CEA prepared a policy brief ASYMMETRIC DECENTRALIZATION: POLICY BRIEF FOR POLICYMAKERS OPTIONS FOR THE REPUBLIC OF NORTH MACEDONIA, as part of the USAID North Macedonia project Strengthening Resource Mobilization Activity.

The brief was presented on the first expert round table: Asymmetric decentralization in local self-government in the Republic of North Macedonia held on the 15th of June.

Целиот извештај на МК: АСИМЕТРИЧНА ДЕЦЕНТРАЛИЗАЦИЈА: КРАТОК ИЗВЕШТАЈ ЗА НОСИТЕЛИТЕ НА ЈАВНИ ПОЛИТИКИ

The Policy brief in ENG: ASYMMETRIC DECENTRALIZATION: POLICY BRIEF FOR POLICYMAKERS

> There is a disparity in the RNM regarding LSGU capacity in many areas, such as fiscal capacity, human resources and knowledge, and quality of service delivery. The challenges are particularly severe in rural, underdeveloped LSGUs where the capacity is limited, and the number of administrative staff is insufficient. This results in part from transferred competencies that are resource-intensive and symmetrical to all LSGUs regardless of the preconditions and their potential to deliver the quality and scope of services to citizens.

> As the GoNM is considering expanding the transferred competencies to LSGUs, this document offers timely options on asymmetric administrative decentralization that the Ministry of Local Self-government (MLSG) requires. It will help inform the MLSG and the GoNM about possible options for designing asymmetric decentralization. The asymmetry can be in the territorial organization and/or the expenditure assignments to the LSGUs.

> Although asymmetric decentralization offers options for both territorial organization and competencies, this report focuses on options related to the competencies. We briefly illustrate territorial organization of the LSGUs but offer more detail on options for the asymmetric expenditure assignments.