National strategy(ies)

BiH currently does not have an adopted national strategy addressing the promotion of healthy lifestyles and healthy nutrition among young people. This issue is mostly under the jurisdiction of entity-level ministries, while the BiH Ministry of Civil Affairs has a coordinating role at the state level.

Encouraging healthy lifestyles and healthy nutrition for young people

Healthy lifestyles and nutrition are not prioritized in strategic documents at the state level. According to the Global Nutrition Report 2020, BiH shows limited progress in achieving goals related to diet-associated non-communicable diseases (NCDs). It is estimated that 18.4% of adult women and 17.1% of men are obese, which is below the regional average. Diabetes affects about 6.9% of adult women and 8.0% of men. Although these data refer to the adult population, they indicate trends that start developing during youth.

In schools and communities, there is no systematic promotion of healthy eating habits among young people. Unequal access to sports activities, the lack of subsidized nutrition, and limited program interventions further hinder the adoption of healthy habits among youth.

Health education and healthy lifestyles education in schools

In 2013, Association XY, in cooperation with the then Ministry of Education, Science and Youth of Sarajevo Canton (now the Ministry of Science, Higher Education and Youth of Sarajevo Canton), introduced the subject Healthy Lifestyle in primary schools, with an integrated module on comprehensive sexual education. The program is not compulsory nor implemented outside Sarajevo Canton, and fewer than 10% of students choose to attend this subject.

Although some cantons, such as Bosnian-Podrinje Canton, analyzed the possibilities of broader program implementation in 2016, comprehensive curriculum reform has not yet been launched. In Brčko District BiH, there is still no institutionalized health education program, although NGOs have carried out educational projects of similar content.

Peer-to-peer education approaches

In BiH, peer education has proven to be one of the most effective approaches in working with young people in terms of violence prevention, promotion of healthy lifestyles, and gender equality. This approach enables young people to develop awareness, recognize risky behaviors, and actively participate in building positive values in their communities through peer-led education.

Program Y – “Innovative Approaches of Youth in Preventing Violence and Promoting Healthy Lifestyles” is an educational program accredited in Herzegovina-Neretva Canton and approved for implementation in secondary schools in RS. It is also implemented in Sarajevo Canton and Central Bosnia Canton. The program is supported by CARE International, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, and the OaK Foundation. It is implemented by local and non-governmental organizations, including Association XY, Perpetuum Mobile (Banja Luka), NGO Youth Power (Mostar), Forum Theatre (East Sarajevo), New Vision (Novi Travnik), Otaharin (Bijeljina), Zemlja djece u BiH (Tuzla), PRONI Center for Youth Development (BD BiH), and Youth Club “Under the Same Sun” (Jablanica). The program aims to increase the adoption of healthy, non-violent, and gender-equal lifestyles among young people in BiH.

Program Y is based on a methodology of working with youth through workshops, group work, and participation in local campaigns. It also uses a manual developed under the Young Men Initiative, which addresses topics such as the prevention of gender-based violence, health, adolescence, the roles of men and women in modern society, and critical reflection on social norms.

Collaboration and partnerships

There are no systemic state-level programs of cooperation and partnership in this area. However, numerous projects such as Program Y and Be a Man Club initiative bring together local organizations, schools, and public institutions to promote healthy lifestyles.

Be a Man Club initiative has been active since 2006 in more than 50 cities and municipalities across BiH, Serbia, Kosovo, and Croatia. The clubs bring together young people (ages 13–19) to promote gender equality, non-violent behavior, sexual health, and responsible growing up. Education is delivered using the Manual M, developed by the organization Promundo (Brazil), which contains more than 100 workshops.

According to CARE’s internal reports, over 2,000 young men and 500 women have directly participated in project activities so far. In BD BiH, more than 40 members are currently active in Be a Man Club, implemented by the PRONI Center for Youth Development. In 2023 and 2024, the clubs focused particularly on peer violence prevention, healthy relationships, and mental health promotion, in cooperation with local educational institutions and mental health centers.

Raising awareness on healthy lifestyles and on factors affecting the health and well-being of young people

There is no comprehensive, state-level system that provides timely and reliable health information to youth. There are several international projects in BiH focused on raising awareness on healthy lifestyles among young people, such as the above-mentioned Program Y and BeWell@DIGITAL project. BeWell@DIGITAL project is a regional EU co-funded initiative (Montenegro, BiH and Albania) targeting youth mental health by enhancing digital skills and creating peer-to-peer counselling services.