Innovating democratic participation at local level in Bosnia and Herzegovina (2022-2024)

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Back People-powered local democracy at the heart of open government

12 September 2023

The 8th Open Government Partnership Global Summit has set an important milestone for future work in advancing open government at all levels. It highlighted the potential of the local level to lead the change towards more open and people-powered governance, through innovation and transformation.

Congress members and their peers from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, took an active part in many thematic sessions relevant to the work in the Congress and their own constituencies. They shared success stories on national-local coalitions for open government, democratic resilience and reconstruction, digital governance, citizen engagement, anti-corruption and cross-border climate governance. “Local authorities are uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between global targets, national aspirations and local realities” said Jelena Drenjanin, Chair of the Governance Committee (Sweden, EPP/CCE).

The first-ever OGP Local Assembly brought together local and regional authorities and civil society to exchange innovative ideas to enrich community dialogue and advance open government efforts at the local level. The Congress reiterated its support to the new OGP Strategy and to the prospect of the expansion of the OGP Local programme. “We all share the common goal to build strong and resilient local authorities who are the carriers of open government and transformative power” stressed Andrew Boff, Congress Co-Rapporteur on Resilience of cities and regions in the face of multiple crises (United Kingdom, ECR).

This Summit was a source of inspiration for local authorities and their associations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and an opportunity to meet with state representatives. “Through joint work of our associations of local authorities, we actively contribute to the implementation of open government commitments in Bosnia and Herzegovina”, stated Ljubisa Ćosić, member of the Congress, Mayor of East Sarajevo and President of the Association of local authorities in Republika Srpska. “We hope that in the upcoming period we will also see local authorities becoming actively engaged in the OGP Local Programme”, he concluded.

The Congress joined the 2023 OGP Global Summit and its side-events in Tallin (Estonia) from
5-8 September 2023 with a delegation of 25 mayors, four members of the Congress and representatives of associations of local/regional authorities. The Congress contribution was supported within co-operation projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine.

Additional resources:

X thread with detailed information of the Congress representatives’ contributions in the OGP Summit sessions

OGP Local call for expressions of interest

Flickr gallery

The project “Innovating democratic participation at local level in Bosnia and Herzegovina” aims to enhance the quality of local democracy and create opportunities for citizens to engage in innovative participatory processes in Mostar and elsewhere in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It promotes new democratic approaches, open government, public ethics, transparent and inclusive local policy making in the country.

The project is implemented by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe as part of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina 2022-2025, and in line with the principles enshrined in the European Charter for Local Self-Government (ETS No. 122) and its Additional Protocol on the right to participate in the affairs of a local authority (CETS No.207).

OUTCOMES

Citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina enjoy enhanced local democracy and more transparent local public institutions
Local authorities embed inclusive and innovative deliberative approaches to enhance decision-making
Local elected representatives and public officials strengthen their capacities to engage in collaborative governance and co-creation with citizens and civil society organisations.

METHODOLOGY

This project builds on the fruitful co-operation with the City of Mostar and the positive results of the first deliberative process in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the form of a citizens’ assembly. Support will be provided for the implementation of the Action Plan adopted in response to the citizens’ recommendations, and to conduct a second citizens’ assembly.

The best practices of deliberative democracy will be further promoted. Following a call for interest, another local authority in Bosnia and Herzegovina will benefit from project support to set up a tailored deliberative process.

Capacity development activities will be proposed to local authorities across the country with a view to enhancing the quality of local democracy and fostering collaborative governance and co-creation with citizens and civil society. These activities will be designed in close co-operation with the Associations of Municipalities and Cities from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and from Republika Srpska.

The Congress will also provide local and international expertise and support in the field of good governance and democracy, including academic support through the Group of Independent Experts to the Charter, for the development of practices and policies.

A peer-to-peer approach, including with the members of the Congress, will be used for exchanges and sharing of knowledge, know-how and practices across Europe. This support will be provided directly to local authorities and in close co-operation with the associations of local authorities.

Active participation of stakeholders at local level will be ensured, ranging from the general public to interest groups, NGOs, academia and local authorities.

EXPECTED RESULTS

Mostar City Authorities implement the action plan approved by the City Council as a follow-up to the citizens’ recommendations stemming from the first deliberative process held in 2021
A deliberative process is commissioned and organised under the leadership of the Mayor and City Council of Mostar
The mayor, local councillors, and public officials from a selected local authority in Bosnia and Herzegovina develop further their capacities to implement an inclusive deliberative process
A deliberative process is designed in one more local authority in Bosnia and Herzegovina and citizens formulate proposals to local decision-makers
The two associations of municipalities and cities promote transparent, accountable, and participatory local governance through peer exchanges and advocacy
Local authorities enhance their capacities on innovative practices for inclusive, transparent and participatory local governance.

PARTNERS AND BENEFICIARIES

Citizens of Mostar and citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina
The City of Mostar and authorities of the selected towns or cities in BiH
Association of Municipalities and Cities of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Association of Municipalities and Cities of Republika Srpska
Civil society and media.

The Council of Europe Action Plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina 2022-2025 is a strategic programming instrument that aims to bring Bosnia and Herzegovina’s legislation, institutions and practice further into line with European standards in the areas of human rights, the rule of law and democracy. The Action Plan is intended to support the country’s efforts to honour its obligations as a Council of Europe member State.

Within this framework, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities is implementing the project "Innovating democratic participation at local level in Bosnia and Herzegovina". This action is based on the needs and recommendations voiced by relevant stakeholders and beneficiaries and builds upon the results of the project “Building democratic participation in the City of Mostar”.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe

www.coe.int/en/web/congress/co-operation-activities

Council of Europe Office in Sarajevo

www.coe.int/en/web/sarajevo

Council of Europe Action Plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina 2022 – 2025

www.coe.int/en/web/programmes/bosnia-and-herzegovina

Mostar Citizens’ Assembly

www.mostargradimo.ba

Congress of Local and Regional Authorities

www.coe.int/congress

The Council of Europe is the continent’s leading human rights organisation. It comprises 46 member states, including all the members of the European Union. The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities is an institution of the Council of Europe, responsible for strengthening local and regional democracy in its 46 member states. Composed of two chambers – the Chamber of Local Authorities and the Chamber of Regions – and three committees, it brings together 612 elected officials representing more than 130 000 local and regional authorities.