The Municipality of Tešanj has entered Phase Two of the project “Strengthening the Role of MZs in BiH”, how do you assess the results of Phase One, and what do you expect from Phase Two of the Project?

Strengthening the Role of MZs in BiH is certainly an interesting project as it is focused on MZs. Therefore, it is close to the needs of citizens, local communities and direct communication with them. There were not many projects in BiH that recognised local communities, analysed their situation, and thus intensively and meaningfully cooperated with them. Phase One of the Project meant a great deal to the Municipality of Tešanj when it comes to MZs, primarily in that their representatives were able to see their position in relation to other local communities in BiH. Certainly significant progress is the implementation of 12 infrastructure projects in six MZs s and six projects implemented in partner MZs through non-governmental organisations. We must not forget the procurement of equipment for partner MZs and the training of MZ representatives from various fields, which greatly improved their skills. They used a different approach to identify priorities, discussed them. Of course, the methodology has been adopted and its gradual transfer to all MZs in the Municipality of Tešanj. We expect the Phase Two to at least match the first one in terms of support from the Project for the implementation of activities in partner MZs, and we will do our best to transfer the acquired knowledge to all MZs.

Apart from MZs that directly participated and are participating, how did the Project impact other MZs as well as the local government?

Other MZs expressed interest to join already at an early stage. Although they were not directly participating in Phase One of the Project, we tried to transfer knowledge and experience in regular monthly meetings. Other MZs changed and improved their work based on such information. Some of these MZs expressed a strong desire to be part of the Project and to apply the procedures while others were less interested.

In your opinion, what sets Tešanj Municipality apart from other local governments?

Each municipality or city has many specificities. Ours is that we have been working on building the environment and institutions in the last decades. Necessity drove us, and spite helped us tackle many problems openly. We have also built part of a unique practice in many areas, as part of facing challenges. When it comes to MZs, here too we are specific, from MZ bodies – citizens’ forum, assembly and council, then technical support – each MZ has a secretary, premises and other requirements, financing the work of MZ bodies through decision and criteria and uniform keeping of financial books, as well as maximum involvement of MZ bodies in all important decisions for their area – from the schedule of capital investments, road maintenance etc., own sources of funds for MZ financing – annual budget for MZ bodies and own sources without capital ones amount to around BAM 1,300,000.

What is the importance of more active MZs for more active involvement of citizens in decision-making that directly impacts local communities?

The activity of MZs and citizens is extremely important for the overall development of the local community. MZs with more active bodies are developing faster, more clearly recognise their priorities, implement numerous projects easier, have greater trust of citizens and individual donors, but also others. This makes it much easier for municipalities to work and achieve good results. Direct participation of citizens in creating decisions that are important to everyone can be achieved through MZs.

To what extent and in what way has the communication of the local government been improved with MZs?

MZs and the Municipality of Tešanj had several communication channels even before the MZ Project, each MZ has IT equipment and everyone was assigned an official email address. Of course, this situation has certainly improved throughout the Project. In addition to this type of communication, direct contact in MZs or Municipality is used, telephone, Viber, MSG, visits of municipal representatives to MZ bodies, if necessary presence of coordinators at meetings of MZ bodies, presence of MZ representatives at public consultations, agreements on project implementation schedule and organisation of meetings with the mayor and representatives of the municipal administration and at the request of MZ. These aspects have been further improved in the course of the Project.

How do you assess the organisation of the citizens’ forum and to what extent do you think such a broad participatory process of discussing common problems and solutions is useful so that citizens can delegate problems and offer solutions?

Organisation of the forum is certainly useful and results in good feedback as to what citizens want to do and what are their problems.

Forums make it much easier for MZ bodies to define priorities. We are specific in Tešanj because each MZ has its Assembly and Council whose total number is not below 20, and they come from all parts of MZ and represent the will of the citizens. To clarify a bit: in 25 MZs in the Municipality with about 44,000 inhabitants, we have 515 active members of MZ bodies. Their work is fully legally regulated and organised. Add to this activists involved through construction committees for project implementation, organising committees and working teams for preparation and organisation of events in

MZ, we come to the number of over 1500 activists in 25 MZs, which is a very significant number and huge potential for today’s circumstances and the size of the municipality.

In MZ Dobropolje-Mekiš, a Community Hub has been opened. Through various activities, panels, workshops, lectures and gatherings it brings together citizens from all MZs, and even from other cantons. How important is this type of organisation in the local community for more active involvement of citizens, especially young people, women, the elderly and other stakeholders?

Community hubs mirror experiences that exist in other countries as well. As a mayor I had the opportunity to see such hubs in Sweden. Premises of MZs, community hubs and the like are arranged to provide a wide range of content and attract as many as possible to actively participate in the community, volunteering, education, use of free time…

We are satisfied with the work of the Community Hub and we have strongly supported its work and the activities implemented in it. We are happy for the active involvement of young people and women. We have shown that it can be done and shown how it can be done! Now is the opportunity for both the Municipality of Tešanj and other municipalities in BiH to strongly support and disseminate such positive examples as a positive and successful practice.

What is the real strength of MZ in making important decisions and how much do you think the bottom-up initiative can have an impact on legal changes as well as policy changes at higher levels of government?

The real potential of MZs, local communities, but also of all of us citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina is underestimated and captured by political crises and complex constitutional arrangements. Sometimes we further reinforce these circumstances with a passive relationship or empty talk without action. I want, in fact, to say that there is room for own activism and results in each MZ. A well-organised and active MZ and local community has more power and its voice is heard louder.

"Strengthening the Role of Local Communities – MZ in BiH" is a 14 million BAM worth joint project of the Government of Switzerland and Sweden, implemented by UNDP in BiH. The project is aiming to increase democratic and direct participation of BiH citizens in the local community government, to strengthen accountability of local governance and to improve local infrastructure and services.

199 local communities and 41 municipalities and cities country-wide will participate in the activities within the second phase of the project, which will contribute to improving the quality of life of 400,000 people.