Novaci, Bitola, Mogila and Kichevo – The Center for Research and Policy Making (CRPM) has successfully concluded a series of working visits to four municipalities as part of the Women-Led Coal Transitions (WOLCOT) project, implemented in partnership with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and supported by the Climate Investment Funds (CIF).
The visits brought together municipal leadership, technical experts, and local administration representatives to discuss how local governments can play a central role in delivering a just, inclusive, and sustainable energy transition, while creating new opportunities for economic development and community resilience.
Kichevo: Building Local Capacity for Sustainable Development
The municipal dialogue began in Kichevo, where the CRPM team met with representatives from the Mayor’s Cabinet, the Municipal Secretary, and the heads of the Local Economic Development Department and the Department for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Sources.
The discussions focused on strengthening municipal capacities for sustainable development, improving energy efficiency, identifying opportunities for renewable energy investments, and enhancing cooperation between local institutions and development partners in advancing a just transition.
Novaci: Local Leadership Driving the Transition
In Novaci, CRPM met with Mayor Stevche Stevanoski, accompanied by representatives responsible for project development and municipal communications.
As one of North Macedonia’s key coal-dependent municipalities, Novaci has a strategic role in the country’s energy transition. Discussions explored opportunities for strengthening local capacities, attracting sustainable investments, and ensuring that local communities actively benefit from future transition initiatives.
Bitola: Strengthening Cooperation for Green Development
The visit to Bitola included meetings with the Deputy Mayor, together with municipal experts responsible for energy efficiency, strategic planning, and local development.
The exchange focused on the municipality’s ongoing efforts to improve energy efficiency, support sustainable urban development, and identify opportunities for future cooperation under the WOLCOT initiative.
Mogila: Supporting Inclusive Local Development
In Mogila, the CRPM delegation met with municipal representatives responsible for local administration, project implementation, and municipal development.
The meeting highlighted the important role of smaller municipalities in delivering an inclusive and equitable transition, with discussions focusing on strengthening institutional capacities, supporting sustainable local development, and creating opportunities for community participation in future green initiatives.
Working Together for a Fair and Inclusive Transition
Across all four municipalities, the meetings reaffirmed the importance of strong partnerships between local governments, development organisations, and local communities in achieving a successful just transition. Particular attention was given to strengthening municipal capacities, promoting sustainable local economic development, improving energy efficiency, and ensuring that women and local communities actively participate in shaping the transition process.
The visits also served as an opportunity to present the objectives and upcoming activities of the Women-Led Coal Transitions (WOLCOT) project, including capacity-building programmes, policy dialogue, and initiatives designed to strengthen women’s leadership in local governance and the green economy.
CRPM sincerely thanks the mayors, deputy mayor, municipal leadership, department heads, technical experts, and local administration representatives for their openness, valuable insights, and commitment to working together towards a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable future.
The strong engagement demonstrated across Kichevo, Novaci, Bitola, and Mogila marks an important step in establishing long-term partnerships with municipalities that will help ensure North Macedonia’s energy transition is not only environmentally sustainable, but also socially inclusive, economically resilient, and locally driven.
