North Macedonia is increasingly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, particularly in sectors like agriculture, water resources, and public health. Rising temperatures, prolonged droughts, and more frequent extreme weather events pose significant risks to the country's economic stability and social welfare. These challenges disproportionately affect vulnerable groups, including women, rural communities, and low-income populations, intensifying existing inequalities. The need to strengthen the climate resilience of communities is therefore critical, and addressing both environmental and social dimensions is key to sustainable development.
In response to these growing concerns, the National Designated Authority of the Government of Republic of North Macedonia for coordination of the Green Climate Fund activities in the country, in cooperation with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) in North Macedonia under the project "Building Capacity Towards Sustainable Human Capital Development", aimed to foster more inclusive and climate-resilient development by integrating gender equality and human capital dimensions into climate action strategies. As part of this project, in the period of October 2023- January 2024, in coordination with the relevant stakeholders and supported by national and international consultants, two essential guidelines have been developed to enhance project design and implementation in alignment with North Macedonia’s climate and development goals.
1. Guideline for Integrating Gender and Human Capital Dimensions in Project Appraisal and Design- This guideline provides a comprehensive framework to ensure that gender and human capital considerations are integrated into all stages of climate-related project appraisal and design. Given the disproportionate impact of climate change on marginalized groups, particularly women, youth, and disadvantage groups, it is crucial that projects account for gender disparities and promote equitable development outcomes.
2. Guideline for Enhancing Climate Rationale of Social Development Projects- This second guideline focuses on strengthening the climate rationale of social development projects, ensuring they are designed to be resilient to climate change impacts. It emphasizes the integration of scientific data, climate projections, and risk assessments into project planning, with a particular focus on gender-sensitive approaches. By addressing both the climate and social dimensions, this guideline supports the development of projects that are not only environmentally sustainable but also socially inclusive, promoting long-term human capital growth in North Macedonia. The guideline is initially developed to support the work of central level institutions such as the ministries in charge of labor market, employment, social policy, gender, and equal opportunities, but it can be utilized by the civil and private sector as well.
These guidelines shall serve as critical resources for policymakers, project designers, and development practitioners working to build a more resilient and equitable future for the Macedonian society. Through the integration of gender-sensitive approaches and a strong climate rationale, these documents are aiming to enhance the country's ability to adapt to climate change while fostering sustainable human capital development.
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