2.3 Adult education and training funding

Public funding

Public funding for adult education in North Macedonia includes financial resources allocated through the state budget and municipal budgets, primarily for institutions providing lifelong learning and adult training services. According to the Law on Open Civic Universities for Lifelong Learning, former workers’ universities have been gradually transformed into institutions for lifelong learning operating at the local level. These institutions may receive financial support from municipalities for operational costs, while the legislation also allows their transformation into private providers of adult education services, enabling greater financial autonomy and diversification of funding sources.

Public funding for active labour market programmes and adult training is primarily channelled through the Employment Service Agency of North Macedonia, which implements the Annual Operational Plan for Active Employment Programmes and Measures adopted by the Government. These programmes are financed through the state budget and are often complemented by European Union financial assistance and other international funds.

Training programmes implemented in recent years have targeted vulnerable groups in the labour market, including young people, long-term unemployed persons, women, Roma, and persons from rural areas. Programme measures include training for self-employment, workplace training in companies, development of digital and ICT skills, entrepreneurship training and other programmes aimed at improving employability. Many of these training initiatives are designed in cooperation with employers to address labour market skills shortages.

However, the sustainability of some programmes remains a challenge, as a number of training initiatives are implemented as time-limited projects or externally funded measures, which may affect their long-term continuity.

Donor-funded programmes

A significant share of adult education and training initiatives is supported through donor-funded programmes and international cooperation projects. The European Union, primarily through IPA and other development programmes, provides financial support for projects aimed at strengthening adult education systems, improving workforce skills and enhancing lifelong learning opportunities.

These programmes often focus on specific target groups, such as unemployed individuals, job-seekers, women, Roma communities and rural populations, or address specific policy priorities such as teacher professional development, curriculum development, modernization of training infrastructure and acquisition of equipment. The scope and priorities of these initiatives largely depend on the strategic objectives of the respective donor programmes and national labour market policies.