Within the framework of the World Bank–supported Central Disability Certification Coordination Unit (CDCCU) project, North Macedonia continues to advance reforms aimed at establishing a more efficient, coordinated, and inclusive disability assessment system.
The recent marking of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities provided an opportunity to reaffirm the Government’s commitment to these reforms. In this context, the Ministry of Health highlighted ongoing efforts to strengthen early identification and assessment, including the development of family-oriented early childhood intervention services and a universal screening approach to ensure equal access to early assessment for all children.
These initiatives are closely linked to the broader CDCCU reform agenda, which focuses on streamlining and centralizing disability assessment processes across the social protection system. The reform addresses longstanding challenges caused by fragmented assessment procedures by introducing a single, coordinated assessment methodology, aligned with the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF).
A core objective of the CDCCU framework is to ensure consistent, transparent, and needs-based assessments, while reducing administrative burdens for institutions and beneficiaries alike. The establishment of a centralized coordination mechanism and the development of a unified registry of persons with disabilities are key steps toward improved data exchange, better policy targeting, and more effective service delivery.
Through this integrated approach, supported by the World Bank, the CDCCU project represents a fundamental shift toward a rights-based, functional, and user-oriented disability assessment system—directly complementing the reforms and coordination efforts highlighted in previous SIAP activities.
Video from the event: