Political commitment to evidence-based youth policy

The RS Youth Policy 2023-2027 defines four strategic goals with a total of 15 priorities and 44 measures, as well as 3 strategic projects, with a planned budget of BAM 266,389,000 for the implementation of the policy.

The RS Youth Policy has been developed continuously since 2006, in the form of five-year policy, making the document covering the period from 2023 to 2027 the fourth in order. The vision of the new Youth Policy is "More and Better - Tailored to Youth - Shaping RS to Provide More Genuine Opportunities for Youth for Better Education, Employment, Standard of Living, Entrepreneurship, Influence, and Creativity."

It is an integrated, multisectoral strategic document that defines public policies and guides the development of all areas relevant to youth, and the implementation of strategic goals and priorities leads to improving the living conditions of the youth and creates prerequisites for their staying in RS.

Preceded by comprehensive research conducted in 2021, 70 representatives of relevant institutions, public institutions, associations, youth organizations, and experts in areas relevant to the improvement of the position of youth participated in the working groups to develop this document.

The process of developing the document was technically supported through the EU4CS project (EU for Civil Society) and the youth retention program in BiH "General Mobilization" funded by the EU Delegation to BiH and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

The FBiH Government adopted a Decision on the preparation of the Youth Strategy 2027, based on the proposal of the Federal Ministry of Culture and Sports. The Strategy is a sectoral document that programmatically addresses youth issues, encompassing problem definition, needs, strategic directions, as well as objectives and measures for their implementation. The focus is on the FBiH Youth Law 2010, which provides a legal framework for youth care and organization of their activities.

The Government has obliged all federal ministries, administrations, and organizations to provide information on activities for youth to the Federal Ministry of Culture and Sports. The Ministry will establish a database and inform youth about measures and programs in accordance with the FBiH Youth Law.

The BD Youth Strategy 2022–2026 is a policy aimed at improving the position of youth in BD BiH, as well as efficient management of existing and new resources of this administrative unit. It aims to improve the position of youth, the youth sector, and youth organizations, as well as the relationship between authorities and youth. The BD Youth Strategy adopts a comprehensive approach to building social, economic, educational, cultural, and other conditions for the permanent well-being of youth and their active and responsible participation in the social community in which they live. The Strategy fully complies with the recommendations of the BD Youth Law, which obliges the authorities in BD to engage in the development of a youth strategy.

Cooperation between policymaking and research

The FBiH Ministry of Culture and Sport, together with the Institute for Youth Development KULT, conducted a Study on the positions and needs of the youth in FBiH in 2013. The research was used as a basis to begin the process of developing the youth policy. Two-day event Dialogue: FBiH Youth Policy was planned to be organized in May 2015 in order to understand the position of young people and draft the quality youth policy. This opportunity was used to open dialogue with stakeholders in order to hear opinions and suggestions on this important youth policy in FBiH. 

National statistics and available data resources

The existent statistics dating from 2013 Population Census in BiH includes information on different population aspects, but no specific indicator has been established precisely for the youth population. 

Budgetary allocations supporting research in youth field

There is no specific line of funding in FBiH, RS and BD BiH aimed at the evidence-based evaluation of youth policies.