The SCORE Index 

At the core of the project is the Social Cohesion and Reconciliation (SCORE) Index, an internationally applied assessment tool that measures key dimensions of social cohesion, resilience, and intergroup relations through over 200 indicators. Developed by SeeD in collaboration with UNDP and USAID, the SCORE Index has been applied in 14 countries worldwide. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the SCORE survey was first conducted in 2014, repeated in 2020 with a nationally representative sample of 3,637 respondents, and is now being implemented for a third time in 2025 as part of this project.

Project Approach and Strategy 

The project is structured around three interconnected areas of work:

Output 1: National SCORE Survey and Public Datasets. 

The project deploys a nationally representative SCORE survey to generate publicly accessible data on social cohesion, trust, civic engagement, and resilience to divisive narratives across Bosnia and Herzegovina. Findings are published in a Social Cohesion Trends & Changes Report and made available through interactive heatmaps on the SCORE platform (scoreforpeace.org), allowing users to explore data at national, regional, and municipal levels.

Output 2: Local-Level Research and Targeted Insights. 

An additional SCORE Booster survey is conducted in 10 selected municipalities located in areas marked by heightened social tension. By oversampling youth and women, the booster generates in-depth local insights that inform tailored policy responses. Focus group discussions complement the quantitative data with community perspectives. The output also includes in-depth policy papers analysing potential interventions for social cohesion, with a particular focus on youth, women, and underrepresented groups.

Output 3: Community Action and Inclusive Participation. 

In each of the 10 target municipalities, the project establishes Local Dialogue Groups, small, diverse advisory bodies composed of local stakeholders, including women and youth leaders, civil society representatives, and community figures. A community grant mechanism supports civil society-led initiatives such as youth civic engagement campaigns, interethnic community events, local storytelling, community hubs, and women’s leadership forums. Complementary narrative initiatives amplify inclusive stories that promote reconciliation and civic identity.

Geographic Coverage 

The nationally representative SCORE survey covers all regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, including both entities and Brčko District of BiH. The Booster survey and community-level interventions are implemented in 10 selected municipalities identified through a structured, evidence-informed site selection process based on existing SCORE data (2014 and 2020), social tension indicators, and prior UNDP engagement. Those municipalities are: Jajce, Brčko, Mostar, Velika Kladuša, Stolac, Prnjavor, Srebrenica, Doboj, Odžak, and Teslić.

Donors and Partners 

The project is funded by the Kingdom of Denmark. It is implemented by UNDP Bosnia and Herzegovina in partnership with SeeD (Centre for Sustainable Peace and Democratic Development), with data collection carried out by Prism Research. Key stakeholders include government institutions at state, entity, cantonal, and municipal levels, civil society organisations, the EU Delegation to BiH, and the UN Country Team.

Timeline and Budget 

The project runs from July 2025 to December 2026 with a total budget of USD 1,522,292, funded by the Kingdom of Denmark.

Focus Area 

Effective Governance