Macedonian Center for International Cooperation (MCIC)
The establishment and development of the Macedonian Center for International Cooperation (MCIC) closely followed the transitional changes in Macedonia. MCIC has grown into independent, civil, not-for-profit organization, ready to face the challenges and to create models or alternatives for problem resolution.
Since its establishment, MCIC has implemented more than 1,300 projects, as part of 60 programs, amounting to over 45 million euro, in the following sectors: water supply and sanitation, rural development, health and education, employment and civil society, democratization, trust, immediate aid and activities on Balkans.
The basis of all MCIC activities is development of civil society and active citizenship. MCIC started with capacity building of the activists (over 2,000 people trained) and organizations (support to over 200), by supporting the development of strategic organization, surveys and support for the institutional development of civil society. MCIC contributed for development of new legal frameworks for civil society, as well as the adoption of the Strategy of the Government for cooperation with the civil society sector 2007 – 2011. This activity has culminated with the NGO Fair and the establishment of the Civic Platform of Macedonia in 2004.
From the time when “the young organization MCIC played a pioneering role in the fast changing Macedonian society” and “MCIC should play the role of facilitator” (MDF, 1997) through “MCIC, directly and indirectly is having positive influence on individual, communal and societal level by developing role models and models that affect the other actors in the society” (FAKT, 2000), MCIC has become one of the leading civil society organizations in Macedonia and the Balkans.
MCIC has won the US and EU Award for Civil Society and Democracy in 1998, Mother Theresa Award in 2004 and many municipal and local recognitions.
In the past 15 years, MCIC worked on realization of its strategic goals via programmes in several sectors, partnerships with organizations and target groups, by boosting the cooperation (in the country and on international level) and various forms (instruments/methodologies), including an establishment of the Macedonian Enterprise Development Foundation (MEDF), often breaking the ice in some areas or filling the gaps created by other actors in the development processes. MCIC, in addition to the regular reports and evaluations of its work, in 2004 also conducted an external evaluation to have an insight into its impact, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of its activity. This evaluation set the basis for the strategic orientation process that followed.
For more information about MCIC, please visit www.mcms.org.mk.