Performance Report Fiscal Year 2024 Quarter 1: Support to Electoral Integrity in Bosnia and Herzegovina Activity

The program works to strengthen civil oversight of elections by supporting the local partner Coalition for Free and Fair Elections Pod Lupom (PL) throughout the entire election cycle. In Q1, USAID awarded Democracy International (DI) the SEI contract with a start date of October 1. Following a Stop Work Order lasting from October 11-November 13, DI resumed start-up activities, including hiring key personnel and planning for the Chief of Party (COP) deployment to BiH in early Q2. DI completed key administrative tasks required for start-up, such as procuring legal services, preparing for project registration, and conducting research on office space in country. The High Representative Christian Schmidt called on the representatives of the authorities in BiH to agree on technical changes to the BiH Electoral Law that relate to greater transparency during voting, including the introduction of new electronic voting technologies. The House of Representatives of BiH passed the electoral amendments proposed by Party of Democratic Action (SDA) Parliament Members (MPs), which included the application of new technologies and the non-partisan appointment of the Polling Station Committee (PSC) members by the Central Election Committee (CEC). Longtime CEC member Irena Hadziabdic assumed the role of CEC president after her election to the position on December 18, 2023. Ms. Hadziabdic, who identifies as "Others," replaced incumbent Suad Arnautovic. The passing of the electoral law amendments as the basis for the introduction of new technologies to improve electoral integrity in BiH dominated the political discourse during the quarter. DI was on track to complete its mobilization well ahead of the schedule, which anticipated completing mobilization in April 2024. DI submitted the mobilization plan to USAID on November 28, 2023, after the stop work order was lifted. By the end of Q1, DI was on track to finalize recruitment of all key personnel, including the Chief of Party, Deputy Chief of Party, and Finance and Operations Manager. The program's implementation was delayed due to the Stop Work Order, but DI was able to initiate project start-up, including beginning the registration process, recruiting key personnel, finalizing the co-creation of Pod Lupom's project design, and consulting with the CEC by the end of the reporting period. DI's progress towards the mobilization plan is outlined below, with updates on personnel hiring, including the Chief of Party, Deputy Chief of Party, and Finance and Operations Manager. The program's focus on collaboration with local partners for results is evidence-based and incorporates principles of Social and Behavioral Science (SBS). The program's goal is to improve electoral integrity in BiH by enhancing coordination among electoral bodies and strengthening civil oversight of elections.