From Knowledge and Engagement – to Empowerment and Participation (KEEP)

Start DateOngoingEnd Date

25 Feb 202130 Jun 2024

Programme Status

Open

Programme Budget

US$400,000

Financial Information

Thematic focus: Employment, Healthcare, National development planning and monitoring

Implementing Partners

UN Agencies

UNFPA
UNDP
UNICEF

Government Organizations

Ministry of Labour and Social Policy
Ministry of Health
Ministry of Education and Sciences
Ombudsman’s Office
National coordination body on the implementation of the CRPD
Inter-party Parliamentary Group on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
State Statistical Office (SSO)
Employment Service Agency
Employment Center Skopje
Ministry of Finance
Centre for Family Medicine

Organizations of Persons with Disabilities

National Alliance of Disability Organizations
Polio Plus - Movement Against Disability
National Association of Persons with Physical Disability - Mobilnost Makedonija
National Association of Blind People
National Association of Deaf and Hard of Hearing
The Republic Center for Support of Persons with Intellectual Disability – Poraka
Association for promotion and development of an inclusive society INKLUZIVA
Shpresa OPDs
Macedonian Scientific Society for Autism (MSSA/MNZA)
Izbor Strumica
HERA
Association of persons with cerebral palsy and other disabilities – Veles
HOPS

The Programme

The Situational Analysis of Persons with Disabilities in North Macedonia finds that persons with disabilities are largely unaware of the national progress on both the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Additionally, their representative organisations are generally excluded from decision-making processes that do not directly affect their constituencies. The lack of understanding, information and training among duty bearers, coupled with a one-size-fits-all service delivery model are key impediments for most persons with disabilities to realize their rights under the CRPD. Finally, the established CRPD and SDG monitoring structures lack the necessary frameworks and procedures to effectively include persons with disabilities in their work.

Approach

In response to these issues, the Programme seeks to equip rights holders and duty bearers with the needed know-how and practical tools, so they can effectively contribute to the CRPD implementation and address the gaps in the achievement of the key preconditions to disability inclusion. Additionally, the Programme aims to review and improve national SDG planning and monitoring processes in order to facilitate meaningful participation of persons with disabilities.

In line with the human rights-based disability model and the twin-track approach, the Programme will include tailored interventions to enhance the advocacy, service delivery and monitoring capacity of relevant national stakeholders. Disability is to be mainstreamed in relevant legal frameworks, administrative data collection systems and budgeting practices – with a view to facilitate inclusive design and delivery of disability support social services. Lastly, OPDs are to be supported to meaningfully contribute to the progress on targeted SDGs