Favorable Legal Environment for Social Contracts (MK0117)

Status quo or problem addressed by the commitment: According to the existing legal regulation, different subjects can offer social services to the community, however, this process has not been developed enough yet. Basically all social services are provided from the central level. In order to improve services for the citizens, more factors need to appear as social service providers, including CO. This model has been practiced in many countries with a developed civil sector, with ensured cooperation with CO, sustainability of CO, as well as service providing in a more efficient way, without any additional binding to human resources. Social entrepreneurship concept in the Republic of Macedonia has not been adequately regulated within the legal system, though some laws and policies provide provisions as a support to future development of the social entrepreneurship. The Law on Civil Associations and Foundations regulates possibilities for the non-government organizations to have business activities, but there is a little exploitation of these opportunities. Many of the non-government organizations possess limited resources and/or face with a donator dependence, which diminishes the possibility for their long-term sustainability. Main objective: Improve social services to citizens in Macedonia pursuant to their needs by creating a favorable legal environment for social contracts, and improvement of national legislation and policies by developing mechanisms for social contracts in the field of social protection in the country. Further objective of this measure is to help create an appropriate environment for social entrepreneurship in civil society organizations (CSOs) and to improve their sustainability, financial viability and social impact. Brief description of commitment: Creating and improving conditions for social services delivery by creating a model for social contracts in the field of child protection and social services. Solving social problems through creative solutions based on business logic and delivered by non-profit organizations. OPG challenge addressed by the commitment: The introduction of this model provides an innovative approach to improve social services quality delivery by involving CSOs, expanding the scope of social services for marginalized groups, as well as greater financial sustainability of CSOs. On the other hand this measure is improving and facilitating citizens' access to social services and their sustainability. Reference to the global objectives of sustainable development: SDG 1 “End poverty in all its forms“ , Target 1.3: To implement national social protection systems and measures to include all and achieve sustainable inclusion of the poor and marginalized until 2030. These measures will improve social services to citizens by improving national legislation. Relevance: Creation of mechanisms for social services delivery by CSOs will increase trust and cooperation between government institutions and civil society, and contribute to greater use of the possibility for delegating functions / responsibilities and improve the quality of services to citizens. The introduction of this model will improve the capacity of the social security system, involving different stakeholders in the delivery of services, which will directly lead to greater competitiveness and quality in accordance with the specific needs of citizens’ social protection. Ambition: -Elaborated document (action plan) with procedures for effective implementation of social contracts for the upcoming 3 years; -Proposals to improve the legal framework for social protection in the country, in accordance with relevant international standards and regulations, which allows the conclusion of social contracts in the field of social protection; -Preparation of draft bylaws on standards for social services, the proposed procedures for the regulation of social contracts in the field of social protection, as well as establishing conditions and procedure for selection of other social services providers. -Promotion of social contract as a model for improving the social services quality and sustainability of civil society in Macedonia and strengthening inter-sectorial collaboration. -Strengthened capacities of 100 CSO representatives, central and local government, institutions and businesses by training for successful implementation of the model of social contracts in the field of social protection.-Establishing business activities and strengthen the social impact of 10 CSOs by re-grant of creative solutions to solve social problems -Improved environment for social entrepreneurship

For Commitment details, please see the IRM reports: Macedonia Mid-Term Report 2016-2018 and Macedonia End-of-Term Report 2016-2018