Improving Access to Services and Economic Opportunity for North Macedonia's Roma

North Macedonia’s Roma population, the country’s poorest community, has long been marginalized. 87% of the country’s Roma live in material deprivation—compared to 55% among the non-Roma population—and Roma children are three times more likely to grow up in poverty in North Macedonia. Unemployment remains particularly high among Roma women, with just 8% formally employed.

Addressing these inequalities and empowering the Roma community is crucial for strengthening North Macedonia’s labor force, improving social cohesion, and building more inclusive, resilient economic growth. Because of this, the World Bank is committed to supporting the Government of North Macedonia in implementing reforms and investments that advance social inclusion and equal opportunities for all citizens, including the Roma community.

“The Last Mile”: Reaching the Most Vulnerable in North Macedonia

With World Bank support, the Government of North Macedonia has been refining social protection and social services delivery to go what is referred to as “the last mile”—reaching the most vulnerable and under-served communities. This challenge is common in middle-income countries across Europe and Central Asia: while social protection reforms often improve the targeting of beneficiaries based on objective criteria, they frequently struggle to eliminate the less tangible barriers that prevent at-risk populations from accessing these programs and participating in the labor market. To support the Government of North Macedonia in removing these last-mile barriers to accessing crucial social assistance cash benefits and enabling vulnerable groups to pursue new employment opportunities, the World Bank is implementing two innovative engagement activities.

The first pillar of engagement has been the introduction of a social accountability process in municipalities with considerable Roma presence, specifically Shuto Orizari and Kumanovo. This process empowers Roma service users and providers to collaborate directly, identifying barriers to accessing social services and creating joint solutions. The initiative ensures that Roma voices are heard and incorporated into the national social protection system, fostering a more inclusive and responsive approach to public services. In a context where direct user feedback is uncommon, this engagement pioneers bridging communication gaps between service users and providers in North Macedonia’s social protection system.

The second pillar of the engagement focuses on advancing economic opportunities for Roma women by creating pathways for them to transition into formal employment. The engagement is piloting a targeted mentoring program to support Roma women to take up formal employment in North Macedonia’s care economy. By providing continuous one-on-one support, this initiative guides women through the training, certification and employment processes, addressing the compound challenges they face in joining the formal workforce. The engagement aims not only to establish practical ways to improve the economic prospects of Roma women in North Macedonia but also to establish the community coaching approach as a model that can be scaled to support other vulnerable groups in the country and the Western Balkans region.