The Center for Civil Initiative (CCI) is implementing the project “Empowering minorities and specific groups to promote participatory democracy at community level”, which aims to support the mechanisms for institutional responsibility and to improve
The Center for Civil Initiative (CCI) is implementing the project “Empowering minorities and specific groups to promote participatory democracy at community level”, which aims to support the mechanisms for institutional responsibility and to improve the participation of minorities and specific groups in the decision making, political independence and the democratic process. With the project, CCI will contribute to strengthening the capacities of civil society organizations, minorities (ethnic, religious) and specific groups (women, first time voters, students) in forming political opinion to increase political participation as well as strengthening the capacities of the media to contribute to the process of participatory democracy.
CCI will assess the capacities of the target groups in terms of their knowledge of citizen participation documents, their motivation to engage in democratic processes and their perception of the objectivity of media reporting. On the basis of these assessments, the target groups will participate in the process of capacity building for the creation of their political opinion through the use of relevant information. A special focus on the project is forming partnerships between the media, citizens and representatives of local self-governments, will improve communication between them and will provide a smooth flow of objective and relevant information.
CCI, as the carrier of the project, in cooperation with the CIVIL Media platform, will work with minorities (ethnic, religious), certain groups (women, voters for the first time) in the selected municipalities: Prilep, Resen, Krusevo, Dolneni, Bitola, Kumanovo, Veles, Stip, Debar and Gevgelija .
Increased participation of CSOs, minorities and specific groups in the decision-making process of the local community and national levels is part of the results expected from this ambitious project. Furthermore, the project will support efforts to create conditions for young people to take on leadership roles in various development initiatives of their communities. Minorities and specific groups (women, voters for the first time) will be able to demand transparency, accountability and responsible governance, and at the same time will increase the interest of minorities and specific groups for participation in politics and the creation of informed political opinion. According to the CCI’s plan, the minorities and specific groups will be introduced to their rights and responsibilities as citizens in a democracy and able to perform independently. The actions of the project “Empowering minorities and specific groups to promote participatory democracy at community level” started on 1st of March 2019 and will be realized by 31st of December 2019, and this project is financially supported by the donor ifa/Zivik.
