At a glance 

This action seeks to strengthen participatory, transparent and rights-based local governance across Bosnia and Herzegovina. It focuses on empowering local authorities and their representative associations, while creating meaningful opportunities for citizens to engage directly in local decision-making.

Building on the tangible results of previous Council of Europe Congress of Local and Regional Authorities-led initiatives, the project responds to the evolving democratic and governance challenges faced by municipalities and cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It promotes innovative forms of democratic participation, embeds human rights standards at local level, and supports reforms aligned with European principles of local self-government.

The intervention is structured around four mutually reinforcing pillars:

• strengthening deliberative democracy at local level;
• embedding a human rights-based approach in local governance;
• promoting good governance, transparency and ethical standards; and
• supporting advocacy for local government reform and alignment with European standards.

 Funding 

This project is implemented under the Council of Europe Action Plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina 2026-2029 and funded through voluntary contributions.

 Duration 

01 January 2026 - 31 December 2029

What are the goals and objectives of the action?

The action aims to expand inclusive and deliberative local decision-making while strengthening the capacities of local authorities and their associations across Bosnia and Herzegovina to uphold human rights and good governance principles.

In particular, the project supports:

• the piloting of citizens’ assemblies in additional municipalities and cities across Bosnia and Herzegovina;
• strengthened capacities of local authorities and their associations to protect and fulfil human rights at local level;
• the development and implementation of open, inclusive and transparent local governance practices; and
• enhanced advocacy capacities of local authorities and their associations to promote legislative harmonisation and improvements to local government financing.

Who benefits from the action?

The action is implemented in close co-operation with the Association of Municipalities and Cities of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Association of Municipalities and Cities of Republika Srpska.

The main target groups include:

• municipalities and cities across Bosnia and Herzegovina;
• the associations of municipalities and cities in both entities; and
• institutions and civil society organisations working on human rights and citizen participation.

Ultimately, the action benefits citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, who gain greater opportunities to participate in local decision-making and benefit from more inclusive, transparent and rights-based local governance.

How does the action work?

The project is led by the Centre of Expertise for Multilevel Governance at the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities. It combines technical assistance, capacity development and targeted financial support to strengthen democratic practices and institutional capacities at local level.

Key areas of support include:

• assisting local authorities and their associations in establishing and sustaining a country-wide pool of facilitators of citizens’ assemblies;
• supporting municipalities and cities to organise citizens’ assemblies, enabling residents to formulate recommendations and engage directly with local decision-makers, and local authorities to ensure a more inclusive decision-making;
• providing follow-up support to ensure that recommendations from citizens’ assemblies are effectively implemented;
• supporting selected local authorities in applying human rights-based approaches to inclusive policymaking, governance and service delivery;
• strengthening knowledge and skills of local authorities and their associations in human rights protection and anti-discrimination at local level;
• developing capacities of local authorities related to public ethics, transparency, open government and advocacy;
• supporting local initiatives that promote open government and ethical standards; and
• helping local authorities and their associations analyse governance structures and develop advocacy tools to improve local democracy and public administration.

What do we expect to achieve?

As a result of the action, rights-holders in Bosnia and Herzegovina benefit from more open and participatory local democracy, improved access to rights-based policymaking, and better quality local public services.

In particular:

• local authorities and their associations adopt more inclusive governance practices and systematically apply human rights-based approaches; and
• associations of local authorities strengthen their advocacy role, contributing to the improvement of the local government system in line with the Council of Europe Congress of Local and Regional Authorities monitoring recommendations.

What is the budget of the action?

The total budget of the action is 1 600 000 EUR.

Reference documents:

 Recommendation 442 (2019) on local and regional democracy in Bosnia and Herzegovina

 CG(2025)48-16 – Report on local elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina (6 October 2024)

 Recommendation 480 (2022) on smart cities and regions – prospects for a human rights-based governance approach

 Recommendation 472 (2022) and Resolution 480(2022) on the use of deliberative methods in European municipalities and regions.

 CM/Rec(2023)5 - Recommendation of the Committee of Ministers to member States on the principles of good democratic governance

 Recommendation 491 (2023) on cantonal elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina

 CM/Rec(2023)6 - Recommendation of the Committee of Ministers to member States on deliberative democracy

 Reykjavik Principles for Democracy (2023)

 Recommendation 530 (2025) on local elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina