Skopje - On December 15, USAID launched its new Municipal Climate Change Strategies project during the Ninth Annual Meeting of Environmental and Sustainable Development Civil Society Organizations organized by the Macedonian Green Center. The project will focus on four municipalities, selected through a competitive application process, in the regions of Macedonia most affected by climate change.

“Climate change is a complex problem,” stated Michael Stievater, Director of USAID’s Democracy and Governance Office in Macedonia. “Mitigating its effects will require that citizens, civil society organizations, and municipal authorities work together to find solutions. As such, USAID applauds Milieukontakt’s efforts to unite these groups in developing mutually beneficial strategies for dealing with climate change.”

USAID’s Municipal Climate Change Strategies project, implemented by Milieukontakt Macedonia, is a two-year initiative to prepare municipalities to deal with the local challenges brought about by climate change. Using an innovative methodology called the Green Agenda, which has been successfully tested in municipalities in Macedonia and Eastern Europe, the project will bring together civil society organizations, citizens, and municipal bodies to develop consensus-based strategies and action plans to address climate change and mitigate its effects. In this way, the USAID Municipal Climate Change Strategies Project aims to foster local resilience to climate change and strengthen civil society by boosting civic activism.

NOTE TO EDITORS: 
The American people, through USAID, have invested over $500 million in Macedonia since 1993. USAID is working with the people of Macedonia to create jobs, strengthen democratic institutions and practices, enhance integrated education, and prepare students for the workforce. These initiatives improve the quality of life and support Macedonia’s transition to a stable and prosperous democracy. USAID provides economic and humanitarian assistance in more than 100 countries. For more information please visit http://macedonia.usaid.gov  and USAID FB page http://www.facebook.com/USAIDMacedonia