Forthcoming policy developments

BiH is currently in the process of finalizing its Youth Guarantee Implementation Plan (YGIP), with technical support from the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the International Labour Organization (ILO), the European Union, and relevant entity-level authorities. Although the implementation plan has not yet been formally adopted, pilot projects are under preparation. The current focus is on improving inter-institutional coordination, digitalizing services for NEET youth, and embedding the Youth Guarantee framework into the existing public service infrastructure. At present, the Youth Guarantee represents the only state-level initiative designed to provide an integrated response to the challenges faced by NEET youth in BiH.

Key Implementation Gaps and Ongoing Efforts:

• Institutional coordination between state, entity, cantonal employment agencies, and education and social protection services remains underdeveloped, limiting the system’s effectiveness and reach.
• Digital identification and registration systems for NEET youth are still lacking. The current PES (Public Employment Services) infrastructure is not yet adapted to the data and workflow requirements of the Youth Guarantee.

The legal and strategic framework for the Youth Guarantee is still being refined, with continued support from the ILO and EU. This includes a review of national policy and mapping of the NEET population, which was conducted by the Ministry of Civil Affairs in 2022.

Ongoing debates

No ongoing debates.