On September 18th, 2013, USAID launched its new Anti-Corruption Program, which will support civil society organizations Improve the integrity of state institutions and hold them accountable to the people.

“Corruption is a global concern because where it is tolerated, or left unchecked, it undermines social values, inhibits economic growth, and corrodes the very fabric of society.  But, it is only a threat to the degree that we, the democratic citizens, allow it to be,” said USAID Mission Director for Macedonia James Stein.  While acknowledging that the Corruption Perception Index indicates a trend in the right direction in Macedonia, he emphasized that still more needs to be done and can be done to demand greater accountability and transparency from public officials.

The program will be implemented by the Macedonian Center for International Cooperation (MCIC) in partnership with the Institute for Democracy Societas Civilis, Transparency Macedonia and the Association for Democratic Initiative. The program includes several innovative methods which will be implemented for the first time in Macedonia, including the Corruption Monitoring System (CMS), which gathers detailed information on the types, levels and trends of corruption in a given country and provides a comprehensive analysis.

Democracy and governance are an ongoing priority for USAID.  Through a variety of projects, USAID has helped Macedonian institutions and civil society combat corruption, enhance democratic political competition, support the process of decentralization and promote the rule of law.

NOTE TO EDITORS:
The American people, through USAID, have invested nearly $500 million in Macedonia since 1993. USAID is implementing projects that create jobs, reduce corruption, and prepare Macedonian students for the workforce. These initiatives improve the quality of life and support Macedonia’s transition to a stable and prosperous democracy. USAID provides economic and humanitarian assistance in more than 100 countries. For more information please visit http://macedonia.usaid.gov.