Olof Palme Center Programme MK 2023-25 (OPC) Olof Palme Center Programme MK 2023-25 (OPC) - OPC 2023-2025 Stöd till Olof Palme Center för projektet i Nordmakedonien som syftar till ökat folkligt deltagande i beslutsprocesser och stärkt socio-ekonomisk utveckling Support to Olof Palme Center's project in North Macedonia for increased civil society participation in decision-making and strengthened socio-economic empowerment The intervention is part of OPC's overall programme for which the mission statement is "to support democratic organisations that come together in broad, strategic alliances in pursuit of progressive development." OPC's Objectives and Theory of Change (ToC) relates to the organisation as a whole. OPC applies the same ToC in all countries they work in whereas the specific intervention relates to the local context and is expressed in the "Vision" and "Mission" and the "Objective's framework".

OPC's ToC is "firmly rooted in the conviction that social transformation is achieved through collective organising based on a human rights approach. We believe that a precondition for progressive development is the creation of broad alliances of citizens such as trade unions, civil society organisations, social movements and community-based organisations. Sustained and potentially long-lasting progressive change takes place when these alliances gather behind political agendas for reform and policy proposals promoting social justice, individual freedom, democracy and human rights. Empowerment and collective organising constitute the means to achieve change and lasting progress."

In the case of this project proposal for North Macedonia 2023-2025, the overall objectives of the programme are defined in the "Programme Objectives Framework", annex 3 to the proposal, and have been formulated in dialogue with OPC's current partners as well as other relevant civil society actors. As explained by OPC, the results' framework is not a traditional results' matrix but provides an overview of outcome areas in which OPC expects to see changes, and which actors that need to change to contribute to this as a result of the interventions. The methodology has been tested by OPC. There is still some weaknesses as regards OPC's ability to communicate the results, something that has been discussed with OPC during the 2020-2022 project. Sida's central assessment, done during the appraisal of the frame support 2020-2024, is that OPC's results' based management is strong.

The vision statement describes the long-term development changes that the programme aims to encourage while the mission describes how the project's contributions to the vision will be framed.

Vision: Political and socio-economic processes in North Macedonia are transparent and participatory, reflecting the rights and interests of empowered and organized citizens that hold duty bearers accountable.

Mission: To strengthen the capacity and legitimacy of civil society organisations and support activities that ensure the participatory nature of political, social and economic processes. Civil society organisations will empower citizens to claim and exercise their rights and contribute to the advancement of good governance and socio-economic rights.

The outcome challenges identified by the intervention's target groups are:

OPC partners: The intervention intends to see partner organisations develop competences, strengthen their legitimacy, build alliances for joint actions and have capacities to monitor and influence decision-making and policy agendas.

Right holders: The intervention intends to see empowered citizens and civil society organisations be organised and actively participate and influence decision-making processes, demanding social justice and transparency and accountability of duty bearers.

Duty-bearers: The intervention intends to see duty-bearers abide to the laws and regulations related to transparency and accountability and fulfilment of human rights, cooperate with relevant parts of civil society and be responsive to their demands. 

OPC notes that it initially focused on building partners internal capacities and legitimacy but that it now considers this phase completed although, as also noted, organisations will need to continuously work on these aspects. The evaluation report (annex 2 to the project proposal) states that Partners now have well-consolidated capacities and have reached a good level of legitimacy. Therefore, in future planning, less focus will be required on this area if the programme continues working with the same partners.

Hence, OPC suggests to continue to strengthen partners internal capacities during this project period but to put an increased focus on creating and strengthening alliances within civil society and the direct dialogue and engagement with duty-bearers.