•  Introduction to the training and of the participants, understanding the expectations of the participants, establishing the rules of the game, the working hours and the etiquette in the classroom.
  • Defining public policy, what is policy, what is public policy, what ‘should’ public policy do, who makes public policies, key stakeholders, steps in policy making (linear- logical model, cycle), objectives for the analysts in the policy cycle, how public officials make and should make policies, what is the legal framework for their policy making.
  • Methods and specific techniques for creating policies- analysis, identification of the policy problem, selecting an appropriate research method (research design), research, analysis of the problem, evaluation of the basic preconditions for implementing policies, practical tips in policy analysis.
  • Work in groups, presentation of the work done.
  • Why policy analysis in the Balkans- general reasons, specific reasons, a role for think-tanks, implications for Macedonia.
  • Practical considerations on policy analysis in the Balkans- what does a good policy analysis entail, what are the ever green policy questions for this region, where to get data, the importance of legacies, legacies of the past and the future, team work, how to write well the reports, phases in policy writing.
  • Defining strategic planning, how strategic plans are made in Macedonia,
  • Exercises in policy analysis- working on six practical cases.
  • What is budget (on a national and a local level)
  • The stakeholders in the budgetary process (which actors are involved in the budgetary process; what are their roles)
  • The linkage between the budgetary process and strategic planning (what the strategic plans need to take into account considering the budgetary constraints)
  • The budgetary process explained (how the budget on a national and local level is prepared and executed)
  • Work in groups on the financial implications of the strategic plans and programs on the central budget of Macedonia, presentation of the work done.
  • Budget Monitoring and evaluation