MUNICIPALITY OF DELCEVO-

experience in town twinning and NGO cooperation

OUR VISION

The Municipality of Delchevo will become a competitive European municipality, a place of quality living with developed

economy especially in the area of agro-industry, with rounded-up social

and communal infrastructure, an attractive eco and tourism destination,

recognized by its tradition and possibilities for development

Location and Surface Municipality of Delcevo is

located in the farthest northeastern part of the Republic of Macedonia, on the slopes of Golak Mountain only 10 km from Bulgarian border. On the east it is surrounded by Vlaina Mointain, on the north are Osogovo Mountains, while on the south Malesevo Mountains. The municipality is located in the Pijanec valley, in the upper course of the Bregalnica River

Area: 423km2

ДЕЛЧЕВО

Population

According to the census from 2002, Delchevo has 17.505 inhabitants, out of which 11.536 or 66% live in the city of Delchevo. The average population density is 42.5 inhabitants/ km2 which is below the average national level of 78.8 inhabitants/ km2.

The municipality includes 22 inhabited places

Natural Resources

The climate in the municipality of Delchevo is east European with modified pluvial-metric regime, the average annual temperature of the air is 10,7°С with absolute minimum of -26,7° С and absolute maximum of 37° С

The main water artery of municipality of Delchevo is Bregalnica River, which is the biggest tributary of Vardar River. The total surface of the basin of Bregalnica River is 742,5км2, with 1000m of altitude. The total average annual flow of Bregalnica River at the profile of Kalimanci is 264 millions cubic meters.

The relief it is mostly hilly and mountainous and lowland parts are mainly located along the course of the Bregalnica River

The region of the municipality of Delchevo has many important deposits of metallic, non-metallic and energetic mineral resources as a main potential for municipal development.

Forest lands cover 48% of the total territory of the municipality, mainly oak and pine trees and some percentage of beech trees. The mountain Golak is rich with various sorts of medical herbs, forest fruits and plants.

Economic data(…1)

 Economically active 52% from total population, from which 71,1% are employed and 28,9% are unemployed

Coverage with water supply system 100% (regional and local system)

Coverage with sewage system 92% in town and 68% in municipality

Coverage with electricity 100% Good transport infrastructure: High way M5 connecting

Macedonia with Bulgaria; closeness to airports: Sophia 140km and Skopje 160km;closeness to railway: Kochani 40 km; closeness to port: Thessalonica 250km; cross border passing: Arnautski Grob, 10km from the municipal center

Economic data(…2)

 According General Urban Planning 52% are for housing, 10% for greenery and sport, 14% for economy and 24% for other

There are 4(four) industrial zones, out of which 82,6% are already realized

Industry has the dominant place in the economic development of the municipality (textile, agro-processing, wood), followed by agriculture (plums and cherry growing, cattle breeding) and civil engineering, and the tertiary sector (trade, catering and small economy) has significant share

The abundance of natural, cultural and historical heritage of this small town gives great potential for development of tourism

Education, Sport and Culture

Two primary and one secondary school City stadium, city sport hall, city swimming pool,

school playgrounds and several sport clubs (football, volleyball, boxing, basketball, mount-climbing)

National institution for culture “N.J.Vapcarov”, Local library “Ilinden” and several cultural NGOs

Cultural events: Day of Razlovci Uprising-20th of May; International manifestation Goce’s Days- June; Golak Folklore Meetings (GFM)-8th of August; Pijanechko-Maleshevska wedding (September); Day of town liberation-7th of September

Town twinning

Municipality of Delchevo has 5(five) sister cities:

• Simitli- Bulgaria• Zhirardow-Poland• Bornova- Turkey• Jagodina –Serbia• Vishgorod- Ukraine

Town twinning with Simitli

Twinning Agreement signed in 1996 Why twinning: Simitli is small town in Bulgaria

near the Macedonian border and close to Delchevo. The similar mentality, tradition and closeness were essential for twinning

Cooperation: towns are cooperating mainly in the field of culture, education and sport i.e. organization and participation in joint cultural, educational and sport events

From 2005 towns are cooperating in developing joint projects within the “EU Neighborhood Programme Macedonia-Bulgaria”

Town twinning with Zhyrardow

Twinning Agreement signed in 2002 Why twinning: Joint green-field investment of Polish and

Macedonian businessmen in Delchevo was essential for twinning. The Macedonian ambassador in Poland at that time was from Delchevo and he facilitated the business relation between “Arlen” Zyrardow and businessmen from Delchevo. After conclusion of business agreement and town-twinning agreement between two towns was signed.

Cooperation: towns are cooperating mainly in the field of business and culture. Education of employees in “Arlen” Delchevo is provided by Poland experts, the two companies have strong strategic relations, cultural clubs from both towns are cooperating in participation of local cultural events

Delegation from municipal administration led by Mayor of Zyrardow visited Delchevo in 2006. Delegation from Delchevo led by mayor of Delchevo visited Zyrardow in 2007

Town twinning with Bornova

Twinning Agreement is signed in 2002 Why twinning: Bornova is town near Izmir where

are living a lot of Turks with origin from Delchevo municipality, i.e. in 1960s the emigration process of Macedonian Turks to Turkey occurred. Most of Turcks from Delchevo settled in Bornova and its neighborhood towns.

Cooperation: towns are cooperating in the field of business and culture, i.e. business delegations meetings and joint cultural events are organized on regular basis.

Town twinning with Jagodina

Twinning Agreement is signed in 1994 Why twinning: The established cooperation

between Folklore association “Goce Delcev”, Delcevo and Folklore Association “Kabli”, Jagodina was essential for town twinning.

Cooperation: towns are cooperating in the field of business, culture and sport i.e. business delegations meetings, joint cultural and sport events are organized on regular basis.

Town twinning with Vishgorod

Twinning Agreement is signed in 2002 Why twinning: The mayor of Delchevo through

Ukraine embassy in Skopje established contacts with this town and twinning agreement was signed within the Cultural event “For Delchevo with love” where cultural associations and folklore clubs took participation.

Cooperation: unfortunately except participation within the above mentioned event there are no other joint activities implemented. Initiative from Delchevo municipality was made in 2007 inviting this town to participate on manifestation “Pijanec-Maleshevo wedding”, but without any feedback

NGO Cooperation

According official data there are around 150 NGOs registered in Delchevo municipality, but only 20 of them are active in terms of implementing some activities

Municipal government is cooperating with local NGOs on regular basis in: elaboration of strategic development documents, development and implementation of joint projects, providing of office space for NGOs, organizing joint local events (sport, culture education), delivering awareness raising activities, etc.

NGO Cooperation (some examples…1)

In 2006 Local partnership for sustainable development of Delchevo was established and formalized by signing Memorandum of cooperation between Local self-government (LSG), NGOs representatives and local business representatives. Within this partnership Local Action Plan for Education was developed and one priority project for reconstruction of school halls in “Vancho Prke” was implemented

In 2007 Agreement for cooperation was signed between NGO “Regional Advocacy center” and LSG Delchevo in order of capacity building and strengthening of local NGOs. The planned money within municipal budget for NGOs support was transferred to “Regional advocacy center” and the process of re-granting to other NGOs was implemented by them.

NGO Cooperation (some examples…2)

In 2008 the Process of Green Agenda was implemented by NGO “Regional Advocacy Center” in partnership with LSG Delchevo, promoting active citizenship in elaboration of development measures and local policy creation. The Green Plan for Delchevo was adopted by broad participation of local population: forums, debates, working groups.

Delchevo Energy Efficient municipality, joint project with local NGO in changing the very costly public lights with energy efficient ones.

Establishing of drama performance “Beyond the wall” in partnership with local NGO “Bravura cooperativa” promoting the values of respecting the differences and integration of people with disabilities within the community.

NGO Cooperation (some examples…3)

Integration of Roma population in social activities at local level in partnership with local NGO “KHAM” and NGO “Ternipe-MK”. Opened Roma Education Center, delivering joint projects for training and qualification in order of decreasing the unemployment rate, inclusion in the process of education, ongoing is the project of acquiring higher level of education for adults Roma i.e. lifelong learning project.

Protecting and promoting the folk dance “Kopacka” as brand of Pijanec region in partnership with local NGO “Pijanecki glas”.

And finally an open invitation to visit Delchevo

Panoramic view

Monument of nature ‘ILIN KAMEN’

CULTURAL HERITAGE

MONASTERY “St.Bogorodica”

Primary school “St.Kliment Ohridski”

Monument of culture “St.Petka”

Monument of nature “Kukulje”

Fortress “Gradishte”

PLUMS AND CHERRIES

CULTURAL DIVERSITY

PIJANEC-MALESHEVO WEDDING

MOUNTAIN GOLAK

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION

Vesna Ilievska-ArsovaAdviser for LEDMunicipality of Delchevo“M.M.Brico” 40 Delchevo, MacedoniaT: 00 389 33 411 550M: 00 389 71 29 79 61E: vesna_management@yahoo.com