CIRa is provides support and technical assistance to all sectors in society through the following Programs and Activities:

• Civil Society Grant Support Program
• Training & Capacity Building Program (for CSOs and governmental institutions)
• Local Community Development Program
• Philanthropy & CSR Development Program
• Social enterprise Development Activities
• Roma Programs
• Organizational Assessments and Research Activities
• Technical Assistance and Coaching

CIVIL SOCIETY GRANT SUPPORT PROGRAM

• Starting from February 2011, CIRa has started with implementation of the EC/IPA funded project “Strengthening capacities of CSOs and creating supporting infrastructure to mobilize local resources and undertake economic activities” in which besides capacity building activities, CIRa will organize national wide Informative Campaign for Philanthropy Development as well as will assist in establishment of Network of local fundraising CSOs.
• Three years grant giving Programme “CIVICA Mobilitas” for civil society organizations (CSOs) in the Republic of Macedonia with the aim ofstrengthening civil society. The instruments used for achievement of the objectives are institutional grants, project grants, ad-hoc grants and capacity building interventions. The Programme is supported by SDC and the total value, including implementation and grants, for three years is CHF 3’750’000. (around 2.7 million EUR) (2009-2011). In 2010, total of 31 CSOs received grants in value of around 1 million Euros. In 2011, 38 CSOs were supported within the CIVICA Mobilitas grant giving program with total of 1.030.400 Euros.
• From July 2005 to June 2008, CIRa was one of the consortium partners for implementation of the USAID funded Civil Society Strengthening Program (CSSP), led by ISC. Within CSSP, CIRa was responsible for two of the program components:
  • Component 1: Capacity Building for Advancing a Diversified NGO Leader Cohort for 18 Leader NGOs and their grantees. In this period CIRa has provided more than 30 institutional development grants to 15 Leader NGOs, as well as provided capacity building support through delivery of more than 40 training courses as well as more than 50 consultation sessions with the NGOs (2005-2008)
  • Component 5: Philanthropy Development-Stimulating and Diversifying Domestic Resources (14 NGOs has been supported with Philanthropy Development Grants)
     

TRAINING & CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAM

CAPACITY BUILDING FOR CSOs

• 23 different capacity building interventions (trainings, facilitation processes, mentoring and coaching) were organized for, and delivered to the CIVICA Mobilitas Grantees in order to respond to their specific organizational needs.: Strategic planning, Volunteer management, Project Cycle Management, EU Funding, Organizational Managament, Research & analysis methods, Financial & Administrative Management, Strategy for mobilization of financial resources, Creating PR Strategy, Fundraising, Monitoring and evaluation etc. (2010)
• Advocacy and Lobbying Course (7 different modules) for the Hope Fellowship Program, NAAC/USAID (2008)
• Capacity buliding of 7 CSOs-partners of Kvinna Till Kvinna Program in Macedonia and Montenegro (Local fundrasing, Training in Result Based Management-RBM) and Monitoring and Evaluation, as well as the mentoring/consultation sessions for Project development and design) (2008 -2010)
• Advanced Training of Trainers Course for the local trainers on MD based planning with UNDP (2008)
• Academic development for the CSO leaders from WB countries in which CSOs from 4 community foundations and development organizations supported for their Masters program in Donor development practices, Balkan Trust for Democracy (2007-2008)
• Series of trainings (such as Needs Assessment Process, Strategic Planning, Project Cycle Management etc) for IDP Associations from Kosovo, Serbia and Montenegro, in cooperation with DRC and UNDP Bratislava (2007)
• Training for Development and Sustainability of Networks and coalitions for the members of Citizen’s Platform of Macedonia (GPM) (October 2007)
• Series of trainings for NGOs, institutions and professionals that deliver services to people with disability in cooperation with GTZ (2006)
• Prepared needs assessment, delivered trainings in Fundraising and Logical Framework and 10 mentoring sessions for preparing a Strategy on fundraising and sustainability provided for the coalition “All for fair trials”, supported by OSCE (2006)
• Workshop “Identifying the Structure & the Mandate of the Coalition All4fair Trials and Revising the Strategic Plan”, supported by OSCE (2006)
• Development of a Public Relation and Fundraising Strategy for Human Rights Support Project, supported by OSCE (2006)
• EAR Funded “Capacity Building for CSOs in Macedonia” aiming to develop capacities of bigger coalitions, networks or umbrella organization in Macedonia. Responsibilities included: preparation of the process of organizational assessment for participating NGOs; assisting in the design and delivery trainings to CSOs; Planning, organization of work, capacity building (CB) and mentoring of the group of 5 local CB consultants; Design and delivering Training of trainers in Strategic Planning, PCM, Fundraising, Monitoring and Evaluation, Communication and Negotiation in Sales and in Service Provision for CB consultants and for CSOs. The Program was implemented by DRC (2005-2007).
• Capacity Building Program for Roma NGOs, supported by USAID through World Learning. Within this program, over 400 members of 22 Roma NGOs were trained in 18 training topics. Moreover, the program trained 10 Roma trainers and interviewers, who had a chance to apply in practice the knowledge they gained from the TOT. Also, in cooperation with our partner NGO from Slovakia, Partners for Democratic Change, CIRa organized study-visit for 11 NGO representatives to programs that work with marginalized groups in Slovakia (2005-2006)
• Series of training courses for the NGO Support Centers in 8 underdeveloped municipalities in Macedonia, run by the Foundation Open Society Institute Macedonia and supported by EAR and SDC, in: PCM, Organizing campaigns, Volunteer Management, Team Building and Community Action Planning (2005-2006)
• Training of Trainers Program for “Open the Windows” and Handicap International (2005-2006)
• Facilitation of a workshop “Effective mechanisms to follow up on the proper implementation of project recommendations” for 4 OSCE NGO partners; supported by OSCE (2005)
• Training program for NGOs of people with disabilities within the regional SHARE-SEE Project of Handicap International. The program involved over 50 NGOs of people with disabilities and built their capacities on the following topics: Project Cycle Management, Strategic Planning, PR and Media, Advocacy and Lobbying, Outreach, Leadership, Facilitation Skills etc. As a result of the training for Advocacy and Lobbying, Polio + started the successful initiative for collecting 10.000 signatures for system law for people with disability (2004-2005)
• Developing, designing and delivering training courses, based on the needs and capacities of the target organizations and at the same time according to the needs of the programs running by the international organizations in Macedonia such as: Project Hope, OSCE, IPK, etc.
• CIRa’s legacy from the USAID's DemNet Program are over 200 training events in 25 training areas provided for 350 NGOs.

CAPACITY BUILDING TO CENTRAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS

• In 2010, the CIRa experts/trainers, within the framework of the USAID Judicial Reform Implementation Project (JRIP) conducted the assessment process and delivered strategic planning training and mentoring for several institutions and organizations in judiciary in Macedonia (Strategic Plan and Budget (2010-2012), Annual Plan for 2010 and Capacity Building Plan of Judicial Council of RM, Annual Plan and Capacity Building Plan of Court Services Council - CSC and Strategic Plan and Annual Plan of the Court Administration Association - CAA. Also, several training courses were delivered: Project Cycle Management and Advocacy and building effective partnership and cooperation to the ACA, Building an effective organizational structure and provision of effective and efficient services for CSC. In 2009 team building, conflict resolution and M&E Training Courses were provided to the employees of the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) Sector that oversees the work of enforcement agents, public notaries and mediators;
• “Assisting Municipalities to Manage Education Locally” was OSCE funded project implemented in 2009 by CIRa as a follow-up of 2008’s “Capacity Building for Municipal Education Officers”. The project provided more advanced training courses based on the evaluations and on ‘2008 interviews with experts and participants. The overall goal of this project was to contribute to the improvement of local management of education. This was done by improving the communication and cooperation among education stakeholders at local and central levels; strengthening the role of Municipal Education Officers in tackling conflicts in education and improving the quality of strategic planning in education at the local level.
• The project “Technical Assistance to the Ministry of Health for Planning, Budgeting and Implementation of Public Health Programmes” was funded by UNICEF and UNAIDS and implemented by the Centre for Institutional Development – CIRa in the second half of 2009. The overall project goal was to contribute towards developing better public health services in the country, by providing more accessible, affordable and acceptable health services to children and young people. The 2 consultative workshops for 50 participants-employees from the relevant health institutions/organizations, non-governmental organizations and other stakeholders were especially tailored to build their capacities in programme planning, designing, implementing and monitoring and evaluation of youth friendly health services. At the workshops, the participants drafted 7 National mother and child public health related preventive programs for year 2010, including finance projections for them. CIRa team, along with the representatives from UNICEF and UNAIDS also prepared draft manual for planning, budgeting and implementation of the mother and child health related public health programs.
• Capacity Building for Municipal Education Officers funded by OSCE. Included components such as challenges in education, education strategy, conflict-resolution and meeting labor market needs, which are appropriate and relevant for education management at the municipal level. CIRa delivered PCM Trainings for the municipal education officers and conducted mentoring sessions for development of educational projects (June – December 2008).
• Training program (9 different modules) for developing capacities of the Chamber of Enforcement Agents of RM supported by the USAID’s Macedonian Judicial Reform Implementation Project (JRIP) (2008)
• Human Resources Management Training ‘Me and My Team” was provided to managers of units and sectors, representatives of different ministries, in cooperation with the Agency for Civil Servants (2009 & 2010)
• Presentation Skills Training for the Macedonian Bar Association (MBA). 35 lawyers gained skills for preparation of successful presentations, supported by OSCE mission in Skopje (2008)
• Technical and Logistical assistance in implementing the activities of the GOFRE project funded by British Embassy in Skopje and Secretariat of European Affairs of Republic of Macedonia. CIRa provided full logistical support in organizing 25 trainings and thematic workshops for over 800 employees of the SEA and Government of Republic of Macedonia (September 2007 – April 2008)
• Facilitation of the workshop with 80 civil servants for Preparation of the National Programme for Adoption of the EU Acquis Communautaire 2008 (NPAA 2008).
• Capacity building of the Ministries of Health, Labor and Social Policy and Education & Science and their institutes/bureaus (Trainings in Strategic Planning, PCM, Managerial Skills and M&E) in cooperation with UNICEF (2007-2008)
• Training for Strategic Planning for the Secretariat for EU Affairs (2007)
• Training of Trainers Course for the staff of DAI/Municipal Management of Macedonian Schools Project (2007)
• Series of trainings on Project Cycle Management to civil servants in cooperation with the Secretariat for EU Affairs, Office for cooperation with NGOs and UNDP (2006-2007)
• Training on Change Management for middle-line managers in cooperation with the Agency for civil servants. (November 2005)

LOCAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

• In 2011, CIRa continued the implementation of the Community Forum Programme, supported by SDC, in the Municipalities of Debar and Gostivar. The inception phase was launched in 2006, when CIRa implemented the Programme in the Municipalities of Kicevo and Gjorce Petrov (2006-2008). In the period of 2008 – 2011, the Programme was implemented in the Municipalities of Strumica and Cashska (phase I) and Municipalities of Berovo and Sveti Nikole (phase II). During the implementation of the Community Forum Programme, total of 709.000,00 EUR were re-granted by CIRa to the municipalities and local institutions and organizations, for implementation of the priority projects that were developed and selected by the citizens in the abovementioned municipalities, as part of the community forum processes.
• Preparation of Strategy of City of Skopje for cooperation with the NGO sector (completed in December 2007), funded by OSCE.
• Since 2008, the Centre for Institutional Development – CIRa in collaboration with its partner Association “Savoir Faire et Découverte” is responsible for implementation of the Component 5: “Sustainable tourism and heritage” within the project implemented by ALDA as part of the project „Decentralized collaboration between the region of Lower Normandy and Republic of Macedonia“.
• In 2006, CIRa has implemented the project for establishing Citizens Advisory Boards in six Municipalities (Struga, Kicevo, Saraj, Veles, Kochani, Strumica) in Macedonia. With active citizen participation and cooperation with the municipal administration, strategic documents, action plans and recommendations for resolving priority problems in community were developed at the workshops organized by CIRa. The project was supported by USAID MDW and implemented by DAI.
• CIRa was partner with ISC for implementation of the Local Partnership Component within the CSSP, where different community development models were introduced, such as: Community Action Planning, Community Foundations and Social Contracting.
• CIRa has provided support to the USAID's Local Government Reform Project and the recent Make Decentralization Work Project (both implemented by DAI) with facilitation of sessions with municipal representatives, creation of Codes of ethics for the Municipalities of Centar, Karpos, Kavadarci and Kriva Palanka, development of Citizens Charters in two municipalities as well as development of Outreach Plans for the Centers for Information of Citizens within local municipalities.
• CIRa works on community development projects, promoting creation of informal citizens groups that gather citizens, NGOs and representatives of local institutions in joint effort to prepare and implement Community Action Plans (CAPs) in Cucer Sandevo, Chashka, Krusevo and Bitola, as official municipality development strategic documents. In the past years ISC/CIRa provided community development project implementation and training for three Roma Communities (Trizla in Prilep, Bair in Bitola and Delcevo).
• Also, ISC/CIRa contributed for preparation and implementation of Local Environmental Action Plans (LEAPs) in 5 municipalities in Macedonia.
• ToT for ACTED/SIDA personnel on Action planning methodology, which resulted with concrete plans implemented.

PHILANTHROPY & CSR DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS

• Since December 2008 until July 2010, CIRa in partnership with the PONTIS Foundation from Bratislava, Slovakia has started with the implementation of the project named as “Corporate responsibility as a tool of long-term sustainability of Macedonian communities”. Within that program, CIRa established so called Business leaders forum- a platform of business that nurture CSR strategies in their companies.
• From July 2005 to March 2008, CIRa was one of the consortium partners for implementation of the USAID funded Civil Society Strengthening Program (CSSP), led by ISC. Within CSSP, CIRa was responsible Component 5: Philanthropy Development-Stimulating and Diversifying Domestic Resources (14 NGOs has been supported with Philanthropy Development Grants)
• Annual Philanthropy and CSR Awards (for 2007, 2008 and 2009) – total 11 awards in three categories: for individual philanthropy, CSR practices of companies and for NGOs & institutions that support Philanthropy development in Macedonia.
• A Guide on the Law on volunteering published in partnership with ECNL, funded under USAID CSSP.
• A Guide for the Law on donations and sponsorships published in partnership with the First Children Embassy in the World “Medjashi” within the EAR funded project for development of Civic Platform of Macedonia.
• 10 promotional and training session of the Law on donations and sponsorships in the public activities for the NGOs, state institutions and companies organized in 2007 and 2008 within the EAR project for development of Civic Platform of Macedonia and British Embassy project for promotion of the Law for companies in Macedonia
• OSCE funded „Volunteers in Action – promoting volunteerism in the local communities“ Program focused on establishing Youth Volunteers Centres in 4 municipalities (Tetovo, Kumanovo, Veles and Kriva Palanka)
• CIRa is committed to initiate, research, promote and lobby for creation of nourishing and supportive legislative environment for the NGO sector. This includes advocacy and lobbying aimed at promotion of local philanthropy, tax incentives for individuals and business willing to donate to NGOs, promotion of social responsible businesses, promotion of volunteerism, building indigenous support infrastructure for NGOs and other mechanisms that contribute to creation of vibrant and sustainable NGO sector in Macedonia. In this field CIRa has undertaken the following activities:
  • Participation in the working group in the Ministry of Justice for the improvement of the Law on Donations and Sponsorship for Public Benefit areas
  • Initiation and facilitation of the process of drafting and lobbying for the new Law on Volunteerism (2006-2007)
  • Initiation and facilitation of the process of drafting of the Law on Donations and Sponsorship for Public Benefit areas in Macedonia (November 2005- March 2006)
  • Organization of Regional Conference “Strategies of Sustainability of the NGO sector” (December, 2004);
  • Co-organization of the NGO Fair 2004;
  • Establishing the Civic Platform – network of 40 biggest NGOs in Macedonia;
  • Co-organizer of Regional Youth Policy Conference in Ohrid (November 2004)

SOCIAL ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES

• Within the British Embassy funded Project „Piloting social enterprise development in Macedonia“, CIRa has prepared a study about the potentials for further promotion of the Social Enterprise as an innovative business model with social aims in the Macedonian economy as well as the first ever organized training "Social Enterprise Development (SE) for CSOs in Macedonia". The web site, www.socialenterprise.org.mk, was launched with resources for development of social enterprises within the project that CIRa and EUCLID (UK) implemented in Macedonia. (2010 - March 2011)
• Research on social enterprise activities by NGOs in Macedonia within EAR funded project for Civic Platform of Macedonia (2007)

ORGANIZATIONAL ASSESSMENTS AND RESEARCH

• Research “ Development and implementation of the Social Enterprise concept in Macedonia“ within the British Embassy funded project for CIRa and UK’ based EUCLID Network (2011)
• Research and publication – Good European Youth Volunteering Practices Handbook, EU (2010)
• Research on social enterprise activities by NGOs in Macedonia within the EAR funded project for Civic Platform of Macedonia (2007)
• Performance Evaluation of 10 NGOs members of Kosovo Initiative Project (KIP) Network, in cooperation with DRC Kosovo (2007).
• Needs Assessment process for the Chamber of Enforcement Agents, in cooperation with the USAID Court Modernization Project (2006)
• “Research on philanthropy development in the Republic of Macedonia” within the USAID CSSP Project (2006)
• Needs Assessment of local NGOs from Tetovo & Kumanovo Regions, supported by OSCE (2005)
• Program evaluation of SOS Telephone run by La Strada/Open Gate for OSCE (2005)
• Research for the possibilities for women involvement in the economic processes in 3 municipalities: Berovo, Gevgelija and Struga for UNDP.(2006)
• Baseline Study for the „Initial Macedonian Agricultural Advisory Support Programme“ in five pilot municipalities in Macedonia, supported by SIDA through OPTO.(2005)
• Preparation of USAID 2004 and 2007 NGO Sustainability Index for Macedonia.
• Monitoring and Evaluation of the NGO Fair 2004- Forum of Macedonian Civil Society.
• Organizational assessments of Student and Youth Organizations in Macedonia for Open Society Foundation in Macedonia. (2004)
• Assessment of training needs of NGOs working on HIV/AIDS issues in B&H, SCG and Macedonia for Project Hope(2005)
• Mapping needs of Macedonian NGOs for the International Development Assistance program, in cooperation with HAND (Hungarian Association of Humanitarian and Development NGOs) and DemNet Hungary (Foundation for Democratic Rights) in 2004.

ROMA PROGRAMS

• Roma Health Scholarship Program in Macedonia- funded by the Roma Educational Fund. CIRa organized Preparatory Courses for 30 Roma youth interested to take entry examinations and enroll in Medical Universities in Macedonia.(2010-2011)
• Capacity building of the Cabinet of Minister without portfolio, Coordinator of Roma Decade in Macedonia. The responsibilities included capacity building for development of startegy and fundrasing plan for the Roma Decade in Macedonia. At the end, a final report was prepared, including recomndations for the new institutional set up for implementation of the Roma decade. (2009)
• Capacity Building Program of NGO Romano Suno-Tetovo- 18 days of workshops and trainings delivered to the representatives of Romano Suno in: Project Cycle Management, Strategic Planning, Managerial skills, Fundraising, Communication skills, Active citizenship and Financial management (2008)
• Training for RNVO to conduct Program Impact evaluation of the implementation of the first 4 years of Roma decade in Macedonia. Training of working group responsble for the reaserch and for the interviers (2008)
• “Capacity building for Roma NGOs, Roma political parties and the local Roma population of Bitola”, 5 training courses delivered for 20 representatives of different stakeholders for the needs of NGO HKA ROMI Bitola (2007)
• In the period of June 2005 to February 2006, CIRa was responsible for managing the USAID funded “Human Capacity Development Program among Roma NGOs and Roma Business Community". As result of the program, over 400 Roma NGO members were trained in 23 topics, a group of 10 Roma assistant trainers and 10 Roma interviewers was established, and 14 micro-grants for activities were awarded to 14 Roma NGOs. Moreover, as a result of the program 82 Roma businesses were registered and over 400 potential Roma businessmen were informed about the benefits of running registered business, forms of registration and available credit lines.
• In 2003 and 2004 CIRa implemented a pilot project with scavengers in two Roma communities in Skopje “Klanica” and “Zlokukani” in order to understand the basic social and economic condition, current scavenging methods with the objective of identifying options on how these methods could be improved.

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND COACHING

• CIRa provided Technical and Logistical assistance in implementing the activities of the GOFRE project funded by British Embassy in Skopje and Secretariat of European Affairs of Republic of Macedonia. In the period from September 2007 – April 2008, CIRa provided full logistical support in organizing 25 trainings and thematic workshops for the employees of the SEA and Government of Republic of Macedonia.
• Gender and marginalized issues - initiating and advancing appropriate community based services for vulnerable groups such as disabled, children, elderly, women, HIV/AIDS victims, minorities, and victims of violence, juvenile offenders. To achieve this, CIRa’s approach is to equip national and local NGOs with skills and abilities to provide required services, supplement government provided services and strengthen cooperation among local communities, NGOs and local municipal authorities in providing these services.
• Technical assistance and guidance for NGOs, institutions and communities dealing with the problem of human trafficking.
• Support to NGOs, institutions and communities in the area of youth, especially in creation of National Youth Action Plan on both national and local level, youth employment strategies, and cooperation with local businesses, local municipal authorities and national institutions. Also they were supported in development of Action planning for Juvenile delinquency. In 2008 CIRa facilitated the process of finalization of the National Youth Health Strategy with UNICEF (2007-2008)