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Highlights: Bosnia-Hercegovina Democracy Network II Program Summary
Countries:
Bosnia and Herzegovina
ADF implemented the Democracy Network Phase II (DemNet) program from 2001-2004. ADF designed the DemNet program to develop and strengthen CSOs throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina, in order that they – and the citizens they represent – could more effectively participate in economic and political life. In order to serve the needs of CSOs throughout the country, ADF established and maintained program offices in Sarajevo, Mostar, Tuzla and Banja Luka.
ADF’s DemNet II program was one of those rare occasions in which conditions in a country, the design of a program, and the way in which it is implemented combine to have an impact extending far into the future. As stated in the USAID/BiH 2004 Civil Society Assessment: “The DemNet project has played a significant role in building a critical mass of professional NGOs throughout the country and representing an array of sub-sectors. Its focus on internal capacity building has had a direct effect on external performance and impact of beneficiaries, as well as their prospects for sustainability, which has increased their confidence levels. Its emphasis on networking and coalition building has had multiple positive effects… Its support of NGO advocacy and civic initiatives has led to public-private partnerships and tangible outcomes…”
The core elements of DemNet II were four-fold:
1. Tailored Training and Technical Assistance: Given the differing levels of existing capacity among CSO participants, ADF developed comprehensive service packages tailored specifically to meet the needs and priorities of each CSO based on individual organizational assessments. ADF’s capacity building program focused general organizational development, coalition building, and advocacy.
2. Grants: ADF provided general purpose grants to assist participating CSOs to develop the operational capacity identified in their capacity building plan. Civic action grants enabled CSOs to apply their new knowledge and skills in areas such as coalition building and advocacy. Microgrants encouraged small civic initiatives by local community groups.
3. Building Linkages and Collaboration: Networking, information exchange, coalition building, and the development of cross-sector partnerships were integrated into all aspects of ADF’s program. The reluctance of individuals and organizations to join together for a common purpose was a fundamental constraint to the growth of effective CSOs who can speak on behalf of members or other stakeholders. DemNet II promoted ties among Bosnian civil society organizations on the one hand, and between civil society and government and business on the other.
4. Developing Sustainable Local Resources for CSOs: ADF built sustainability into the design of the DemNet II program. ADF training staff created several Bosnian training and consulting organizations that continue to provide CSO capacity building training in BH. ADF supported the creation of regionally-based CSO resource centers in Mostar, Tuzla, Sanski Most and Drvar.
The DemNet II program established conditions whereby many CSOs are now driven by the needs and interests of their clients, constituents and community, rather than by those of the donor. ADF employed various strategies to push CSOs out of the "humanitarian" or "entitlement" mindset so prevalent in BH at the time. ADF had an ongoing emphasis on long-term impact rather than short-term activities. ADF made clear we weren’t interested in hearing only about the number of public meetings they had but what these meetings produced or led to in terms of changes for their constituents. ADF required NGOs (and local government under the Nova Praksa program) to be fully accountable for their results as well as their financial management.
DemNet II clients responded, and they are proud of their ability to meet a high level of professional standards. The CSOs that ADF encouraged and supported have the capacity to continue to further citizen participation in BH. Their strength lies not only in a conceptual understanding and appreciation for advocacy and other techniques to promote citizen participation, but also in the concrete and successful experience of undertaking these actions. ADF also provided assistance to small and rural communities that were often somewhat isolated or off the beaten path, and who would never generally have had access to donors. DemNet II was able to influence and impact the far reaches of the country.
The program has also had a very important impact on the relationship between government and NGOs. DemNet II served to bring local government and civil society together for action. It increased the visibility and legitimacy of NGOs and other civil society organizations in communities, media, with local government and with business. The results achieved through successful advocacy campaigns and joint action are remarkable in itself. Not only was ADF’s advocacy training translated into practice, but the campaigns resulted in important changes that would otherwise not have happened. The positive experience from citizen participation that was gained on the government side as well as on the NGO and citizen side is likely to impact the governance relationship well into the future.
Finally, DemNet II is leaving a network of NGO support institutions that can continue to contribute to the development of civil society and citizen participation in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Four NGO Resource Centers are spread throughout the country, as well as more than a dozen coalitions that are a source of ongoing institutional development for their members. The telecottage movement is an important part of the support network. Telecottages provide a non-partisan environment where members of all ethnic groups gather, gain access to new information resources, and are able to relate better to one another and the rest of the world. The BiH Teledom Association is a founding member of the European Telecottage Association and is cooperating with three associations from now EU member countries (Hungary, Estonia and Slovakia). Furthermore, the first national Bosnian training organization, Izbor Plus, is well established, earning income, and providing continued quality training to local organizations.
Telecottage Development
ADF assisted the establishment of 22 telecottages operated by NGOs to serve the needs of local CSOs, business and the community. Ten of these telecottages (or teledoms, as they are known locally) operate in the Federation and 12 in the Republika Srpska. Six telecottage managers are Bosniak, twelve are Serbian and four are Croatian.
The basic services provided by all 22 telecottages include computer, internet and e-mail access, small business and NGO office services, basic computer education, and basic English language education. Every telecottage provides space, as available, for local community meetings, public lectures and round tables on topics and subjects of public interest and benefit. Every telecottage also has a Community Resource and Tourism resource database to provide essential information for the local community and visitors. Beyond these basic services, individual telecottages provide additional services to meet the needs of their communities and clients. A comprehensive list of services that have been provided by telecottages formed under the DemNet II program is found in Attachment 33.
Managers of telecottages were trained on how to start-up a telecottage in 2001 and 2003. The West Hercegovina NGO representatives and proposed managers participated in a World Learning-organized third country training in Hungary and Vojvodina in November 2001. NGOs and managers for the RS telecottages participated in a World Learning-sponsored participant training program in Vojvodina in May 2002. Additional training and technical assistance was provided by ADF as detailed in Attachment 6. The European Union of Telecottages EUTA held its first Europe-wide meeting in BiH in September 2003 in part to recognize and encourage the development and expansion of the telecottage movement in BiH. The directors of telecottage associations from Bulgaria, Estonia, Poland, Hungary, Russia, and Serbia-Montenegro worked with ADF and local teledom leadership to organize the educational and organizational development event for EUTA and BiH teledoms. The BiH Telecottage Association became a founding member of the European Union of Telecottage Associations (EUTA) in March 2004 at the constitutive assembly meeting of EUTA in Budapest, Hungary.
Telecottages are developing financial sustainability. Many operate in locales provided free of charge by local government. The telecottages also generate income. From December 2003-June 2004 (last three project quarters) reported income was 111,294 KM or $69,560, an average of $645/month per telecottage. Five telecottages were registered as new NGOs by the NGO that established it, while the rest are branch offices of existing NGOs.
In looking toward the continued expansion of the telecottage movement, ADF assisted managers of existing telecottages to establish a Teledom Association. Teledom Association of BiH was officially registered effective March 18, 2004 at the state level. It is the first association registered on the state level whose members are institutions operating in both entities and managed by all ethnic groups. This marks a success not only in the DemNet program, but generally for BiH.
Nova Praksa/New Practices
Civil society, the private sector, and government must be active in supporting the development of strong democratic governance in BiH. Civil society organizations (which include associations of citizens, humanitarian organizations, professional associations, membership associations, NGOs, and democratic trade unions) can be highly effective means of aggregating and channeling citizen participation. They can monitor government performance and demand accountability. These functions become more effective when public institutions develop mechanisms that facilitate citizen and civil society involvement in all phases of the policy process.
ADF received a modification to its cooperative agreement in January 2003 adding $700,000 to establish a new Nova Praksa (New Practices) grant program. This grant program was to support local initiatives that enhance dialogue, cooperation, and partnership between civil society and government in Bosnia-Herzegovina. DemNet II’s core training and technical assistance also supported Nova Praksa. Of particular interest were the development of mechanisms for public involvement in policy making, implementation, and review. Such mechanisms include public hearings, multi-sectoral boards or consultative committees, the appointment of CSO representatives to official decision-making bodies, and others.
Nova Praksa projects were implemented in 21 municipalities throughout BiH. 20 projects were implemented in 17 municipalities in the Federation, eight projects were implemented in six RS municipalities. Four municipalities (Jajce, Maglaj, Bihac and Orasje) had two projects each. Results included:
· 20 participation mechanisms were established or re-invigorated through strengthening the capacity of municipal government or public institutions
· Collaboration between municipal officials and the public resulted in the participatory development of economic development policies and Local Environmental Action Plans
· With increased openness of municipalities to citizen participation, the DemNet program also saw increased willingness of citizens and local business to participate in local development activities – including the willingness to contribute time and resources.
· Sixteen public-private partnerships for local development activities were created.