Bosnia and Herzegovina is currently facing enormous social changes. In the last 8 years, a great number of laws, regulations, and decisions leading to various legislative and institutional reforms in almost all segments of state functioning are being passed and implemented.

A question that arises is the degree to which all of these legislative and institutional reforms are effective and developed as "evidence-based policies".
Until now there have been few domestic research organizations in B&H that have dealt with the issue of analysis and development of policy in various segments of society and the economy. This is partly a reflection of the relatively undeveloped political culture and tradition in the field of policy research in B&H, and also due to the lack of institutions in B&H that are engaged in, and used for, policy research, analysis and development.

With the aim of developing 'evidence-based policies' in B&H and establishing new standards in policy analysis and development, based upon the large volume of research and analytical experience gained over the past ten years, a group of young, politically unaffiliated Bosnia and Herzegovina professional researchers and analysts have established the CEPOS for Social, Policy, and Economic Studies.
CEPOS for Social, Policy, and Economic studies was registered as a not-for-profit organization in May 2004. The main aim of the CEPOS is to provide evidence based policy analysis and recommendations to guide and influence the political process and raise the application of social sciences in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the process of policy analysis and development.

CEPOS's main program objectives are:

* To initiate and/or inform the policy process in B&H as a non-partisan institute providing evidence-based policy analysis and recommendations

* To initiate and conduct independent, evidence based social, policy and economic studies and research, analysis of key issues of relevance in the context of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the countries of South East Europe, in accordance with the highest international standards

* To raise the application of applied social sciences in the process of policy analysis and development in B&H.

* To provide education and training in all areas of social, political and economic studies, research and analysis for all interested in these areas

*To use studies and analyses conducted with the purpose of promoting debate in the domestic and international public, academic and business communities, and policymakers through seminars, round tables, conferences, forums and the media

* To collect necessary funds for the purpose of financing CEPOS's own and individual social, policy and economic studies and research.

* To network with policy research experts and professionals throughout B&H, the SEE region, the EU and internationally to inform the policy development process, to share best practices and support advocacy of policy recommendations

* To translate and publish books, reports, high quality articles, and other publications relevant to social, political and economic studies and research, in accordance with legislative regulations.

The vision of the CEPOS is to develop into one of the leading non-government policy research organizations for social, political and economic studies in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in the broader region of South East Europe, recognized and respected in domestic and international academic, government, NGO, and business circles, and by the general public - the civil society of Bosnia and Herzegovina.