The Platform of Good Practices at the Local Level, a unique online space to enable municipalities and cities across Bosnia and Herzegovina to share projects, ideas, and good practices, was launched today at a special online event hosted by the Association of Municipalities and Cities of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Association of Municipalities and Cities of Republika Srpska, with support from the Council of Europe.

Developed under the Council of Europe’s project to strengthen democratic innovations and human rights at the local level, the platform aims to encourage knowledge-sharing and promote transparent, responsible, and inclusive governance. By showcasing successful activities, projects, and innovative approaches by local governments, it will enable good practices in one area to inspire new, positive initiatives throughout the country

The primary beneficiaries are local administrations in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It will enable them to present their achievements, distinguish themselves as leaders in good governance, and contribute to collaborative learning and co-operation.

“By creating a space for dialogue and the exchange of ideas, we hope this platform will also encourage citizens to engage directly with their local authorities and influence policies that shape their communities and daily lives. This will contribute to the continuous improvement of local democracy and civic participation, supporting the long-term development of communities across Bosnia and Herzegovina,” said Bojana Urumova, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Sarajevo.

Boosting citizen participation and trust in governance by empowering local and regional governments and promoting the exchange of best local practices is also one of the core tenets of the Council of Europe Secretary General’s call for a New Democratic Pact for Europe.

In their joint invitation to all local communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina to become engaged and, in doing so, support the growth and development of this platform, Head of the Association of Municipalities and Cities of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Vesna Travljanin and Secretary-General of the Association of Municipalities and Cities of Republika Srpska Branislav Samardžić particularly emphasised the importance of sharing information and inspiration among local communities. “We invite you to explore, get involved, and make full use of the resources available here, so that we can together pave the way for more responsible and effective local governance,” they wrote in their letter.

The online platform will be administered by the two associations and is available at www.najboljeprakse.ba.

The Platform of Good Practices at the Local Level was supported as part of the project “Strengthening democratic innovations and promoting human rights at local level in Bosnia and Herzegovina”, implemented by the Council of Europe Congress of Local and Regional Authorities under the Council of Europe Action Plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina 2022-2025.