In the past couple of months, SmartUp has been exploring ways to operationalize the National Development Strategy (NDS), which aims for inclusive and sustainable growth in North Macedonia. This initiative focuses on two key activities: developing policy pilots for the integration of migrants and refugees, and conducting research to establish a foresight unit that will enhance strategic development processes.
Our team has been working on implementing a participative design process to develop policy pilots that focus on addressing the challenges faced by displaced people and migrants in North Macedonia, with a particular emphasis on social and economic inclusion. Throughout 3 workshops, participants will work on developing policy pilots. The process is designed to be co-creative, engaging various stakeholders from state administration, civil society, business communities, and public institutions to ensure that the solutions developed are inclusive, practical, and aligned with the National Development Strategy’s goals.
The participatory process will consist of 3 workshops:
- WORKSHOP 1: defining challenges, mapping stakeholders, and creating personas of individuals affected by the policies.
- WORKSHOP 2: brainstorming and prototyping policy ideas, and developing action plans.
- WORKSHOP 3: the final policy pilots are refined and presented
To ensure that all participants enter the co-creative process with a solid understanding of the national context, we’ve developed a detailed informational package prior to the workshops, which includes:
- Overview of current policies on displaced people.
- Challenges to integration, demographic data, and best practices both locally and globally.
Outcomes:
- At least 3 Policy Pilots developed through a co-creative process with representatives of the Working Committee of the NDS of the Republic of North Macedonia 2024-2042.
- A comprehensive report on the initial potential for establishing a foresight unit, detailing the current foresight landscape, relevant policies, and best practices, and leveraging expert stakeholder experience to establish a basis for the future establishment of such a unit.
The final reports and documentation will also be made public through a blog post detailing the project’s journey and outcomes. All findings, pilot designs, and workshop outcomes will be documented and shared with participants.
This project is implemented by SmartUP – Social Innovation Lab, and supported by UNHCR and UNDP.
