Skopje, March 7, 2022 – Six newly established NGOs today signed contracts and officially became part of the activities for delivering social services on a local level. In the first year, the measures will cover around 600 end users nationally, while around 130 new jobs will be opened, primarily for women. 190 unemployed persons will have the opportunity to attend verified trainings for caregivers-assistants in several areas and later will be able to find employment with the social services created and managed by NGO-service providers as partners of the MLSP and ESA.

Two very important goals will be simultaneously achieved as part of the two pilot measures: to secure new employments and improve the employability of vulnerable unemployed persons, and at the same time deliver social services in the local communities.

Furthermore, this initiative also created new types of social services and new occupational profiles that did not exist as such before (assistant and caregiver for persons with Alzheimer’s, assistant and caregiver for persons with multiple sclerosis, as well as other persons dependent on other people’s assistance and support).

These activities are in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals as well as with the UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

“These type of services targeted directly at vulnerable categories contribute directly to building a resilient infrastructure at every level by promoting inclusive and sustainable services for everyone’s general benefit. Citizens shall receive the much needed social services in their homes, while unemployed persons get sustainable and good quality employment. Also, with this initiative we directly apply the Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities in real life by recognizing the rights of persons with disabilities to have adequate standard of living and social protection”, stated UNDP’s Resident Representative Armen Grigoryan.

The activities are supported by the Swiss Development and Cooperation Agency.

The care economy activities will be part of the new Operational plan for active labour measures and programmes 2022.