North Macedonia ranks last  among 32 European countries in its acceptance of the LGBTQI+ community. Discrimination and violence persist against LGBTQI+ individuals, often unreported due to fear of reprisal.

This program is based on strategic principles to: work with youth, for youth; act upon windows of opportunities that arise to make society more prosperous and democratic; and ensure that North Macedonia is a better place to live. USAID will partner with the private sector, youth groups, civil society, and governmental institutions to (1) support economic opportunities that are attractive to youth; (2) help strengthen youths’ competencies for modern and future jobs, progressive careers, and civic life; and (3) promote the experiences that cultivate values for participation and taking responsibility, ethical conduct, civic engagement, and striving for personal and collective accomplishments.

The program enables youth to distinguish high-quality, fact-based information from that which is biased, poorly researched, false, or malign. The program integrates critical information engagement and media literacy competencies in the country’s primary and secondary school curricula in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Science, the Bureau for Development of Education, and higher education institutions, including pre- and in-service teacher training institutions and journalism schools.