Citizens and their organizations play a crucial role in fostering democratic values, social cohesion, and active citizenship in Bosnia and Herzegovina. By working together, they strengthen their communities, address local challenges, and build lasting partnerships with local authorities.
PRAGG’s locally driven approach highlights the power of communities to set their own priorities, create effective solutions, and engage constructively with governing institutions. This strengthens local ownership and trust while ensuring that solutions reflect real community needs.
Turning Advocacy into Action: Bijeljina’s Achievements with PRAGG Support
Recent achievements in Bijeljina, with the PRAGG support, demonstrate the impact of citizen-led advocacy and collaboration:
✔️ Personal Assistance Services secured – Thanks to the efforts of local organizations, led by Udruženje žena sa invaliditetom “Impuls” with PRAGG’s support, Bijeljina has allocated 60,000 KM in the 2025 budget for personal assistance services, making it one of only three cities in BiH to introduce this essential service.
✔️ Youth Center gains official support – Omladinska organizacija "Vizija mladih" successfully advocated for the establishment of a Youth Center, securing 7,000 KM in its first year from the city budget to provide young people with a dedicated space for learning, networking, and community engagement.
✔️ Stronger Social Protections for Survivors – Udruženje “Lara”, through the “Njena prava” PRAGG campaign, initiated changes to social protection policies, advocating for financial support for survivors of domestic violence and free extended daycare for children of survivors. City representatives have committed to conducting a financial analysis to assess further support.
Local organizations remain committed to working with the municipality to ensure the effective implementation of these service so that it reaches those who need it most.
International Recognition and Support
The importance of these initiatives was recently highlighted during a high-level visit to Bijeljina by the Ambassador of Switzerland to BiH, H.E. Gabriele Derighetti, Ambassador of Belgium to BiH, H.E. Christine Detaille, and the accompanied by Csilla Schalbert, Country Manager of Helvetas BiH. Representatives from Fondacija “Lara”, Udruženje “Impuls” and Omladinska organizacija "Vizija mladih" joined the meeting to share their experiences and advocate for continued institutional support.
These successes are clear examples of how collaboration between CSOs and municipalities—with support from international partners like SDC—translates into real, lasting improvements for citizens. Rather than imposing external directives, these partnerships respect local autonomy, providing expertise and resources that enable grassroots initiatives to flourish.
Sustained dialogue, trust-building, and practical cooperation between donors, local stakeholders, and civil society actors are key to long-term progress. By nurturing these partnerships, we collectively contribute to a more inclusive, equitable society where citizens shape the future of their communities.
