Macedonia, former Yugoslav Republic of | Projects | World Bank

The project Public Accounting Certification Training is now in the pipeline.

2013-05-10T04:00:00.000Z

The project Public Accounting Certification Training is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The project Sustainable Energy GEF Project has changed to Closed

2013-04-01T04:00:00.000Z

The project Sustainable Energy GEF Project has changed to Closed. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The development objective of the Sustainable Energy (GEF) Project of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia is to develop a sustainable market for energy efficiency (EE) and renewable energy (RE) by supporting the development of an enabling framework, institutional capacity, and necessary financing mechanisms. Weak implementation capacity and a smaller-than-anticipated market response have resulted in slow progress towards DO achievement. In recognition of the key role to be played by the public sector in the development of a market for EE, it is proposed that the project be restructured to provide support for the development of Government's National Program for EE in public buildings which is to be implemented using market based mechanisms and to bring to an end its pursuit of an energy service company (ESCO) model. The restructured project will continue to support market-based financing of EE and RE through a dedicated facility.

The project Skills Development and Innovation is now in the pipeline.

2013-01-30T05:00:00.000Z

The project Skills Development and Innovation is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The project Competitiveness DPL has changed to Closed

2013-01-26T05:00:00.000Z

The project Competitiveness DPL has changed to Closed. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

This program document describes the programmatic Development Policy Loan (DPL) to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYR Macedonia) to support the government's program for improving competitiveness of the economy. The DPL will support the government's program aimed at strengthening competitiveness, which is prioritizing the development of a stronger export-oriented enterprise sector. The program will support reforms that incentivize productive investment and technology upgrading in the manufacturing, agribusiness and trade logistics sectors; and put in place enabling conditions that can progressively increase labor market flexibility and skills development. The medium-long term objective is to create better job opportunities and increase the economic growth potential. The DPL will support reforms that incentivize investment and technology upgrading in manufacturing, agribusiness and trade logistics. In parallel, the DPL policy actions will lay the groundwork to increase labor market flexibility and the development of job-relevant skills. This operation is an important element of the 2010 country partnership strategy, directly advancing the outcomes under the Competitiveness pillar. The DPL will also contribute to the inclusive growth pillar in regards to improving employability by reducing impediments to hiring and to the green growth pillar in regards to aligning the agriculture sector with European Union (EU) requirements. The operation will contribute to deepening reforms for improved competitiveness, one of the main strategic priorities in the 2012 Europe and Central Asia (ECA) regional strategy, particularly by establishing good governance for improved business climate, and making education and training systems more accountable for relevant skills.

The project FYR Macedonia Public Expenditure PBG has changed to Active

2013-01-10T05:00:00.000Z

The project FYR Macedonia Public Expenditure PBG has changed to Active. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The development objective of the Public Expenditure Policy Based Guarantee (PEPBG) Program for The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYR Macedonia) is to improve the efficiency of public expenditures by strengthening public financial management practices; improving the efficiency of service provision in the health sector; and strengthening social protection and inclusion. This PEPBG states a guarantee in the amount of EUR155 million (US$201.5 million equivalent) in support of a commercial loan to the FYR Macedonia. The single tranche operation supports reforms to improve the efficiency of public expenditures and public financial management, to strengthen health systems, and to improve the targeting of social assistance and social inclusion. The PEPBG will help the FYR Macedonia access international financial markets to address an expected financing gap in 2013. In the current difficult financial environment, a partially-secured financing structure would facilitate FYR Macedonia's access to market funding at a longer tenor and under more favorable terms than would otherwise be possible. Beyond the current turmoil, the PEPBG will help FYR Macedonia preserve continued market access at reasonable terms, expand over the medium-term its name in the international financial market and help the domestic financial market to develop. The operation is part of the World Bank's additional crisis-related assistance to FYR Macedonia aimed at mitigating the impact of the renewed Euro zone turmoil.

The project Agriculture Strengthening and Accession Project has changed to Closed

2013-01-04T05:00:00.000Z

The project Agriculture Strengthening and Accession Project has changed to Closed. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The objective of the Agriculture Strengthening and Accession Project for Macedonia is to improve the delivery of the Borrower's assistance to the agriculture sector in a manner consistent with the European Union's (EU) pre-accession requirements. The closing date for the project will be extended from September 30, 2011 until June 30, 2012. The extension is necessary to allow additional time for remaining project activities to be completed. One ongoing specific activity, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy (MAFWE) headquarters building construction, is close to completion. However, the main contractor has been unable to pay the essential sub-contractors to complete the relevant works due to financial issues. The Bank team has assessed and discussed progress under this activity during a Technical Mission on March 14-18, 2011, and has presented the client with options for proceeding with the construction. The Government is now in the process of resolving this situation to finalize construction by October 2011. With respect to the remaining training activities and the implementation of software packages (listed in the letter from the Government), these activities are on track to be completed by the planned dates. The project team fully supports the request as the extension will provide the time needed to fully achieve project objectives. This will be the first extension of the project.

The project Competitiveness DPL has changed to Active

2013-01-04T05:00:00.000Z

The project Competitiveness DPL has changed to Active. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The project FYR Macedonia Public Expenditure PBG is now in the pipeline.

2012-10-20T04:00:00.000Z

The project FYR Macedonia Public Expenditure PBG is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The project Competitiveness DPL is now in the pipeline.

2012-06-05T04:00:00.000Z

The project Competitiveness DPL is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The project ADD'L FINANCING - MUNICIPAL SERVICES IMPROVEMENT PROJECT has changed to Active

2012-05-24T04:00:00.000Z

The project ADD'L FINANCING - MUNICIPAL SERVICES IMPROVEMENT PROJECT has changed to Active. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The objective of the Additional Financing for the Municipal Services Improvement Project for Macedonia, former Yugoslav Republic of is to improve transparency, financial sustainability and delivery of targeted municipal services in the participating municipalities. The additional loan will finance the costs associated with scaling-up of project activities to enhance the impact of a well-performing project and help mitigating the adverse impacts of the unfolding economic crisis. It will continue: (i) financing investments in basic local infrastructure and municipal services; (ii) providing technical assistance (TA) to municipalities and Communal Service Enterprises (CSEs); (iii) supporting institutional reforms in municipalities through performance grants; and (iv) supporting operation of the Project Management Unit (PMU) responsible for project implementation.

The project Legal & Judicial Implementation & Institutional Support Project has changed to Closed

2012-04-02T04:00:00.000Z

The project Legal & Judicial Implementation & Institutional Support Project has changed to Closed. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The objective of the Legal and Judicial Implementation and Institutional Support Project for Macedonia is to contribute to improving judicial efficiency and effectiveness, as well as the business climate by: (i) enhancing ministerial and judicial capacity to systematically implement the judicial reform strategy and laws affecting the judiciary; and (ii) improving judicial infrastructure. During the last mission, in June 2010, the Ministry of Finance communicated to the task team that the recent global economic crisis and gradual recovery significantly impacted the fiscal performance, with revenues underperforming. While the authorities have largely adequately managed the fiscal policy response, they experience difficulties in making their counterpart funding available for ongoing and planned procurement activities. The Government seeks to amend the legal agreement to reprogram the use of co-financing funds used for this construction. The current co-financing arrangement for all components is 84 percent provided by credit funds, and 16 percent by the Government. The change will remove the obligation of the Government's 16 percent co-financing across all components until the end of the project. In the past year, the Bank responded positively to the request of the Government for increase of financing to 100 percent in all other World Bank financed loans in the country.

The project ADD'L FINANCING - MUNICIPAL SERVICES IMPROVEMENT PROJECT is now in the pipeline.

2012-03-12T04:00:00.000Z

The project ADD'L FINANCING - MUNICIPAL SERVICES IMPROVEMENT PROJECT is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The project Second Trade and Transport Facilitation Project has changed to Closed

2011-12-28T05:00:00.000Z

The project Second Trade and Transport Facilitation Project has changed to Closed. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The Second Macedonia Trade and Transport Facilitation Project (TTFSE II) supports the efforts of the Government to improve its border crossing facilities and procedures to make them more efficient. More specifically, the project will support the Ministry of Finance in enhancing working conditions and efficiency of border agencies at the Blace border crossing with Kosovo. Under the project, the Ministry of Transport and Communication will address railway border-crossing bottlenecks and take actions to increase the competitiveness of the railway operations. All border-crossing agencies will benefit directly or indirectly from the project through improved interagency cooperation and modernization of procedures to enhance efficiency.

The project FYR Macedonia Policy Based Guarantee is now in the pipeline.

2011-11-30T05:00:00.000Z

The project FYR Macedonia Policy Based Guarantee is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The objective of the Policy Based Guarantee (PBG) Program for Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia is to help reduce future risks to stability by strengthening sustainability of public finances and the resilience of the financial sector and to support improved protection of the most vulnerable and to enhance incentives for formal labor market participation. This program document describes the PBG to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYR Macedonia) to support the government's program aimed at strengthening sustainability of public finances and functioning of labor markets, improving performance of social protection, and strengthening resilience of the financial sector. The medium-term fiscal policy supported by the program will remain supportive of macroeconomic stability, as well as nascent growth recovery. The program, among others, supports measures to enhance incentives for formal labor market participation. In addition, the program will continue to support social protection reforms to ensure that future growth is more inclusive than before, and financial sector stability, including by supporting an independent and accountable monetary authority and strengthening contingency planning. The PBG is proposed in light of the country's strong track record in macroeconomic management, improving structural and social policies and adequate external financing plan. FYR Macedonia restored macroeconomic stability early in the transition process and has maintained it for almost one and a half decades. This, combined with structural reforms, facilitated stronger growth prior to the crisis while keeping internal and external balances manageable.

The project Lukovo Pole Water Regulation and Renewable Energy Project is now in the pipeline.

2011-07-19T04:00:00.000Z

The project Lukovo Pole Water Regulation and Renewable Energy Project is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The project Energy Infrastructure Improvement Project is now in the pipeline.

2011-06-15T04:00:00.000Z

The project Energy Infrastructure Improvement Project is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The objective of the Additional Financing for Energy Community of South East Europe Project is to support the functioning of Macedonian Power Transmission System Operator (MEPSO) in the context of the regional power market through financing investments necessary to rehabilitate and upgrade the power transmission network, increase the level of interconnection with neighboring power systems, and to strengthen the institutional capacity of AD MEPSO. The additional loan will finance: (1) a financing gap in the ongoing project estimated at US$ 4 million equivalent leaving insufficient funds for the financing of one sub-project, the replacement of an overhead transmission line (OHTL) from Skopje to Tetovo; and (2) scaled-up activities that include construction of a 400 KV overhead transmission line (OHTL) from the existing stip substation in FYR Macedonia to the Serbian border.

The project Business Environment Reform & Institution Strengthening Project has changed to Closed

2011-06-15T04:00:00.000Z

The project Business Environment Reform & Institution Strengthening Project has changed to Closed. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The overall objective of the Business Environment Reform and Institutional Strengthening Project for Macedonia is to strengthen the capacity of the Government to improve selected areas of the business environment in a European Union (EU)-oriented context. The restructuring is pursuant to requests from the Borrower in letters dated June 10 and June 29, 2010 requesting the following changes: (a) partial cancellation of proceeds of the loan in the total amount of 2.4 million EUR which has already been acknowledged by the Bank effective June 10, 2010, (b) improvement and refinement of the results framework, namely the project development objective (PDO) indicators and intermediate result indicators, and (c) revision of the name and broadening of the scope of component three (currently competition policy) of the project to cover a broader set of activities related to the industrial policy strategy and competitiveness strategies. The partial cancellation also necessitates a reallocation.

The project Education Modernization Project has changed to Closed

2011-06-15T04:00:00.000Z

The project Education Modernization Project has changed to Closed. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The objective of the Education Modernization Project for Macedonia is to improve the quality of learning and participation at the targeted schools by strengthening school level planning and management; and improved equity and efficiency for a decentralized education system. It is the Bank' assessment that a four month extension would be prudent to ensure the completion of all activities undertaken in the second round of the school improvement grants program and to allow loan proceeds to be fully disbursed. The Ministry of education and science has prepared an action plan for completion of the remaining activities reflecting the extension of four months. The plan has been closely reviewed by the Bank team during the supervision visit in the week of September 11, 2010 and has been found acceptable. There are no outstanding audits for this project. The World Bank concurred with borrower's request for one year extension dated March 31, 2009.

The project AF-REAL ESTATE CADASTRE & REGISTRATION PROJECT is now in the pipeline.

2009-10-20T04:00:00.000Z

The project AF-REAL ESTATE CADASTRE & REGISTRATION PROJECT is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The project Development Policy Loan is now in the pipeline.

2009-09-24T04:00:00.000Z

The project Development Policy Loan is now in the pipeline. To see more information, see the project information in the World Bank project database

The objectives of the First Programmatic Development Policy Loan Program for Macedonia, former Yugoslav Republic (FYR) of are: (i) to manage the impact of the global crisis by maintaining a sound macroeconomic and fiscal framework; (ii) to cushion the impact on the poor and vulnerable by enhancing social protection systems; and (iii) to strengthen the resilience of the financial sector by addressing potential vulnerabilities. The ultimate objective is to support the Government to emerge from the crisis on a stronger footing and to resume sustained high growth and convergence in living standards with the rest of Europe. The ongoing international economic crisis has brought to a halt the acceleration of economic activity of the last few years in the FYR of Macedonia. Following growth rates of close to six percent in 2007 and the first three quarters of 2008, economic activity has slowed down considerably since. Industrial production has been declining, business confidence has reached low levels, financing conditions have become tighter and labor market performance has deteriorated. Exports have dropped sharply. Negative effects have also spilled over into the fiscal accounts, and tax revenues in particular have disappointed relative to expectations, although two budget revisions in May and October 2009 have introduced sharp expenditure cuts, and hence the fiscal deficit is still forecast to be a manageable 2.8 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The authorities have proactively managed the crisis to create grounds for a sustainable and robust recovery. Anti-crisis measures were announced in late 2008 and early 2009. Following an initial fiscal stimulus, the two supplementary budgets adopted in 2009 have not only helped to contain public spending but also to improve its allocation. Non-priority expenditures were eliminated while funds for the social safety nets were protected. In addition, comprehensive payroll reform has been introduced to boost competitiveness of the economy. Significant improvements to the business environment were undertaken and measures to strengthen the resilience of the financial sector are underway.