Youth work in Bosnia and Herzegovina plays an important role in combating social exclusion through non-formal education, peer-to-peer support, and targeted outreach. There are several programs implemented by NGOs and supported by public institutions and international partners that empower youth at risk of marginalization, discrimination, or exclusion. These initiatives often focus on peace building, interethnic reconciliation, activism, volunteerism, and community development in post-conflict settings.

Public funding for youth work programs, including those fostering social inclusion, is limited and fragmented due to Bosnia and Herzegovina's decentralized structure (entity, cantonal, and local levels). Most initiatives rely primarily on international donors (e.g., USAID, EU via Erasmus+, Swedish International Development Agency - Sida, International Organization for Migration - IOM, and others), with occasional support from local authorities (e.g., Brčko District Government or municipal partnerships for facilities). There is no comprehensive national public funding mechanism dedicated to youth work.

PRONI Academy of Youth Work (PAOR)

The PRONI Academy of Youth Work (PAOR) is a flagship non-formal education program of the PRONI Center for Youth Development (founded in 1998, initially focused on post-war peacebuilding and interethnic dialogue). It provides structured training in youth work, aiming to professionalize the field in Bosnia and Herzegovina, empower participants to lead community activities, and promote social inclusion, activism, conflict resolution, and democratic participation.

• Timeline: The program has been running for many years, with documented implementations including the 2020 generation (A level) and projects in 2020–2021 incorporating A, B, and B+ levels (e.g., via YouVolution projects). It continues as an ongoing initiative, aligned with PRONI's long-term goals since the late 1990s/early 2000s.

• Target Group: Primarily young people aged 18–30 who are motivated to become youth workers, activists, trainers, or leaders. It targets aspiring or emerging youth workers rather than general youth beneficiaries. The participants gain skills to then support and include other young people (including those at risk of exclusion) through community activities. Thus, it empowers both current participants (as future youth workers) and indirectly broader youth groups.

• Structure: Implemented at progressive levels, each typically lasting around six months (with training modules, practical work, and projects):

  • Level A – Basics of Youth Work: Entry level, focusing on foundational knowledge for personal and social development of youth in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Intended for beginners interested in influencing socio-political processes in their communities.

  • Level B: Advanced training for experienced youth workers, covering topics like managing youth organizations, advanced activism, and quality assurance in youth work.

  • Level B+: Specialized or trainer-level extension, often including "trainer for trainers" components and leadership in youth organizations.

UMiD - Learn, think and act!

One-year training program for youth leaders for active involvement in the community and the business world. The Institute for Youth Development KULT conducts certified training of youth leaders "Learn, think and act!", which, among other things, offers participants the opportunity to gain self-confidence, see their abilities and potentials and develop a sense of responsibility in society and teamwork and leadership skills.

The Learn, Think and Act! training is an officially recognized form of non-formal education that provides young people with the opportunity to acquire various competencies that will make them competitive in the labor market. The program consists of seminars, practical exercises and volunteer work. The training is intended for young people up to 30 years of age. It enables young people to become active leaders in their local community and help solve youth problems, meet new friends, learn new skills, socialize and improve themselves. All interns aim to become citizens who voluntarily take steps to change the society they live in, express their opinions and actively participate in decision-making in their community. Institute - Academy for Political Leaders in Bosnia and Herzegovina

The Academy for Political Leaders in Bosnia and Herzegovina is a one-year training program that the Institute has been successfully implementing since 2007. By 2024, 199 young politicians from 30 different political parties from 46 cities and municipalities in Bosnia and Herzegovina have completed the ten-generation training program. The Academy's program aims to train young members of political parties (aged 18 to 27) during a one-year period and thus support a new generation of politicians who will work together to improve their communities and society in general.

The Service for Foreigner’s Affairs of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Ministry of Security, with the support of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), organized the Workshop on providing assistance to migrants outside the reception centers in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The workshop defined procedures for dealing with migrants from referral to accommodation, medical assistance and asylum to assistance to victims of gender-based violence, potential victims of trafficking and unaccompanied minors. The aim of the workshop is to establish a migration management system, where partner organizations will have access to all locations where migrants are located, while adhering to the procedures defined by the state. In this way, the Bosnia and Herzegovina Ministry of Security primarily wants to improve security conditions on the ground, but also the humanitarian care of migrants, especially vulnerable category in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In order to improve the functioning and implementation of a unified system for the entire territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina, a coordinator for activities related to migrants who are outside the temporary reception centers has been appointed.