ZIP Institute officially launched the MERIT project—an initiative aimed at reducing unfair recruitment practices in North Macedonia’s state-owned enterprises (SOEs). Supported by the Macedonian Center for International Cooperation (MCIC), the SELDI Small Grants Programme, and the European Union, this project seeks to promote transparency, merit-based hiring, and accountability, ultimately strengthening public trust in SOEs and aligning recruitment processes with EU standards.
The launch event featured a 15-person roundtable discussion with expert insights on corruption, human resources, and public administration from SEEU Dean, Merita Zulfiu-Alfifi, the Macedonian HR Association’s President, Darko Petrovski, UNDP Monitoring Associate, Marjan Kelemen, and the Institute for Democracy’s Head of Good Governance, Misha Popovikj. The event garnered strong media coverage from TELMA and Televizija 24, highlighting the importance of the initiative. Peace Corps volunteer Layla Weiss opened the event with a speech outlining the project’s objectives and next steps.
By investigating recruitment challenges and providing evidence-based recommendations, the MERIT project aims to drive lasting reforms that foster fairness and integrity in public sector hiring.
