REC Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia has been present in the country through a local coordinator since July 1993, and the country office officially began operations in January 1995. The REC's development programmes have been designed to promote the following key processes:

• integrated waste management planning and public procurement (innovative competitive tendering towards private sector participation in waste management);
• strategic environmental assessment;
• integrated water resources planning;
• public participation in decision making on environmental protection issues;
• cooperation between NGOs, the government, local authorities, the business sector and other stakeholders; and
• raising public awareness of environmental issues and education for sustainable development.

The REC's methodology encourages:

• local solutions to local environmental problems and a broader-based approach to regional problems; and
• an integrated approach to addressing environmental problems in a sustainable manner.

The country office's programmes and projects help to strengthen the knowledge and capacities of individuals and organisations contributing to the solving of environmental problems in the region.