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Legal and Policy Frameworks

North Macedonia has adopted the following legal frameworks, strategies, and vision documents related to social innovation:

Social Entrepreneurship
Social Innovation
Social Businesses
Social [and Solidarity] Economy

Current stage of implementation:

Stage3: Social Entrepreneurship / Innovation / Businesses / [and Solidarity] Economy

with

Stage1: “No Policy or Recognition: No formal recognition, discussion, or policy exists. The sector operates informally or without government involvement.”;
Stage2: “Initial Discussions & Awareness: The government acknowledges the sector and has started discussions or consultations, but no formal policy framework or regulation exists.”;
Stage3: “Draft Policy or Framework in Development: A draft policy, strategy, or regulatory framework is currently being developed. The government may be conducting research, stakeholder consultations, or legislative drafting.”;
Stage4: “Pilot Programs or Limited Implementation: Some initiatives, pilot projects, or partial government-backed programs exist, but full implementation has not yet been achieved. Policies may be tested in select regions or for specific groups.”;
Stage5: “Policy Adopted but Not Fully Implemented: A formal law, policy, or regulation has been passed, but it has not been fully implemented, enforced, or funded. Gaps in execution may still exist.”;
Stage6: “Policy in Effect & Actively Implemented: The policy is fully enacted and actively being implemented. There is clear government support, funding, and enforcement mechanisms in place.”;
Stage7: “Policy Reviewed & Strengthened: The existing policy has been evaluated and improved over time based on feedback, data, or evolving needs. New funding, incentives, or structural reforms may have been introduced.”; and
Stage8: “Leading in Policy Innovation: The country is recognized as a leader in this policy area, with best practices, strong regulatory frameworks, and incentives that actively promote and support the sector.”

More details:

National Strategy for Development of Social Enterprises 2021â€”2027 , adopted 2021 ,https://www.mtsp.gov.mk/content/pdf/2021/trud/Strategija_socijalni_pretprijatija_2021_2027.pdf

Ecosystem Actors

Key Actors in the Ecosystem

The leading actors driving social innovation in North Macedonia include government ministries, social enterprises, NGOs, philanthropic institutions, academia, and other ecosystem builders. The top three most influential actors are:

Government entity (ministries/agencies)
NGOs
Social entreprises & social innovateurs (Impact hubs)

Examples: Ministry of Social Policy, Demography and Youth

Education and Capacity Building

Formal and informal education programs that support social innovation exist in the following forms in North Macedonia:

No formal programs:“ There are no government-recognized education, training, or capacity-building initiatives for social innovation.

Coordinating Bodies

A centralized body responsible for coordinating social innovation efforts across sectors exists in North Macedonia.

Ecosystem Communication

The level of communication and coordination among key actors in North Macedonia’s social innovation ecosystem is currently Minimal:“ actors work in silos with minimal communication.

Support Mechanisms for Policy and Finance

Policy Incentives and Support Mechanisms

To support social innovation, North Macedonia has implemented the following incentives and mechanisms:

Tax benefits for social enterprises and impact-driven businesses,E
Incentives for individuals to fund social innovation or social businesses,I
Government-backed funding programs (e.g., grants, subsidies, social impact funds)

Financing Mechanisms

Impact

Flagship Programs and Achievements

Notable achievements and flagship programs in social innovation in North Macedonia include:
https://fitr.mk/?lang=en/

International Collaborations

North Macedonia is involved in international collaborations on social innovation through the following initiatives:

Regional projects funded by EU

Tech for Good Innovations

Impact Measurement Frameworks

North Macedonia does not have a formal framework or methodology for measuring social innovation impact.

Economic Contribution of Social Innovation

Reports on Social Impact

There are no Reports and studies that assess the social impact of innovation in North Macedonia.

Policy Momentum

Momentum for social innovation as a public policy issue in North Macedonia is currently rated as:

Some Momentum: There is growing awareness and initial efforts in public policy, but implementation remains limited or fragmented.

Barriers to Growth

The following barriers are currently hindering the growth of social innovation in North Macedonia:

Regulatory and legal barriers
Lack of awareness and understanding of social innovation
Difficulty in measuring and demonstrating impact

Collaborative Ideas

Proposals from North Macedonia for potential collaborative initiatives with other GCSI members include:

Public financial support and other financial instruments