Impact Foundation has detected solid ground for raising awareness for freelancing in North Macedonia. Apart from informing the target audience (the present and future freelancers) about the possibilities to pursue a career in freelancing, we also organized a round table just 6 months before, gathering together the respective public institutions in charge of securing a good climate for freelance development. We created a roadmap and realized that we need to bring all the institutions to the freelancers. Additionally we were organizing series of events for freelance networking in the co-working space Public Room, where we could witness the need of further co-working and networking events.
This is why we created the concept for the Freelance Conference.
Donor: RECONOMY
Project Objective:
The aim of the First Freelance Conference in North Macedonia was to strengthen the country’s freelance ecosystem by bringing together freelancers, public institutions, financial and training organizations, and civil society.
The project sought to improve awareness of freelancing opportunities, clarify administrative and legal procedures, create a platform for dialogue with institutions, and highlight the skills and support freelancers need for long-term sustainability and competitiveness.
Project Implementation:
Event Date: 12 May 2022
Venue: Hotel Marriott, Skopje
The conference was implemented through the RECONOMY Programme in partnership with Impact Foundation as the local organizer. Preparatory work included institutional consultations, a series of networking events with freelancers, a call for vendors, and a targeted marketing campaign carried out by a selected agency.
The implementation phase spanned several months, beginning with stakeholder coordination and ending with post-event outreach.
Activities
1. Awareness & Promotion
- Nationwide promotional campaign through digital media, printed materials, and partner channels.
- Achieved a reach estimated at 5,000+ people.
2. Conference Program Development
Impact Foundation designed a five-panel agenda addressing priority topics for freelancers:
- Public Institutions: Legal, financial and administrative frameworks.
- Banks & Insurance: Health, pension and financial security solutions.
- Training Centers: Emerging skills and digital labor-market needs.
- Freelancers: Success stories and practical guidance.
- NGOs: Inclusion, diversity and social challenges in freelancing.
3. Stakeholder Engagement
- Representatives from the Ministry of Finance, Tax Registry, Ministry of Labor and Social Policy, Financial Intelligence Services, and private sector financial institutions.
- Collaboration with training centers and well-known freelancers to ensure an interactive, experience-driven discussion.
4. Audience Interaction
- Over 225 registrations within the first five days, exceeding initial expectations of 100 participants.
- High level of engagement with real-case questions on taxation, legal frameworks, insurance, and freelance practices.
Results & Follow-Up
Immediate Results
- Improved clarity on taxation, insurance and administrative procedures for freelancers.
- Strengthened collaboration between freelancers and key institutions.
- Increased visibility of freelancing as a viable career path in North Macedonia.
- Identification of skill needs and training opportunities aligned with international digital-work trends.
Identified System Gaps
- Lack of formal freelancer representation — no unified body or association to advocate for freelancers.
- Absence of a dedicated information platform — freelancers lack a central online resource for updates, opportunities and legal guidelines.
Future Directions
- Exploration of options to support the creation of a representative freelancer entity.
- Development of an information hub or media platform for freelancers.
- Continued RECONOMY support for demand-driven initiatives that expand freelancers’ competitiveness on global digital labor platforms.
