What makes an institution better? Not only strong procedures, but also the willingness to look critically at how it works, listen to its people and turn reflection into concrete improvements. With this approach, the Ministry of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina has embarked on the implementation of the Common Assessment Framework (CAF), taking an important step towards stronger quality management, improved organisational performance and a culture of continuous improvement.

On 6–7 October in Sarajevo, members of the Ministry’s CAF Self-Assessment Group took part in an intensive two-day training designed to move beyond theory and prepare the team for the practical implementation of CAF within the institution.

Supported by ReSPA, the programme equipped participants with the knowledge and tools needed to assess organisational practices, identify strengths and areas for improvement, and – most importantly – translate the findings into concrete and manageable improvement actions.

The process is supported through expert guidance from Tihana Puzic and facilitated by Slaven Bukarica, ReSPA QM Officer, together with Kenan Avdagić and Miroslav Zeković, CAF Facilitators from the Public Administration Reform Coordinator’s Office (PARCO).

Throughout the training, particular attention was given to applying CAF to the Ministry’s everyday work. Participants explored how evidence, different organisational perspectives and structured self-assessment can help institutions better understand where they stand today – and where they want to go next.

CAF is a methodology, but its success ultimately depends on people. From the very beginning, members of the Ministry’s Self-Assessment Group demonstrated a high level of engagement, professionalism and openness. Their readiness to examine existing practices critically, exchange perspectives and jointly identify realistic opportunities for improvement created a strong foundation for the next stages of the process.

Special recognition goes to CAF Manager Toni Šantić, whose commitment and leadership are helping to drive the process within the Ministry, as well as to Nedžad Salman and the entire CAF team for their excellent cooperation and support.

The constructive energy demonstrated by the group is particularly important because meaningful organisational change does not end with an assessment. The real value of CAF comes afterwards – when identified priorities are converted into actions, responsibilities and measurable improvements in the way an institution operates.

For the Ministry of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina, this is therefore not simply a training exercise, but the beginning of a broader improvement journey.

The process also reflects the strong cooperation between ReSPA and PARCO in advancing quality management across public administrations in the region.

Through its Regional Quality Management Centre (RQMC), ReSPA continues to support public institutions in introducing CAF, strengthening internal capacities and embedding continuous improvement into their organisational culture. By bringing together regional expertise, trained CAF facilitators and committed institutional teams, this cooperation helps transform quality management from a formal exercise into a practical tool for stronger institutions and better public services.