As of 2004, following a policy memorandum of the ministry of Development Co-operation the Netherlands Embassy in Macedonia has had an annual Programme for Culture and Development (C&DP). In the policy memorandum, culture is attributed relevance for development from two separate perspectives: (i) culture a means/instrument for development and; (ii) culture in itself as an objective of development. It states that "the cultural dimension of projects is important for the effectiveness of development co-operation", i.e. that cultural factors need to be taken into consideration when aiming at the successful execution developmental interventions. Therefore, any activity undertaken under the C&DP will need to be in function of development in some way.

The substantive objectives of the programme are:

·         Strengthening of the cultural identity or self-awareness of a nation or group within a developing country;

·         Strengthening the position of specific persons/groups that play an important role in the cultural process;

·         Strengthening of structures that are important for the development of the cultural heritage and social and cultural achievements of the land or national group;

·         Broadening of cultural co-operation based on equality between various cultures and their representatives.

For 2004-2005, the Embassy was focusing the scope of this programme on two sectors (i) music/dance and (ii) the arts/(handi)crafts, and financed 8 projects, most of which have been completed. The activities that are still on-going are:

Title	Description activity goals	Project period
Old Bazaar – Pillar for the Future (Children’s Theatre Centre0	Promoting awareness and increasing the knowledge in the old traditional values of arts and handicrafts among children of different ethnic backgrounds	2006 - 2007

The Embassy Culture and Development programme for 2007-2008 will focus on supporting biannual cultural programmes of five selected municipalities in Macedonia, taking into consideration some of the goals of the National Cultural Programme of the Republic of Macedonia for 2004-2008:

·         Decentralization of culture;

·         Using culture as a development resource; and

·         Protection and (re)creation of cultural heritage.

The municipalities that are supported by this programme are:  Bitola,  Veles,  Debar,  Mavrovo i Rostuse and  Kratovo.

For more information on the programme contact Ms. Makedonka Trajkovska, Advisor for Development Cooperation, at:  makedonka.trajkovska @minbuza.nl