Skopje, 12 July 2022 (MIA) – The second phase of UNDP's Empowering Municipal Councils project is set to begin, through which a series of activities will be realized in the next five years, aimed at encouraging municipal development and improving the quality of life of citizens in local communities. According to UNDP, these goals will be achieved by improving the capacities of council members, direct involvement of citizens in the decision-making process, improving legislation, digitization of services, increased transparency and fighting corruption. One of the key values of the project is the respect for the principles of balanced gender representation and equal opportunities for all citizens. Empowering Municipal Councils is a partner project between the Swiss Government and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with direct involvement of the Ministry of Local Self-Government in the implementation of the second phase. The activities will be implemented in 40 municipalities, selected in a transparent way in accordance with defined criteria. The public call for the first 10 municipalities to join the project is already open and interested municipalities can apply by July 21, said UNDP in a press release. Specialized training for council members will be held in the partnered municipalities, and digital tools will be implemented for greater transparency. Additionally, the municipalities will host forums in the community, allowing citizens to directly choose priority projects that will then be realized through grants. The second phase of the project will be realized between 2022 and 2027 with a total budget of US$ 6.7 million. ad/ik/