Projects and Programs

Current Projects

Dayton Project Bosnia-Herzegovina Study Group

Comprised of former officials and policy specialists, this group was created by the Dayton Project for the purpose of offering concrete and innovative policy options and recommendations on critical issues facing the Balkans. The first report of the Group, "One Last Chance in Bosnia," was published on May 10, 2007. Current members of the Balkan Study Group are listed on our Experts page.

• Reports of the Bosnia-Herzegovina Study Group can be found by following the link below.
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Facilitating Constitutional & Governmental Reform in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Phase 1: Constitutional Reform
In partnership with the US Institute of Peace and the Public International Law and Policy Group, DPAP is actively engaged in a project aimed at moving Bosnia and Herzegovina beyond the political and constitutional structure of the Dayton Agreement and into Euro-Atlantic institutions, specifically the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European Union (EU). This project involves all major political and civil society institutions in BH and is supported and partly funded by the international community (Nordic States, Switzerland, The Carnegie Corporation of New York, and the German Marshall Fund of the United States. Nine major groups of meetings have been held in Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Brussels, and Washington, DC between February 2005 and January 2006 with members of the BH Presidency, Parliament, entities, major political parties, civil society groups, and in the more recent meetings, representatives of the US Department of State.

• Key documents related to constitutional reform in Bosnia and Herzegovina can be found by following the link below.
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Phase 2: Governmental Reform
In addition to constitutional reform, BiH will require substantial reform of municipal and sub-state governmental structures in order to improve efficiency and implement the necessary conditions for EU accession. The project will support a two-part study of BiH’s municipal structures and governmental activities. The first part will evaluate the efficiency, effectiveness, and costs, both before and after the war. The second part will develop models of how these structures can be reformed to improve delivery of services to the citizens and to facilitate BiH meeting the EU accession requirements. These studies would form the basis of a discussion for reconfiguring governmental structures in BiH.

• Key documents related to governmental reform in Bosnia and Herzegovina can be found by following the link below.
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Bosnian Truth and Reconciliation

Over the past decade of experience in Bosnia, it became apparent that a broader process would be necessary to help Bosnians move beyond conflicting realities to realize one truth about the abuses suffered on all sides during the war. The next generation of Bosnians is growing up far more divided than at any time before, potentially laying the seeds for new tensions and conflict.

At the request of the speakers of the Bosnian parliament, a working group has been formed for the first time to negotiate the terms of a national truth commission, with the explicit understanding that US Institute of Peace would serve as facilitator and technical resource for the working group discussions. The commission’s mandate will not only include providing a forum for dealing with a fractured past, but will develop a blueprint of steps to be taken to prevent a recurrence of such abuses in the future. DPAP is partnering with USIP in facilitating the commission’s work.

The Bosnian Truth and Reconciliation project will facilitate talks of the eight-party Truth Commission Working Group, including their reception of input from the Bosnian public, leading to submission of draft legislation to the parliament. Specific activities will include:

• Mediating working group meetings, to be held approximately every six weeks. These meetings will be held in different parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
• Providing technical input and materials to the working group based on truth commission models in other countries.
• Periodic briefing of, and consultation with, ambassadors and officials of the relevant international agencies in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
• Developing a draft budget for the proposed truth commission based on decisions made by the working group.
• Holding consultations with civil society leaders regarding the potential selection process for members of the truth commission.
• Arranging for the provision of expertise by others to the working group.

Constitutional Reform and Final Status Resolution in Kosovo

In collaboration with the Public International Law and Policy Group, DPAP is involved in the development of a constitution for Kosovo and resolution of the region’s political status. DPAP has also initiated discussions on providing assistance in the areas of cultural heritage management and economic development.

Past Projects

Over the past decade, DPAP has engaged in initiatives to improve the effective implementation of the Dayton Peace agreement, promote economic development in Bosnia, increase cooperation among states in southeastern Europe, resolve the status of Kosovo, and encourage reconciliation in the region through cultural and educational projects.

DPAP INITIATIVES