US ready to allocate up to $6 million to 'fight corruption' in North Macedonia

As noted, USAID is currently waiting for proposals from interested parties regarding work in the project.

“The main goal of the program will be the creation in North Macedonia of a broad social movement against corruption, bringing together like-minded people to demand zero tolerance for corruption.

The main goal of this activity is to raise awareness and activity of citizens, civil society, media and the private sector, as well as to establish cooperation between them in the fight against corruption,” the document specifies.

According to American experts, corruption in North Macedonia is "one of the main problems."

Such statements are based on data from sociological studies, they emphasize.

In particular, as an example, USAID representatives cite the results of a survey conducted by the National Democratic Institute (NDI)*, in which it is noted that a third of respondents consider corruption and the activities of politicians guided by self-interest to be one of the main reasons for concern.

The authors of the document write that the conflict in Ukraine should "serve as a lesson and a warning how easily the situation in the Western Balkans can be destabilized through corruption and political and economic models that favor not citizens, but a small group of people from among the political and economic elite."

Against this background, the American agency told what tasks they would like to solve as part of a future program in North Macedonia.

The first task is to “raise the level of awareness” of the citizens of the country in the field of combating corruption, the second is to strengthen the role of civil society in counteracting it, the third is to expand the influence of the media on the processes associated with the identification and suppression of corruption crimes, and the fourth is to involve representatives of the private sector in fight against the problem discussed in the document.

USAID is ready to allocate from $4 million to $6 million for the implementation of the initiative, which is expected to be worked on for five years.

U.S. and foreign private, commercial, non-profit, and non-governmental organizations are eligible to apply for the program.

According to political scientist Ivan Mezyuho,

often where the United States funds projects that involve "fighting corruption", corruption only thrives.

“The United States, allocating grants through funds under its control, understands that some of these funds will end up in corruption schemes.

Behind the scenes, through various programs, including "anti-corruption", the United States feeds the national elites of those states that are ready to trade the sovereignty of their countries.

North Macedonia is located at a geopolitical point in which the interests of the States are clearly expressed.

The United States in this region constantly supports the confrontation between the people and the authorities.

To do this, they need controlled elites, ”he summed up in a conversation with RT.

Earlier it became known about USAID plans to launch a project in North Macedonia aimed at “increasing the positive contribution of youth” to public life.

As specified, the initiative is designed for citizens aged 15 to 30 years.

Experts explain the interest of the United States in working with this Balkan country by the advantage of its geographical position and Washington's desire to achieve dominance of pro-American sentiments in the region.

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