Author: marina.stevanoska@inteligenta.io

Skopje, September 30th, 2020

The Minister of Information Society and Administration, Jeton Shaqiri, addressed the e-conference  “Open Government Partnership – Dialogue on National 2021-2023 Action Plan“. The underlying aim of the event was to promote the OGP Initiative among civil society organizations, to inform on the benefits and the progress attained thus far, and to create space for discussion about future steps in co-creation of the new action plan.

“In the past several years, the Republic of North Macedonia noted progress in the fields that contribute to attainment of the basic Open Government Partnership principles. Numerous activities were taken to build partnering relations with citizens and companies in shaping national policies and creating the national legislation, strategies and initiatives. Such approach always contributes to attainment of good results and more quality legislation. What remains high on the priority list us improvement of all mechanisms that guarantee inclusion and partnering relations between institutions and the civil society sector as grounds for building a democratic society“, said Minister Shaqiri.

The Minister also highlighted that the past period notes success in expansion of this initiative in the Parliament as well. This success is expected to be further expanded during the upcoming period by involvement from the judiciary, with the new Action Plan covering the following two years.

The е-conference included discussions on the topics: Benefits from RIA Proccess, Importance of Involvement in this Process, Steps for Preparation of 2021 – 2023 OGP AP and Priority Areas to be Worked On.

The following participants also addressed the conference: Miki Milkovski – Deputy Secretary General of the Parliament of the Republic of North Macedonia, Paul Maassen- Open Government Partnership Secretary General, Gordana Gapikj Dimitrovska – National OGP Coordinator (MISA), Martin Todevski – Co-Chair of the Council for Coordination and Monitoring of the OGP Process and the National 2018 – 2020 Action Plan, Ivona Stalevska – Foundation Open Society Macedonia, OGP Civil Society Organizations Network, Zlatko Atanasov, Parliamentary Institutute Parliament of RNM – Open Parliament, Zharko Hadzi-Zafirov from the Center for Legal Research and Analysis – Open Judiciary, Daniela Arsenova Lazarova, LED coordinator in the Municipality of Sveti Nikole – Local Level OGP, German Filkov, member of the Council for Coordination and Monitoring of the OGP Process and the National 2018 – 2020 Action Plan, as well as Sandra Pernar, Regional OGP Coordinator for Europe and Marija Nikolovska Arsovska from Metamorphosis Foundation.

Moreover, our country is member of the 2011 initiative and has thus far adopted four national action plans (in 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2018 ). Coordinator of OGP government activities is the Ministry of Information Society and Administration (MISA).

Ministry of Information Society and Administration

Skopje, September 22nd,  2020

On September 21st, the fifth video-session was held og the Council for Coordination and Monitoring of the Open Government Partnership Process and National OGP Action Plan 2018-2020.

The session was organized and chaired by Mr. Martin Todevski, co-chair of the Council for Coordination and Monitoring of the Open Government Partnership Process (Council )and National OGP Action Plan 2018-2020 (NAP).

The session noted attendance from 9 Council Members, as well as Gordana Gapikj Dimitrovska – National Open Government Partnership Coordinator under the Ministry of Information Society and Administration (MISA), Adrian Abazi and Stanislav Vasilkovski – MISA.

After adoption of proposed minutes, Council members reviewed, discussed and adopted the following proposed documents: draft-Report of the fourth session of the Council for Coordination and MOnitoring of the OGP process, held on 29.07.2020, Open Government Partnership educational materials and draft-Priority reas and working groups for co-creation in accordance with lodged applications for participating in the process of co-creation of the Open Government Partnership Action Plan 2021-2023.

On behalf of the working group (established by the Council for Coordination and Monitoring of the Open Government Partnership Process and National OGP Action Plan 2018-2020) comprised of: Darko Antikj from the Association for Emancipation, Solidarity and Equality of Women, Ivona Staleska from Foundation Open Society Macedonia, tasked to prepare the educational material, and Eli Chakar from Ministry of Local Self-Government, Ivona Stalevska presented the group’s work dynamics and the content of the prepared material.

Gordana Gapikj Dimitrovska presented an overview of the draft-priority areas and working groups for co-creation in accordance with lodged applications for participating in the process of co-creation of the Open Government Partnership Action Plan 2021-2023, whose content was created based on the Procedure for Conducting Public Consultations for creating new priorities and commitments within the process “Open Government Partnership”, with a view to provide timely, streamlined, inclusive and transparent process of co-creation of the Open Government Partnership Action Plan 2021-2023.

Each Council member voted electronically on agenda items.

Two representatives of the expert and administration service under MISA and Ivona Stalevska (Council member and coordinator of the OGP Civil Society Organizations Network) secured administrative and logistic support to prepare and organize the session.

Skopje, September 11th, 2020

The Ministry of Information Society and Administration and Foundation Metamorphosis organized 2 two-day online open data trainings, as part of the USAID civic participation project.

Open data officers and persons working in the field of open data from 22 institutions attended the trainings, held from 31st August to 3rd September 2020.

Open data trainings aim to promote knowledge and skills of persons working on opening data in state institutions.

During the two-day trainings, participants had an opportunity to be acquainted with the concept and benefits of open data and technical aspects, including open data formats, open data platforms, dataset structures, data quality dimensions and techniques for filtering and anonymization of datasets.

Participants acquired advanced knowledge on the process of identification, cataloguing and prioritization of datasets, as well as know-how on the process of dataset publication on the portal data.gov.mk

A total of three open data trainings have been organized as part of this project, noting attendance of 63 participants from 28 state institutions.

Ministry of Information Society and Administration

Skopje, August 4th, 2020

Pursuant to Article 3 paragraph (2) items (5) and (6) from Decision to establish Council for Coordination and Monitoring of the Open Government Partnership Process and National Open Government Partnership Action Plan 2018-2020, no. 03-1550/1 from 14.04.2020, in accordance with council session held on 29.07.2020, the Council for Coordination and Monitoring of the Open Government Partnership Process and National Open Government Partnership Action Plan 2018-2020 hereby announces

Public Call

for lodging applications to participate in the process of co-creation of the Open Government Partnership Action Plan 2021-2023

During council session held on 29.07.2020, the Council of coordination and monitoring of the Open Government Partnership process and the National Open Government Partnership Action Plan 2018 – 2020 set forth Procedure for implementation of public consultations for development of new priorities and commitments within the “Open Government Partnership” process with an aim to secure timely, streamlined, inclusive and transparent process of co-creating the Open Government Partnership Action Plan 2021-2023.

The public call should provide public consultatuons and possibility for stakeholders to apply to participate in the process of consultation and development of the Open Government Partnership Action Plan 2021-2023 and to take park in work meetings for one or more priority areas anticipated under the current Action Plan 2018-2020 (Access to Information, Integrity and Good Governance, Fiscal Transparency, Open Data, Transparency at Local Level, Access to Justice and Climate Change), in the period of co-creation of the Open Government Partnership Action Plan 2021 – 2023.

In the process of consultations and co-creation of the new action plan, participants who have applied would be able to provide their input in identification and prioretization of key issues in the aforementioned priority areas and to propose solutions to overcome said issues.

Participant would provide their input by participating in working consultation groups, by following previously established work manner and dynamics. Participants will take part in all five meetings (timeframe and activities are available on the following LINK) and will have an opportunity to gain insight and inormation about the Open Government Partnership in the country and worldwide.

Participants must ensure that views and needs at local level are adequatly presented and included.

With a view to encourage consultations with stakeholders, in times when physical presence is limited due to COVID-19, electronic platforms will be used to organize consultations with stakeholders. This would allow two-way consultation and interaction with stakeholders about results from the work of the consultation groups by proposing and prioritizing issues and solutions.

Applications for participation in the process of consultation and co-creation of the Open Government Partnership Action Plan 2021-2023 should be lodged electronically, on the following LINK or by delivery of filled FORM on the following e-address: ovp@mioa.gov.mk

Applications should be lodged no later than 31.08.2020.

Ministry of Information Society and Administration

Skopje, July 31, 2020

On July 29, the fourth correspondence session of the Council for Coordination and Monitoring of the Open Government Partnership Process and National OGP Action Plan 2018-2020.

The fourth correspondence session noted attendance from: Maja Petkovska Leses – Cabinet of the Minister without Portfolio in Charge of Communications, Accountability and Transparency; German Filkov – Center for Civil Communications; Maja Konevska – State Commission for Prevention of Corruption; Misha Popovikj – Institute for Democracy “Societas Civilis”; Goran Mojanoski – Ministry of Finance; Darko Antikj – Association for Emancipation, Solidarity and Equality of Women; Nadica Josifovski – Ministry of Information Society and Administration; Martin Todevski – Center for Change Management; Eli Chakar – Ministry of Local Self-Government; Blagica Dimitrovska – Association for Promotion and Development of Inclusive Society “Inkluziva”; Dushan Tomshikj – Ministry of Labour and Social Policy; Ivona Stalevska – Foundation Open Society Macedonia; Teodora Obradovikj Grncharovska – Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning and Natasha Markovska – Academy of Sciences and Arts of the Republic of North Macedonia – MANU.

MISA provided expert and administrative support for preparation, organization and implementation of the session.

In light of the initiation of the process of the fifth Open Government Partnership Action Plan 2021-2023, during this session the Council adopted the following documents: Procedure for Conducting Consultations with Stakeholders on Creation of New Priorities and Commitments Within the Process “Open Government Partnership” with timeframe, Public Call for Applying to Participate in the Process of Co-creating the Open Government Partnership Action Plan 2021 – 2023 with Form and Guidelines for conducting a questionnaire for assessment of implementation of measures under the National OGP Action Plan 2018-2020 and the need to include said measures in the new action plan.

During this session, the Council established a working group consisted of council members. The group in question was tasked to prepare materials deriving from the Procedure for Conducting Consultations with Stakeholders on Creation of New Priorities and Commitments Within the Process “Open Government Partnership”: plan for promotion of the public call, educational materials and criteria for assesing relevance and relation to OGP principles. Members of the working group are the following council members: Maja Petkovska Leses, German Filkov, Misha Popovikj, Darko Antikj, Nadica Josifovski, Martin Todevski, Eli Chakar, Blagica DImitrovska and Ivona Stalevska.

This approach is expected to provide systemized manner of planning and implementation of the consultation process, which, in turn, would ensure timely, streamlined, inclusive and transparent process of co-creation of the new National Open Government Partnership Action Plan 2021-2023.

Ministry of Information Society and Administration

Skopje, July 22, 2020

On July 20th, the third video session was held of the Council for Coordination and Monitoring of the Open Government Partnership Process and National OGP Action Plan 2018-2020.

The session was organized and chaired by Ms. Maja Petkovska Leses, co-chair of the Council for Coordination and Monitoring of the Open Government Partnership Process (Council) and National OGP Action Plan 2018-2020 (NAP).

A total of 11 Council members participated on the session, as well as Gordana Gapikj Dimitrovska – National Open Government Partnership Coordinator under the Ministry of Information Society and Administration (MISA), Adrian Abazi and Stanislav Vasilevski – MISA; Aleksandra Cvetkovska – NDI; Bojan Vasilevski – Parliament of the Republic of North Macedonia; Zlatko Atanasov – Parliamentary Institute – Parliament of the Republic of North Macedonia; Aleksandra Jovevska Gjorgjovska – Instutute for Democracy “Societas Civilis“; Gorica Nadzinska – CPIA; Marija Nikolovska Arsovska and Kjendresa Sulejmani – Foundation Metamorphosis.

Two representatives of the expert and administrative unit under MISA and Ivona Stalevska from the Foundation Open Society Macedonia (Council member and coordinator of the OGP Civil Society Organizations Network) secured administrative and logistics support for preparation and organization of the session.

After adopting the proposed agenda, the working group established by the Council for Coordination and Monitoring of the Open Government Partnership Process and National OGP Action Plan 2018-2020 during a session held on 09.06.2020, with members: Darko Antikj from the Association for Emancipation, Solidarity and Equality of Women, Ivona Staleska from Foundation Open Society Macedonia, Eli Chakar from Ministry of Local Self-Government, Gordana Gapikj Dimitrovska from the Ministry of Information Society and Administration, Sunchica Kostovska-Petrovska from Foundation Open Society Macedonia, Kjendresa Sulejmani and Marija Nikolovska Arsovska from Foundation for Internet and Society Metamorphosis, tasked to prepare the proposed timeframe and manner of implementation of the process of co-creation of the Open Government Partnership Action Plan 2020-2022, notified the council members about the proposed dynamics and procedure for implementation of the process of co-creation and presented the draft documents: Proposed procedure for implementation of public consultations for creating new priorities and commitments within the “Open Government Partnership” process; documents deriving from the proposed procedure (Timeframe for preparation of NAP, forms to be filled – part of the co-creation procedure, Public call for application to participate in the process of co-creation of the National OGP Action Plan 2020 – 2022), as well as proposed guidelines for conducting a questionnaire to assess implementation of measures under National OGP Action Plans and the need to include said measures in the new action plan.

Council members reviewed and discussed the proposed documents. Upon necessary amendments in the contents, the council members decided to adopt the documents during a correspondence Council session on 29.07.2020. Voting would be conducted electronically by entering individual credentials of every Council member.

Furthermore, during the Council session, Aleksandra Cvetkovska from NDI presented ongoing activities in the process of co-creating commitments for Open Parliament, whereas Gorica Nadzinska from CPIA present ongoing activities in the process of co-creating commitments for Open Judiciary.

Ministry of Information Society and Administration

Skopje, 06 July 2020

Skopje, 11 June 2020

On 9 June, the second video-conference was held of the Council for Coordination and Monitoring of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Process and the National OGP Action Plan 2018 – 2020.  The session covered consideration, discussion and votes on key issues about the Council’s operation, such as the Council Rules of Procedure and election of Council co-chairs, as well as the state-of-affairs, challenges and opportunities for the OGP process in the country, such as the implementation status of the National OGP Action Plan 2018 – 2020, preparation of timeframe proposal and manner of implementation of the OGP Action Plan 2020 – 2022 co-creation process and opportunities for support from the OGP Secretariat for the process.

All 14 Council members were invited and attended the session. Gordana Gapikj Dimitrovska, National OGP Coordinator for the Republic of North Macedonia, from the Ministry of Information Society and Administration (MISA) assumed the role of organizer and chair of this session. Upon invitation from MISA, Sandra Pernar, Regional OGP Coordinator for Europe also attended the conference. She introduced opportunities for support from the Open Government Secretariat for the OGP Action Plan 2020 – 2022 co-creation process.

Two representatives of MISA expert and administration service and Sunchica Kostovska-Petrovska from Foundation Open Society – Macedonia (Civil Society Network Coordinator for OGP) secured administrative and logistics support for preparation and organization of the session.

After adoption of the proposed agenda and the minutes from the Constitutive Council Session, held on 06.05.2020, Council members discussed and adopted the Council Rules of Procedure. Electronic vote was used to adopted the minutes and the Rules of Procedure.

By means of electronic vote, Council members also elected two Council co-chairs – one of the members representing state administrative bodies and one of the members representing civil society organizations. From the nominated two representatives of institutions and four representatives of civil society organizations, the Council elected its co-chairs: Maja Petkovska Leses from the cabinet of the minister without portfolio responsible for communications, accountability and transparency, and Martin Todevski from the Center for Change Management.

During this session, the Council also adopted the Proposal of Information on the Implementation Status of the National Open Government Partnership Action Plan 2018 – 2020 (semi-annual report for the period September 2019 – March 2020). The underlying aim of the report is to provide an overview of activities implemented by holders of commitments covered under the action plan (institutions).

With a view to prepare the timeframe proposal and manner of preparation of the OGP Action Plan 2020 – 2022 co-creation process, the Council established a working group that will prepare proposed dynamics and procedure for implementation of the new action plan co-creation process, by the next Council session. Members of the working group are Darko Antikj from the Association for Emancipation, Solidarity and Equality of Women – ESE, Ivona Stalevska from FOSM, Eli Chakar from the Ministry of Local Self-Government, Gordana G. Dimitrovska from MISA, Sunchica Kostovska-Petrovska from FOSM and representative of the Foundation for Internet and Society Metamorphosis, that has anticipated activities under its programme and has secured funds from the USAID project on civil participation to support the plan co-creation process.

Assuming the role of regional coordinator for Europe, Sandra Pernar from the International OGP Initiative Secretariat presented opportunities for support from the OGP Secretariat for the OGP Action Plan 2020 – 2022 co-creation process. Moreover, she also stressed the fact that the Republic of North Macedonia is a focus country in the new three-year OGP Strategy. After past year’s secured support for establishment of the Council, this year the OGP Secretariat will support co-creation of the new 2020 – 2022 Action Plan, as well as the process of implementation thereof in the following period. Support will be secured by the independent reporting mechanism team and other partners and team from the Open Government Partnership Secretariat, with a view to assist the progress and the focus of the new action plan, to assist working groups and the Council in setting forth priorities and preparing commitments in the new action plan for the forthcoming two-year period. Support will include mentorship, workshops and expert assistance. Ms. Pernar noted that the Republic of North Macedonia already notes high assessments for the process, and the support will support attainment of even higher levels.

* * *

The Council for Coordination and Monitoring of the Open Government Partnership Process and the National Open Government Action Plan 2018 – 2020 is an advisory body for Open Government Partnership in the Republic of North Macedonia, for coordination and monitoring of development and implementation of action plans. It has key advisory and decision-making role in all phases of the Open Government Partnership Process, through the cycle of planning, in development of action plans and in implementation, monitoring and reporting on action plans.

Open Government Partnership   is a voluntary international initiative that aims to provide specific commitments from governments to their citizens, to promote transparency, encourage civic participation, fight against corruption and utilize new technologies to strengthen good governance.

Our country is member of the 2011 initiative and has adopted four national action plans (in 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2018). OGP government activities are coordinated by the Ministry of Information Society and Administration (MISA).

To become part of the OGP initiative, member-states prepare two-year national action plans developed by means of public consultations, regularly report on progress, work together with civil society to attain anticipated commitments, and commit to independent reports about their progress. The preparation process of the OGP Action Plan is inclusive, meaning that different stakeholders give their input in the process, including public administration, civil society, local governments, business sector and the academia.

Ministry of Information Society and Administration

Скопје, 20 март 2020

Придобивките од процесот на Отворено владино партнерство подразбира преку здруженост и взаемен дијалог да се работи на ко-создавање и спроведување на реформите што ги доближуваат владите до своите луѓе во процесот на транспарентност, отчетност и одговорност. За жал, во тековниот контекст и ширењето на Корона вирусот во повеќе од 100 држави во светот, не е можно да се одржат редовни консултации во трациционална форма како работни состаноци, фокус групи и работилници.

Со оглед на ширењето на пандемијата, а поврзано со известувањето за почеток на процесот за подготовка на петтиот национален Акциски план за Отворено владино партнерство 2020-2022 година, потребно е да ги следиме упатствата за јавно здравје и да се одложат планираните настани за ОВП до подоцна во годината или, ако е можно, да преминат на дигитални состаноци.

Свесни сме дека дигиталните настани не се секогаш достапни и затоа се надеваме дека ќе идентификуваме време за одржување на настани подоцна во текот на годината, доколку дозволи ситуацијата.

Во наредните месеци, ќе биде предизвик за многу членови на ОВП како и  на нашата земја со цел да се исполнат стандардите за соработка и учество на ОВП , вклучително и организирање на консултативни настани и состаноци за ко-креирање и спроведување на акциони планови и обврски.

Активно ке работиме со нашата заедница која е дел од ОВП во идентификување и утврдување на следни чекори на делување за што навремено ќе информираме.

Министерство за информатичко општество и администрација

Скопје, 05 март 2020

Почитувани претставници на организации на граѓанското општество,

Ве известуваме дека започнува процесот на подготовка на петтиот национален Акциски план за Отворено владино партнерство 2020-2022 (НАП 5).

Со цел навремено информирање подготвена е Временска рамка на активности за подготовка на НАП 5 2020-2022 во која се дадени првично утврдени датуми и истата може да се надополнува со настани и состаноци во организација на сите чинители во Отвореното владино партнерство. Временска рамка може да ја најдете тука.

Во рамките на активностите за подготовка на Акцискиот план,  Ве покануваме да пополните краток прашалник кој има за цел да ги утврди потребите за подготовка на новиот Акциски план за Отворено владино партнерство  2020-2022 година (НАП5) односно да ја испита запознаеноста на граѓанските организации со глобалната иницијатива Отворено владино партнерство, да го утврди  интересот за учество во процесот на подготовка на новиот акциски план за ОВП 2020-2022, да собере првични препораки за процесот на консултација како и предлози за мерки кои потенцијално можат да се вклучат во акцискиот план.

Би Ви биле исклучително благодарни доколку одвоите време да одговорите на прашалникот најдоцна до 16-ти март. Прашалникот можете да го најдете на следниот линк.

Благодариме за соработката,

Министерството за информатичко општество и  администрација.