In October 2023, the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina adopted the Decision on initiating the development of the Youth Strategy of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This Decision names the FBiH Ministry of Culture and Sports as responsible for drafting the document. This would be the first strategic document focused on youth and a unique opportunity to assess their needs and establish comprehensive care systems from 2024 to 2027. In January 2024, a working group was appointed to collaborate with the Ministry, the Institute for Youth Development KULT, and the Youth Council of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina on developing new approaches and opportunities for young people.
The development of the first strategic document will prioritize the needs of young people in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The process will be informed by a survey and subsequent analysis conducted by the Institute for Youth Development KULT on the current position and needs of youth. Young people, represented by the Youth Council of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, will actively participate in the Working Group’s process of developing the document.
“For years, the Institute has supported government institutions at all levels in Bosnia and Herzegovina to develop strategic documents that address the actual needs of young people and set up effective programs. We want to make sure that youth issues are addressed in a systemic way. In the upcoming months, our long-term collaboration with the FBiH Ministry of Culture and Sports will culminate in the creation of a youth strategy — a crucial strategic document for FBiH, since youth are both the current and future drivers of social, economic, and political life. The Institute will fully support the Ministry in applying modern methods to engage with young people and improve their participation in decision-making processes. That’s the only way we can develop policies tailored to young people,” said the CEO of the Institute for Youth Development KULT Jasmin Bešić.
A strategic approach to working with young people in the Federation of BiH is crucial, particularly given the obvious importance of involving them in decision-making processes and listening to their needs and ideas. Their participation can significantly improve their status and influence in shaping public policies.
Minister Vlaisavljević’s advisor, Adis Salkić, emphasized the importance of the youth strategy, stating: “We consider the youth strategy one of the crucial strategic documents for the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as young people are the foundation for stable and sustainable social and economic development.” Although the Federation of BiH had multiple programs and activities related to young people, they were not coordinated or strategically aimed at a common goal: improving young people’s quality of life and fostering youth development. We are commited to helping young people become a strategic resource in all segments of the development of the Federation of BiH and we will ensure that FBiH institutions carry out activities aimed at achieving this goal, with clearly defined programs and measurable indicators. The FBiH Ministry of Culture and Sports will lead this important process.”
Young people will be represented through the participation of FBiH Youth Council members in the Working Group. This organization will offer support to ensure that young people’s voices play a decisive role in shaping future youth support programs.
“As the umbrella organization for youth in the FBiH, we have worked for many years to become an integral part of daily institutional agendas. This process is a successful culmination of our efforts. But this is just the beginning. Drafting the Youth Strategy of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina marks a historic moment we can be proud of. The process is an opportunity for optimal policy implementation aimed at improving the quality of life for young people. We’re now working on the document, but the most important thing is yet to come – its implementation. We will happily monitor, initiate and contribute to the implementation process. Fulfilling another measure from the FBiH Law on Youth and creating a comprehensive Youth Strategy document will signify a commitment to improving the status of youth in FBiH and facilitating access to crucial programs and processes,” said Asja Dizdarević, President of the Youth Council of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
While the FBiH Ministry of Culture and Sports leads the drafting process, other FBiH government institutions have also provided support by appointing their representatives to the Working Group. The youth strategy emerges from a multisectoral approach, encompassing key areas crucial to young people’s needs, as stipulated by the FBiH Law on Youth. The FBiH Youth Law mandates the development and adoption of a comprehensive youth strategy across all government levels within the entity and provides basic guidelines for the development process. The FBiH Regulation on Strategic Planning outlines a detailed approach to document preparation, emphasizing the significant role and experience of the FBiH Development Programming Institute.
The FBiH Ministry of Culture and Sports, in collaboration with the Institute for Youth Development KULT and the Youth Council of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, is the leader of the initiative to develop a youth strategy for the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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