ACT Global took part in the “Advancing Just Transition in North Macedonia” workshop hosted by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) on June 2, 2025 in Skopje. The event brought together key stakeholders - including government representatives, international financial institutions and civil society organizations - to explore strategies for a fair and inclusive transition away from coal.
As North Macedonia moves toward its goal of phasing out coal by 2030 and cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 52%, the workshop focused on mitigating the social and economic impacts of this shift - particularly in coal-dependent regions like Southwest and Pelagonia. Participants discussed approaches to ensure that the transition creates opportunities rather than deepening inequality.
Representing ACT Global, Giga Chitishvili contributed to the discussion by highlighting how vocational education and training (VET) programs can effectively support individuals impacted by the coal transition. He emphasized the need to align these programs with the diverse skill levels required across high and medium-skilled green jobs, ensuring they are responsive to the specific needs of transitioning workers. He also underlined the importance of strengthening North Macedonia’s VET sector - through curriculum updates, institutional capacity-building, and closer alignment with labour market demands - to create a solid educational foundation for a smooth and inclusive just transition.
The workshop was part of the broader Accelerating Coal Transition initiative, supported by the Climate Investment Funds (CIF) and implemented with EBRD. It featured case studies from South Africa and Indonesia, aimed at building local capacity and bring international inspiration for just transition in North Macedonia.
ACT Global has been implementing vocational education programs focused on green transition across Central Asia, the Eastern Partnership region, and the Western Balkans - and aims to continue expanding this work to support inclusive, locally grounded transition pathways.
