Policy/legal framework

BiH does not have a national youth law that would define youth work. The RS Law on Youth Organization, the FBiH Youth Law and the BD Youth Law define the youth work framework in BiH. The RS Law on Youth Organization had two revisions. The first revision was in 2008 and the second one in 2011. The FBiH and BD BiH youth laws have not undergone any revisions. 

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 BiH. 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 BiH 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 BiH, as well as to the implementation of policies and international obligations in the field of science in BiH 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 RS Youth Policy has been in place since 2006, and its implementation has been implemented by the RS Ministry of Family, Youth and Sports through financing youth organizations and programs for young people. The RS 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 RS 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 FBiH Budget has a budget line dedicated for youth called “Transfer for Youth”, which is governed by the FBiH Ministry of Culture and Sport, as support to youth organizations. 

The BD 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 Affairs allocated 420,000 KM for financing non-governmental sector projects. Which is more than a 50% increase based on 2022.

In addition, the BD BiH has a budget for youth projects financed through open calls and a permanent budget line called “Support to youth club network”, where members of youth club network in BD BiH receive funds on an annual base. 

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 BiH – 42 youth clubs. PRONI is also the initiator and co-founder of the reconstruction of one of the largest youth centres in BiH – the BD Youth Centre.

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 Gradacac 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 FBiH and BD, the FBiH Law on Volunteering, etc. For example, KULT drafted the FBiH 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 FBiH Parliamentary Assembly. The laws were ultimately passed.

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

The FBiH 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 FBiH Youth Law, which brings together over 100 youth associations. It gathers many youth organizations in FBiH in its structure and ensures that young people fully decide on important issues.

The BD Youth Council is defined under the BD Youth Law as the umbrella organization of youth associations in BD in creating youth policies and programs in cooperation with legislative bodies. The BD 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 BD Government, with a tendency to expand.

CEREBRA is a civil society organisation 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 labour market and travel around the region and elsewhere in Europe.

Youth Power is a youth organisation 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.

Cooperation

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

The most recent development is that all three youth councils in BiH 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.