Call for Experts: Wildfire Information System Enhancement Project in North Macedonia

The CTCN is seeking experts to participate in the upcoming solicitation to provide technical assistance on:

Wildfire Information System Enhancement Project in North Macedonia

Deadline: 19 May, 2025

North Macedonia has faced growing impacts of climate change, particularly through a sharp rise in wildfires over the past decade. Forest fire damage surged from 11.5 sq. km in 2014 to 114.2 sq. km in 2021, prompting a state of emergency during a major 16-day blaze that August. This trend reflects broader climate shifts—longer fire seasons, greater intensity, and expanded burn areas—with UNEP warning wildfire frequency could rise by 50% by 2100 and urging a shift from reactive to preventive strategies. In response, North Macedonia is enhancing its preparedness through digital forecasting systems, now set to be improved with a fire information module to strengthen fire management and response planning.

This technical assistance aims to help North Macedonia address the growing threat of climate change–driven wildfires, which are becoming more intense, widespread, and harder to control. While the country has made progress through the development of the MKFFIS (its forest fire information system), the system needs enhancement to better map fire hazards and assess damage. The project will develop a new information module for MKFFIS, improving its forecasting and decision-making capabilities. It will also include training and capacity building to ensure effective use of the upgraded system and align with ongoing JICA advisory efforts supporting sustainability and monitoring. Some of the expected outputs are:

• Development of implementation planning and communications documents;
• Demonstrate potential modules and specify useful information;
• Modules development on MKFFIS including software development and hardware procurement;
• Capacity building on software usage to the local agencies;
• Consider Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) measures, including implications for women and vulnerable groups, and consider additional improvements to be made;
• Analyze gaps in developing a larger, cross-border climate change adaptation project;

For further information on this opportunity, visit the UN Global Market Place (UNGM) or the UN website. 

If you are not yet a member of the CTCN Network, you can apply to join here.