Outcome BIH_D_4.1

By 2025, there is stronger mutual understanding, respect and trust among individuals and communities

Women’s roles in peace, security, and humanitarian coordination were progressively strengthened during the implementation of Strategic Note through improved institutional coordination, policy alignment, and partnership frameworks, enabling greater national ownership of WPS commitments and their translation into concrete, context-responsive actions. In line with programme-level Theory of Change, these efforts focused on strengthening women’s participation and leadership, institutional capacities and inclusive coordination mechanisms as precondition for building trust, cooperation and shared ownership across communities and institutions. Significant progress was achieved in 2025 toward the outcome of stronger mutual understanding, respect and trust among individuals and communities. Across institutional, community, security and academic spheres, observable shifts in practices, collaboration patterns and professional norms point to a transition from fragmented engagement toward more coherent, trust-based implementation of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda. Despite delays in the formal adoption of a new National Action Plan, institutional governance and coordination mechanisms for WPS implementation remained functional and adaptive. Duty bearers demonstrated increased capacity to sustain dialogue, coordination and accountability through the use of operational and monitoring tools, reflecting growing institutional readiness and confidence. The continuity of coordination structures, alongside adaptive responses to policy gaps, contributed to more predictable and cooperative engagement between government institutions and civil society partners. At the community level, women peacebuilders and women-led civil society organizations displayed measurable gains in confidence, knowledge and collective action around peace and security priorities. Evaluation evidence shows increased engagement with local institutions, stronger alignment of advocacy positions and enhanced cooperation across community and entity lines. This evolution from isolated engagement toward collective positioning reflects growing trust among community actors and between communities and institutions, particularly in relation to shared human security concerns. These gains were further strengthened through cross-community and cross-entity dialogue processes that enabled civil society organizations, local actors and institutions to articulate joint positions on peace and security priorities. The emergence of shared advocacy narratives across previously fragmented spaces signals improved mutual understanding and an increased capacity for constructive dialogue and cooperation within the WPS framework. Outcome-level change was also reinforced through strategic partnerships with non-traditional actors, including academia, cultural institutions and international platforms. By expanding ownership of the WPS agenda beyond traditional policy spaces, these partnerships enhanced its public legitimacy and accountability, while contributing to broader societal engagement and trust-building. Within the security sector, changes in professional practice indicate strengthening internal trust and accountability. Evidence from peer-to-peer replication of gender-responsive policing approaches demonstrates that trained officers are increasingly applying shared standards and knowledge within their institutions. The continuation of locally led trainings and mentoring reflects not only sustained capacity gains but also growing confidence among colleagues to act as agents of change within formal security structures. Structural shifts within the academic sector have laid foundations for sustained outcome-level impact beyond the project cycle. The institutionalization of WPS through accredited higher-education curricula and specialized learning programmes has embedded shared norms of gender-responsive peace and security among future professionals. Through this process, educational institutions have increasingly assumed their role as duty bearers, shaping long-term attitudes, professional standards and intersectoral trust between academia, public institutions and civil society. I ncreased and meaningful participation of young women in national and global peace and security spaces strengthened intergenerational trust and continuity within the WPS agenda, demonstrating a shift from symbolic youth inclusion toward substantive engagement and shared ownership of peacebuilding processes. At the societal level, the amplification of women’s roles in peacebuilding through cultural, academic and public platforms contributed to shifts in narratives around peace, justice and reconciliation. Greater visibility of women as agents of peace, combined with inclusive spaces for dialogue, remembrance and learning, supported wider social recognition of women’s contributions to peacebuilding and strengthened trust across generations and sectors. Progress during the reporting period reflects a more coherent and mutually reinforcing approach across policy development, coordination mechanisms and field-level implementation. Rather than isolated interventions, changes emerged through strengthened alignment between institutional practices, civil society engagement and public narratives, contributing to increased trust, cooperation and credibility among institutions, communities and women peacebuilders. Taken together, these developments demonstrate a cumulative outcome-level effect: institutions operate with greater coherence, communities engage with increased confidence and alignment, professional practices reflect shared standards, and societal narratives increasingly recognize women’s leadership in peace and security. While long-term impact will continue to evolve beyond the reporting period, evidence from this final year of the strategic framework confirms a meaningful contribution toward stronger mutual understanding, respect and trust among individuals and communities, providing a solid foundation for sustained WPS implementation in the next strategic cycle.

By 2025, there is stronger mutual understanding, respect and trust among individuals and communities

S ignificant progress was made in advancing the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda . 580 representatives of g overnment institutions, civil society organizations, and communities enhanced their capacities to implement gender-responsive policies and practices, contributing to gender equality and human security at national and local levels : Policymakers, practitioners, and communities now have access to critical research and evidence, enabling the embedding of WPS priorities in localized gender action plans and reinforcing sustainable funding and institutional coordination, while the BiH Agency for Gender Equality and the Coordination Board for UNSCR 1325 have improved their capacities and monitoring mechanisms, fostering better coordination between civil society organizations and government entities. In parallel, women’s and women-led CSOs have strengthened their organizational capacities, revitalizing the WPS network, promoting collaboration, and emphasizing women's leadership in addressing local challenges. Over 15 000 of the young people audience of the Sarajevo Film Festival has increased their understanding of feminism, gender equality, and human security, inspiring advocacy for human rights, while young female filmmakers have gained recognition, mentorship, and financial support, promoting women's roles in film and television production, and public awareness of women’s contributions to sustaining peace has expanded through campaigns like the “12 Days of Activism for Peace,” reinforcing positive narratives and promoting gender equality. BiH perspectives on advancing UNSCR 1325 have strategically gained international exposure through participation in global events, facilitating the exchange of best practices and technical expertise. These efforts have further positioned women as central to peacebuilding narratives and actions, highlighting the strategic importance of implemented initiatives. These outcome-level changes have positioned the mentioned partners to contribute more effectively to the WPS agenda, advancing gender equality and human security. The activities have been positively evaluated, increasing buy-in and laying a solid foundation for continued implementation in the upcoming year.

By 2025, there is stronger mutual understanding, respect and trust among individuals and communities

The work under this outcome was initated in November 2023, following the signature of the joint PBF funded initiatives Women lead the way towards peace and security in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Outcome level progress will be reported in 2024.