Young people in BiH show growing engagement with global issues, but institutional support remains fragmented. There is no unified national framework coordinating young people input into global policymaking. Still, NGOs and international initiatives often fill the gap.

Main concepts

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the 2030 Agenda are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the environment and climate, and ensure peace and prosperity. In BiH, these goals are recognized as crucial for social, economic, and ecological progress, as well as for strengthening regional cooperation. BiH is a signatory of the Sofia Declaration on the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans (2020), committing to measures for reducing pollution, developing renewable energy sources, promoting circular economy, biodiversity, and sustainable agriculture. This agenda is part of the European Green Deal, which aims for a climate-neutral Europe without compromising economic growth.

The Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) of 2015 defines BiH as a potential candidate for EU membership. Within the EU accession framework, BiH has identified three pathways of sustainable development:

1. Good governance and the public sector,

2. Smart growth,

3. A society of equal opportunities, with two cross-cutting themes:

• Human capital for the future, and

• The principle of “No one left behind.”

These pathways are supported through cooperation between institutions such as the BiH Council of Ministers and civil society organizations (CSOs), including projects funded by the EU and UNDP. For example, the Regional Programme on Local Democracy in the Western Balkans 2 (ReLOaD 2) supports transparent allocation of funds to CSOs at the local level, including youth organizations, such as those in Bihac. According to UNDP data, ReLOaD 2 supported more than 50 youth projects in BiH between 2021 and 2024, engaging over 2,000 young people in activities related to the SDGs.

BiH signed the Sofia Declaration on the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, by which the countries of the region (Albania, BiH, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Kosovo) undertook to implement measures in the area of reducing pollution and preventing climate change, development of energy from renewable sources, mobility and circular economy as well as development of biodiversity, sustainable agriculture and food production. The Green Agenda for the Western Balkans is an integral part of the Green Plan of the European Union ("The European Green Deal"), which aims to make Europe a climate-neutral country, but without jeopardizing sustainable economic growth.

Youth interest in global issues

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) led a project titled Engaging Youth in Environmentally and Socio-Economically Sustainable Initiatives. The goal of the project was to address the socio-economic factors that contribute to youth dissatisfaction in BiH communities and help young people participate in environmental preservation and improvement activities through participatory initiatives and community mechanisms for fostering social cohesion and climate resilience. The project has organized EcoUP Start Weekends in three local communities: Bihac (28-30 October 2022), Jablanica (11-13 November 2022) and Bijeljina (18– 20 November 2022). The topic of the EcoUP Start Weekends was "Innovative Approaches to Environmental Protection and Prevention of the Outmigration of Young People as a Result of Climate Changes". The goal of the EcoUP Start Weekends was to develop creative solutions for environmental protection and to keep young people from fleeing their communities as a result of climate change.

In 2021, the Italian Embassy in BiH facilitated the establishment of an informal network of organisations and individuals, comprising environmental NGOs, youth activists’ groups and informal youth leaders from various parts of BiH –Zelena mreža / Green Network. More than 200 young people country-wide have shown interest in tackling environmental issues through cleaning actions, tree planting and eco walks within their communities, as well as getting connected and sharing experiences and knowledge. 

A UNV-powered national review found that youth engagement in volunteerism stands at 13.8%, still below the EU average (25%). Volunteer activities—led by organizations like PRONI, Red Cross, and the Youth Communication Center—contribute to multiple SDGs, including well-being, health, gender equality, and partnerships. The “Let’s Do It” project in BiH, which is implemented by the Sarajevo based Citizen Association “Ruke” and the Banja Luka-based Citizen Association “Mosaic of Friendship,” has engaged 206,981 volunteers since 2012 to clean up illegal landfills and plant trees. Volunteers removed around 16,370 tons of waste and planted 485,716 different tree seedlings. 

The EU Delegation in BiH hosted a "Students on the Move Dialogue" in 2025, bringing together representatives of 12 international student networks (AIESEC, YEA, BEST, etc.) to strengthen strategic student advocacy, financial sustainability and visibility of youth-led structures within European integration and mobility policy. The event was organized as part of its wider support to youth engagement, mobility, and democratic participation.

National studies on youth engagement in global issues are limited, but the report Youth Study Bosnia and Herzegovina 2021 (Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung) shows that only 15% of young people in BiH actively participate in initiatives related to global issues such as climate change or social inclusion, highlighting the need for greater involvement through educational and volunteering programs.

The Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO), through its evaluations and reports such as “Youth Perspectives on Peace and Regional Cooperation” (2022), highlighted that a significant number of young people from BiH participate in regional exchanges covering themes such as reconciliation, mobility, human rights, and sustainable development. These activities contribute not only to the personal development of young people but also to their understanding of and involvement in broader global processes.

The EU Delegation in BiH and the EU Info Centre also continuously organize educational and informational campaigns for young people, including thematic forums on the green transition, digital transformation, and gender equality within the framework of European values. Reports from events such as the EU-BiH Youth Forum regularly record positive examples of youth activism on issues that transcend the local and national context.

Although several initiatives and reports exist, systematic monitoring and consolidation of data on the engagement of young people from BiH in global issues has not yet been established. Therefore, there is a need to develop structured mechanisms and databases that would enable tracking and strengthening the role of youth in the international context.

The UNICEF Voices of Youth report is the most recent point of data reference, but broader national-level tracking is absent.