The foundation for the new project, "Enhancing Land Consolidation in North Macedonia," was laid by the European Union-funded project entitled "Mainstreaming of the National Land Consolidation Programme" (MAINLAND). Co-funded and implemented by FAO, MAINLAND was active from March 2017 to November 2022, supporting the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Water Economy (MAFWE) to address the problem of excessive fragmentation of agricultural land, small farm sizes, and insufficient agricultural infrastructure in North Macedonia through land consolidation. 

The project successfully supported the implementation of the National Land Consolidation Programme through the improvement of the legal framework on land consolidation, preparation of procedures for each phase of the land consolidation projects, awareness raising, capacity development, and the establishment of tools for monitoring the benefits of land consolidation projects. These activities led to the successful implementation of the first round of land consolidation projects on the ground, and ultimately to enhanced national capacity for autonomous implementation of the National Land Consolidation Programme in the future.

Building upon the groundwork laid by MAINLAND, the EU and FAO jointly launched the subsequent project, "Enhancing Land Consolidation in North Macedonia" implemented from August 2022 to January 2026.

Through MAINLAND, the country achieved a significant reduction in the number of land parcels and an increase in their average size, making it a leader in land consolidation in the Western Balkan region and Eastern Europe. 

Nine land re-allotment plans were prepared, where the total number of parcels was reduced from 8 237 to 3 344 (an average reduction of 59 percent).

This positively impacted over 6 200 farmers, with 2 550 in nine areas experiencing improved land structure, reduced fragmentation, and better access to agricultural infrastructure, including 630 women. Municipalities in these areas also benefited from enhanced agriculture infrastructure and improved livelihoods in the rural communities.