Designing a Civic Dialogue Platform for Intergenerational Exchange
Concept development, programme design, and communication strategy for a civic initiative creating structured spaces for public debate between generations in a post-conflict society.
In a media landscape dominated by polarization and performative political exchange, a group of civic actors in Sarajevo identified the need for a platform that could host serious, structured public conversation. The ambition was to create a recurring format that brought together students, professionals, academics, and public figures to engage with questions about governance, identity, public policy, and civic life. The initiative needed to feel intellectually credible while remaining accessible, and it had to avoid being perceived as either an NGO project or a political platform.
Civic dialogue initiatives in the Western Balkans often struggle with two problems: either they attract only the already-converted (NGO insiders, international community actors) or they fail to sustain engagement beyond a single event. This initiative needed a format and identity that could attract genuinely diverse participants, generate public interest, and build a recognizable civic brand without institutional sponsorship or political affiliation.
CBD contributed to the initiative from concept stage through execution. We helped define the programme format (structured debate with clear rules of engagement, thematic focus, and curated speakers), developed the communication and positioning strategy, designed the visual and narrative identity, and produced promotional and documentary content for each edition. Critically, we helped the organizers resist the temptation to dilute the format with panel-style discussions and instead maintained the rigour of actual debate. The communication strategy positioned the platform as a serious civic space rather than an event series.
The platform established itself as a recognizable civic engagement format in Sarajevo, attracting participants from across generational and professional boundaries. Each edition drew growing public interest and media attention. The model demonstrated that structured debate can function as a vehicle for civic learning and community building, even in environments where public trust in dialogue is low. The initiative continues to develop with plans for expansion to other cities.