“Projects should support the strengthening of democratic institutions in North Macedonia, including increasing the level of participation and representation in public life of citizens from all walks of life,” the document says.
In addition, the initiatives should contribute to the formation of a “stronger and more citizen-friendly” government with strong democratic institutions, the compilers say.
“Projects should be focused on strengthening the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary, good governance and improving the effectiveness of the fight against corruption,” the text of the document says.
The US Embassy emphasizes that one of the priorities is the development of cybersecurity, media literacy and "efforts to combat propaganda and disinformation."
The total amount of funding for this area in fiscal year 2023 will be more than $500,000.
Previously, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) planned to allocate up to $5 million to assist media and communications organizations operating in the Western Balkans.