About the science and culture sector

Competences in the field of science and culture in Bosnia and Herzegovina are divided into the entity (Republika Srpska), ten counties/cantons in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina with the coordination of the Federal Ministry of Culture and Sports and the Federal Ministry of Education and Science, and Brčko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Ministry of Civil Affairs is, among other things, responsible for carrying out tasks and tasks that are within the competence of Bosnia and Herzegovina and that relate to determining the basic principles of coordinating activities, harmonizing the plans of entity authorities and defining strategies on an international level in the fields of science and culture.

The Science and Culture Sector performs the following tasks in cooperation with entity authorities

Coordination and data exchange: establishing the basic principles of coordinating activities.

Coordination of plans and strategies: coordination of plans of entity authorities and definition of strategy on the international level in the fields of science and culture.

International obligations: participates in the work of international organizations in the field of science and ensures the fulfillment of international obligations of Bosnia and Herzegovina in this field, participates in the process of preparing international agreements/contracts in the field of science and culture.

Monitoring the implementation of domestic agreements: its basic work is based on European reform documents and the principles of international associations in the field of science and culture; monitors the application of national agreements and strategic documents in the field of science and proposes related activities.

Conventions and declarations: actively monitors European integration processes and initiates their concretization; participates in the preparation of new and monitors the application of adopted European conventions and declarations in its field.

Participation in international bodies; prepares reports as well as the participation of representatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina in European and world conferences in the field of science and culture; leads and coordinates cooperation activities with appropriate organizations, organs and bodies of the European Union and the United Nations, as well as with world associations in the field of science and culture.

Funding of science and culture: monitors financial aid programs of the European Union and world associations and initiates applications for them; collects and analyzes information and data about science and culture in the country.

Promotion of science and culture: serves advisory and other bodies formed for science and culture at the state level; works to strengthen the promotion of science and culture as an essential part of the overall socio-economic progress of the country and its status in Europe.

In the Science and Culture Sector, administrative and technical tasks are performed for the State Commission for Cooperation of Bosnia and Herzegovina with UNESCO and the Science Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Department for Science and Culture also performs the following activities:

- Coordination of activities on the development of the Science Development Strategy in Bosnia and Herzegovina for the period 2025-2030 and the accompanying action plan;

- Coordination of activities on the creation of strategic documents for the field of culture in Bosnia and Herzegovina

- Coordination of the participation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the EU Programs for the field of science and culture – COST, HORIZON, EUREKA and CREATIVE EUROPE, which includes the procedure for concluding agreements on participation in the programs, payment of entrance tickets, promotion of the program, appointment of state contact points for the realization of successful participation of BiH in HORIZON EUROPE and selection of BH DESKA for Creative Europe;

- Awarding of the Award in the field of science in Bosnia and Herzegovina for successes on the international level;

- Realization of current grants of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the field of science and culture and monitoring and control of grant implementation from the aspect of fulfilling contractual obligations and from the aspect of performance;

- Support for the realization of international scientific projects arising from concluded international bilateral agreements on cooperation in the field of science;

- Support to the Council for Science of Bosnia and Herzegovina, support to the State Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina for cooperation with UNESCO and other bodies of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the field of science and culture;

- Coordination of the selection of representatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina at the Biennale of Contemporary Art in Venice.

State level

The Ministry of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina coordinates activities in the field of science and culture at the state level. This Ministry cooperates with entity ministries of culture and science and other relevant institutions to ensure the harmonization of cultural policies and standards.

Entity level:

In the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH), ten counties/cantons are responsible for science and culture, with the coordination of the Federal Ministry of Culture and Sports and the Federal Ministry of Education and Science.

In the Republic of Srpska (RS), the Ministry of Education and Culture of the Republic of Srpska has a central role in the creation and implementation of cultural policies, regulations and programs, as well as the Ministry of Science and Technology Development and Higher Education of the Republic of Srpska.

Brčko District:

Brčko District has a Department for Economic Management Development, Sports and Culture which is responsible for cultural policy and services in the territory of the District.

County level:

County ministries implement policies, strategies and regulations at the local level.

Local level:

Municipalities and cities have certain competencies in the field of culture.

Cultural institutions:

Cultural institutions, including museums, theatres and specialized institutions, operate within the framework defined by the entity and county ministries of culture.