Policy/legal framework

Bosnia and Herzegovina does not have a national youth law that would define youth work. The Republika Srpska Law on Youth Organization, the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Youth Law and the Brčko District Youth Law define the youth work framework in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Republika Srpska Law on Youth Organization had two revisions. The first revision was in 2008 and the second one in 2011. The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Brčko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina youth laws have not undergone any revisions. 

According to the report "Policy Dimensions of Youth Work Recognition in the Western Balkans" (2024), the legal framework supports youth work through non-formal education, but the lack of a national standard hinders recognition.

Funding

At national level, the Ministry of Civil Affairs administers the budget allocated to administrative and staff costs for the Ministry and for the Commission for Coordination of Youth Issues in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This part of the budget cannot be separated from the total operational allocations. Youth issues are the responsibility of entities and programs for young people, and youth organizations are funded by the relevant institutions responsible for youth issues. 

The Bosnia and Herzegovina Council of Ministers annually adopts a decision and publishes open calls on allocating funds for co-financing projects that contribute to the development of science and innovation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as to the implementation of policies and international obligations in the field of science in Bosnia and Herzegovina through the following grants:

• Support for the preparation of projects for open ongoing calls within the HORIZON 2020 program and the implementation of approved projects within the HORIZON 2020 program,

• Support for participation in actions within the COST program,

• Support for the preparation and implementation of projects within the EUREKA program,

• Support to projects that contribute to a higher level of success of Bosnia and Herzegovina's participation in the HORIZON 2020 program.

The Republika Srpska Youth Policy has been in place since 2006, and its implementation has been implemented by the Republika Srpska Ministry of Family, Youth and Sports through financing youth organizations and programs for young people. The Republika Srpska Ministry of Family, Youth and Sport provides support, funding and co-funding projects of youth organizations through annual public calls. The Ministry of Family, Youth and Sports in the Republika Srpska Government has announced the results of the Open Call for co-financing programs and projects of youth organizations up to 5,000.00 BAM. A total of 78 projects were approved, which were co-financed in the total amount of 300,000.00 BAM. A total of 23 youth organizations from Banja Luka received funds for the implementation of their projects.

The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Budget has a budget line dedicated for youth called “Transfer for Youth”, which is governed by the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Ministry of Culture and Sport, as support to youth organizations. 

The Brčko District Department for Professional and Administrative Affairs publishes the Public Call aimed at financing and co-financing programs or projects of public interest in the field of social protection, protection of persons with disabilities, social care for children and youth, assistance to the elderly, protection and promotion of human rights, volunteering, combating discrimination, domestic violence and juvenile violence, the fight against addiction, animal welfare, consumer protection, the fight against corruption, the promotion of European integration as well as humanitarian and similar work.

In 2023, the Department for Professional and Administrative Affairsk allocated 420,000 KM for financing non-governmental sector projects. Which is more than a 50% increase based on 2022.

In addition, the Brčko District Bosnia and Herzegovina has a budget for youth projects financed through open calls. Recently, the PRONI Center for Youth Development has been negotiating with the Department for Professional and Administrative Affairs of the Brčko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina on the relaunch of the Youth Club Network, as it is recognized in the Brčko District Youth Strategy. According to the SDG Week 2025 report (UN Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2025), funding increased by 50% in 2023 but remains limited.

Youth work providers

The PRONI Centre for Youth Development is a non-governmental, non-profit, and non-political organization established in August 1998 to organize and implement education in the field of youth work. Its goal is to develop and promote peace and activism among active citizens. PRONI operates at the national level and is also active at the European level through partnerships and networking with other youth NGOs and youth networks. PRONI is the founder of the largest network of youth clubs in Bosnia and Herzegovina – 42 youth clubs. PRONI is also the initiator and co-founder of the reconstruction of one of the largest youth centres in Bosnia and Herzegovina – the Brčko District Youth Centre, PRONI implements programs such as the PRONI Youth Work Academy (PAOR), which includes modules on basics of youth work, trainer training, and management of youth organizations.

Perpetuum mobile - Institute for Youth and Community Development in Banja Luka is a civil society organization that develops healthy life values of young people through educational, advocacy and research programs and encourages civic and political participation with the aim of creating a more responsible and just society.

The Institute for Youth Development KULT was established at the state level in 2002. It was known under the name KULT Association until May 2011. In addition to the Central Office in Sarajevo, there are offices in Gradačac and Subotica, which have continued to operate under the old name. The KULT’s cooperation with the authorities is extremely effective and based on partnerships. The Institute strives to carry out the activities needed by the target group on the spot in all places where it has its office. Planned workshops are held every year in order to determine the focus of their work. It strives for good cooperation with municipal authorities and various domestic and international organizations to prevent duplication or overlapping of projects.

KULT has experience in drafting legislation and has been involved in drafting numerous laws at all levels of government. In addition, the Institute initiated the adoption of the youth laws in Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Brčko District, the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Law on Volunteering, etc. For example, KULT drafted the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina youth and volunteering laws in cooperation with other organizations, which were sent to parliamentary procedure in cooperation with the Commission for Youth Affairs of the House of Representatives of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Parliamentary Assembly. The laws were ultimately passed.

The Republika Srpska Youth Council is the umbrella youth organization in Republika Srpska, whose position and role are defined by the Law on Youth Organization adopted by the Republika Srpska People’s Assembly in 2004. As an umbrella youth organization, it brings together local and Republika Srpska youth organizations with the aim of representing their interests before the Republika Srpska institutions, in international cooperation, etc.

The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Youth Council is an open platform where young people can articulate their problems and needs more clearly and loudly to those who need to create an environment for healthy youth growth and development. It is an umbrella representative structure of young people recognized by the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Youth Law, which brings together over 100 youth associations. It gathers many youth organizations in Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in its structure and ensures that young people fully decide on important issues.

The Brčko District Youth Council is defined under the Brčko District Youth Law as the umbrella organization of youth associations in Brčko District in creating youth policies and programs in cooperation with legislative bodies. The Brčko District Youth Council was formally established at the end of November 2018, and currently incorporates 13 youth associations registered in the Youth Organization Register of the Department for Professional and Administrative Affairs of the Brčko District Government, with a tendency to expand.

CEREBRA is a civil society organization from Banja Luka that mainly works with young people, although the elderly are also one of the target groups. It organizes educational events (workshops, training courses, seminars, conferences, etc.) to provide opportunities for young people to learn the skills needed in the labor market and travel around the region and elsewhere in Europe.

Youth Power is a youth organization with the mission to create a society with positive values, where young people contribute to tolerance and dialogue, the promotion of healthy lifestyles, gender equality, violence prevention and are actively involved in social life.

The Youth Association "TRIK" Kalesija is an independent, non-partisan, non-governmental and non-profit youth organization open to cooperation and ideas that change the community.

PROI is a non-governmental organization in Sarajevo that has been working since 2001 to advocate for positive systemic solutions to protect democracy, increase security, empower youth and improve public health policies in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Western Balkans.

PROI's vision is to strengthen youth and civil society initiatives that promote community engagement, protect human rights and improve public health. Through collaboration, we build resilient and sustainable communities, and foster social inclusion and democratic values. The projects, for which they have gained recognition, are focused on strengthening institutional capacities, policy development and creating effective, long-term sustainable systemic solutions for a better Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region.

Cooperation

At the national level, the Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina administers the Commission for Coordination of Youth Issues in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This is the only state level body that coordinates the cooperation of both entities and Brčko District Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

The most recent development is that all three youth councils in Bosnia and Herzegovina signed a cooperation agreement that would enable the youth councils to advocate for youth issues with the Ministry of Civil Affairs at the state level. 

As part of the General Mobilization project implemented by the PRONI Centre for Youth Development in partnership with the NGO Nešto Više and the Government of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton (HNK), the Youth Policy of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton 2023-2028 and the Action Plan for 2023 have been developed and adopted. The overall goal of this project is to strengthen and enhance the capacity of youth civil society organizations to participate in reforms for the education and employability of youth in Bosnia and Herzegovina.