On November 30, 2023, the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina hosted a conference titled “Participation of citizens in decision-making at the local level in BiH: Towards a meaningful partnership”

The conference’s goal was to provide a forum for representatives from municipal and cantonal authorities, NGOs, the media, and international organizations in BiH to discuss the practice of citizen participation in decision-making at the local level, identify facilitating and inhibiting factors, and suggest next steps.

During the conference, Mr. Marko Martic from GEA – Center for Research and Studies, presented key findings of research on the participation of citizens in decision-making at the municipal and cantonal levels in BiH. The research, that has been conducted in the August – October period, served as a platform for discussion about existing citizens’ participation mechanisms in Bosnia and Herzegovina and space for improvement.

The participants had the chance to analyze existing mechanisms, including their strengths and weaknesses, as well as to outline lessons learned and best practices in the country and the region.

This conference was a part of the OSCE Mission to BiH’s larger efforts to support endeavors and initiatives that aim to strengthen and facilitate citizen participation in decision-making processes across all levels of governance, ultimately reinforcing and promoting this fundamental democratic principle.