History

The Centers for Civic Initiatives (CCI) is a Bosnian non-governmental and non-profit organization that has been carrying out its activities throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina since 1998, operating from six offices in the following cities: Tuzla, Mostar, Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Doboj, and Bijeljina.

CCI’s beginnings are tied to international organizations in BiH, such as NDI and IFES, focused on democratization, election oversight, and strengthening civil society. The founding core of CCI originated precisely from the international organization, where, guided by many years of experience, during 1998 and 1999, local civil activists decided to form the first large, in the true sense, Bosnian-Herzegovinian non-governmental organization that would encompass the entire country and all its citizens in terms of territory and program. An organization that will uncompromisingly and actively advocate for the protection of human rights, freedom, tolerance and respect for diversity, responsible and transparent governance, a responsible and participatory role of citizens in decision-making, as well as the establishment of mechanisms for the growth and development of the domestic non-governmental sector.

Early in its work, CCI embodied what Edward Shils calls the mission of civil society: to serve everyone’s interests and the common good.

CCI has the image and reputation of one of the leading and most influential civil society organizations in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). It works continuously to make decision-makers more accountable and runs campaigns to change laws and policies so they better serve citizens and align with EU democratic standards. As an organization with a recognized brand, CCI influences public policy, institutions, and public opinion. Monitoring the work of government institutions and decision-makers, as well as numerous public advocacy campaigns, are just some of the areas of activity that CCI has undertaken over the years. Alongside its leading role in BiH, CCI collaborates internationally, notably with the SELDI, ENEMO, and CEECN networks in Central and Southeast Europe.

CCI has reinforced BiH’s civil society by providing grants and transferring knowledge and skills. Through its grant scheme, it has supported more than 150 CSOs and dozens of informal groups across the country. Across numerous projects, CCI has delivered training to CSOs on public advocacy, PR, proposal development, strategic planning, and financial and organizational sustainability. Strengthening CSOs’ advocacy capacity and sector profiles is a top CCI priority. Accordingly, CCI places strong emphasis on improving CSOs’ organizational sustainability.

CCI also led citizen election observation in BiH. Together with the OSCE mission and other international observers, this helped ensure free and fair elections and the legitimacy of newly elected authorities.

Becoming more and more involved in the political life of BiH and wanting to enable citizens to take part in the electoral process, while the international community’s involvement in electoral activities decreased, CCI was the first umbrella organization that gathered a network of 310 non-governmental organizations, and which organized campaigns of domestic, non-partisan election observation in 2000 and 2002. Through these campaigns, CCI involved more than 6,000 volunteer observers and contributed to the implementation of free and fair elections in BiH.

At a certain point, CCI’s work centered on boosting accountability among elected officials and increasing transparency and citizen-focused practice in government. CCI is increasingly turning to the highest instances of government to influence public policy and represent the interests of citizens.

From 2002 to 2006, after the NGO legal framework was finalized, the number of NGOs grew quickly, as did the number whose values and goals aligned with CCI’s. On the one hand, it helped to strengthen the front of civil society organizations that increasingly fill the space between citizens and the state, between politics and capital, and between problems and solutions. On the other hand, cooperation, but also competition, within the non-governmental sector is strengthening, which in the long term leads to sectoral specialization, professionalization, and expertise, which are necessary characteristics for adequate participation in public life and the fulfillment of one’s own purpose.