LocationsCantons, municipalities, and cities will work on the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals
March 16, 2023
At an event held in Sarajevo, three cantons and eight municipalities and cities signed an agreement on the localization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The partners who will work on the localization of the SDGs in the future are the Tuzla, West Herzegovina and Una-Sana cantons, and Novo Sarajevo, Jablanica, Teslić, Bijeljina, Laktaši, Gradiška, Trebinje and Posušje municipalities/cities.
The partner cantons and local governments were selected for collaboration because they have proven to have a functional development management system in place, achieve significant development results, prioritize the most vulnerable population groups, and aspire to become true leaders in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals.
The collaboration will take place in the coming period through the process of localization and operationalization of the Sustainable Development Goals through the systematic implementation of development strategies of cantons and local governments.
In addition, efforts will be made to develop and prepare documentation for strategic projects that contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, as well as the preparation and implementation of development projects.
Lisa Curman
"Promoting and supporting local communities in the development and implementation of projects that contribute to the fulfillment of the Agenda 2030 is particularly important because actions at the local level play a key role in achieving global goals. Moreover, local-level projects have a direct impact on the people living in those communities by improving their living conditions, and that is what matters most."Lisa Curman, Deputy Head of Development Cooperation at the Embassy of Sweden in BiH
Veronika Vashchenko, Deputy Representative of UNICEF in BiH, emphasized that partnerships with local governments are key to identifying and improving the social inclusion of the most vulnerable population groups, in line with the principle of the Sustainable Development Goals that no one should be left behind.
Veronika Vashchenko
"In the long run, this project will contribute to the improvement of socio-economic development of local communities, which is a path towards breaking the cycle of poverty and social exclusion."Veronika Vashchenko, Deputy Representative of UNICEF in BiH
Steliana Nedera
"Localization of SDGs at the cantonal and local level will increase the capacity to prepare and implement concrete projects that will encourage changes in people's lives and show how lower levels of government can contribute to the achievement of SDG, with a special focus on the principle that no one should be left behind in the process."Steliana Nedera, Resident Representative of UNDP in BiH
Aida Laković-Hošo i Irfan Halilagić
"Recognizing the significance and contribution of this program in the processes of implementation and localization of the Sustainable Development Goals, I express full readiness and commitment of Tuzla Canton to direct its work and actions towards sustainable development, reflected in equitable economic growth, environmental protection and natural resource management, as well as the creation of a just society and reduction of existing inequalities within the Canton."Irfan Halilagić, Prime Minister of Tuzla Canton
The event was held as part of the program "Translating the SDGs Framework in BiH into Sustainable and Inclusive Growth" (SDG2BiH), funded by Sweden and implemented by UNDP in partnership with UNICEF and UN Women, as part of the support of the United Nations to the BiH authorities in the implementation of the SDGs Framework in BiH.
