During 2025, the Local Democracy Agency (LDA) Mostar strategically, deliberately, and purposefully invested in strengthening the capacities of its team, guided by the belief that people, knowledge, and tools are the foundation of any long-term and meaningful societal action. These investments represent key preparation for implementing LDA Mostar’s new Strategy for 2026–2028, as well as a clear commitment to providing communities with high-quality, innovative, and sustainable support.
As an organization already serving as a resource center in the fields of local democracy, good governance, and citizen engagement, LDA Mostar further strengthened its internal capacities during the year to enhance its own effectiveness while expanding and deepening support to local communities, institutions, and citizens. The focus was not solely on improving procedures or tools, but primarily on empowering the people behind the processes—their knowledge, skills, motivation, and shared values.
Over 300 working hours were invested in capacity building during 2025 through long-term, targeted, and thematically interconnected training programs. These investments were clearly aimed at enhancing organizational performance, operational excellence, and long-term strategic resilience, while also fostering a team that shares responsibility, trust, and dedication to working with and for local communities. In this way, capacity building at the organizational level directly contributes to broader developmental processes, as empowered communities form the foundation of a sustainable and democratic society.
A significant advancement was made in the area of fundraising, through the application of modern tools and methods, including the use of artificial intelligence in preparing project proposals for regional and EU funding. This knowledge improves internal processes, increases organizational competitiveness, and strengthens financial stability, enabling more reliable and long-term support for the communities LDA Mostar collaborates with.
At the same time, capacities in financial management were further strengthened through long-term academies and specialized training focused on improving internal procedures, responsible resource management, and compliance with the regulatory framework. These investments reinforce standards of transparency, accountability, and stability, which are key to building trust with partners, donors, and the wider community.
In the field of good governance, public policy, and citizen participation, the focus was on developing knowledge and skills related to youth policies, monitoring local authorities, anti-corruption initiatives, human rights, and the role of local and regional institutions. This further consolidates LDA Mostar’s expert and advisory role as an organization providing communities and decision-makers with knowledge, analysis, and support grounded in democratic principles.
A particularly important aspect of capacity building concerned deliberative democracy and citizens’ assemblies, through long-term training organized by the Council of Europe. This knowledge enables LDA Mostar to act not only as an advocate for participatory practices but also as an operational partner capable of offering communities and institutions concrete, inclusive, and structured models of citizen engagement, adapted to contemporary challenges.
Trainings in monitoring and evaluation, as well as public procurement procedures, further strengthened internal planning systems, performance tracking, and evidence-based decision-making. Simultaneously, trainings in strategic communications and digital platforms contributed to enhancing the organization’s visibility, clarity, and consistency in communication with diverse target groups, as well as improving internal team coordination.
It is important to highlight that during 2025, alongside capacity building, the LDA Mostar team also worked intensively on developing the new Strategy for 2026–2028. Through a participatory, analytical, and structured process, with the support of external experts, the team collectively defined strategic objectives and development directions. This process further strengthened organizational culture, a sense of belonging, and shared responsibility, ensuring that the Strategy is grounded in real capacities and the actual needs of communities.
All investments in people, knowledge, and tools during 2025 provide a solid foundation for the next strategic period. Entering 2026–2028, LDA Mostar continues to operate as a strong resource center and to build a recognizable Local Democracy HUB, where an empowered and dedicated team works together with communities to create spaces of trust, learning, and democratic action, offering high-quality, innovative, and sustainable support to the wider society.
