Vibrant civil society in Republika Srpska
The project “Vibrant Civil Society in the Republika Srpska” is implemented by Agora CE together with the organization Zdravo da ste from Bosnia and Herzegovina. The project is aimed at strengthening democratic principles by increasing citizen participation in decision-making at the local level. It is implemented in six municipalities of the Republika Srpska in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The project has received support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic and is being implemented from January 2025 to December 2026.
Why is this important?
Historically low levels of civic participation in Republika Srpska, driven by distrust in institutions and political leaders, lead to citizen passivity. Recent legislative changes, such as the reintroduction of defamation as a crime and the proposed law on “foreign agents,” threaten the state of civil society. Young people are under-involved in public affairs, which undermines democratic processes and community development.
At the same time, there is a growing interest in volunteering and community activities, especially among young people. The project therefore uses this potential and helps create conditions for greater citizen involvement in decision-making processes.
What will happen?
Creation and training of local groups: Formation of six local groups of five members each, who will be trained in civic engagement, participation in decision-making and community mapping. The local group will be led by one tutor – local leader. They will be selected from youth centers and non-profit organizations in six municipalities
Community Mapping: Each group will conduct a needs analysis and identify key issues in their community.
Project planning and implementation: Based on the findings from the mapping, they will design and implement projects that address the identified problems.
Presentation of results: After the completion of the projects, the results will be presented to the public and local authorities to raise awareness and encourage further participation.
Comparative study on civic participation: Comparative analysis of the level of civic participation between the Republika Srpska and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The study will be based on monitoring indicators, interviews with key stakeholders and analysis of current trends. The results will be presented to the professional community, politicians and civil society organizations.
Media campaign : Information about the project and its results will be disseminated through media and social networks to reach a wider public and inspire other communities to get involved.
Final conference: Sharing experiences and results with the professional public and evaluating the impact of the project.
Impact on communities
Increasing civic engagement will support the active involvement of residents in solving local problems and strengthen democratic processes. In addition, working together on projects will contribute to strengthening community cohesion, improving relations between residents and promoting mutual cooperation. Participants will gain new skills in project management, public participation and advocacy, which will allow them to participate more effectively in community affairs. Thanks to these experiences, the created projects will become sustainable and serve as a basis for further community development.
Who will be involved in the project?
Local leaders and active citizens: They will form the core of local groups and lead community initiatives.
Youth centers and non-profit organizations: They will provide facilities and support for the implementation of activities.
The wider public: Will be informed and involved in the projects through public presentations and media campaigns.
Project objectives
The main objective of the project is to strengthen the adherence to democratic principles in the Republika Srpska by increasing citizen participation in decision-making at the local level. This will be achieved by:
- By creating and strengthening active civic groups in selected municipalities.
- By implementing projects aimed at solving identified community problems.
- By raising awareness of the importance of civic participation and democratic processes.
- By strengthening cooperation between citizens, non-profit organizations and local authorities.
The project was supported by funds from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic within the framework of the Transformation Cooperation Program of the Czech Republic.
