Organized by Salar Internationaland the Association of Municipalities and Cities of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Association of Municipalities and Cities of the Republic of Srpska, a two-day training was held in Sarajevo on April 28–29, 2025, focusing on the preparation of project proposals for the Interreg VI-A IPA Cross-Border Cooperation Programme Croatia–Bosnia and Herzegovina–Montenegro 2021–2027.
The training brought together 32 representatives of municipalities and cities from both entities – the Federation of BiH and the Republic of Srpska – with the aim of strengthening their capacities for the development and implementation of EU-funded cross-border cooperation projects. Through interactive group work, hands-on exercises, and a structured learning approach, participants had the opportunity to apply the knowledge directly to their local project ideas aligned with the current Interreg calls.
Throughout the two-day training, participants worked through all the key stages of project proposal development:
- Call analysis and eligibility criteria;
- Identification of the core problem to be addressed;
- Stakeholder analysis;
- Development of problem and objective trees;
- Strategy selection;
- Logical framework development;
- Activity and resource planning.
Special emphasis was placed on practical, team-based work, allowing participants to shape real project concepts that reflect the strategic priorities of their local communities. Each session concluded with plenary presentations, fostering peer learning, feedback, and collaborative refinement of project ideas.
Through initiatives like this, local governments are better equipped to engage in EU-funded programmes, advancing regional cooperation and contributing to sustainable local development.