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Reflection exercise: Where do I stand within BiH’s civic and stakeholder context ?

Imagine a municipality in Sarajevo plans to redevelop an old open space next to a residential neighbourhood.

The proposal includes:

  • a new apartment and commercial building
  • an underground parking garage
  • a smaller public green area
  • new road access to the site

The municipality argues that the project will bring investment, housing and jobs.

Some residents support the project, but others are worried about:

  • loss of green space
  • more traffic and noise
  • pressure on parking
  • whether local people were properly consulted

Stakeholder positions include:

An environmental NGO wants more green space to remain.
The private developer argues that reducing the size of the building could make the project financially difficult.
Urban planners must consider planning rules, infrastructure and public needs.
Municipal and cantonal authorities may have different responsibilities for approvals, roads and planning.

Your reflection task

Choose one stakeholder role and prepare to take part in a public discussion about the project. Write around 100-150 words from the perspective of your chosen stakeholder.

Think about:

  • What is your main priority?
  • What do you support or oppose?
  • What information do you need?
  • Who has the most power in this process?
  • Which stakeholder might disagree with you?
  • What compromise could you accept?
  • What should the facilitator do to make the discussion fair?

After discussing your position, switch to a different stakeholder role and consider how the same project looks from their perspective.

Final questions: Write 30–50 words

Which stakeholder position did you choose first, and which the second? Why? Is the reason related to your identity or belonging to a specific social group?  

How does the BiH system of different government levels affect public participation, and how can a facilitator help citizens, institutions and other stakeholders work together?