USAID’s Community Development Program, alongside the idea behind it, the concept, the expected objectives, and the opportunities for cooperation for advancing rural development, was presented during the first joint meeting with the Mayor of the Municipality of Karbinci – Viktor Paunov, the Mayor of the Municipality of Konce – Zlatko Ristov, the Mayor of the Municipality of Radovish – Aco Ristov, and the Mayor of the Municipality of Stip – Ivan Jordanov. Also, the needs of local communities and the challenges they face were discussed.
Besides the representatives of the Rural Development Network of North Macedonia that implements this Program, the meeting was attended by a representative of the USAID North Macedonia Office and representatives of LAG Plachkovica as a partner organization in the implementation of the Program.
“USAID’s Community Development Program has resources available to support interventions. But, of course, the participation and contribution of the municipalities, the private sector, the civil society sector, and other stakeholders will be expected. We witnessed great interest from the business community, which is evident in all the communication we have had so far, to contribute with funds and other resources depending on the activity of the company itself,” said Petar Gjorgievski – President of the Rural Development Network of North Macedonia.
The Mayor of the Municipality of Stip – Ivan Jordanov, who hosted the meeting, on behalf of the present emphasized, “We, as stakeholders in this Program, will initiate a process of collecting ideas, then, development of projects and will follow their realization. We will also motivate other stakeholders such as the business community, the media, and the like to be a part of this Program and to identify and meet all the needs of the region and the end-users, i.e., the citizens living in these municipalities.”
The area of the Local Action Group Plachkovica covers the territories and settlements of the four municipalities Karbinci, Konce, Radovish, and Stip. Stole Georgiev – LAG facilitator in LAG Plachkovica added, “Some of the potential topics that may be identified as priorities by local actors are the development of tourism and alternative forms of tourism, food production, rural tourism, improving communication between the municipalities, diversification of economic activities in rural areas, sports, and educational activities in rural areas, and similar.”
Meetings with local stakeholders from all target municipalities covered by USAID’s Community Development Program will continue in the upcoming period.
This activity is part of the Community Development Program, supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
This article is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents are the responsibility of the Rural Development Network of North Macedonia and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) or the United States Government.