While political, economic, and social stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) has improved since the war ended in 1995, BiH society remains divided and unable to develop a common national vision. Divisive politics have a national and regional dimension that extends to war commemorations, court decisions on war crimes, and elections and regional events in Serbia and Croatia, even Russia and Turkey. Ahead of general and local elections, political rhetoric is becoming increasingly divisive. 

USAID ASSISTANCE

Through the project PRO Future II: Trust, Understanding, and Responsibility for the Future, USAID engages citizens and stakeholders at all levels of government – municipal, cantonal, entity, regional, and state – to institutionalize commitments to reconciliation within the framework of the USAID-supported Platform for Peace. This follow-on to USAID’s first PRO-Future project will continue to encourage attitudinal and behavioral changes in key leaders and citizens in BiH for reconciliation and sustainable peace.


Launched in September 2017, this six-year, $8.5 million project is implemented by Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and core local partners:  Caritas BiH, Institute for Youth Development (KULT), Inter-Religious Council, Forum of Tuzla Citizens, Helsinki Citizens Assembly in Banja Luka, and the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Republika Srpska. Total value includes 7 percent matching funds from CRS.

IMPLEMENTATION AND RESULTS

This project consolidates progress across the 60 original municipalities of the flagship PRO-Future project and targets 15 new municipalities, five of them from neighboring countries. The program works with influential politicians to discuss the consequences of ethno-nationalism and promote reconciliation instead. Since 2019, the project has been supporting an estimated 20 municipalities to renovate key community infrastructure and provide local community members with more opportunities to foster reconciliation and build trust.


Core PRO-Future II activities include working with ministries to adopt the Platform for Peace at the national level and supporting war victims to advocate for equal rights. It also trains new, young politicians to develop their debate and peace-building skills and knowledge. The program engages the business community to help politicians understand how reconciliation also creates a more desirable business environment. 

 
The program publicly engages religious leaders and works with them to lead national and community reconciliation activities. Specific project activities include arranging visits of multi-ethnic religious leaders to war memorials and other places of suffering (together), facilitating community interreligious dialogue, and exposing youth to the history and tradition of multiple places of worship other than their own. 


The project works with influential journalists and editors to encourage reporting that gives a voice to multiple narratives coming out of the 1992-95 war, not just one, and informs the public of peace-building efforts of key influencers (in the political, government, religious, and civil society spheres). The project will sponsor a regional award for journalists who regularly cover reconciliation. The program will also broadcast a program “Peace Talks” and produce a documentary of peace-building narratives for a large audience in BiH and the region. 

 

Project Snapshot

Total Funding: $8.5 million (includes 7 percent matching funds from CRS)

Project Duration: September 2017-September 2022

Implementing Partners:  Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and core local partners: Caritas BiH, Institute for Youth Development (KULT), Inter-Religious Council, Forum of Tuzla Citizens, and Helsinki Citizens Assembly in Banja Luka

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USAID Bosnia and Herzegovina PRO-Future project
USAID