On 14th July 2021, BCSDN member the Macedonian Center for International Cooperation (MCIC) held a workshop on Accountable work and Ethical financing of CSOs. Some of the representatives of the signatory members of the Civil Society Code joined to reflect on their internal working concerning the two commitments covered in the Code: Good Governance and Ethical funding and Responsible Resource Management.
Aleksandar Krzalovski, MCIC’s Executive Director, opened the meeting by introducing MCIC’s work and current programs, including the third phase of CIVICA MOBILITAS, a civil society support facility in North Macedonia, while the session was facilitated by Ms. Nikica Kusinikova, the Executive Director of the Association Konekt.
During the first part of the session, the participants reflected on organizations’ understanding of the meaning and importance of transparency and accountability and their commitment to transparent and accountable work, manifested internally in their policies, practices, and daily operations. The participants further discussed the challenges they face while coordinating their actions and how they will advance their work while respecting the principles of good governance and ethical financing.
During the second part of the session, Ms. Marija Vishinova from BCSDN after providing a brief overview of the Global Standard for CSO Accountability and its efforts in helping CSOs to adopt, implement and strengthen their accountability practices and capturing a shared understanding of accountability from CSOs worldwide, further emphasized BCSDN’s and Global Standard’s efforts in supporting the Civil society code and the Macedonian CSOs. Some of the points during the discussion reflected on the screening mechanism for CSO compliance to the Code in North Macedonia, the sustainability of the Code, BCSDN and GS help in possible (future) Code revision, etc. The participants were also introduced to some of the Global Standard essential material and resources, the 12 GS Commitments, and the possibility of joining the Dynamic Accountability Group of Practice (DCoP), global learning, and knowledge-sharing space on Dynamic accountability.
The event concluded with participants’ discussion and recommendations on the future institutionalization of the code and their efforts to strengthen their internal capacities while promoting and providing functional democracy and an operational civil society environment in the country.
Up to now, the Code was signed by more than 70 Macedonian CSOs, which assume responsibility for complying with and practicing the commitments, values, and standards set out in it. MCIC commits to its improvement and promotion by the CSOs consistently and continuously. As a regional network working on programs and practices on CSOs’ accountability and enhanced CSOs’ capacities, BCSDN commits to provide further support to its members and the national organizations towards improving CSOs’ accountability practices, thus strengthening the overall civil society resilience in the Balkans.
