The participacija.ba portal was developed as part of the UTPS – Urban Transformation Project Sarajevo. The UTPS project is a four-year initiative financed by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), aimed at supporting the modernization of the integrated urban planning system in Sarajevo Canton and creating better conditions for sustainable socioeconomic development resilient to climate change. The project is particularly significant given the importance and necessity of adopting a new, integrative and participatory approach to urban planning—one capable of addressing climate change challenges while fostering more inclusive socioeconomic growth. The participacija.ba portal focuses on promoting broader and higher-quality public participation in spatial planning and decision-making processes.
Public participation in the planning and design of public spaces is an extremely complex process which, in addition to addressing everyday challenges faced by citizens, aims to strike a balance between private and public interests. The process presents numerous challenges for implementers, including understanding what truly constitutes the public interest, ensuring effective communication, addressing limited public awareness and education, and overcoming low levels of civic engagement. The portal includes a set of tools and models designed to enhance public participation in spatial planning and public space management. It serves to facilitate the work of public institution employees involved in spatial planning and decision-making processes. In addition to introducing innovative methods not previously applied in this region, the portal also proposes ways to improve existing participation tools to achieve higher-quality results. The platform is highly user-friendly and interactive, offering the option to download ready-to-use documents and templates.