At the state level, Bosnia and Herzegovina does not have a single overarching national youth strategy covering foreign policy or global agendas. However, the policy framework for youth participation is articulated in entity-level youth strategies and institutional mechanisms that include elements relevant to global policy engagement.

Young people in Bosnia and Herzegovina 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

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, youth participation in global policymaking and cooperation is not formally defined through a single state-level policy document. Instead, it is primarily understood and operationalized through international cooperation frameworks, particularly those related to European integration, United Nations agendas, and regional cooperation in the Western Balkans.

Youth participation in global issues is mainly realized through:

• Participation in EU programs (e.g. Erasmus+, European Solidarity Corps),

• Involvement in UN-supported initiatives (UNDP, UNICEF, UNFPA),

• Engagement in regional youth cooperation mechanisms (e.g. Regional Youth Cooperation Office – RYCO),

• Activities of civil society organizations working on peacebuilding, human rights, climate action and sustainable development.

This understanding aligns with the EU youth policy approach, where youth participation includes consultation, dialogue, project implementation and advocacy at international level rather than formal decision-making authority.

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 Bosnia and Herzegovina, these goals are recognized as crucial for social, economic, and ecological progress, as well as for strengthening regional cooperation. 

Bosnia and Herzegovina signed the Sofia Declaration on the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, by which the countries of the region (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 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.

The Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) of 2015 defines Bosnia and Herzegovina as a potential candidate for EU membership. Within the EU accession framework, Bosnia and Herzegovina 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 Bosnia and Herzegovina Council of Ministers and civil society organizations (CSOs), including projects funded by the EU and UNDP. For example, the Regional Program 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 Bosnia and Herzegovina. According to UNDP data, ReLOaD 2 supported more than 50 youth projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina between 2021 and 2024, engaging over 2,000 young people in activities related to the SDGs.

Although green volunteering is not formally defined in youth legislation, it is commonly understood as voluntary engagement of young people in environmental protection and sustainability-oriented activities, including environmental clean-ups, biodiversity protection, recycling and waste management, awareness-raising on energy efficiency and climate change.

These activities are mainly promoted through NGOs, local initiatives, and internationally funded projects, often supported by EU, UNDP or bilateral donors.

Youth interest in global issues

Available surveys and reports indicate that young people in Bosnia and Herzegovina show a growing concern for environmental issues, although this does not always translate into long-term structured engagement. 

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 Bosnia and Herzegovina 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.

According to a UNICEF and UNDP youth perception study, climate change and environmental degradation are increasingly recognized by young people as serious problems affecting their future. Youth-led environmental initiatives and climate protests have emerged in recent years, particularly in urban centers. However, limited institutional support, lack of funding and weak environmental education remain challenges for sustained youth engagement.

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 Bosnia and Herzegovina, 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 to Bosnia and Herzegovina 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.

Human rights, reconciliation and peacebuilding remain central global themes for youth in Bosnia and Herzegovina, given the country’s post-conflict context. Surveys conducted by Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) show that young people generally support democratic values and human rights but express low trust in institutions and limited belief in their ability to influence decision-making. Youth participation in human-rights-related global initiatives is most often channelled through NGO projects, international campaigns and UN-supported programs.

Studies indicate that environmentally responsible behaviour among young people in Bosnia and Herzegovina is uneven. Recycling and energy-saving practices are more common in urban areas. Structural barriers (limited infrastructure, weak local systems) restrict wider adoption of green consumption patterns. Youth environmental behaviour is strongly influenced by education level, access to information and local opportunities, rather than national policy incentives.

Youth cooperation with regions outside Europe remains limited but present, mainly through UN volunteer programs, international NGO projects and academic exchanges at higher-education level. Most cross-border youth mobility, however, remains Europe-focused, particularly through Erasmus+ and regional Western Balkans initiatives.
(See Chapter 2 on Volunteering, Chapter 3 on Employment and Entrepreneurship, and Chapter 6 on Education and Training for detailed analysis.)

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 Bosnia and Herzegovina 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 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 Bosnia and Herzegovina 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: Bihać (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 Bosnia and Herzegovina facilitated the establishment of an informal network of organizations and individuals, comprising environmental NGOs, youth activists’ groups and informal youth leaders from various parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina –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. 

The EU Delegation in Bosnia and Herzegovina 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-Bosnia and Herzegovina Youth Forum regularly record positive examples of youth activism on issues that transcend the local and national context.

Bosnia and Herzegovina does not conduct regular state-level youth surveys on global engagement. Although several initiatives and reports exist, systematic monitoring and consolidation of data on the engagement of young people from Bosnia and Herzegovina 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.

However, several internationally recognised studies provide insight into youth attitudes and participation trends:

• Youth Study South East Europe (FES) – attitudes towards democracy, global issues and mobility

• UNICEF youth research – civic engagement and participation

• OECD and UNDP reports – youth, governance and sustainable development

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