The World Bank’s small grants program is supporting sustainable development in FYR Macedonia Can a country develop without harming its natural resources? Is there a way for development to become a tool for preservation rather than a cause of destruction? How can Macedonia develop in a “green” way? These were the questions that a group of young enthusiasts, organized through the Center for Economic Analysis from Skopje, tried to respond to. A beneficiary of the World Bank Civil Society Fund, the Center for Economic Analysis organized a contest in essay writing among the students from the universities in FYR Macedonia, on the topic “Sustainable development in FYR Macedonia.” The winning essays received financial awards and were presented at a Conference with the audience composed of fellow students, professors and media. It was an opportunity for Darko Trajkovski, an engineering student from Bitola, to analyze the influence of the transport sector on the air pollution in the country, and offer solutions through legislation changes and education of the citizens. It was also an opportunity for Aleksandar Micevski, a literature student from university in Skopje to discuss the National Strategy for | 
Essay presentation by the students |
Sustainable Development and criticize it for not including the bioregional diversity model. Ivona Tasevska and Ivana Vanevska, economics students from Skopje described their views on how sustainable development could be financed, the role of the banking sector and effects of credit policies on supporting energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. Aleksandra Bartok from Stip University through her unusual presentation on “Rescuing the magic ball” sent the message that if we put our ideas and efforts together, we can create a healthier life for us and for future generations, because, “only if we really want, we can achieve the goal. And if we want, we can!” 
Mr. Marjan Nikolov, CEA President and Ms. Lilia Burunciuc, World Bank Country Manager opening remarks | The first prize winners, economics students Kristina Boglevska and Kristina Tasevska in their “Analysis of the factors that determine sustainable development in Macedonia” analyzed the impact of various measures for securing a “greener” future of the country. They concluded that “things might not be ideal, but we need to do our best to make our future better.” The World Bank team, including Anita Bozinovska, task team leader of the small grants program, Liljana Shekerinska, the climate change coordinator in the Country Office, Denis Boskovski, Senior Operations Officer and Lilia Burunciuc, Country Manager joined the discussion. Lilia Burunciuc emphasized in her opening |
remarks that, “It is encouraging that the young generation is taking such an interest in the green agenda. Sustainable development is not an issue of concern only for the Government or the Ministry of Environment– it is an issue that concerns everybody, and everybody should get involved.” Anita Bozinovska and Denis Boskovski contributed to this story.
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