In a broad effort to increase communication between Macedonia’s elected officials and citizens, NDI has worked to open nine constituency offices for legislators and to train new office assistants. In September 2007, 36 constituent office assistants went through a three-day training in Mavrovo to prepare for the opening of new offices.

Since 2004, NDI has worked with Roma to help them build the skills necessary to successfully contest elections and wage effective advocacy campaigns. Yet Romani elected officials often face the challenge that typical good governance practices such as constituent outreach are insufficient in the face of the protracted problems prevalent in their communities such as high unemployment and economic underdevelopment.

On June 27, 2007, NDI, the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia, and the Union of Local Self-Government Units (ZELS) joined together to strengthen links between the citizens of Macedonia and their elected representatives by signing a Memorandum of Cooperation to support NDI’s Constituency Office Assistance Project. This NDI initiative is currently opening 65 offices across Macedonia — up from 46 during the previous mandate.