The National Youth Council of Macedonia as the largest representative body of the youth expresses concern about the (lack of) transparency of the open call for financial support to associations and foundations, published on 1 November 2019 by the Agency for Youth and Sports.

We believe that the published open call has neither been sufficiently promoted, nor have the youth organizations been informed about the possibility of financial support. The given deadline of only eight (8) days, of which only five (5) are work days, is too short for the organizations to be able to get informed about the open call and to prepare the necessary documentation. This practice of the Agency for Youth and Sports is worrying and leaves no room for widespread sharing of information with youth organizations and organizations for youth.

We also express our deep disappointment over the dismissal of all recommendations given at the consultative meetings regarding this specific open call. We would like to ask the Agency for Youth and Sports why hold consultative meetings with youth organizations at all, when their recommendations are not even taken into account? Are consultations just a declarative demonstration of openness and cooperation, or is the Agency for Youth and Sports really striving to work with and in the interest of youth and youth organizations?

Due to this, we urgently request a revision of the published open call, so that the given recommendations would be taken into account, the announced open call would be promoted to the general public and the deadline for submitting applications would be extended.

In addition, we would like to recommend the Agency for Youth and Sports to develop a timeframe, i.e. a schedule that would announce any open calls for grants to youth organizations in advance with a predetermined deadline, so that organizations would have enough time to prepare.

The NYCM is committed to open and available funding for youth organizations, primarily through one or two year operating grants. In that way, the youth organizations will be able to work more actively with the youth, and thus motivate youth participation throughout the year.

Respectfully,
National Youth Council of Macedonia