IPA - Civil Society Facility and Media
Synthesis of Bosnia and Herzegovina action document 2014-15
----------------DRAFT---------------Needs/priorities
(ref. to national
baseline reports)











Main expected
results (ref. to CS
Guidelines)
Pursuant to the Law on Corporate Income Tax of Legal Entities and the Law on
Corporate Income Tax of Physical Entities in both RS and FBiH, activities such as
strengthening of democracy, rule of law, fighting corruption, sustainable development,
protection of nature, etc. are not recognised as activities of general interest. Thus,
donations for these purposes do not count as tax-admissible expenditures.
The right to freedom of expression, and the collection and dissemination of
information is guaranteed by the BiH Constitution and relevant laws. Existing criminal
laws do not encompass the positive obligations of Article 10 of the ECHR, which
stipulate that the state must guarantee freedom of expression by creating a safe
environment in which this can take place.
Media, social networks, the official web platforms of public authorities and a number
of CSOs are not fully protected from political and other influences especially at the
local level.
In the last two years, cases of social network monitoring, interrogation of CSO
activists, tapping of phone lines, and monitoring of the activities and correspondence of
online social groups were recorded. CSO activists and journalists expressed distrust
towards public authorities and security agencies because of their surveillance of social
networks and incidences of phone tapping reported by the media.
49% of CSOs indicated that they do not belong to any international network, 25%
stated that belong to one international network, 12% stated that they belong to 2
international networks, 14% belong to more than 3 international networks
33% of CSOs indicated that they do not belong to any national network, 23% stated
that belong to one national network, 14% stated that they belong to 2 national
networks, 29% belong to more than 3 national networks
38% of CSOs indicated that they do not belong to any local network, 25% stated that
belong to one local network, 14% stated that they belong to 2 local networks, 23%
belong to more than 3 local networks
47% of CSOs do not find CSO networks efficient, while 53% find them efficient
66% of surveyed believe that CSOs in their country are not active in fighting problems
in rural development and employment, 63% believe in the area of safety, and 59% in
overseeing government and local government performances and fight against
corruption
The Cooperation Agreement between the BiH Council of Ministers and the NGO
Sector in BiH, signed in 2007, has established a general institutional framework for
cooperation and dialogue between the state and CSOs, but it was not implemented.
There is no functional institutional mechanism for cooperation between the state and
civil society.
Institutions are not legally obliged to involve CSOs in the work of advisory or other
bodies.
Supporting CSOs to combat corruption (in particular in the areas of health and
education):
 Result 1. Civil society in BiH developed models to combat corruption particularly in
the areas of health and education
 Result 2. CSOs with expertise in combating corruption strengthened (or established
where applicable) and coordination with relevant governmental agencies ongoing
Building capacities of BiH CSOs to monitor elections in order to enable fair and
democratic elections.
 Result 3. Civil society in BiH capacitated for professional election monitoring ensuring
1
fair and democratic elections
 Result 4. CSOs with expertise in election monitoring joined their capacities for
increased effectiveness of election monitoring.
Support to social dialogue and social partners (employees, employers, governments)
including legislation, collective negotiations and drafting the laws on collective
negotiations.
 Result 5. Developed capacities of governments and social partners for effective social
dialogue
 Result 6. Governments and social partners improved the relevant legal framework
Support to networking CSOs in areas of journalism and human rights concerning the
right to a free access to information, freedom of expression, protection against violence
and pressure, education, entrepreneurship, environment with a particular focus on youth
and gender.
 Result 7. CSOs in the areas of journalism and human rights (the right to a free access to
information, free speech, protection against violence and pressure), education,
entrepreneurship, environment, youth and gender developed and effectuated a platform
for improving their networking capacity, mission related capability, transparency and
accountability.
 Result 8. General and specific public satisfied with the actions/outputs of the network
in respective area (journalism and human rights, education, entrepreneurship,
environment, youth and gender)
Capacity building of Governments to include CSOs into the decision-making
 Result 9. Governments gained knowledge and skills about how to better include CSOs
into the decision- and policy-making.
 Result 10. Governments at all levels improved/developed their strategic documents
defining cooperation with CSOs
Main activities
Budget (EU
contribution)

Activities to achieve Results 1 & 2. CSOs in BiH investigating and identifying
corruption particularly in the areas of health and education and proposing
corruption combating measures to relevant governmental agencies.
 Activities to achieve Results 3 & 4. A BiH CSO establishing/widening a network of
BiH CSOs based on their own developed program for professional election
monitoring ensuring fair and democratic elections
 Activities to achieve Result 5. Capacity building of governments and social
partners for effective social dialogue
 Activities to achieve Result 6. TA to governments and social partners to improve
the relevant legal framework
 Activities to achieve Result 7. CSOs in the areas of a. journalism and human rights
(the right to a free access to information, free speech, protection against violence
and pressure), b. education, c. entrepreneurship, d. environment, e. youth and f.
gender assessing and adjusting their capacities for improving their networking
capacity, mission related capability, transparency and accountability.
 Activities to achieve Result 8. CSOs performing new joint network activities in
respective areas (journalism and human rights, education, entrepreneurship,
environment, youth and gender) with increased effects and impact on general and
specific public
 Activities to achieve Results 9. Capacity building of governments to better include
CSOs into the decision- and policy-making.
 Activities to achieve Result 10. TA to governments at all levels to improve/develop
their strategic documents defining cooperation with CSOs
Total EUR 7 000 000
2014: EUR 3 500 000 (contracting deadline 31/12/15; end of operational implementation
2
Contracting deadline
End of
implementation
Modes of
implementation
(Direct
management) &
Expected date
(quarter) of the
Cfp/ ToR
publication/
contracting, etc.
period 31/12/2017)
2015: EUR 3 500 000 (contracting deadline 31/12/2016; end of operational implementation
period 31/12/2018)
Mode of implementation is direct management.
 Two service contracts to provide technical assistance to:
1. Social dialogue and social partners (employees, employers, governments) including
legislation, collective negotiations and drafting the laws on collective negotiations (IPA
2014); ToR published Q4 2014 - Contract signature: Q3 2015.
2. The government structure in charge of civil society cooperation to support the BiH
governments to better include CSOs into the decision- and policy-making and
improve/develop their strategic documents defining cooperation with CSOs (IPA 2015)
TA ToR published Q2 2015 - Contract signature Q1 2016
 Grant scheme (three calls for proposals) to provide support to:
1. CSOs to combat corruption (in particular in the areas of health and education). Two to
five contracts with re-granting/sub-granting are foreseen. (IPA 2014) - CfP published Q4
201 4- Contract signature Q3 2015
2. Capacity building of BiH CSOs to monitor elections in order to enable fair and
democratic elections. One contract foreseen. (IPA 2014) - CfP published Q4 2014 Contract signature Q3 2015.
3. Networking CSOs in areas of journalism and human rights concerning the right to a free
access to information, freedom of expression, protection against violence and pressure,
education, entrepreneurship, environment and particularly youth and gender. Minimum
six contracts with re-granting/sub-granting foreseen. (IPA 2015) - CfP published Q2
2015 - Contract signature Q1 2016
3