What will you learn?

Structural reform measures outlined in the ERP are policy measures prioritized in dialogue with the EU and aimed at enhancing economic growth and competitiveness. To ensure their effective implementation, among others, structural reforms shall be well-integrated within national budget and other fiscal documents (e.g. Fiscal Strategy). Therefore, at this online course you will have a chance to assess prospects for aligning practices and tools for costing structural reforms from ERPs with those used for medium-term budgeting, while putting particular attention to differences between them. It will look into available budgetary and costing tools, approaches and guidance documents, and capture opportunities to further align them.

Building upon economic challenges that are expected to emerge from the covid-19 pandemic around the world, at this online course we will discuss a need for adjustment of existing structural reforms to better respond to the corona-crisis and developing new ones. In addition, we will review how can the ERP be used as a document for enabling economic recovery of a country.

Although having an online format, this event is based on participatory learning approach and structured to encourage utilization of already existing knowledge and experience of participants and institutions they represent, while combining it with the lessons learned and good practices identified in the other countries. The online course features video and reading materials, while its online meetings provide opportunity to further deepen the knowledge throughout the discussion with lecturing experts and other participants.

Through this online course, you will:

• Get a better understanding of your country’s fiscal framework and how it corelates to the fiscal framework outlined in ERP
• Discuss the need for extending the impact of structural reforms outlined in ERP from stimulating economic growth to enabling economic recovery
• Review prospects for modification of existing structural reform measures to better respond to emerging economic challenges
• Learn about the experiences of other countries in overcoming encountered economic challenges  
• Assess features of well designed, articulated and sequenced structural reforms
• Identify how the costs of structural reforms from ERP corelate with the fiscal constraints of medium-term budgets, and what are main preconditions and opportunities to strengthen it.

This online course builds on the knowledge shared and lessons learned during the learning initiatives CEF delivered throughout 2019 under the FISR project and continues efforts aimed at building institutional capacities for applying the Methodological Guidance for Costing of Structural Reforms.

Who should attend?

Invited to participate are the officials having a role in the process of preparation and coordination of ERP inputs, and especially those involved in coordination, design, and costing of structural reforms outlined in the ERP. They include:  

• National ERP Coordinator and Coordinator for the ERP Chapter 5
• Members of the working group for ERP preparation
• Officials working at finance and policy departments of Line Ministries
• Officials working at budget department of Ministry of Finance
• Policy officials from government’s policy coordination body and/or Prime Ministers’ office.

Particularly invited are official who took part at the CEF learning initiatives implemented throughout 2019 in North Macedonia, however participation will be open also to those how have not had a chance to join previous events but carry relevant background.  

Faculty

• Saša Jazbec, CEF Expert and former State Secretary, Ministry of Finance of Slovenia
• Silvana Mojsovska, CEF Expert and professor at University of Economics, Skopje 

Practical information

Applications need to be submitted by May 11, 2020 via online application form. Selected candidates will be notified by May 13, 2020

• This course will be delivered on the CEF Online Learning Campus
• To participate at this course basic information technology is needed (internet connection, and computer or tablet)
• The course will be held in Macedonian and English language
• The envisaged workload for the participants is about 6 hours per week. It will feature three online meetings, as well as self-paced study of learning resources and peer-to-peer discussion. The presence is required only during the weekly online meetings that will last up to 1,5h
• Upon fulfilment of the required learning steps, you will receive a certificate of successful completion of this online course
• No fee will be charged
• Due to limited space, up to 30 participants will be selected.

Partners

The event is implemented as part of the CEF’s project “Strengthening Line Ministries’ Capacities to Assess Fiscal Implications of Structural Reforms” and in close collaboration with the Ministry of Finance of North Macedonia.