Local youth organisations drive policy change in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Across the world, there is growing recognition of the role that young people can play in moulding their futures when given access to the right opportunities. To include the youth is to advocate for their unique needs, encouraging a culture of social responsibility and greater political engagement.

However, despite this recognition, youth participation in formal political systems remains relatively low. And more often than not, it is because of a need for governments to mobilise resources that would develop structures for proper representation.

This is one of the primary challenges facing youth initiatives in the Balkan country of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). While laws across relevant entities — such as the Republic of Srpska, the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the self-governing Brčko District — generally support youth political participation, local implementation has seen varying results. Issues like a lack of funding, spaces and policies make it difficult to sustain youth initiatives.

Creating conditions for youth participation to flourish

The SDC-funded Proaktivni Građani i Građanke or Proactive Citizens (PRAGG) project, which the consortium of NIRAS and Helvetashas been implementing since 2021 in partnership with the Centres for Civic Initiatives and the Institute for Youth Development KULT, aims to alleviate these difficulties by providing strategic support to youth organisations operating within local communities in BiH. This includes capacity building for public engagement, cross-organisational collaboration and civil participation, as well as cooperating with authorities in order to cultivate an enabling environment for youth organisations.

In Srbac, a town in the Republic of Srpska, youth activists have been struggling to engage effectively with the municipal government. From 2012 to 2016, the municipality adopted a youth policy, but – since then – it has not been revised to align with current needs and priorities.

Youth activists consider the lack of this document to be a critical barrier to addressing the issues of youth in their community. Through PRAGG’s support, they have launched a campaign to formulate and adopt a new youth policy.

Tanja Šnjegota, from Centar Edukacije Za Aktivan Razvoj (Center of Education for Active Development  - UG CEZAR), one of the most active organisations in the region, remarked “By adopting this document, young people will benefit greatly, and the municipality of Srbac will be recognised as a serious partner in their life and development.”

Aside from this campaign, UG CEZAR is facilitating, in coordination with local authorities, paid internships for high school students at institutions such as banks, craft businesses and hospitality establishments. They are also advocating for the establishment of a Youth Cooperative.

Meanwhile, in the municipality of Odžak, the Youth Council faces a critical lack of space, which has hindered their work and made it difficult to organise activities. Unlike in Srbac, there has never been a framework document for supporting youth initiatives. PRAGG has supported the Odžak Youth Council in securing much-needed workspace and launching a campaign for a Youth Strategy. The Youth Council organised public forums and meetings with citizens and authorities, as well as the media, to raise awareness of youth issues and the importance of youth representation.

“With PRAGG’s support, we have been able to launch a campaign for the adoption of a Youth Strategy — a first step towards creating a safe space and systemic support for young people, which has been missing here for years,” says Iva Bilušić, president of the Odžak Youth Council.

Taking the first steps towards youth empowerment

These efforts in Srbac and Odžak are necessary first steps to strengthen youth participation in public life. The grassroots work done by youth activists today is critical for creating a strong foundation for the future that youth leaders will be able to build upon. Initiatives like PRAGG — which support these leaders and their organisations by equipping them with the tools, resources and skills necessary to engage meaningfully with society — help drive meaningful change on the ground, leading to a more youth-inclusive future.