Budget transparency and program budgeting represent an important part of public finance reforms that Bosnia and Herzegovina should implement in the process of European integration and alignment with the requirements of Chapter 32 – Financial control.
As part of the project “Strengthening rural voices and strengthening rural communities for a sustainable future”, a cycle of “MZ Academy” workshops was successfully implemented, intended for representatives of local communities, civil society organizations and active citizens from local communities.
The Resource Centre for Civil Society Organisations in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Center for Research and Studies (GEA) presented the “Roadmap for Chapter 32 – Financial Control”.
On October 29, 2025, in Banja Luka, at the Courtyard by Marriott hotel, we summarized the results of the project “USPON – successful change of the position of women from rural areas”, co-financed by the European Union and Sweden within the “EU4Employment” program.
The results of a research on budget transparency conducted by the Center for Research and Studies – GEA from Banja Luka, which for the first time included all local government units in Bosnia and Herzegovina, show a low level of transparency of local governments in our country.
Representatives of GEA had the opportunity to present the findings of a recently completed study on the budget transparency of local self-government units in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
As part of a project implemented by the Center for Research and Studies “GEA” from Banja Luka in collaboration with the City Administration of Gradiška, a digital platform has been developed to enable citizens to easily participate in public discussions on drafts of the city budget and other documents.
The goal of this project is to ensure the employment or self-employment of at least 35 inactive or unemployed women aged 15 to 64 from the rural areas of the area covered by the Banja Luka branch of the RS Employment Agency, which is 13 local self-government units.
GEA is implementing the project LENS in partnership with two civil society organizations: Center for Investigative Reporting (lead partner) and Life Quality Improvement Association “Futura”. The implementation commenced in February 2024 and will last until January 2027.
The project “RAG – Your Ticket to the World of Entrepreneurship” has been successfully implemented and 20 users from the municipalities of Bosanski Petrovac, Petrovac, and Ribnik have started their own businesses.