OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina launches Citizens' Academy project

SARAJEVO, 25 August 2011 – The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina today issued a call for applications for residents in Banja Luka, Bijeljina, Cazin, Doboj, Novi Grad Sarajevo, Siroki Brijeg and Tesanj for the Citizens’ Academy 2011 project, aimed to help citizens learn about how muncipal and city administrations work.

The OSCE Mission is partnering with the involved municipalities and cities in implementing the Citizens’ Academy pilot project to develop a sustainable system for transferring knowledge on how local government operates. The Academy will consist of a series of classes and discussions with municipal employees. These classes will be held once a week beginning in October and ending in December 2011.

“We expect that the project will increase understanding among citizens of local government structures and how they function, as well as promote ties between citizens and their munici-palities,” said Richard Williams, the Director of the OSCE Human Dimension Department.

The classes will also provide in-depth information about local elections, urban development and environmental protection, public safety and emergency services, communication and par-ticipation in decision making, development plans and their implementation through the budget, and participation in the civil society sector.

Citizens interested in attending the Academy in one of the seven municipalities and cities can download applications from the municipal web sites or at www.oscebih.org. Completed ap-plications can be brought directly or sent by post to the respective city or municipality.