate social protection in its local community through implementation of developmental programs focused on the organization and development of di erent 3 forms and types of social services tailored to meet the speci c needs of certain groups at social risk. The Strategy for Social Inclusion, Social Protection and Alleviation of Poverty in Berovo municipality is based on the determined needs and priorities as well as on the real material possibilities for providing a sustainable development of the social protection in the municipality.
Therefore, special attention will be paid on the implementation of the action programs arising from the Strategy preparation process as well as on the nding of the necessary nancial resources for the implementation of the proposed projects.
I would like to use this opportunity to express my gratitude to the Local Partnership Group (LPG) and all other involved parties for their enthusiasm and contribution to the preparation of this important strategic document. Finally, I would like to publicly express true gratitude to the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights – Research Association Skopje (BIM-FV) and the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy (MLSP) for the nancial and technical support given for development of this strategic document.
Sincerely, Dragi Nadjinski, Mayor of Berovo municipality EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Strategy for Social Inclusion, Social Protection and Alleviation of Poverty in Berovo municipality has been developed within the joint project “Social Inclusion and Human Rights in Macedonia” of the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy and the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights (Skopje). The Strategy has been developed by Biljana Manaskov, a consulant hired by the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights (Skopje). by the application of the method of participation of the Local Partnership Group of Berovo municipality.
This strategy focuses on three areas for development:
1. Alleviation of poverty 2. Social inclusion of the vulnerable categories in the economic, social and cultural life of the municipality; 3. Social protection of all citizens in the municipality.
The strategy is divided into 4 chapters:
Introductory part: Chapter 1 – Strategic and action planning process; Chapter 2 – Overview of existing strategic documents from relevant areas; Chapter 3 – Strategic document on social inclusion, social protection and alleviation of poverty; Chapter 4 – Action plan for implementation of the strategic document.
Annexes: Annex 1 – Participant list in the LPG Annex 2 – Agendas from held workshops Annex 3 – Findings report from focus gropu discussions; Annex 4 – Conclusions and recommendation – Findings from the Study on Poverty and Social Exclusion in the Republic of Macedonia – Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights
This strategic document contains the results of the process of participatory planning based on human rights, and gives guidance for sustainable social development of Berovo municipality for the period of 2011 to 2015. The Strategy has a mid-term objective to provide the general directions the municipality needs to follow in order to achieve its strategic goals related to social exclusion, social protection and alleviation of poverty. The Strategy covers 4 the period of 2011 to 2015 and o ers solutions to current problems of the municipality and its citizens, through the achievement of the concrete strategic goals.
Abbreviation list AND ALLEVIATION IN MUNICIPALITY OF BEROVO OF POVERTY STRATEGY FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION, SOCIAL PROTECTION Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights – BIM-FV Skopje LPG – Local Partnership Group LSG – Local Self-Government ICSW – Intermunicipal Center for Social Work NGO – Non-governmental organization SSO – State Statistical O ce ESA(RM) – Employment Service Agency (of the Republic of Macedonia) EU – European Union IPARD - Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance for Rural Development PCE – Public Communal Enterprise LED – Local Economic Development MLSP – Ministry of Labour and Social Policy RM - The Republic of Macedonia NSAPSE – National Strategy for Alleviation of Poverty and Social Exclusion in the Republic of Macedonia SFA – Social Financial Assistance OTFA – One-term nancial assistance DUP – Detailed Urban Plan GUP – General Urban Plan Of. Gaz - O cial Gazette LEAP – Local Ecoloical Action Plan MoES – Ministry of Education and Science RU – Regional Unit PI – Public Institution Analysis PESTEL - PESTEL (Political Factors, Economic Factors, Social Factors, Technological Factors, Environmental Factors and Legal Factors) SWOT Analysis – Analysis of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats PRO – Public Revenue O ce UNDP – United Nations Development Programme USAID – United States Agency for International Development USAID – MLGA - USAID Macedonia Local Government Activity PSCSA – Program for Support of Consultancy Services in Agriculture in the Republic of Macedonia NHF – National Health Fund OCM – Open Coordination Method MDG – Millennium Development Goals MLSG – Ministry of Local Self-Government MAFWM – Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management CDEPR – Center for Development of the Eastern Plan Region DEFINITIONS
The following terms and de nitions related to poverty alleviation and social inclusion were used in the drafting of this document.
Poverty: Absence or insu cient implementation/ realization of some fundamental rights and freedoms: avoidance of famine, disease, illiteracy, etc.
The European Union uses the following de nition of poverty: “People are said to be living in poverty if their income and resources are so inadequate as to preclude them from having a standard of living considered acceptable in the society in which they live. Because of their poverty they may experience multiple disadvantages through unemployment, low income, poor housing, inadequate health care and barriers to lifelong learning, culture, sport and recreation. They are often excluded and marginalized from participating in activities (economic, social and cultural) that are the norm for other people and their access to fundamental rights may be restricted.”
Social exclusion: “The social exclusion is a process in which particular individuals are ‘thrown out’ at the margins of the society and are prevented from full involvement in the social life which is a consequence of their poverty, lack of basic competencies and opportunities for lifelong learning, or as a result of discrimination. This is making these individuals more distant from the opportunities for employment, income, education, training and from all types of social activities. They usually do not have access to decision making bodies. These individuals feel helpless and unable to take control of STRATEGY FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION, SOCIAL PROTECTION FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION, STRATEGY OF POVERTY OF BEROVO IN MUNICIPALITY AND ALLEVIATION their own decisions which, in turn, a ect their everyday life”.
Social inclusion: “The social inclusion is a process which ensures that the persons facing poverty and social exclusion risks will be provided with opportunities and resources necessary for their full inclusion in the economic, social and cultural life, as 5 well as with normal living standard and welfare in the society they live in. This will provide their greater involvement in the decision making process that will have positive impact on their lives as well as access to their basic rights”.
Social protection: “The social protection includes not only the public norms for social security but also the private and non-statutory norms with similar objective, such as the mutually bene cial societies and professional pension funds. The contributions from all types of non-statutory norms, formal or informal, are not entirely determined by the market forces”.
CHAPTER I - THE STRATEGIC AND ACTION PLANNING PROCESS
1.1. OBJECTIVE, ROLE AND TASKS
The Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights (BIM-FV Skopje), within the Social Inclusion and Human Rights in Macedonia Project aims to include the human rights based principle into the planning process carried out by national and local authorities working on issues related to social inclusion, social protection and poverty alleviation. In the same time, the purpose is to contribute towards the general objective – poverty alleviation in the Republic of Macedonia – through the work of the carriers of the rights as well as the carriers of responsibilities.
In the frames of the project, the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights (BIM-FV Skopje) engaged 4 consultants that will support the local partner groups in 8 selected municipalities: Berovo/ Pehcevo, Studenicani/ Cashka, Radovis/ Konce, Lipkovo and Negotino in drafting documents on poverty, social inclusion, setting of priorities, strategic and action planning. The main objectives of the project are:
• Evaluate the data collected by the BIM-FV Study on Poverty and Social Exclusion in the Republic of Macedonia and include this data in the process of elaboration and drafting of the documents on poverty, social protection and social exclusion, setting of priorities, strategic and action planning; • Support the local partnership groups in the process of identi cation of vulnerable social groups that are very marginalized and faced with multiple discrimination; • Support the local partner groups in their e orts for identifying solutions on integration of the vulnerable and poor individuals in the local development planning process; • Contribute towards harmonization of the local partner group attitudes in identifying the priority problems, the need and de ning of the objectives; • Promote the participative involvement model and remain focused on the expected outcomes foreseen by the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights project on “Social Inclusion and Human Rights in Macedonia”; • To consider and include the gender aspect during the entire consultation process, especially taking into account the women poverty and the social exclusion of women as well as the balance of power and decision making processes on local level; • To consider and include the environmental protection aspect during the entire consultation process.
1.2. THE KEY PRINCIPLES OF THE STRATEGY
The setting of norms, rules and values are the things desired by and positive for the individuals, groups, organizations or the community. The purpose here is to help determine the truth or the legality.
Taking the above into account, the following principles were the basis for development of the strategic document, and they were the guiding principles for the LPG and all the stakeholders involved in the development process:
• Openness and non-discrimination that will provide security in the implementation of the obligations related to well-being of all the citizens in the Municipality, regardless of their religious, ethnic, social or any other background; • Innovation, creativity and dynamic means that we are learning from the best international practices and we will contribute towards their implementation; • Flexibility and accountability in order to respond to the changed needs and circumstances; • Transparency and correctness which will ensure openness in the decision making as well as in the allocation of funds; • Respect, understanding and support in order to create professional relations based on trust and cooperation 6 between the stakeholders; • Professionalism which means that we are implementing our obligations in the best way we can; • E ciency and e ectiveness thus ensuring the most appropriate utilization of the resources that are available
AND ALLEVIATION IN MUNICIPALITY OF BEROVO OF POVERTY STRATEGY FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION, SOCIAL PROTECTION to us; • Partnership and communication through which we shall promote e ective involvement with our partners, with all stakeholders and citizens of the municipality; • The need to ensure freedom of choice for the stakeholders, when it comes to the means and activities that will be carried out in order to achieve the objectives; • The necessity of harmonization between the activities and the Municipal Budget as well as with other funds available for implementation of the activities; • Dynamics monitoring of the external processes that impact the development of the municipality and could result in lack of harmonization between the Strategy and the external environment.
The above principles and values shall be valid not only for the implementation of the Strategy but also for the monitoring and evaluation of the Berovo municipality development and achievements.
The Strategy on Social Inclusion, Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation of Berovo municipality was developed in accordance with the National Strategy on Alleviation of Poverty and Social Exclusion in the Republic of Macedonia (2010-2020) as well as in accordance with the Open Coordination Method (OMK) which is, essentially, about capacity building of the local self-government in the process of organization and facilitation of a wider process of consultations with the civil organizations, vulnerable, socially excluded and poor groups of citizens, the business sector and all other stakeholders.
During the process of setting of strategic priorities, objectives and activities and in the process development of strategic document, the Local Partnership Group (LPG) paid attention to the following legal framework1:
• Law on Local Self-government, O cial Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia No. 5/2002; • Law on Financing of the Local Self-government Units adopted in 2002; • Law on Territorial Organization of the Local Self-government Units, O cial Gazette of the Republic of
1. All relevant laws in the area of education, employment, social protection, health, housing, etc. that regulate issues of importance and interest for the vulnerable, socially excluded and poor groups of citizens were also taken into consideration. Macedonia No. 55/2004; • Law on Equal Regional Development, O cial Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia No.63/2007; • Declaration for Participation of the Local and Regional Governments in the Realization of the Millennium Development Objectives (MDO) from 2006. In the same time, when it comes to drafting and conceptualization of this strategic document, the LPG also took into account the key directions established in the following program documents of the Ministry of Local Self-government (MLS): • The Program for Implementation of the Decentralization Process; • The National Implementation Program.
1.3. THE METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH
The Strategic Document of Berovo municipality was developed with the use of the local planning concept that is based on the principles of participation and equality of all stakeholders, groups, organizations and institutions in the local community as well as respect of the human rights and freedoms. The adherence to these principles makes the sustainable social development in the municipality possible and it also provides respect for the di erences and overcoming of the social exclusion and discrimination.
The prerequisites for development of a long-term tool for implementation of the strategic objectives for sustainable development in the area of social protection were met in the drafting of the document. These are as follows:
• Clearly expressed political will of the local governments (the Mayor and the Municipal Council) and of the municipal administration for development and implementation of the Strategy; • Guaranteed involvement of all stakeholders (civil sector, business sector, public institutions, vulnerable social groups); • Transparency in the planning process; • Timely and complete implementation of the activities in the frames of the planning process; • Active involvement of all stakeholders in the process of development of the strategic document.
The Local partner group of Berovo municipality was actively involved in the drafting process of the strategic plan2. This group was consisted of representatives from the local self-government, the public sector, the civil and business sectors which ensured involvement of all key stakeholders, including their feedback, in the process of drafting of this plan.
The planning process included two workshops that were facilitated by the consultant engaged by the Ludwig STRATEGY FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION, SOCIAL PROTECTION FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION, STRATEGY OF POVERTY OF BEROVO IN MUNICIPALITY AND ALLEVIATION Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights (BIM-FV Skopje).
At the two-day workshop on strategic planning, along with the LPG members, the vulnerable and poor groups of people were identi ed as well as the most severe forms of poverty and social alleviation in the Municipality, including identi cation of the priority problems and needs and gender sensitivity. 7
The methodology is based on a model which includes the establishment of priorities matrix, identi cation of strategic goals and organization of focus groups, along with representatives of the vulnerable social groups that were identi ed. This was followed by the delivery of two-day workshop on action planning, along with the LPG members, for development of an action plan for 3-year period.
The methods used during the workshops were work in pairs and groups, public discussions, presentations, priorities matrix and the “METAPLAN” method. The environmental scanning analysis (PESTEL) was also developed in order to consider the political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal factors that in uence the process of strategic planning and implementation of the Strategy.
At the end of the two workshops on strategic planning and development of action plan as well as following the focus groups that were organized with the most vulnerable categories of citizens, the Strategy and the Action Plan were presented to the citizens of Berovo municipality on public forum.
The Berovo Municipality Strategic Plan structure is based on the following three levels:
• Level 1 – Identi cation of priority areas for intervention in the Strategic Plan that are in the same time overall objectives; • Level 2 – Identi cation of strategic objectives of the Berovo municipality on the basis of priority areas that have been identi ed. The strategic objectives are speci c objectives established in each of the priority areas. For the sake of rationality in their achievement, three strategic objectives were established per each priority area; • Level 3 – Identi cation of key activities that should be implemented for realization of each of the strategic objectives that were established.
2. Please refer to Annex 2 The local partner group established the following priority areas for intervention:
• Poverty alleviation; • Social inclusion; • Social protection.
CHAPTER II - OVERVIEW OF THE CURRENT STRATEGIC DOCUMENTS
The current strategic documents related to the Municipality were taken into consideration in the process of drafting of the Strategy on Social Inclusion, Social Protection and Poverty Alleviation of Berovo municipality. Below is a key summary of previous e orts for resolution of the social problems in the Municipality, included in the existing strategic documents.
2.1. Strategy on Sustainable Development 2006-2011 – Berovo municipality 2.2. Local Environmental Action Plan of Berovo municipality 2.3. Sub-strategy on Rural Development of Berovo municipality 2008-2013 2.4. Berovo and Pehcevo Municipalities – Local Action Plan for Employment 2009 – 2010 2.5. The Malesh-Pijanec region – Tourism Action Plan (includes the municipalities of Berovo, Pehcevo and Delcevo) 2.6. Eco-tourism Development Strategy in Berovo 2.7. National Strategy for Alleviation of Poverty and Social Exclusion in the Republic of Macedonia 2.8. Social Inclusion Index on local level
2.1. STRATEGY ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 2006-2011 – BEROVO MUNICIPALITY
The Strategy identi es the priority areas and strategic determinations and also establishes the framework for economic, social and cultural development of Berovo municipality for the period 2006-2011. The drafting of this Strategy started in July 2005. It is implemented by 9 working groups that include representatives from the local government, the business and the civil sector – all coordinated by the Local Agency for Development – Berovo. This document was o cially adopted by the Council of the Municipality on 28 July 2006.
In the frames of this Program important contacts with three partner municipalities from Finland were established, related to cooperation with local governments, the civil and business sector as well as with the new local agencies for 8 development – these contacts were established with UNDP assistance. This document includes the following three strategic components:
AND ALLEVIATION IN MUNICIPALITY OF BEROVO OF POVERTY STRATEGY FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION, SOCIAL PROTECTION 1. Assessment of the local situation; 2. SWOT Analysis in three sectors: infrastructure, sustainable economic development and quality of living; 3. Strategic plans – includes vision, strategic objectives, developmental objectives and short overview of the programs and projects.
2.2. LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION PLAN OF BEROVO MUNICIPALITY
This draft document promotes wider public participation in the decision making process related to environment, through the following two segments: Action Program for Environmental Protection in Central and Eastern Europe and Agenda 21 – this processes is guided by the assessment of priorities, risks and bene ts. The LEAP of Berovo is de ned as key prerequisite for the Sustainable Development Strategy which helps to nd investments and policies for support of a social and economically sound objective, in the same time avoiding the need for extensive funds.
The project development methodology is based on the comparative assessment of the environmental risks, expert and scienti c analyses of environment and on the citizen opinions and initiatives.
The LEAP of Berovo municipality was developed in December 2003 by the Public Enterprise for Physical and Urban Plans, on the basis of an agreement signed with then Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning.
2.3. SUB-STRATEGY ON RURAL DEVELOPMENT OF BEROVO MUNICIPALITY 2008 – 2013
In the area of rural development and improvement of living conditions of the rural population in Berovo municipality, a local group on rural development was established, including a regional o ce.
This process was initiated in June 2007 by the Berovo municipality and with nancial assistance by MAASP – Program for Support of the Farming Advisory Services in the Republic of Macedonia.
In the context of sustainable development of Berovo municipality the need for cooperation and partnership was ascertained between the local self-government, civil and business sector as well as with other stakeholders in order to recognize the culture, the traditional crafts and tourist potentials as resources for rural development and reduction of the unemployment and poverty rate.
The implementation of the Sub-strategy on Rural Development of Berovo municipality is for the period of 5 years i.e. the implementation dynamics is in accordance with the annual programs and the Sustainable Development Strategy of Berovo municipality for the period 2008-2013 and provides room for inclusion of new priorities, depending on the community needs.
2.4. BEROVO AND PEHCHEVO MUNICIPALITIES – LOCAL ACTION PLAN FOR EMPLOYMENT 2009 – 2010
The Action Employment Plan for the Municipalities of Berovo and Pehcevo was developed within the CARDS Employment Policies III Project, supported and nanced by the EU. The project carriers are the municipalities of Berovo and Pehchevo, in partnership with public institutions and civil organizations.
This document is developed in two parts. The rst part makes analysis of the labor market and the second part elaborates the directions and speci c objectives in the area of employment as well as the activities and projects that are to be implemented in order to mitigate the issue of unemployment in both municipalities.
The document provides an overview of the main conclusions derived from the analysis of the local labor market as well as the analysis recommendations. In the same time, through the Local Strategy for Employment, the following are determined:
• The main directions and priority objectives of the Action Plan for Employment; • Plan for implementation of the objectives; • Budget or implementation of the objectives.
The Action Plan for Employment for the Berovo and Pehchevo micro-region covers the 2009 – 2010 time period.
2.5. THE MALESH-PIJANEC REGION – TOURISM ACTION PLAN (BEROVO, PEHCHEVO AND DELCHEVO MUNICIPALITIES)
The development of Regional Tourism Action Plan for the municipalities of Berovo, Pehchevo and Delcevo i.e. the Malesh-Pijanec region in December 2008 is result of the strategic determinations of these municipalities for regional development of tourism. STRATEGY FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION, SOCIAL PROTECTION FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION, STRATEGY OF POVERTY OF BEROVO IN MUNICIPALITY AND ALLEVIATION
The main objectives that stems out of this Tourism Plan is development of the regional mountain tourism based on the vision for the tourism: “The Malesh-Pijanec region – typical ecological and clean environment with natural rarities, developed tourism infrastructure and with various o er for tourist and traditional food”. 9 The Regional Tourism Action Plan was developed by the Regional Committee for Tourism Planning established in July 2008 and is o cially adopted by the Councils of the municipalities of Berovo, Pehchevo and Delcevo.
All tourism aspects were taken into consideration in the development of this plan and the following ve key components were analyzed:
• Tourism attractions, events and activities; • Tourism marketing and promotion; • Tourism infrastructure; • Tourism hospitality; • The retail tourist services.
The Tourism Action Plan is de ned as a benchmark for development of the tourism. The implementation of the priorities is expected to create a strong LEAP – “Berovo – the base for proper and long-term tourism development of the region”.
2.6. ECO-TOURISM DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY IN BEROVO
Considering the fact that the economic parameters and the social factor - supplemented by the environmental protection and rational use of the natural resources – are categories integrated into the modern concept of all developed societies called sustainable development, in 2005 the Berovo municipality set the objective to develop a Strategy of Eco-tourism. The purpose of this Strategy is to establish the grounds for development of the eco-tourism in Berovo, protection of the environment and economic development of the Municipality. The Municipality will act in a sustainable manner and improve the economic situation of the people through the development of the eco- tourism. The Action Plan 2005-2007 is based on the following:
1. Analysis of the municipality; 2. Identi cation of the needs; 3. Vision; 4. Setting of priorities; 5. Objectives, activities and operational plan.
The three leading components for development of this approach are especially important: • Better access to the economic bene ts from the tourism – along with increased opportunities for employment and starting up of business; • Implementation of measures in order to cope with the impact of the unfavorable social and environmental factors of the development of tourism; • Policy reforms – involvement of the citizens in the planning, development and management of processes related to the eco-tourism development activities.
Carriers of the project activities are the Association of Environmental Engineers in cooperation with the citizens of Berovo municipality.
2.7. NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR ALLEVIATION OF POVERTY AND SOCIAL EXCLUSION IN THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA
The most important public policy document that is about the social inclusion is the “National Strategy for Alleviation of Poverty and Social Exclusion in the Republic of Macedonia” adopted by the Government of the Republic of Macedonia in October 2010.
When it comes to poverty research and monitoring in the Republic of Macedonia, there is lack of data and statistics that would provide in-depth analysis of this situation. The e orts to determine, assess, measure, put into perspective and compare the bases and factors of this situation in the society can be very bene cial in trying to improve that situation and enhance the development of the local community.
In this Strategy, the social inclusion concepts are treated in more serious and more constructive manner in the public (state) policies. The social exclusion is established as “multidimensional and complex process that has in uence on the weakening of links between the individual and the community”. The concept distinguishes between ‘poverty’ and ‘social exclusion’ and calls on ght against the social exclusion 10 through a better access to the institutions and mechanisms for social integration.
According to National Strategy for Alleviation of Poverty and Social Exclusion in the Republic of Macedonia, the focus
AND ALLEVIATION IN MUNICIPALITY OF BEROVO OF POVERTY STRATEGY FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION, SOCIAL PROTECTION on the social exclusion has been widened to include new forms of exclusion, analyzed from the aspect of ethnic groups, women, people with disabilities, domestic violence victims and people using drugs, exclusion on the grounds of insu cient income, educational level, etc.
It is undeniable fact that the social exclusion situation happens due to insu cient income but it also includes the issues such as di cult access to services necessary to satisfy the basic human needs (for example: housing), di cult access to the services for satisfying the needs for water, hygiene, electricity, etc. The people who do not have equal access to services that meet these and other needs are by default facing exclusion.
The Strategy points out to the lack of access to IT and communication technologies that contributes towards social exclusion in many areas and, in the same time, “the gender, in combination with other factors, often determines the characteristics of the groups faced with the risk of marginalization and social exclusion”3.
As conclusion it can be said that every form of inequality can be the grounds for social exclusion in the society.
National Strategy for Alleviation of Poverty and Social Exclusion identi es and regulates the following 14 priority areas: Employment; Shadow Economy and Strengthening of Entrepreneurship; Labor Market; Poverty and Social Exclusion; Health Protection; Long-term Care; Education, Social Protection; Transportation; Communication; Housing, Child Protection; Equal Gender Opportunities and Public Sensibility on the social inclusion issues.
3. «National Strategy on Alleviation of Poverty and Social Exclusion in the Republic of Macedonia” – Government of the Republic of Macedonia, October 2010. 2.8. SOCIAL INCLUSION INDEX ON LOCAL LEVEL
The “Social Inclusion Index on local level” document4 is the outcome of the research carried out by the Institute for Social and Humanistic Researches “Evro-Balkan” in the frames of the project “The Social Inclusion Index on a Local Level: Creation of an Instrument for Assessment of Equality in the Access and Equitable Allocation of the Local Services”.
In the same time, this project is a rst research ever of this type and scope in Macedonia. The research part is divided into two phases: preparatory research and main research. The preparatory research detects the most relevant dimensions of the social exclusion on local level and the most critical aspects of interest, related to the access and allocation of the public services on local level.
The main research was consisted of collection of o cial data and empirical survey – three types of telephone surveys on national level in all 84 municipalities in the Republic of Macedonia (except the City of Skopje) were carried out. The project was implemented from 4 February 2010 till 30 March 2011 and included the following thematic areas:
1. The local self-government units; 2. The municipal centers (i.e. the populated areas that are the center of the municipality); 3. The villages in the communities.
Unfortunately, when it comes to the survey for analysis of the percentage in the municipal Budget allocated for social protection in the Berovo municipality we can see that:
• Part of the Municipal Budget allocated for social protection/ assistance, 2010 • Donations for social protection/ assistance as a percentage of the Municipal Budget, 2010 • Social protection/ assistance measures and programs of the Municipality which ranks the Municipality in the lowest strata (0) and with a summary mark of zero regarding all these criteria since they responded that they do not implement any measures and activities whatsoever in the area of social protection.
CHAPTER III - STRATEGIC DOCUMENTS ON SOCIAL INCLUSION, SOCIAL PROTECTION AND POVERTY ALLEVIATION IN BEROVO MUNICIPALITY
3.1. SOCIAL PROFILE OF THE BEROVO MUNICIPALITY5 SOCIAL PROTECTION FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION, STRATEGY OF POVERTY OF BEROVO IN MUNICIPALITY AND ALLEVIATION 3.1.1. GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS
Berovo is located in the most Eastern part of the Republic of Macedonia, in Malesevo valley and includes the following populated areas: Budinarci, Vladimirovo, Dvoriste, Mitrasinci, Macevo, Ratevo, Rusinovo and Smojmirovo. 11 The total area of Berovo municipality is 595 km2, located on the average 800 meters above the sea level. The relief is mainly hills and mountains with at areas only around the river basin of Bregalnica river. The municipality is wealthy with natural resources, especially forests and lakes. The total arable land is 68.226 hа - 57% of this is farming land and 43% are forests. Very important for the development of this municipality are the signi cant mineral resources and ores. The municipality includes a coal mine, in full operational phase.
Important hydrographic feature of the municipality is the Berovo Lake. It is an arti cial lake with a 53 meters high concrete dam and provides opportunities for good tourism development. It is located on 986 meters above the sea level, at the Ratevska river in the area called Laki, 7 kilometers away from Berovo.
The textile industry is the most developed sector in Berovo municipality. It employs most of the citizens of this Municipality. There are 5-6 companies registered in this sector employing 450-500 people. The former 4-5 large enterprises used to employ over 1.200 people but only two of them have successfully nalized the privatization process while the others went bankrupted.
4. 3Link to the original document: http://www.euba.edu.mk/tl_ les/Publikacii%20EUBA/Indeks%20na%20socijalna%20inkluzija%20 -%20WEB.pdf 5. 4Извор на податоци: „Студија за сиромаштијата и социјалната исклученост во Република Македонија: Локални социјални проблеми и потреби, Институт за човекови права „Лудвиг Болцман – БИМ-ФВ Скопје, 2011. The potentials for development of this Municipality are mainly in the area of tourism, retail, light and non-polluting food industry as well as the proper utilization of the forest resources.
3.1.2. POPULATION
According to the statistics from the National Census in 2002, the Municipality has a population of 13.941. With 23,4 people per square kilometer this Municipality is among the least populated municipalities in Macedonia. The total number of households in the Municipality is 4.706 with an average of 3,1 members per household.
50,4% are men and 49,6% women.
Total population by gender6 Year Men Women Total 2009 6763 6671 13 434 2008 6785 6709 13 494
According to the ethnic structure of the population, 13.335 (95,65%) are Macedonians, 459 (3,29%) are Romas, 91 (0,65) Turks and others. Half of the population lives in urban and half in rural areas.
The average age of the population 36,3 years. The age structure of the population in the Municipality shows a tendency towards aging.
According to statistics from the 2002 Census, 3.553 (23,6%) people are 0-19 years of age, 8.405 (55,2%) are 20 to 65 years of age and 1.978 (19,2%) are over 65 years of age.
3.1.3. INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITIES
Education: The Berovo municipality has two central elementary schools: in the City of Berovo and in the village of Rusinovo. The elementary school in Berovo has satellite schools in seven village communities. There is also a secondary school in the City of Berovo with gymnasium and vocational education as well as satellite classes in the city of Pehchevo. There are no special schools.
Health: The primary health protection in the Berovo municipality is provided by the Health Home on the City of Berovo 12 and by 8 private general practitioner o ces. There are ve dental o ces and three private pharmacies. There are no private gynecologists and there is a satellite o ce of a doctor-specialist situated in the nearby municipality. There are health o ces in Rusinovo and in Dvoriste that provide basic health services and with two general practitioners. The ambulance service does not have a specialized vehicle. The territory of Berovo municipality has a specialized AND ALLEVIATION IN MUNICIPALITY OF BEROVO OF POVERTY STRATEGY FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION, SOCIAL PROTECTION dental prosthetics, specialized laboratory, ophthalmology, internal medicine and x-ray specialists and there are also specialists for school medicine and preventive stomatology in the primary health care. Berovo municipality does not have polyclinics nor specialized clinic and in a case of need the people are referred to Kocani, Stip of Skopje.
Social institutions: The central municipal public institution for children – children kindergarten “23 August” in Berovo has 180 children and with the satellites in the three larger villages there are total of 248 children. There is no private kindergarten in the municipality and no public or private home for elderly people.
Cultural institutions: The Cultural Home “Dimitar Berovski” is the only cultural institution in Berovo. It includes a library, museum as well as city theater which is not in use.
Sporting facilities: Berovo municipality has two sporting halls, three sporting play elds in the city and seven in all the villages in this municipality.
Media: There is one private local radio in the Berovo municipality, one private local TV station that broadcasts only entertainment shows and a newspaper published in electronic format only.
Civil and NGO organizations: There are some 60 to 80 civil organizations registered in this municipality but only around 10 are active.
3.1.4. MAIN PROBLEMS IN THE MUNICIPALITY
Social problems: The main social problems of Berovo municipality are the poverty and unemployment. The unemployment rate is 41,5% and the unemployment rate on Berovo municipality level is 31,9%. From a total of 2.681 unemployed people, 1.114 (41,6%) are women.
6. Source: Population estimates on 30.6.2009 and 31.12.2009 according to gender, July 2010 HTES 3 – 2007. State Statistical O ce These are the common features of the unemployment problem: • Unemployed are the young people ages 15 to 25 years (67,3%). This municipality has the lowest unemployment rate among the young people compared to other regions in the Republic of Macedonia. • There is long-term unemployment. From the total number of unemployed people, 31,5% wait 8 or more years for employment. • Unfavorable age structure (due to the large proportion of the older i.e. middle-age labor force). • There are more unemployed men and the demand for women workers is greater. • According to the local Center for Employment the most vulnerable category when it comes to employment are the people with university background. • The most vulnerable social group in the municipality are the Romas.
There are also problems with alcoholism, domestic violence and use of drugs by minors, although these are less of a problem.
Infrastructural problems: The infrastructure in Berovo municipality is satisfactory. 95% of the municipality has a water supply network with partially replaced pipes while the rest get their water from wells and pumps. A new treatment station for potable water has been built as well as treatment station for the waste waters. There is drainage system in the city as well as in some of the villages. The connections are essentially good – there are asphalted roads to all the populated areas but the asphalt quality is quite bad and there are non-asphalted roads inside the villages.
3.1.5. SOCIAL PROTECTION IN BEROVO MUNICIPALITY
The Municipal administration The social protection competencies in the Municipality are carried out by the Department on Local Development, International Cooperation and Public A airs. The Municipal administration does not have a special department on social protection, does not have a social worker and does not have a Program on Social Protection. The Council of Berovo municipality adopted a Regulation on the Manner and Criteria for Realization of the Right on Cash Assistance for Social Housing for the Individuals-Users of Permanent Cash Assistance, Socially Vulnerable and who do not have housing7 as well as for care for the homeless persons. There are also funds allocated from the Municipal Budget for this category of citizens. The municipality also provides assistance for the socially vulnerable population in a form of one- time cash assistance which is granted by the Council and the Mayor. The annual allocation of the Mayor for awarding of funds on the basis of a request is 300.000 denars and the assistance can not be greater than 50.000 denars per individual resolution.
Center for social work STRATEGY FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION, SOCIAL PROTECTION FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION, STRATEGY OF POVERTY OF BEROVO IN MUNICIPALITY AND ALLEVIATION The Center for social work is in charge for the territory of two municipalities – Berovo and Pehchevo. The number of employees in the Center is 29 – seven social workers, three pedagogues, two psychologists, two lawyers, two defectologists, one sociologist, one teacher, two economists, three nurses and assisting sta . The situation with premises and technical capacities of the Center is not satisfactory – there are seven o ces, 17 computers and 2 vehicles that are not in good condition. 13
The Center points out the problems with vehicles and lack of fuel. The most di cult issue in the work is the need to regulate the relations between children and parents, domestic violence and the sexual abuse of children.
Bene ciaries of measures and services for social protection A total of 180 households in Berovo municipality are bene ciaries of social cash assistance, 28 households use permanent cash assistance and 344 individuals receive cash allowance for helping and caring for other person. Around 48 individuals were bene ciaries on one-time cash assistance in the last year. The right to cash assistance can not be exercised if the individual owns agricultural land.
Extra-institutional protection The network of social services in the municipality is consisted of the Center for social work, the Daily Center for people with mental or body impairment, Small group home and community kitchen.
The Daily center for people with mental or body impairment functions as a Department under the umbrella of the MCSR-Berovo public institution and includes bene ciaries from Berovo and Pehchevo. The municipality provides the premises and the nances are provided by the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy. There is a Small group home in Berovo that accommodates ve children without parents and parental care and there is institutional care for 2 persons in the Home for children without parents and parental care “11 Oktomvri” – Skopje, 9 in the SOS Children village in Skopje, 1 in the public institution for protection and rehabilitation “Banja Bansko” and 1 in Demir Kapija.
There is also a community kitchen in the municipality with joint involvement by the Center for social work, the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy and the Municipality. The network of public services for social protection does not have foster families and centers for elderly people. 7. Pursuant to the Law on Social Protection (O cial Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia No. 79/09) Employment Center The Employment Center in Berovo implements self-employment activities and programs, a program for support in legalization of the current businesses, subsidized employment (single parents, married couples with three or more children, individuals left without job due to bankruptcy, insolvency or redundancy, individuals older than 55 years and young people ages up to 27).
3.1.6. HOUSEHOLDS SURVEY IN THE PEHCHEVO MUNICIPALITY
In the frames of the Social Inclusion and Human Rights in Macedonia Project of the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights, a Study on Poverty and Social Exclusion in the Republic of Macedonia – Local Social Problems and Needs was developed in March 2011.
For the purpose of this Study a total of 100 households were surveyed in Berovo municipality8. The structure of these households shows that most of the are non-agricultural (58%), followed by agricultural (25%) and mixed (17%).
Graph 1 Types of households
agricultural non-agricultural mixed
The most important problems that were raised, related to the social development, were the unemployment (74%) and poverty (69%). In 26% of the cases the sickness of a family member was emphasized as a relevant problem and in one case the disability was emphasized as a serious problem. The social problems related to social deviations and the third group of problems related to natural environmental processes were not emphasized as signi cant problems by the respondents.
14 Graph 2 Problems related to social development AND ALLEVIATION IN MUNICIPALITY OF BEROVO OF POVERTY STRATEGY FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION, SOCIAL PROTECTION
Unemployment Poverty Disease
The respondents said that they have not received any type of assistance from NGOs, from the Municipality, from religious, humanitarian organizations or from other legal entities.
The analysis of the reasons for not exercising the social protection cash assistance right shows that it is necessary to analyze separately the Macedonians and the Romas. This is because majority of Roma households (87,5%) exercise this right to cash assistance.
Considering the above, what remains relevant for analysis is the situation of the Macedonian households where most of the respondents (42,9%) said that there is no need to exercise this right and 14,3% were rejected. Small number of the respondents said that the reasons for not exercising this right is that they are not informed (3,6%), do not have all the documents (2,4%) and shame from the environment (1,2%).
8. Although the sample of 100 households is not representative, the ndings in this section of the Study are used to corroborate the social problems identi ed on municipal level as well as for rising of the local needs of the poor and vulnerable groups. Reasons why the right to social protection cash assistance was not exercised by the respondents – Macedonians Graph 3 There was no need
Because of shame
I had incomplete documentation
3.3.1.7. REFLECTION ON THE GENDER ISSUE
The equal gender treatment is one of the fundamental principles embedded in the European and national laws on human rights but, unfortunately, the women still earn less than men and occupy less leading positions where political and other decisions are made, including the key management positions. One of the main determinations of Berovo municipality is to improve the activities aimed to eliminate the discrimination which is an important prerequisite for achieving gender equality on local level. The most important objectives are to remove the stereotypes and economic dependency of the women. This can be achieved with their education, work, earning of own income and they shall have equal rights to contributions.
Although the violence over women in any form is not acceptable, still many women today are victims of violence or exploitation. Cases like these were registered by the Center for social work in Berovo. The women are prone to domestic violence, sexual abuse or they are intimidated and threatened – this violates their basic right to freedom, dignity and security. The status of the domestic violence victims was also con rmed by the participants in the focus group for this vulnerable social category.
The health care, the harmonization between the working life and care for children and other family members is very important issues for the women and, more and more, for men as well. However, the allocation of home responsibilities is still unequal so they women are facing di culties if they want to make career progress. STRATEGY FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION, SOCIAL PROTECTION FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION, STRATEGY OF POVERTY OF BEROVO IN MUNICIPALITY AND ALLEVIATION The National Plan on Gender Equality 2007-2012 and the Law on Equal Gender Opportunities in the Republic of Macedonia emphasize the need for systematic approach in prevention of the gender based discrimination, formal protection of women rights, integration of the gender concept into the central and local level policies, adoption of a Strategy on Gender Equality and the issue of gender sensitive budgeting. The National Strategy for Alleviation of Poverty and Social Inclusion 2010-2020 includes the following speci c strategic objective: “improvement of the 15 situation of women and alleviation of the poverty level and the risk of social exclusion”.
The Committee on Equal Gender Opportunities in the frames of the Council of Berovo municipality is the only body on gender policies in the municipality. Unfortunately, it exists only formally. This Committee has not developed an Operational Program and does not raise initiatives on particular issues. It meets on ad-hoc basis in order to review the agenda items for the municipal Council sessions and this is upon proposal and preparation by the municipal administration. The municipality does not have an active women network from the NGO sector or a civil initiation.
The desired situation can be achieve only if the gender institutional mechanisms are activated, in close cooperation with the informal sector for prevention and protection on central and local level. This means to clearly de ne the role of the overall gender ‘machinery’, capacity building of the relevant stakeholders on central and local level as well as creation of systematic approach towards achieving gender equality.
3.1.8. REFLECTION ON THE ISSUE OF ENVIRONMENT
The Aarhus Convention, as an international treaty, is one of the most important instruments for protection of the citizen rights to healthy environment. It is signed by over 40 countries and rati ed by 26 countries from all over Europe. Starting from the 30th October 2001 the Convention already has a legal e ect i.e. it is an instrument that has a legal force on international level.
The public has the need and right to be informed, to be involved in the decision making process related to environmental protection and to have free access to those issues and information.
The implementation of Aarhus Convention provides for better access to information, greater public involvement in the decision making process with improves the quality of those decisions and this will all result in better quality of the environment. The implementation of the Aarhus Convention contributes towards protection of the right of each individual (from present and future generations) to live in an environment appropriate for his/ her health and well- being and the rights related to information access, public involvement in the decision making process and access to justice in relation to issues connected to environmental protection – all in accordance with the Law on Protection and Improvement of the Environment.
The most important environmental problem in Berovo municipality is the lack of appropriate land ll and issues related to res. It is necessary to identify a solution for management of the solid waste in an organized manner as well as to resolve the issue of illegal dumpsites9.
3.2. IDENTIFIED VULNERABLE GROUPS
Taking into consideration the aim of each local community: transparency of interests for all citizens and all speci c population layers, the Local Partnership Group by applying a priority matrix, has identi ed the following ten vulnerable groups, the problems they are facing and their needs:
• Single unemployed persons; 16 • Long-term unemployed persons; • Victims of domestic violence; • Minors without parents or parental care;
AND ALLEVIATION IN MUNICIPALITY OF BEROVO OF POVERTY STRATEGY FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION, SOCIAL PROTECTION • Elderly abandoned persons; • Children/persons with special needs; • Children - victims of sexual abuse and paedophilia; • Minors – perpetrators of criminal acts; • Socially vulnerable persons;
Young married couples with 3 or more children with unresolved housing
9. Source: “ Study on Poverty and Social Exclusion in the Republic of Macedonia – Local Social Problems and Need, Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights (BIM-FV Skopje), 2011. Table:
Vulnerable groups Problems Needs Single unemployed • Social exclusion - Social inclusion persons • Low living standard - Provision of employment measures and reliefs • Lack of jobs and economic capacities - Enterpreneurship programs and encouraging • Lack of interest and motivation on the part of the selfemployment Long-term unemployed employers to employ these persons - Measures for attaining new skills and persons • Inadequate age limit (persons with working competences and trainings capacity over sthe age of 45) -Providing subsidies for employers Socially vulnerable Inadequate education, passivity and lack of - Mobility (work outside of the place of residence) persons motivation for attaining further skills and - Encouragement of volunteer work and internship competencies for longer than 3 months Young married couples • Lack of financial resources and sufficient - Review of the requirements for acquiring the right with 3 or more children information on starting one’s own business to social protection with unresolved housing • Lack of support funds - Provision of subsidies and equipment-working • Inadequate criteria on acquiring right to social tools for an existing property assistance - Housing programs • Substandard living conditions or unresolved - Adequate education housing - Free transportation to the educational institutions • Lack of assistance programs for children upraising - Partial nancing in the provision of housing; • Increased risk of domestic violence and juvenile Prevention of domestic violence and juvenile delinquency delinquency • Gray economy - Programs for providing assistance in the * It happens that their children –minors become upbringing of children perpetrators of criminal acts
Victims of domestic • Lack of adequate jobs - Prevention and analysis of the situation violence • Existential problems - Rendering the civil sector active • Housing problems - Campaigns and discussion forums • Lack of professional assistance - Employing women • Prejudice and stereotypes - Professional assistance • Low awareness of the existance of violence
Minors with no parents • Inadequate care - Institutional care or parental care • Social exclusion - Initiative for relatives providing care • Lack of special educational programs SOCIAL PROTECTION FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION, STRATEGY OF POVERTY OF BEROVO IN MUNICIPALITY AND ALLEVIATION
Elderly abandoned • The young people in the family have moved - Volunteering by educated people and persons • Physical disability professional services • Bad living conditions - Public-private partnerships for home care 17 • Lack of social life - Elderly people’s home Lack of regular medical check-ups - Focused social programs - Organization of regular medical check-ups - Organization of social and cultural activities
Disabled children/person • Lack of extrainstitutional protection - Provision of organized forms of extrainstitutional • Spatial problems of institutions protection • Insufficient educational programs - Readaptation of existing premises • Lack of professional staff - Adequate educational programs • Lack of sufficient socialization programs - Increased number of professional sta - Socialization programs Children-victims of • Insufficient supervision of the realization of the - Constant suprevision of the realization of the sexual abuse and parental right parental right paedophilia • Inadequate and untimely protection - Timely protection by referal to an institution for • Low level of public awareness children with social problems • Insufficient monitoring of the situation in the - Public awareness raising families - Timely removal of victims-minors from the family • Lack of institutional cooperation (schools – social - Adequate programs in schools centers) - Counseling centers • Lack of counseling centers - Public campaign • Insufficient number of public campaigns 3.3. PESTEL Analysis
The name of this analysis tool comes from the English abbreviation PESTEL. It focuses on the following aspects, i.e. factors of in uence: • Political factors; • Economic factors; • Social factors; • Technological factors; • Ecological factors • Legal factors
The political factors relate to the manner and the extent to which the governement intervenes in the economy.
The economic factors include economic growth, interest rates and in ation rate. These factors have a big in uence on the economy and the business decision-making.
The social factors include culture-related factors, health awareness, birth rate, age, age representation of the population, career development opportunities and factors referring to protection and safety at the workplace.
The technological factors include technological aspects, such as, research and development opportunities, automatisation of production and technological development. These factors concern the minimum e ective level of productivity, but also the outsourcing decisions. They can relate to living costs and quality of life and production, and can lead to technological innovations or not..
The ecological factors relate to the environment, and include weather conditions, climate conditions, climate changes that can have a speci c e ect on tourism, farming and insurance. The increased awareness of the climate changes, global warming and their in uence on the operation of companies a ects the creation of new markets, but also the disappearance of some of the existing markets.
The legal factors include legal regulations referring to nondiscrimination, antimonopoly conduct, consumer protection, labour relations, health care and protection at the work place. These factors can in uence the business operation of companies, costs and labour market demand.
By using this tool, the Local Partnership Group of Berovo municipality has identi ed the following factors of in uence on the social development of the community: 18 PESTEL
AND ALLEVIATION IN MUNICIPALITY OF BEROVO OF POVERTY STRATEGY FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION, SOCIAL PROTECTION Political • Weak political stability of the country • In uence of the international community and neighboring countries for entry of new investments into the country
Economical • Low economic growth • High interest rates • High local taxes and communal fees • Low investment rate • Development of special economic programs for vulnerable groups • Stimulating enterpreneurship and self-employment • Implementation of European standards for employment and protection of vulnerable groups • Development of tourism with a focus on the social and cultural features
Social • Inadequate-insu cient health care • Low birth rate • Adaptation of employment criteria • Undeveloped institutions for social protection • Greater activity of the civil sector • Business community (public-private partnerships) • Opening of creative centers • Programs for more comprehensive social inclusion of vulnerable groups • Provision of adequate human resources
Technological • Lack of innovations • Modernization of capacities • Use of renewable energy sources • Lack of infrastructure and spatial capacities • Lack of equipment (o ce equipment and IT equipment) • Lack of devices and equipment for speci c activities Ecological • Protection of the environment • Encouragement of organic production • Using the advantages of the healthy environment • Inclusion in environmental protection programs and projects
Legal/ • Insu cient implementation of laws and the existing legal norms • Introduction of manuals by area • Amendment of acts • Adoption of developmental programs • Development of strategic documents • Development of tailor-made manuals • Introduction of antidiscrimination measures • Providing protection at the workplace • Non-regulated labour relations and failure to respect labour law • Inadequate health legislation
3.4. PRIORITY ACTION AREAS
The vision of the National Strategy for Alleviation of Poverty and Social Exclusion in the Republic of Macedonia is re ected in the aim of creating a society with reduced poverty and social exclusion:
• Everyone should be provided access to resources, rights and services necessary for an equal participation in society, in the process of which, the protection of the socially vulnerable shall be taken into consideration and all forms of discrimination leading up to exclusion should be combatted; • Everyone should be subjected to active social inclusion through promotion of equal participation on the labour market and ght against poverty and social exclusion; • Social inclsuion policies should be developed through well coordinated programs and measures on all levels of government (central and local). Other relevant factors shall also be taken into consideration by implementing e cient and e ective public policies, including economic, scal, educational trainings, strategies and projects.
Starting from these set values, the Local Partnership Group has determined the following priority areas of development of Berovo municipality through the process of participatory development of the strategic document with the objective of alleviating poverty and increasing social inclusion and social protection for the period 2011-2015: • Alleviation of poverty; • Social inclusion; • Social protection.
Taking into account the problems and needs of the local community, three strategic objectives were determined for SOCIAL PROTECTION FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION, STRATEGY OF POVERTY OF BEROVO IN MUNICIPALITY AND ALLEVIATION each priority area:
Alleviation of poverty 19 • Strategic aim 1: Alleviation of poverty in Berovo municipality for 15% within 5 years • Strategic aim 2: Provision of domestic and foreign investments and use of domestic and international funds • Strategic aim 3: Improvement of social conditions through creation of local partnerships
Social inclusion
• Strategic aim 1: Increase of social inclusion of vulnerable groups up to 10% for the period 2011 – 2015 • Strategic aim 2: Development and implementation of social inclusuon programs and opening of relevant services • Strategic aim 3: Creation of local partnerships for use of domestic and international funds
Social protection
• Strategic aim 1: Improvement of social protection services through development of local programs and establishing adequate mechanisms • Strategic aim 2: Development of capacities of the vulnerable groups through encouraging greater employment, requali cation and further quali cation • Strategic aim 3: Construction of new infrastructute and reuse of the existing infrastructure to suit the needs of the vulnerable social groups through creation of local partnerships and use of domestic and international funds
3.4.1. ALLEVIATION OF POVERTY
For the rst priority area, alleviation of poverty, the LPG has identi ed the following areas of action:
• Attracting domestic and foreign investments • Provision of adequate social packages • Development of enterpreneurship and selfemployment programmes • Networking of local partnerships • Use of available domestic and international funds for realization of projects
In accordance with the given strategic objectives, strategic activities were also set:
Strategic aim 1: Alleviation of poverty in Berovo municipality for 15% within 5 years
Strategic actions:
• Analysis of the unemployment situation and the social structure in Berovo municipality • Development of a Program for Attracting Investments • Organization of trainings for vulnerable groups – requali cation for tourism workers (tourist guides, cooks, reception workers, waiters, sanitary workers...)
Strategic aim 2: Provision of domestic and foreign investments and use of domestic and international funds
Strategic actions:
• Organization of workshops with the aim of sharing information on employment possibilities through projects and rural development funds (IPARD • Training for young, unemployed people (preparation of a business plan, enterpreneurship, development of plans) • Establishment of an Association for Regional Branding of the Malesevo Products in the microregion • Development of urban plans for the following tourist destinations: Berovo Lake, Ablanica and the Town of Berovo
Strategic aim 3: Improvement of social situation through creation of local partnerships
Strategic actions:
• Development of a Social Protection Program of Berovo municipality • Establishment of a local coordination body for prevention of domestic violence • Establishment of a network for institutional cooperation on a local level • Development of a Strategy and a Local Action Plan for protection and promotion of the rights of the Roma 20 population
3.4.2. SOCIAL INCLUSION AND ALLEVIATION IN MUNICIPALITY OF BEROVO OF POVERTY STRATEGY FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION, SOCIAL PROTECTION In order to improve the social inclusion of vulnerable groups, the LPG has de ned the following areas of action:
• Opening of social inclusion services • Development and implementation of social inclusion programs for each identi ed vulnerable group • Use of the local capacities of the municipalities, social and educational institutions, the civil and the business sector • Creation of spacial economic programs for vulnerable groups • Networking in local partnerships • Greater use of the available domestic and international funds for project realization
At bthe same time, the LPG has set the following strategic actions for the realization of the strategic aims of the second area:
Strategic aim 1: Increase of social inclusion of vulnerable groups up to 10% for the period 2011 – 2015
Strategic actions:
• Development of a Program for Early Detection and Prevention of Vulnerable Groups • Development of special programs for each of the identi ed vulnerable social groups • Adaptation of the avaliable premises and opening of an Elderly People’s Club (for people above 65 years of age) • Preparation of crossborder projects for vulnerable social groups with partners from the Republic of Bulgaria • Strategic aim 2: Development and implementation of social inclusuon programs and opening of relevant services Strategic actions:
• Establishment of a volunteer group for assistance of elderly and disabled persons • Training of volunteers for providing assistance at home for elderly and sick persons • Procurement of a specialized vehicle for transportation of gravely disabled persons, users of the Daily Center • Program for nancial assistance of talented students and students from socially vulnerable families
Strategic aim 3: Creation of local partnerships for use of domestic and international funds
Strategic actions:
• Organization of promotional workshops and discussion forums for informing the citizens on the possibilities of using the available funds • Trainings on networking with other interested partners on a regional level and networking with partners from the Republic of Bulgaria • Organization and implementation of workshops for project preparation • Organization of study tours (exchange of experiences)
3.4.3. SOCIAL PROTECTION
The LPG of Berovo municipality has identi ed the following areas of action in the local community which enable the application of the new forms of social protection and improved delivery of services in the area of social protection: • • Analysis of the existing social programs • Determining of adequate social protection mechanisms for each vulnerable social gruop • Strenghtening of the capacities of institutions and strengthening the professional sta • Use of facilities owned by the municipality • Development of social housing programs • Development of employment programs (enterpreneurship and self-employment) • Development of requali cation and further quali cation programs • Networking into local partnerships • Use of available domestic and international funds for project implementation
Strategic aim 1: Improvement of social protection services through development of local programs and establishing adequate mechanisms STRATEGY FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION, SOCIAL PROTECTION FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION, STRATEGY OF POVERTY OF BEROVO IN MUNICIPALITY AND ALLEVIATION
Strategic actions:
• Introduction of days of organized free transportation for the socially vulnerable groups with the aim of improving their access to the local institutions 21 • Provision of social packages for single parents • Open centers for free legal aid for the vulnerable groups Opening of an educational center for parents of minors – criminal perpetrators • Provision of professional assistance (psychiatric, counselling) for socially vulnerable groups • Raising of an initiative in the MLSP for approval and development of the concept of foster family • Raising of an initiative in the MLSP to legally enable the realization of one-term nancial assistance upon the termination of the stay in a small group home • Determining criteria for realization of the right to one-term nancial assistance from the budget of Berovo municipality • Strenghtening of the capacities of the municipal administration through employment of a social worker in the municipality • Strenghtening of the capacities of the municipal administration by training the employees on the opportunities and forms of developing the socially protective functions of the municipality • Education on strategic planning and development of programs for social protection of di erent vulnerable groups • Expanding of the social protection forms realized by the municipality (predominantly nancial assistance) with new forms of social services • Increase of the percentual share of the budget allocated for social protection and increase of the e ciency of these budget resources • Strategic aim 2: Development of capacities of the vulnerable groups through encouraging greater employment, requali cation and further quali cation
Strategic actions:
• Organization of informative meetings for the citizens with the aim of informing them on the possibilities of employment, requali cation and further quali cation • Organization of workshops for the business community on the existing legal opportunities for employment of the socially vulnerable (victims of domestic violence, single parents and parents of children with special needs) • Organization of workshops for strengthening of the self-con dence of the vulnerable groups • Development of an informative guide on the competences of the institutions providing services to the socially vulnerable groups • Realization of an informative campaign aimed at awareness raising of the employees in the public institutions for working with socially vulnerable groups
Strategic aim 3: Construction of new infrastructute and reuse of the existing infrastructure to suit the needs of the vulnerable social groups through creation of local partnerships and use of domestic and international funds
Strategic actions:
• Expanding the activity of the Daily Center for Disabled People (above the age of 26) • Construction of access ramps for disabled people in institutions • Marking of parking spaces for disabled people in the municipality • Construction of sports’ grounds and an entertainment park in the Roma neighbourhood
3.5. FOCUS GROUPS
The qualitative research is a research method through which the attitudes, values, feelings, thoughts and reasons for a certain type of behaviour are discovered. In applying this method, the respondents are left to express themselves freely which re ects their motivation and perceptions. The questions being asked include also why and how, and not only what, where and when.
In the conclusion drawing process, the gures and the statistical operations are not a characteristic feature of this method, but the detailed ndings supported by the original statements of the respondents.
The focus gruop as a qualitative research method is one of the most useful and popular research techniques. It consists of a group interview of 6-10 individuals who at teh same tiem engage in a discussion on a given topic. The 22 discussion usually takes 60-90 minutes. The focus groups are useful for getting an insight into the thoughts and feelings of people in relation to a wide range of sociological, psychological or political topics. In order to improve the process of the development of the Strategy
AND ALLEVIATION IN MUNICIPALITY OF BEROVO OF POVERTY STRATEGY FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION, SOCIAL PROTECTION for Alleviation of Poverty, Social Inclusion and Social Protection, discussions were held with representatives of the most vulnerable and poorest groups in Berovo municipality
In fact, the focus group discussions in the period between the strategic and action planning were a control mechanism on whether the determined priorities and the strategic aims for their realization by the LPG are in accordance with the real needs of the vulnerable and poor groups of citizens from Berovo municipality.
LPG detected ten vulnerable groups, but in order to avoid yet another victimization representatives of the following vulnerable groups were not included in the focus group discussions:
• Children victims of sexual abuse and paedophilia; • Minors – criminal perpetrators; • Minors without parents or parental care.
In the anonymous research, the involved participants shared their experiences in three focus groups and openly spoke of their problems, hopes and fears10.
Focus groups • Single unemployed, long-term unepmloyed, socially vulnerable, young married couples with several children, people with unresolved housing and elderly, abandoned people; • Disabled children; • Women – victims of domstic violence.
The emotions of the poor and socially excluded lead to immediate recognition of the problems of the life in the local community and directly point to the areas for action.
10. See Annex 3: Report with ndings from focus group interviews BUDGET in MKD 186.000 310.000 organizations, MLSP, busines MLSP, organizations, sector PERIOD RESPONSIBLE ENTITY 2012 LED Unit CSW, Berovo, ESA- 62.000 2012 LED Unit 2012 -2014 LED Unit , citizens’ ESA, CSW, STRATEGY FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION, SOCIAL PROTECTION FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION, STRATEGY OF POVERTY OF BEROVO IN MUNICIPALITY AND ALLEVIATION ACTION PLAN 2012-2014
23 VERIFICATION MEANS VERIFICATION Printed document document Printed O cial Gazette of Berovo O cial of Berovo Gazette municipality Certi cates, participantCerti cates, list, number of reports, photographs, contracts work concluded PRIORITY ACTION AREA 1: ALLEVIATION OF POVERTYPRIORITY ACTION AREA 1: ALLEVIATION STRATEGIC AIM 1.1. Alleviation of poverty in Berovo municipality for 15% in 5 years 15% in 5 years municipality for of poverty in Berovo AIM 1.1. Alleviation STRATEGIC INDICATORS INDICATORS Conducted analysis and analysis Conducted scanned situation Developed and adopted by by and adopted Developed the Council Number of implemented Number of implemented number of trainings, number of people, trained people employed STRATEGY FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION, SOCIAL PROTECTION AND ALLEVIATION OF POVERTY IN BEROVO MUNICIPALITY OF POVERTY IN BEROVO MUNICIPALITY SOCIAL PROTECTION AND ALLEVIATION FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION, STRATEGY ACTION STRATEGIC 1.1.1. Analysis of the unemployment of the unemployment 1.1.1. Analysis and the social structure in situation municipality Berovo 1.1.2. Development of a Program for for of a Program 1.1.2. Development Investments Attracting 1.1.3. Organization of trainings for for of trainings 1.1.3. Organization – requali cation groups vulnerable guides, (tourist workers tourism for waiters, workers, reception cooks, sanitary workers...) CHAPTER IV - ACTION PLAN FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STRATEGY FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION, SOCIAL FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION, THE STRATEGY OF THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN FOR CHAPTER IV - ACTION MUNICIPALITY OF POVERTY IN BEROVO AND ALLEVIATION PROTECTION PRIORITY AREAS • Alleviation of poverty • Social inclusion • Social protection 93.000 186.000 11.160.000 Berovo municipality and Pehcevo municipality and Pehcevo Berovo business NGO, municipality, employees faremers, community, in tourism Financial Support of Agriculture, Support of Agriculture, Financial O ce, Regional of the MAFWE organizations ESA, citizens’ 2012-2013 2012-2014 Agency for municipality, Berovo 2012-2014 CSW municipality, ESA, Berovo 62.000 2012-2014 municipality Berovo PERIOD RESPONSIBLE ENTITY BUDGET in MKD
24 AND ALLEVIATION IN MUNICIPALITY OF BEROVO OF POVERTY STRATEGY FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION, SOCIAL PROTECTION Central Registry Central certi cate, number of members the Association Participant list, photographs, photographs, list, Participant yers, agenda, distributed brochures participantIssued certi cates, reports from photographs, list, held trainings O cial of Berovo Gazette articles, minutes, municipality, photographs VERIFICATION MEANS VERIFICATION PRIORITY ACTION AREA 1: ALLEVIATION OF POVERTYPRIORITY ACTION AREA 1: ALLEVIATION Established Association Established Association of Brending for “Males“ Products with min 10 partners companies,civil from and other organizations stakeholders in the process Number of held workshops, Number of held workshops, yers/ number of printed brochures/articles in the local media, page of the o cial web municipality and number of meetings implemented persons, Number of trained number of implemented number of trainings, plans prepared Number of developed urban adopted urban plans, plans INDICATORS INDICATORS STRATEGIC AIM 1.2. Provision of domestic and foreign investments and use of domestic and international funds and use of domestic international investments of domestic and foreign AIM 1.2. Provision STRATEGIC 1.2.3. Establishment of an 1.2.3. Establishment Branding Regional for Association in the Products of the Malesevo microregion 1.2.1 Organization of workshops of workshops 1.2.1 Organization with the aim of sharing information possibilities on employment projects and rural through funds (IPARD) development young, for Training 1.2.2. of people (preparation unemployed a business plan, enterpreneurship, of plans) development of urban 1.2.4. Development tourist the following plans for Ablanica Lake, Berovo destinations: of Berovo Town and the ACTION STRATEGIC 12.400 6.200 31.000 62.000 citizens’ organizations organizations citizens’ organizations, CSW, ESA, local CSW, organizations, institutions citizens’ organizations organizations citizens’ PERIOD RESPONSIBLE ENTITY BUDGET in MKD 2012 municipality Berovo 2012 CSW, municipality, Berovo 2012-2013 citizens’ municipality, Berovo 2012 CSW, municipality, Berovo STRATEGY FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION, SOCIAL PROTECTION FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION, STRATEGY OF POVERTY OF BEROVO IN MUNICIPALITY AND ALLEVIATION
25 VERIFICATION MEANS VERIFICATION O cial Gazette of Berovo O cial of Berovo Gazette municipality Decision of the Council of Decision of the Council municipality published Berovo in the O cial of Berovo Gazette municipality Minutes, photographs, published photographs, Minutes, articles, Memorandum for signed Cooperation O cial Gazette of Berovo O cial of Berovo Gazette municipality PRIORITY ACTION AREA 1: ALLEVIATION OF POVERTYPRIORITY ACTION AREA 1: ALLEVIATION STRATEGIC AIM 1.3. Improvement of social conditions through creation of local partnerships creation through of social conditions AIM 1.3. Improvement STRATEGIC INDICATORS INDICATORS Developed and adopted and adopted Developed of the Council by Program municipality Berovo Established coordination Established coordination body on a local level Established network, number of institutions, and civil organizations are other stakeholders that members of the network Developed and adopted and adopted Developed and a LAP for Strategy and promotion protection of the rights Roma population ACTION STRATEGIC 1.3.1. Development of a Social 1.3.1. Development of Berovo Program Protection municipality 1.3.2. Establishment of a local 1.3.2. Establishment of prevention body for coordination domestic violence 1.3.3. Establishment of a network 1.3.3. Establishment on a institutional cooperation for local level 1.3.4. Development of a Strategy of a Strategy 1.3.4. Development for Action Plan and a Local of the and promotion protection rights of the Roma population 18.600 24.800 620.000 62.000 310.000 organizations, CSW, ESA. local CSW, organizations, institutions ESA, local institutions organizations, CSW, business CSW, organizations, community organizations, CSW, CDEPR CSW, organizations, organizations, CSW, MLSP CSW, organizations, PERIOD RESPONSIBLE ENTITY BUDGET in MKD 2012 citizens’ municipality, Berovo 2012-2014 CSW, NGO, municipality, Berovo 2012-2014 citizens’ municipality, Berovo 2012-2014 citizens’ municipality, Berovo 2012-2014 citizens’ municipality, Berovo
26 AND ALLEVIATION IN MUNICIPALITY OF BEROVO OF POVERTY STRATEGY FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION, SOCIAL PROTECTION VERIFICATION MEANS VERIFICATION O cial Gazette of Berovo O cial of Berovo Gazette municipality O cial Gazette of Berovo O cial of Berovo Gazette municipality Decision of the Council on Use on Use Decision of the Council published in of the Facility, the O cial of Berovo Gazette photographs, municipality, construction records Participant list, minutes, minutes, list, Participant published articles, photographs, video records Participant list, minutes, minutes, list, Participant published articles, photographs, video records PRIORITY ACTION AREA 2: SOCIAL INCLUSION INDICATORS INDICATORS Developed and adopted and adopted Developed Program Number of developed and Number of developed the by programs adopted of the municipality, Council number of comprised number groups, vulnerable of users funds Adapted premises, number premises, Adapted technical procured of users, and other equipment equipment Number of implemented Number of implemented number meetings, of concluded/signed for memoranda number of cooperation, number projects, submitted projects of approved Number of held meetings, Number of held meetings, number of signed/ for memoranda concluded number of cooperation, number projects, submitted projects of approved STRATEGIC AIM 2.1. Increase of social inclusion of vulnerable groups up to 10% for the period 2011 - 2015 10% for up to groups of social inclusion of vulnerable AIM 2.1. Increase STRATEGIC STRATEGIC ACTION ACTION STRATEGIC 2.1.1. Development of a Program for for of a Program 2.1.1. Development of Early Detection and Prevention Groups Vulnerable 2.1.2. Development of special 2.1.2. Development each of the identi ed for programs social groups vulnerable 2.1.3. Adaptation of the avaliable of the avaliable 2.1.3. Adaptation and opening of an Elderly premises 65 people above Club (for People’s of age) years 2.1.4. Establishment of cooperation of cooperation 2.1.4. Establishment organizations with international and institutions 2.1.5. Preparation of crossborder of crossborder 2.1.5. Preparation social groups vulnerable projects for with partners the Republic of from Bulgaria 6.200 93.000 1.240.000 1.860.000 ESA, local ОО of the Red Cross, institutions organizations, CSW, ESA, the CSW, organizations, local institutions Red Cross, organizations, CSW, MLSP, MLSP, CSW, organizations, business community organizations, CSW, business CSW, organizations, community PERIOD RESPONSIBLE ENTITY BUDGET in MKD 2012-2014 CSW, NGO, municipality, Berovo 2012-2013 citizens’ municipality, Berovo 2012-2014 citizens’ municipality, Berovo 2012-2014 citizens’ municipality, Berovo STRATEGY FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION, SOCIAL PROTECTION FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION, STRATEGY OF POVERTY OF BEROVO IN MUNICIPALITY AND ALLEVIATION
27 VERIFICATION MEANS VERIFICATION List of members in the volunteer List of members in the volunteer group Photographs, participant list, Photographs, certi cates Invoices, registration, registration, Invoices, published minutes, photographs, articles Decision of the Council on Decision of the Council of a Fund the Establishment published in the O cial Gazette archive, municipality, of Berovo municipality, budget of Berovo , account orders payment Decision on Payment statement, PRIORITY ACTION AREA 2: SOCIAL INCLUSION INDICATORS INDICATORS Established functional group volunteering Number of implemented Number of implemented number of trained trainings, volunteers Procured vehicle vehicle Procured Number of submitted Number of submitted of signed requests,number contracts STRATEGEIC AIM 2.2. – Development and implementation of social inclusuon programs and opening of relevant services and opening of relevant of social inclusuon programs and implementation AIM 2.2. – Development STRATEGEIC STRATEGIC ACTION ACTION STRATEGIC 2.2.1. Establishment of a volonteer of a volonteer 2.2.1. Establishment of elderly and assistance for group disabled persons 2.2.2. Training of volunteers for for of volunteers Training 2.2.2. home for at assistance providing elderly and sick persons 2.2.3. Procurement of a specialized of a specialized 2.2.3. Procurement transportation for of gravely vehicle users of the Daily disabled persons, Center 2.2.4. Program for nancial for 2.2.4. Program and students of talented assistance socially vulnerable from students families 248.000 43.400 279.000 310.000 MAFWE MAFWE organizations, CSW organizations, organizations, CSW, MLSP CSW, organizations, organizations, CSW, MLSP, MLSP, CSW, organizations, business community,ESA, CDEPR PERIOD RESPONSIBLE ENTITY BUDGET in MKD 2012-2014 CSW, NGO, municipality, Berovo 2012-2014 citizens’ municipality, Berovo 2013-2014 citizens’ municipality, Berovo 2013-2014 citizens’ municipality, Berovo
28 AND ALLEVIATION IN MUNICIPALITY OF BEROVO OF POVERTY STRATEGY FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION, SOCIAL PROTECTION VERIFICATION MEANS VERIFICATION Participant list, photographs, photographs, list, Participant a sample of the promotional articlesmaterial, published in the for contracts media, concluded cooperation Participant list, photographs, photographs, list, Participant of archives minutes/reports, articlesinstitutions, published in the media, audio and video records Participant list, photographs, photographs, list, Participant issued minutes/reports, certi cates participants to Participant list, photographs, photographs, list, Participant published minutes/reports, articles, audio and video records PRIORITY ACTION AREA 2: SOCIAL INCLUSION INDICATORS INDICATORS Number of organized and Number of organized events, held promotional number of participants/ number of visitors, promotional disseminated number of material, engaged consultants Number of held trainings, Number of held trainings, and signed concluded number of memoranda, established partnerships NUmber of organized and NUmber of organized number held workshops, participants, of present number of developed number of project ideas, engaged trainers Number of realized Number of realized number of study tours, and applied acquired number of ideas, innovative participants STRATEGIC AIM 2.3. – Creation of local partnerships for use of domestic and international funds of local partnerships use of domestic and international AIM 2.3. – Creation for STRATEGIC STRATEGIC ACTION ACTION STRATEGIC 2.3.1. Organization of promotional of promotional 2.3.1. Organization and discussion forums workshops on the the citizens informing for possibilities of using the available funds 2.3.2. Trainings on networking Trainings 2.3.2. partners on with other interested and networking level a regional with partners the Republic of from Bulgaria 2.3.3. Organization and 2.3.3. Organization for of workshops implementation project preparation 2.3.4. Organization of study tours of study tours 2.3.4. Organization of experiences) (exchange 558.000 186.000 62.000 74.400 ? 6.200 6.200 business community business community citizens’ business community citizens’ organizations citizens’ organizations citizens’ citizens’ organizations citizens’ citizens’ organizations organizations citizens’ citizens’ organizations, MLSP organizations, citizens’ citizens’ organizations, MLSP organizations, citizens’ PERIOD RESPONSIBLE ENTITY BUDGET in MKD 2012-2014 CSW, municipality, Berovo 2012-2014 CSW, municipality, Berovo 2012-2014 CSW, municipality, Berovo 2012-2014 CSW, municipality, Berovo 2012-2014 CSW, municipality, Berovo 2012 CSW, municipality, Berovo 2012 CSW, municipality, Berovo STRATEGY FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION, SOCIAL PROTECTION FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION, STRATEGY OF POVERTY OF BEROVO IN MUNICIPALITY AND ALLEVIATION
29 VERIFICATION MEANS VERIFICATION Concluded transportationConcluded passenger list contract, Decision of the Council of Decision of the Council municipality published Berovo in the O cial of Berovo Gazette number of archive, municipality, of contracts,number concluded users comprised Participant list, photographs, photographs, list, Participant minutes Participant list, minutes minutes list, Participant Participant list, minutes list, Participant Archive Archive Archive PRIORITY ACTION AREA 3: SOCIAL PROTECTION INDICATORS INDICATORS Conclusion of a Contract of a Contract Conclusion Transportation, number for number of trips, of users, number of routes Number of submitted Number of submitted number of requests, social packages, approved number of concluded partnerships (municipality, business community) Number of open centers, Number of open centers, number of delivered services, number of number of users, comprised engaged professionals Open educational center, center, Open educational number of comprised number of engaged users, number of professionals, services delivered Number of delivered Number of delivered services, number of number of users, comprised professionals involved Submitted and adopted and adopted Submitted initiative Submitted and adopted and adopted Submitted initiative STRATETGIC AIM 3.1. – Improvement of social protection services through development of local programs and establishing adequate mechanisms and establishing adequate of local programs of social protection development services through AIM 3.1. – Improvement STRATETGIC STRATEGIC ACTION ACTION STRATEGIC 3.1.1. Introduction of days of 3.1.1. Introduction of days transportation free for organized with groups the socially vulnerable to their access the aim of improving the local institutions 3.1.2. Provision of social packages 3.1.2. Provision single parents for 3.1.3. Open centers for free legal aid free for 3.1.3. Open centers groups the vulnerable for 3.1.4. Opening of an educational 3.1.4. Opening of an educational of minors – parents for center criminal perpetrators 3.1.5. Provision of professional of professional 3.1.5. Provision counselling) (psychiatric, assistance groups socially vulnerable for 3.1.6. Raising of an initiative 3.1.6. Raising of an initiative and approval in the MLSP for of of the concept development family foster 3.1.7. Raising of an initiative in 3.1.7. Raising of an initiative legally enable the the MLSP to of one-termrealization nancial of upon the termination assistance home in a small group the stay 74.400 93.000 62.000 citizens’ organizations organizations citizens’ citizens’ organizations organizations citizens’ 2012 CSW municipality, Berovo 6.200 2012-2014 CSW, municipality, Berovo 2012-2014 CSW, municipality, Berovo 2012-2014 CSW municipality, Berovo ? 2012-2014 CSW municipality, Berovo ?
30 AND ALLEVIATION IN MUNICIPALITY OF BEROVO OF POVERTY STRATEGY FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION, SOCIAL PROTECTION Decision of the Council published Decision of the Council in the O cial of Berovo Gazette Decision adopted municipality, of a on the Establishment Committee Decision on Employment Decision on Employment 2012 municipality Berovo Participant list, minutes, minutes, list, Participant photographs Participant list, minutes, minutes, list, Participant photographs Decision of the Council published Decision of the Council in the O cial of Berovo Gazette budget of Berovo municipality, orders, payment municipality, Decision on statement, account Payment Decision of the Council published Decision of the Council in the O cial of Berovo Gazette budget of Berovo municipality, orders, payment municipality, Decision on statement, account Payment Adoption of a book rules Adoption on the abovemnetioned of a criteria, establishment committee Employed social worker at at social worker Employed the municipality Number of delivered Number of delivered number of trainings, civil servants,comprised number of involved professionals Number of delivered Number of delivered number of trainings, number persons, educated professionals of involved Number of introduced Number of introduced of social new forms services, number of number requests, received services, of delivered of the share percentual resources, budget allocated of share percentual new for spent resources of social servicesforms Percentual share of the share Percentual allocated budget resources social protection, for of share percentual social for spent resources protection 3.1.8. Determining criteria for 3.1.8. Determining criteria for one-term of the right to realization the budget from nancial assistance municipality of Berovo 3.1.9. Strenghtening of the 3.1.9. Strenghtening capacities of the municipal through administration in of a social worker employment the municipality 3.1.10. Strenghtening of the 3.1.10. Strenghtening capacities of the municipal the training by administration on the opportunitiesemployees the of developing and forms functions socially protective of the municipality 3.1.11. Education on strategic on strategic 3.1.11. Education of planning and development of social protection for programs groups vulnerable di erent 3.1.12. Expanding of the social the by realized forms protection municipality (predominantly with new forms nancial assistance) of social services 3.1.13. Increase of the percentual 3.1.13. Increase of the percentual for of the budget allocated share of the and increase social protection e ciency of these budget resources 93.000 248.000 186.000 124.000 93.000 organizations, CSW, MLSP, MLSP, CSW, organizations, ESA, business community, CDEPR organizations, CSW, MLSP, MLSP, CSW, organizations, ESA, business community, CDEPR organizations, CSW, MLSP, MLSP, CSW, organizations, ESA, business community, CDEPR organizations, CSW, MLSP CSW, organizations, organizations, CSW, MLSP, ESA MLSP, CSW, organizations, PERIOD RESPONSIBLE ENTITY BUDGET in MKD 2012-2014 citizens’ municipality, Berovo 2012-2014 citizens’ municipality, Berovo 2012-2014 citizens’ municipality, Berovo 2012-2014 citizens’ municipality, Berovo 2012-2014 citizens’ municipality, Berovo STRATEGY FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION, SOCIAL PROTECTION FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION, STRATEGY OF POVERTY OF BEROVO IN MUNICIPALITY AND ALLEVIATION
31 VERIFICATION MEANS VERIFICATION Participant list, photographs, photographs, list, Participant published articlesminutes, in the media, video and audio records Participant list, photographs, photographs, list, Participant published articles, minutes, video and audio records Participant list, photographs, photographs, list, Participant published articles, minutes, video and audio records Copy of the guide, invoice, invoice, of the guide, Copy statement,published account article Participant list, photographs, photographs, list, Participant published articles, video minutes, and audio records PRIORITY ACTION AREA 3: SOCIAL PROTECTION INDICATORS INDICATORS Number of held meetings, Number of held meetings, number of present participants, number of engaged experts Number of held workshops, Number of held workshops, number of present participants, number of engaged experts Number of held workshops, Number of held workshops, number of present participants number of engaged experts, Developed guide, number guide, Developed number copies, of printed copies, of distributed uploaded electronic version on the Internet pages in the municipality Number of organized Number of organized number of present events, participants, number of engaged experts STRATEGIC AIM 3.2. – Development of capacities of the vulnerable groups through encouraging greater employment, requali cation and further requali cation quali cation employment, greater encouraging through groups of capacities of the vulnerable AIM 3.2. – Development STRATEGIC STRATEGIC ACTION ACTION STRATEGIC 3.2.1. Organization of informative of informative 3.2.1. Organization with the citizens meetings for them on the aim of informing the possibilities of employment, and furtherrequali cation quali cation 3.2.2. Organization of workshops of workshops 3.2.2. Organization the business community on for legal opportunitiesthe existing of the socially employment for (victimsvulnerable of domestic and parents single parents violence, with special needs) of children 3.2.3. Organization of workshops of workshops 3.2.3. Organization of the self- strengthening for groups of the vulnerable con dence 3.2.4. Development of an 3.2.4. Development guide on the informative of the institutions competences services the socially providing to groups vulnerable 3.2.5. Realization of an informative 3.2.5. Realization of an informative awareness aimed at campaign in the of the employees raising working with public institutions for groups socially vulnerable 930.000 124.000 31.000 620.000 organizations, CSW, MLSP CSW, organizations, organizations, CSW, MLSP, MLSP, CSW, organizations, business community organizations, CSW, MLSP CSW, organizations, organizations, CSW, business CSW, organizations, sector PERIOD RESPONSIBLE ENTITY BUDGET in MKD 2013-2014 citizens’ municipality, Berovo 2012-2014 citizens’ municipality, Berovo 2012-2014 citizens’ municipality, Berovo 2013-2014 citizens’ municipality, Berovo
32 AND ALLEVIATION IN MUNICIPALITY OF BEROVO OF POVERTY STRATEGY FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION, SOCIAL PROTECTION VERIFICATION MEANS VERIFICATION O cial Gazette of Berovo O cial of Berovo Gazette photographs, municipality, , minutes construction records Contruction records, invoices, invoices, records, Contruction photographs, statement, account published articles in the media Photographs, articles published Photographs, in the media, invoices Construction records, invoices, invoices, Construction records, photographs, statement, account published articles in the media PRIORITY ACTION AREA 3: SOCIAL PROTECTION local partnerships funds and use of domestic international INDICATORS INDICATORS Adapted space, number space, Adapted new users, of comprised new number of provided services, a Decision on Readaptation Space Number of institutions disabled for enabling access number of set people, ramps Number of marked parking spaces Developed sports’ and sports’ Developed entertainment area STRATEGIC AIM 3.3 Construction of new infrastructute and reuse of the existing infrastructure to suit the needs of the vulnerable social groups through creation of creation through social groups suit the needs of vulnerable to infrastructure of the existing and reuse infrastructute of new AIM 3.3 Construction STRATEGIC STRATEGIC ACTION ACTION STRATEGIC 3.3.1. Expanding the activity of the Disabled People for Daily Center the age of 26) (above 3.3.2. Construction of access ramps ramps 3.3.2. Construction of access disabled people in institutions for 3.3.3. Marking of parking for spaces disabled people in the municipality 3.3.4. Construction of sports’ 3.3.4. Construction of sports’ and an entertainment park grounds in the Roma neighbourhood ANNEXES
ANNEX 1 - PARTICIPANT LIST
Local Partnership Group for Berovo municipality Name and last name Institution/Municipality Local self-government Gjogji Peovski Collaborator in LED, Unit of local-selfgovernment Berovo and Coordinator of the LPG Emilija Aleksandrova Council of Berovo municipality
Tatjanka Murtovska Unit for Financing and Budget, Unit of local- selfgovernment Berovo Valentina Pacarska Communal Monitoring O cer, Unit of local-self- government Berovo Public sector Branka Sisovska Director of the Intermunicipal Center for Social Work – Berovo Milka Atanasova Pedagogue at the public institution Intermunici- pal Center for Social Work – Berovo Liljana Burovska Principal at the Nikola P. Rusinski Elementary School, Berovo Daniela Stanoevska Social worker at the O ce for Material Allowances in Pehcevo within the public institution Intermu- nicipal Center for Social Work - Berovo Ljupco Dimitrovski ESA Berovo
Civil sector STRATEGY FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION, SOCIAL PROTECTION FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION, STRATEGY OF POVERTY OF BEROVO IN MUNICIPALITY AND ALLEVIATION Aleksandra Skenderska NGO – Blue Sky Vlatko Stoilovski NGO for tourism development 33 ANNEX 2 - Findings from the Study on Poverty and Social Exclusion in the Republic of Macedonia – Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Human Rights
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
CONCLUSIONS
AREA MORE SPECIFIC SITUATION/PROBLEMS AREA 1. Dominant • Agriculture activities • Farming • Textile industry • Tourism 2. Institutional Education: • 2 elementary schools capacities • 7 regional schools • 1 secondary school (general education and vocational education) Health care: • Health care centre • 8 general practitioners’ medical centers • 5 dental clinics • There is no gynacological clinic • Clinics in the villages • 3 pharmacies Social care: • Center for Social Work • Daily Center for Disabled People • 1 kindergarten with separate branches in three villages • No elderly people’s home • 1 community kitchen • Small group home Мал групен дом
Culture: • Cultural Center Sport: • A cinema that is not operational Entertainment: • Library 34 • Museum • There is no theatre • Local TV station, radio and electronic newspaper • 2 sports’ halls and 10 sports’ grounds AND ALLEVIATION IN MUNICIPALITY OF BEROVO OF POVERTY STRATEGY FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION, SOCIAL PROTECTION Economic entities: • Textile industry employing most of the citizens of the municipality. 5-6 companies are registered in this sector, employing 450-500 people 3. Social problems • Most dominant: unemployment and poverty • Unemployment rate: 31,9% • The unemployment of the young population aged 15-24 is 67,3%. • Most of the unemployed are non-quali ed workers (41,4%) • Long-term unemployment gures: out of the total number of unemployed people, 31,5% have been seeking employment for 8 years or more. • The unemployment rate according to age intervals shows a relatively equal distribution • Alcoholism and domestic violence • Drug abuse by minors Socially vulnerable • Poor people population groups: • Elderly people • Roma 5. Infrastructural Roads: • Asphalt-paved roads to all populated places problems • The quality of the asphalt is in bad condition. • There are no asphalt-paved roads in the villages, only earth roads. Water supply: • There is a water supply network in 95% of the municipality. • A new drinking water puri cation station and a waste water puri cation station on the Bregalnica river have been built. Sewerage: • There is a sewerage network in the town and the villages. • Part of the populated places have not been covered by the main puri ca- tion station. 6. Ecological • Problem with the non-urbanized land ll problems • Problems related to res
7. Inter-institutional • The cooperation of the municipality with all relevant stakeholders is assessed cooperation in the as relatively good whereas the cooperation with the private sector is assessed municipality as weak 8. Social protection From the • There is no special unit for social protection: the competences are undertaken municipality: by the Unit for Local Development, International Cooperation and Public Activities • A social worker has not been employed. • An action plan or a strategy for social development has not been developed. • A Local Employment Action Plan for Berovo and Pehčevo 2009-2011 has been developed. • A Manual for Taking Care of Homeless People has been developed. • The amount of the allocated one-term nancial asistance is 50.000 denars; a total of 300.000 denars have been allocated to that budget entry From the Centre for • Users of social nancial assistance: 182 households Social Work: • Users of ППП : 25 families • Users of ТНП : 344 persons • Users of one-term nancial assistance: 20 persons • Extrainstitutional protection: 15 users of the Daily Center for Disabled People; 5 users in a small group home; community kitchen in Berovo • Institutional protection: 14 users (2 – „11 October”; 9 – SOS Children’s village; 2 – Banja Bansko; 1 – Demir Kapija)
RECOMENDATIONS
AREA MORE SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS ON OVERCOMING PROBLEMS AND POS- AREA SIBLE IMPROVEMENTS 1. Dominant • The development potential is mainly seen in the development of tourism, activities small, light and non-polluting food industry and planned use of the forests. There are possibilities of using the natural resources the municipality disposes of (kaolinite, quartz, coal, iron and other mining resources) STRATEGY FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION, SOCIAL PROTECTION FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION, STRATEGY OF POVERTY OF BEROVO IN MUNICIPALITY AND ALLEVIATION 2. Institutional Education: • To improve the teaching conditions in the schools capacities • To provide energy e cient buildings in the public sector
Health care: • To improve the conditions for the functioning of the ambulance services 35 • To open clinics in all villages
Social care: • To enrich the network of social institutions in the municipality • To improve the technical opportunities for the functioning of the Centre for Social Work • To analyse the needs to open centres for daily care of the di erent categories of users • To open elderly people’s homes and centers
Culture: • To put the cinema in operation Sport: • To promote the development of the nongovernmental sector Entertainment: • To build a theatre • To promote the media development in the municipality
Economic entities: • To stimulate the development of greater economic entities that could absorb greater labour force 3. Social problems • To promote employment programs for the users of socialprotection • To review the opportunities of stimulating the employment of users of social protection services through implementation of legal measures enabling favourable conditions and direct support (payment of contributions for a longer period of time) • To improve the targeting of the long-term unepmoyed with the active measures as well as the e ectiveness in employing the users of social protection • To implement preventive programs for preventing domestiv violence as well as drug abuse. • To strentghten the professsional advisory and counselling work with the households facing these categories of problems Socially vulnerable • To expand the network of social services for the elderly: to analyse the population groups: possibilities for opening social services for providing assistance at home, daily centers • To consider the possibility to develop the concept of foster families • To consider the possibilities for opening services for providing assistance at home 5. Infrastructural Roads: • To improve the local road infrastructure (asphalt-paving of the local roads) problems
Water supply: • /
Sewerage: • To establish sewerage system in all populated places • To built collector systems and puri cation stations fro the populated places that have not been comprised with the main puri cation station 6. Еcological • To nd a solution for organized solid waste management in order to problems resolve the problem with the wild land lls 7. Inter-institutional • To promote the cooperation of Berovo municipality with all neighbouring cooperation in the municipalities municipality • To promote the cooperation among the municipality, CSW and the Employment Agency through intensi ed and more e cient implementation of public works, active employment measures for users of social assistance, membership in joint bodies, training on the opportunities and forms of their cooperation in the area of social 36 protection as well as practical implementation of common projects • To promote the cooperation of the municipality with the private sector and the religious organizations by including them as partners in the realization of programs in the area of social protection AND ALLEVIATION IN MUNICIPALITY OF BEROVO OF POVERTY STRATEGY FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION, SOCIAL PROTECTION 8. Social protection From the • To employ a social worker in the municipality municipality: • To train the employees in the Unit on the possibilities and forms of development of the socially protective functions of the municipality • To provide trainings for strategic planning and development of social protection-related programs • To enrich the forms of social protection provided by the municipality (predominantly nancial assistance) with new forms of social services • To increase the budget entry for social protection and plan those budget resources in a more detailed and systematic manner • To develop a network of local social services through private-public partnership • To trigger social responsibility in the private sector From the Centre for • To reduce the number of users of social nancial assistance through Social Work: intensi ed activities for their employment in cooperation with the Employment Agency • To analyse the possibilities for extending the scope of households – social welfare bene ciaries covered by the community kitchen • To develop a network of institutional and extrainstitutional protection in the municipality ANNEX 3 – AGENDA OF WORKSHOPS
STRATEGIC PLANNING WORKSHOP Preparation of a Strategy for Social Inclusion, Social Protection and Alleviating Poverty at a Local Level 21-23 March 2011 Hotel Drim – Struga
21.03.2011, Monday
19.00h Arrival of participants in Hotel Drim, until 19h at the latest accommodation in double rooms, according to previous arrangement
20:00- 20.30h O cial opening of the workshop, Congress Hall ‘Drim’
• Opening speech – Ms Petranka Miladinova, Project Manager at BIM-FV Skopje • Opening speech - Representative from MLSP • Opening speech- Mayors of the partnership municipalities
20:30-21:30h Cocktail/ dinner
22.03.2011, Tuesday STRATEGY FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION, SOCIAL PROTECTION FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION, STRATEGY OF POVERTY OF BEROVO IN MUNICIPALITY AND ALLEVIATION 09:00- 10:30h Introduction Presentation, expectations, review of the agenda Brief analysis of the existing documents related to the social issues in the municipalities De nitions of terminology 37 10:30-11:00h Co ee break
11:00-12:30h Projection of an educational documentary lm on marginalized groups Discussing gender equality
12:30-14:00h Lunch
14:00-15:30h Identi cation of vulnerable groups De ning problems and needs ACTION PLANNING WORKSHOP
Preparation of a Strategy for Social Inclusion, Social Protection and Alleviating Poverty at Local level
AGENDA 4-6 May, 2011 Hotel Molika, Pelister
04.05.2011, Wednesday
17.00h Arrival and accommodation of participants
05.05.2011, Thursday
09:00-10;30h Introduction, expectations, review, draft-strategy and focus- groups results
10:30-11:00h Co ee break
11:00-12:30h Preparing strategic objectives
12:30-14:00h Lunch
14:00-15;30h De ning the strategic objectives
38 15:30-16:00h Co ee break
16:00-17:30h De ning the main bearers of activities and obligations AND ALLEVIATION IN MUNICIPALITY OF BEROVO OF POVERTY STRATEGY FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION, SOCIAL PROTECTION 20:30-21:30h Dinner
06.05.2011- Friday
09:00- 10:30h De ning indicators
10:30-11:00h Co ee break
11:00-12:30h Veri cation tools and budget
12;30-13:00h Co ee break
13:00-14:30h Plan for monitoring Evaluation and wrap-up
14:30-16:00h Lunch
16.00h Participants leaving