As part of the implementation of the second project under the Green Climate Fund Readiness and Preparatory Support Programme  “Strengthening country capacities for climate change adaptation and mitigation and finalization of Country Work Programme for the Republic of North Macedonia”,  FAO is supporting the Macedonian Government in identifying and assessing the country capacity needs linked to implementation of climate change adaptation and mitigation measures necessary to support achievement of the Macedonian Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to climate change and the country’s strategic engagement with the Green Climate Fund.

In this sense, in the period April-May 2021, an online survey was conducted by the NDA and FAO to collect primary data from key stakeholders in North Macedonia to determine their needs and capacity gaps to contribute to the NDC implementation, based on which a training curriculum is being developed in the frames of the second GCF Readiness Project.

The survey consisted of five different modules, including:

• Module 1: Training Needs Assessment
• Module 2:  Climate Finance Readiness Future Needs
• Module 3: Climate Change and Gender Readiness Future Needs
• Module 4: Future Readiness Needs regarding the Green Climate Fund Accreditation Process
• Module 5: Future Readiness Needs regarding the Green Climate Fund Processes

The results of this survey also serve as inputs for development of the ‘’Readiness Needs Assessment’’ section within the GCF Country Work Programme for North Macedonia, which is currently under development. Inputs will also potentially serve to explore other sources of support to cover identified capacity needs in North Macedonia related to climate action.

The online survey was distributed to a comprehensive list of 490 stakeholders from different sectors (public, private, academia, civil society, media as well as international organizations). Feedback from 73 respondents was received.

To verify the preliminary results of the survey, the NDA and FAO organized a Second Climate Change Needs Assessment virtual event on 11 June 2021, bringing together 73 representatives of Government institutions, private sector, civil society, academia and international organizations. The details of the event, including presentations and recording, are available on the following LINK.

Based on the above activities, two reports are currently under finalization, namely a ‘’Country Capacity Needs Report’’ and a ‘’Country Readiness Needs Report’’, which will be published upon consultation with relevant national stakeholders.