CNVP Macedonia, the Ecologists’ Movement of Macedonia (DEM) and the Centre for Environmental Research and Information (Eko-svest) held a kick-off meeting on 7 May 2018 at the EU Information Centre in Skopje to launch the 36 month EU-funded project Communities Communicating Climate Change.

Its overall objective is to strengthen the impact and involvement of civil society in decision-making processes and key reforms for support of the EU accession process in Macedonia. The project has four expected results:

1. enhanced capacity of CSOs (both national and grass-roots) for advocacy and mobilisation on climate change issues, to give them the tools and skills for a meaningful involvement with which to influence decision-making processes;
2. improved accountability and transparency of CSOs towards their communities by enhancing their financial stability, sustainability and ability to provide services;
3. improved services of CSOs towards the community by establishing a wide coalition of organisations from various sectors that are focused on communicating climate change issues, and raising citizens’ awareness concerning the impact of climate change on everyday life; and
4. raised awareness of citizens, the business sector, governmental officials and other non-state actors about climate change as a cross-cutting issue, resulting in a better understanding of, and a positive approach to, mitigation against climate change.

Actions will be taken to improve CSO coordination to advocate for mainstream climate change issues to be included in all national/local policies. Better cooperation and communication channels will be established with the authorities to ensure that future actions result in better, more effective and more successful implementation of CSO activities.