Women make up half the BiH population but are often excluded from decision-making that impacts on their lives. That’s why we are working to create more inclusive democratic institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina by improving women’s opportunities to engage in public affairs and politics. Through “More Than Quota” programme, we work directly with women politicians to provide them with support and increase their chances of running for high-level positions within their parties and public office. 

Nearly half of our participants who ran in the 2020 local elections are now elected councilors. WFD continues to support their work through pioneer network of women local councilors, that represents a unique example of cross-collaboration in country’s divided post-conflict political environment.  

To further strengthen their leadership skills, WFD has launched the mentoring programme for women in politics, in which we pair aspiring candidates with successful and experienced women leaders from politics. The aim of the mentoring programme is to raise the profile of women in politics and assist them in developing concrete policy solutions that answer to pertinent problem that citizens experience. The programme focuses on motivating and supporting young women politicians in finding resources on their own to deliver their proposed initiatives.

Amid the ongoing political crisis generated through the country’s complex political system, the issues young people face often score low on decision-makers'  agendas. Youth unemployment rates are extremely high across the country. According to WFD’s research that quantifies costs of youth emigration, inability to find employment remains one of the key motivators for young people to leave the country. WFD works with parliaments and political figures on tackling youth unemployment by placing this issue higher on the agenda and through a policy-oriented approach designed to create more employment opportunities for young people.