U.S. Speaker and Specialist Program for North Macedonia

The U.S. Speaker and Specialist Program for North Macedonia is sponsored by the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Skopje and has been implemented by Meridian International Center since 2017. The program was designed to connect U.S. experts with Macedonian audiences and institutions; to promote an understanding of U.S. strategic priorities, policies and institutions; and to build linkages between experts and institutions in the United States and North Macedonia. The program sends American experts to North Macedonia on individual trips designed to provide opportunities for engagement with local audiences through lectures, workshops, and seminars; through appearances in foreign media; and in a consultancy capacity.

Over the past three years, Meridian has sent over 10 American experts to North Macedonia to address a variety of relevant topics including: air pollution policy, strategic planning and policy implementation; the importance of entrepreneurship to economic growth; nepotism and conflicts of interest in the public sector; judicial transparency and free press; messaging against disinformation; open government; and critical writing, among others.

Project Timeline

May 18, 2020Webinar – How to Use Data Visualization During the Current Pandemic
May 15, 2020Webinar – How to Lose the Information War: Lessons from Central and eastern Europe for the Infodemic
April 30, 2020Webinar – NATO and You: North Macedonia as a NATO Ally
April 29, 2020Alice Steinglass, from Code.org speaker on “Macedonia 2025”
April 29, 2020Code.org President and ‘Hour of Code’ Creator, Alice Steinglass, will be a Keynote Speaker at the Upcoming Macedonia 2025 Summit
January 21, 2020Amy Bennett: The Open Government Partnership
January 21, 2020Professor Larry Hubbell Meting Mayor Taravari
January 21, 2020Lecture of Peter Righi on the Challenges and Alternative Modes of Financing The Entrepreneurs
January 21, 2020Peter Righi Discussing Financing the Corporate Development at the Macedonia Stock Exchange 20th Annual Conference
January 21, 2020CEED’s Peter Righi Travels to North Macedonia to Discuss the Importance of Entrepreneurship to Economic Growth
January 21, 2020Funeral Sentences, Guest Editorial by Christopher Merrill
January 21, 2020Set heating Standards, Clean Air Task Force Expert Says
May 19, 2018Justin Burke: False News Threatens Democratic Processes, Russian Influence Will Grow Ahead of NATO Summit
April 24, 2018Boston Globe: Macedonia could use our friendship — and we could use theirs

Project Team

Amanda Pleasant
Indigo Stegner

Project summary

U.S. Speaker and Specialist Program for North Macedonia | September 2020
Number of Visitors: 10
Regions: Europe and Eurasia, Western Hemisphere
Countries: North Macedonia, United States
Impact Areas: Education, Energy and the Environment, Foreign Policy, Governance and Transparency, Media and Journalism, Public Diplomacy
Partners: Diplomatic Corps, NGOs, Private Sector, Public Sector