Macedonia

Coalition of Youth NGOs SEGA

$28,450
To encourage youth participation in the spring 2009 presidential and local elections in Macedonia. SEGA will conduct a nonpartisan voter education program for high school students in 13 cities by organizing training courses and distributing a brochure on the electoral system, electoral legislation, and voters’ rights. SEGA will also conduct a creative mobilization campaign encouraging greater youth participation in the elections.

International Republican Institute (IRI)

$100,000
To foster public debate on major economic and foreign policy issues and encourage members of parliament, journalists, academia, NGOs, and the general public to collaborate in a respectful and informed public policy dialogue. IRI will continue to strengthen the capacity of the Skopje-based Ohrid Institute, a center-right think tank, accelerate its activities, and increase the profile of the Institute as an independent policy institute in Macedonia.