MONITORING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF CITIZEN PRIORITIES: FIRST PERIODIC REPORT FOR 2026
NGO Info Centre and the Forum for Civil Dialog have published the first periodic monitoring report on the implementation of citizens’ priorities in six municipalities – Struga, Kriva Palanka, Shtip, Demir Hisar, Krushevo and Sveti Nikole. The monitoring assessed the implementation of commitments undertaken by local authorities through memoranda signed with civil society organisations following the 2025 local elections.
The findings indicate that most municipalities have initiated activities and made progress in implementing some of the identified citizens’ priorities, particularly in infrastructure, digitalisation of public services and improvements in municipal services. However, implementation remains uneven, while the most complex issues – such as waste management, water supply, urban development and traffic management – remain unresolved or are progressing more slowly than citizens expected.
In Struga, improvements have been recorded in street lighting, reconstruction of the water supply network and services for persons with disabilities. Nevertheless, the municipal landfill remains the most pressing local issue, while citizens continue to call for greater transparency and more meaningful participation in local decision-making.
Kriva Palanka has made the greatest progress in projects for which financial resources and technical documentation have already been secured, including water supply improvements, the collector system and additional parking facilities. However, administrative procedures and dependence on central government institutions continue to delay the implementation of several capital investments.
In Shtip, institutional initiatives have been launched to address several priorities, particularly in public transport and support for persons with disabilities. At the same time, citizens believe that tangible results are still limited and are calling for better information, clearer timelines and greater accountability regarding the commitments undertaken.
Demir Hisar has demonstrated the most visible progress in the digitalisation of municipal services, local infrastructure and youth policies. Although numerous activities have been initiated, the monitoring shows that citizens – especially young people – are insufficiently informed about their implementation and expect to play a more active role in local decision-making processes.
In Krushevo, several infrastructure projects are underway, smart water meters have already been introduced, and activities are progressing to develop the industrial zone and strengthen youth policies. The municipality has received positive assessments for its transparency and regular communication with citizens, although some priorities continue to depend on administrative procedures and broader institutional processes.
The widest gap between the views of local authorities and citizens was identified in Sveti Nikole. While the municipality reports numerous ongoing activities, citizens believe that the key issues they identified as priorities – replacement of asbestos water pipes, resolution of the landfill problem, lack of parking spaces and traffic management – are still far from being adequately addressed. Residents of rural areas also continue to face significant shortcomings in basic public services.
Overall, the monitoring demonstrates that local governments have initiated the implementation of many of their commitments. However, citizens assess progress not by the number of projects launched, but by their tangible impact on everyday quality of life. Across all six municipalities, the main challenges remain improving transparency, ensuring timely public information, enabling meaningful citizen participation in decision-making and delivering more effective implementation of the priorities identified by local communities.
Read the full report: https://nvoinfocentar.mk/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/ENG_Report-1_2026.pdf
The Forum for Civil Dialog (FCD) is a network of civil society organizations coordinated by NGO Info-centre. Active members of the network are: Glasen Tekstilec – Shtip, Youth Cultural Center – Bitola, RCS Spektar – Kriva Palanka, Women’s Civic Initiative – Sveti Nikole, and the Community Center of the Municipality of Struga. The consultative process of the Forum for Civic Dialogue was carried out within the project “Active Citizens and Participatory Democracy at Local Level,” supported by the International Center Olof Palme from Sweden.
