Launched in August 2018, USAID’s North Macedonia Support Initiative (NMSI1) “complements the U.S. government and USAID Mission efforts to support North Macedonia’s integration into the broader Euro-Atlantic community. The program seeks to entrench democratic processes
around urgent reforms that are preconditions to the European Union (EU) accession process. To this end, the program provides targeted, flexible, short-term assistance to key stakeholders (Government of North Macedonia (GoNM), public institutions, civil society, and the media) seeking to advance critical components of the reform agenda.”

NMSI is based in Skopje and is implemented by Chemonics. The program “works closely with partners to ensure that activities respond to critical priorities, bolster democratic reforms, and cement a culture of accountability and transparency. NMSI serves to complement and amplify existing USAID North Macedonia programming and serves as the tactical tool in the U.S. government’s toolbox to respond quickly to emerging needs at a time of political fluidity.”

“The research firm is currently working on a mixed-methods research design to capture a news agency’s (also supported by NMSI) ability to dilute the impact of disinformation campaigns by infusing North Macedonia’s media landscape with more quality journalism.”

“As an example, on March 29, NMSI supported the Government of North Macedonia in its effort to deepen collaboration with the Government of Greece by helping to convene journalists and civil society representatives in Athens to discuss the issue of fake news and misinformation surrounding the lead up to the signing of the Prespa Agreement in 2018. NMSI sponsored five civil society and ten media representatives to attend the bilateral forum titled “Misinformation and the Prespa.” The forum was jointly organized by the Ministry of Information Society and Administration of North Macedonia and the Ministry of Digital Policy, Telecommunications and Media of Greece.”