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 reect 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 Denitions 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 OF POVERTY OF BEROVO IN MUNICIPALITY AND ALLEVIATION SOCIAL PROTECTION FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION, STRATEGY 3.1. Social prole of the Berovo municipality 11 3.2. Identied 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 dening 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 specically, 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 dierent 3 forms and types of social services tailored to meet the specic 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 oers solutions to current problems of the municipality and its citizens, through the achievement of the concrete strategic goals. Abbreviation list AND ALLEVIATION OF POVERTY OF BEROVO IN MUNICIPALITY AND ALLEVIATION SOCIAL PROTECTION FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION, STRATEGY 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 Oce 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 - Ocial 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 Oce UNDP – United