On September 29, 2025, at the Civic Resource Center, agreements were signed for the implementation of five sub-grants awarded by Transparency International – Macedonia within the framework of the project “Integrity Watch in the Western Balkans and Turkey: Civil Society Organizations in the Fight Against Corruption Using Political Integrity Data”, supported by the European Union.
At the impact level, the proposed action – Integrity Watch in the Western Balkans and Turkey: civil society combating corruption with political integrity data – seeks to empower citizens and civil society actors organised at large in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Serbia and Turkey to hold their political office holders to account for the integrity of political finance, law-making and resource allocation. Thus strengthened political integrity shall foster more public decisions consistent with the common good.
Through the open call for applications, interested candidates had the opportunity to propose innovative initiatives that make use of publicly available data to identify and expose political corruption risks, as well as to promote transparency, accountability, and integrity in Macedonia. The call received over 30 applications featuring excellent ideas and activities. Following an internal evaluation procedure, funding was awarded for the implementation of five grants. All selected projects offer activities that will contribute to improving institutional transparency and strengthening both institutional and personal integrity of public officeholders.
The following projects will be implemented under the call:
Project: “Data-Driven Democracy: Tracking Political Parties for a More Transparent Future”
Organization: Association for Democratic Initiatives
Overall objective: To strengthen political integrity and reduce corruption risks in North Macedonia by improving the transparency of political parties, fostering citizen oversight, and enhancing accountability in political finance and law making.
In the framework of the project will be published three policy briefs, each addressing a specific risk area political finance transparency, internal party governance linked to law-making, and connections to procurement favoritism – based on systematic assessments of at least 10 political party websites, including those of minority and community-focused parties. One community integrity forum and one national roundtable will be organized. A digital awareness campaign will be launched using infographics that translate complex policy findings into accessible messages, reaching over 10,000 citizens online and empowering local CSOs, youth councils, and minority groups to continue transparency oversight beyond the project, sustaining integrity impact over the long term.
Project: “Invisible Citizens: Promoting Political Integrity and Transparency for the Visually Impaired”
Organization: Association for European Social Inclusion “ESI NELIS”
This project aims to investigate how political integrity mechanisms such as political legislative processes, and public decision making often overlook the needs of blind and visually impaired people in Macedonia.
One comprehensive policy report documenting accessibility gaps in political finance and decision making will be published and one awareness video distributed online. A core group of 10 blind activists will be trained and able to analyze data, use accessible tools, and advocate for inclusion. Radio programs will be produces and aired along with social media campaign reaching more than 15,000 people, raising awareness about transparency and disability inclusion. The organized workshops will target at least 40 participants from institutions, organization and other relevant stakeholders.
Project: “INTEGRITY HACK: Open Data Against Political Corruption”
Organization: Ohrid Institute for Economic Strategies and International Affairs
The Integrity Hack: Open Data Against Political Corruption project is a youth-led initiative designed to strengthen political integrity in North Macedonia by empowering young political leaders with practical skills in open data analysis, cross-party collaboration, and anti-corruption advocacy. The project specifically targets individuals aged 18–30 affiliated with all major political parties in the country, promoting political diversity, mutual understanding, and democratic engagement.
The core activity of the project is a three-day Integrity Hackathon, where participants will form cross-party teams and be mentored by experts in journalism, civic technology, and public ethics. Based on their findings, they will develop concrete outputs such as: data visualizations that make integrity gaps visible to the public; short policy briefs proposing reforms and digital concepts or civic-tech tools to promote transparency.
Project: “Face to Face with Integrity: Mobilizing Citizens and Media for Political Integrity in North Macedonia”
PUBLIC- Association for research, communications and development
The project aims to strengthen political integrity in North Macedonia by transforming complex anti-corruption data into accessible, engaging, citizen-friendly communication. Through a dedicated online resource section, creative multimedia content, and participatory storytelling, the project will increase public awareness of corruption risks in political finance, law-making, and public procurement.
Project specific objectives: SO1: Create and launch the “Citizens for Integrity” web section featuring at least 25 accessible resources (videos, infographics, articles) simplifying political integrity data by project completion; SO2: Engage 12–15 young artists through a national call, showcasing 10 selected works in a public exhibition with at least 30 attendees; SO3: Collect and analyse 80–100 citizen testimonies on corruption risks using the BIRN Community Engagement Tool, publishing key findings to inform advocacy; SO4: Deliver a two-month social media campaign with at least 4 posts per week, reaching 300,000 cumulative impressions by February 2026; SO5: Ensure at least 30% representation of women and minority voices in campaign content, design, and engagement activities to promote equitable participation.
Project: “Open Contracts, Honest Communities: Tracking Local Procurement for Integrity”
Organization: FINANCE THINK – Economic Research & Policy Institute
The project aims to enhance transparency and political integrity in public procurement at the municipal level in North Macedonia. Focusing on two municipalities (Prilep and Krushevo), the project will assess recent local procurement processes using a standardized transparency scorecard, identifying strengths and risks related to openness, competition, and accountability.
The activities will include assessment of at least 8-10 municipal procurement procedures using a standardized transparency scorecard. Will be trained a minimum of 15 local stakeholders (including citizens, CSOs, and journalists) to understand, monitor, and report on procurement processes. The political integrity and accountability will be strengthened by publishing 2 municipal procurement transparency scorecards and one comparative brief.
