Bosnia and Herzegovina

Alternativna Televizija (ATV)
$39,500
To produce a nonpartisan political talk show program, Amplituda, aimed at encouraging open debate and promoting the accountability of public officials prior to Bosnia’s October 2010 general elections. ATV will produce a series of 12 televised debates, providing a public forum for discussion by a broad range of policy makers, civic and political leaders, journalists, and academics that will address important social, political, and economic challenges facing the country.

Association for Informal and Political Education
$19,000
To conduct a nonpartisan voter education program in Bosnia’s north-central region ahead of the October 2010 general elections. The Association will design and organize a creative campaign to inform young people about the importance of participating in the elections and promote issue-based voting. Activities will include a radio and television campaign, distribution of 27,000 pieces of GOTV materials, and four public debates in targeted cities, as well as the monitoring of key polling places throughout the country on Election Day.

Association of Independent Creators and Activists GETO
$19,500
To conduct a nonpartisan voter education and get-out-the-vote program in the Banja Luka region prior to Bosnia’s October 2010 general elections. GETO will design and oversee a creative campaign to inform, educate and mobilize young voters to participate in the elections. The campaign will include civic actions in five cities, the distribution of 23,000 pieces of GOTV materials, public discussions, and a pre-election GOTV concert.

Center for Civic Cooperation-Livno (CCC)
$22,350
To continue promoting effective local government and increasing citizen participation in decision-making processes. In two cantons of Herzegovina, the CCC will train local representatives to apply new strategies of cooperation with civil society, monitor the work of local governments, and help to build networks between local governments in the two cantons. Prior to Bosnia’s October 2010 general elections, the CCC will also strive to increase voter turnout and promote issue-based voting by distributing GOTV materials and dedicating some of its public debates and radio shows to upcoming elections.

Center for Development of Media and Analysis
$37,750
To conduct a watchdog project promoting the transparency and accountability of elected officials prior to the October 2010 general elections. The Center’s journalists and experts will produce news analysis on and investigate specific cases of corruption, conflict of interest, and misuse of public office. NED funds will be used to produce approximately 40 online articles for the e-magazine www.zurnal.info.

Center for Informative Decontamination of Youth
$39,000
To continue fostering public debate among youth in Republika Srpska on the most important social, political and economic topics affecting Bosnia and Herzegovina prior to the October 2010 general elections. The Center will produce 10 episodes of the weekly program, “Buka” (“Noise”), a live television discussion aimed primarily at youth, the segment of society most susceptible to political and civic apathy.

Center for Investigative Reporting (CIN)
$48,500
To conduct a watchdog project promoting the financial transparency and accountability of political parties participating in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s October 2010 general elections. CIN will investigate current holdings and funding sources of leading political parties, as well as their spending patterns prior to the elections. The information uncovered will be used to produce at least 10 investigative articles for national newspapers, magazines, and websites.

Center for Policy and Governance
$35,000
To promote the accountability of policymakers and efficiency of government institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina prior to the October 2010 general elections. Through regular monitoring and review of the public policymaking and implementation processes, the Center will provide better insight into government activities and enable citizens to hold policymakers accountable for the use of public funds. The Center will also conduct extensive media outreach activities to promote the results of its findings.

Foreign Policy Initiative BH
$42,800
To advance Bosnia and Herzegovina’s democratic transition by fostering public debate on ideas for constitutional changes needed to create a functional country and bring it in line with EU standards. The Initiative will produce a policy paper with recommendations for constitutional reform, organize a public event presenting these recommendations, and advocate for constitutional changes with various interest groups.

Development
$42,500
To promote the activities of NGOs and build public support for the civic sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Foundation will produce 36 episodes of a popular television series profiling local NGOs and their efforts to tackle specific problems in their respective communities, highlighting the views of civic leaders, and providing current news about the country’s civic sector. Prior to the October 2010 general elections, the program will also feature a nonpartisan GOTV campaign.

Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Republika Srpska
$39,900
To promote the transparency and accountability of elected officials prior to the October 2010 general elections. The Committee will conduct a nonpartisan media campaign to encourage greater participation in the elections as well as educate and inform voters by analyzing party programs, monitoring public statements, and reporting on the conduct of election candidates and content of their campaigns.

Mozaik Foundation
$29,700
To support youth participation in decision-making in local communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. During an important election year, Mozaik will work in seven municipalities to strengthen its Youth Banks program, which links youth and municipal governments, to engage them in addressing critical local issues. Each Youth Bank, comprised of approximately 10 young people, will work together to select and support public service and democracy projects proposed by their peers.

National Democratic Institute for International Affairs
$545,000
To foster issue-based political discussion and debate ahead of Bosnia’s October 2010 general elections. NDI’s nonpartisan program will help to strengthen reform-oriented political parties’ ability to offer alternatives to the prevalent ethno-nationalist discourse by assisting them in communicating and promoting concrete policy positions on issues relevant to citizens across the country. NDI will conduct public opinion research and provide technical assistance to its partner parties, as well as work with civil society organizations to promote issue-based voting.

NGO Democracy-Organizing-Progress (DON)
$23,500
To conduct a nonpartisan accountability and get-out-the-vote program in Bosnia’s Jajce and Prnjavor regions prior to the October 2010 general elections. DON will conduct a creative campaign to inform and mobilize young voters to participate in the elections, which will include civic actions in five cities, distributing 2,000 pieces of GOTV materials, and two press conferences. DON will also promote issue-based voting through two public forums with candidates and monitoring reports on election promises.

Pravo ljudski
$35,000
To continue fostering public debate on human rights issues among youth in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Pravo ljudski will organize the fifth edition of its human rights film festival, a series of public events including film screenings, discussions, lectures and exhibitions aimed at raising human rights awareness. Endowment funding will be used to partially cover the promotional and organizational costs associated with the six-day festival in Sarajevo.

Press Council in Bosnia and Herzegovina
$37,000
To promote and protect freedom of information and encourage professional media reporting in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Through a series of workshops for citizens, political actors, media representatives and journalism students, this media self-regulatory body will promote mechanisms for the protection of freedom of information, such as the Council’s complaints procedure against unprofessional and manipulative media reporting, particularly ahead of the October 2010 general elections.

Transparency International Bosnia and Herzegovina (Ti BIH)
$59,000
To conduct a nonpartisan research and advocacy project promoting the financial transparency and accountability of political parties participating in Bosnia’s October 2010 general elections. TI BiH will analyze existing legislation on political party financing and its implementation, conduct an awareness-raising and advocacy campaign based on its findings, and compare expenses associated with election campaigns to official information submitted by the political parties.

Why Not
$108,150
To promote democratic values and encourage youth participation in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s October 2010 general elections. Why Not will conduct a countrywide, nonpartisan campaign to inform, educate, and mobilize young voters to participate in the electoral process. The campaign will include public events, interactive websites, distributing promotional materials, and small grants to 15 local NGOs and citizens’ groups for local GOTV efforts.

Why Not
$28,300
To develop and maintain a groundbreaking website aimed at increasing the accountability of public officials in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Istinomjer (Truth-O-Meter) will serve as a comprehensive and interactive political fact-checking database, providing nonpartisan information on the truthfulness, consistency, and degree of implementation of public officials’ statements and promises. Prior to the October general elections, the website (www.istinomjer.ba) will also feature columns by recognized political experts and analysts, as well as visitor discussion forums.

Why Not
$49,500
To promote democratic values and encourage youth participation in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s October 2010 general elections. Using its network of regional activists and partner organizations, Why Not will conduct a countrywide, nonpartisan campaign to inform, educate, and mobilize young voters to participate in the electoral process. The campaign will include public events in 15 cities, including a GOTV caravan and concerts, as well as interactive websites, the distribution of promotional materials, and media appearances.

Youth Communication Center
$42,500
To assist young people to advocate more effectively for youth related issues in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Center will provide capacity building training to student councils in over 200 schools, continue to strengthen two leading student council networks, and facilitate their mutual collaboration as well as cooperation with government authorities. The Center will also encourage students of voting age to participate in the country’s October 2010 general elections.

Youth Cultural Center Abrasevic
$39,900
To conduct a nonpartisan multimedia program to encourage public debate on key issues and promote the accountability of public officials ahead of Bosnia’s October 2010 general elections. Abrasevic will use its multimedia website to provide a forum for open discussion by prominent civic and political leaders, critically analyze the performance of elected officials, present political party programs, and motivate youth to participate in the elections.

Youth Information Agency (OIA)
$22,000
To conduct a nonpartisan get-out-the-vote program ahead of Bosnia’s October 2010 general elections. Within a broader GOTV project, OIA will use new media to encourage youth participation in the elections by organizing an election-themed video and photo competition, an exhibit of the competition’s best works, and local GOTV efforts in 20 towns.

Youth Movement “Revolt”
$23,500
To conduct a civic education and get-out-the-vote program in northeastern Bosnia ahead of October 2010 general elections. The nonpartisan program will educate young people about their role as citizens in a democracy and the importance of participating in elections. It will include workshops, public forums with political party representatives, street actions, and a promotional campaign to foster greater youth participation in the elections.

Youth Organization DVOC
$17,000
To conduct a nonpartisan civic education and get-out-the-vote program in central Bosnia ahead of the October 2010 general elections. DVOC will educate young people, particularly first-time voters, about their role as citizens in a democracy and the importance of participating in elections. The campaign will include civic actions in seven cities, a pre-election concert, distributing 14,000 pieces of GOTV materials, and a series of public discussions.

The grant listings posted here are from the 2010 Annual Report, published in August 2011.