23 April 2025, Skopje, North Macedonia

ReSPA launched the CAF implementation in the Ministry for European Affairs of North Macedonia - through the implementation of the EU-developed quality management tool for public administration, dedicated members of the Self-Assessment Group today begin their journey toward institutional excellence.

Minister of European Affairs Orhan Murtezani opened the workshop, highlighting the significance of the occasion: "It is a great honour and pleasure to mark the beginning of the CAF implementation in our Ministry. This step is a strategic commitment that represents a significant advancement in our efforts to improve organisational performance."

In his address, Minister Murtezani also emphasized that in today’s complex administrative environment, citizens expect "efficient, transparent, and accountable institutions" underlining CAF as a tool that promotes inclusion, participation, and consensus—values vital for modern public administration—and that the new CAF2020 version focuses on digitalization, agility, diversity, and sustainability.

CAF, developed for the public sector, provides a systematic self-assessment model allowing institutions to identify both strengths and areas for improvement. Murtezani affirmed that “through CAF, we are investing in a stronger, more efficient, and more accountable Ministry.”

Director Maja Handjiska-Trendafilova, echoed the Minister’s statement, describing the day as a “significant milestone” for the Ministry. “Your commitment to embracing the CAF model will be instrumental in fostering a culture of continuous improvement,” she said and emphasized the value of the model's inclusive approach, noting it actively engages employees at all levels, which "will enhance employee motivation and ensure smoother change management"​.

During the one-day training session led by Jeliaveta Tasev and Slaven Bukarica from ReSPA, and QM specialist Igor Markovski, participants delved into essential aspects of the CAF model. This included a detailed examination of its framework, self-assessment protocols, and scoring mechanisms. The agenda further incorporated interactive exercises aimed at pinpointing strengths and areas needing enhancement within the Ministry, as well as formulating actionable improvement strategies.

The event concluded with a presentation of the online CAF tool and a discussion on the next steps for embedding quality standards across the Ministry.