LocationsSDG Week in Bosnia and Herzegovina Kicks Off with the 2024 SDG Local Governance Awards
November 4, 2024
The fourth SDG Week in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) has commenced, marking a country-wide celebration and commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the 2030 Agenda. This year’s theme, “Accelerating Action for a Sustainable Future” (Act4SDGs), highlights the need for urgent and inclusive measures to address the country’s pressing sustainability challenges.
The opening event, “2024 SDG Local Governance Awards: Pioneering the Possible in BiH”, honored municipalities and local leaders for their commitment to sustainable practices, inclusive policies, and community resilience. By recognizing local initiatives, the event highlighted the ways in which local governments in BiH are actively driving positive change to support the global SDG framework.
Honoring Local Leaders in Sustainable Development
Hosted by the SDG Council in BiH and supported by the “Translating the SDGs Framework in BiH into Sustainable and Inclusive Growth (SDG2BiH)” programme, the award ceremony celebrated outstanding achievements in SDG localization. SDG2BiH programme is funded by Sweden and implemented by UNDP, in partnership with UNICEF and UN Women, as part of the United Nations’ support for the BiH authorities in achieving the 2030 Agenda.
Among the recipients, local government representatives from Bijeljina, Gradiška, Novo Sarajevo, Tešanj, and Žepče, were recognized for efforts to foster sustainable economic growth, promote gender equality, and implement environmentally conscious policies. In addition, awardees from across BiH were highlighted as models of collaboration and ingenuity in responding to community needs and advancing shared prosperity.
H.E. Helena Lagerlöf, Ambassador of Sweden to BiH, highlighted Sweden’s commitment to sustainable development in Bosnia and Herzegovina, underscoring the synergy between the SDGs and BiH’s EU accession and importance of private sector engagement.
H.E. Helena Lagerlöf, Ambassador of Sweden to BiH
”Dedicated implementation of SDG´s directly contributes to meeting BiH´s requirements towards the EU integration. These are two mutually reinforcing and complementary agendas aimed at securing sustainable future for the benefit of all citizens. The private sector is essential in this journey, offering innovative solutions, creating jobs, and ensuring responsible, sustainable operations. I’m proud to say that Swedish companies are at the forefront, leading with their clean, green, and efficient technologies.”H.E. Helena Lagerlöf, Ambassador of Sweden to BiH
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Edin Forto, Minister of Communications and Transport of Bosnia and Herzegovina, emphasized that the quality of life is the focus of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
Edin Forto, Minister of Communications and Transport of Bosnia and Herzegovina
“Without the cooperation of the private sector and the public sector to fulfil not only the Sustainable Development Goals, but everything we need to reach the most developed countries in Europe, I don't think we will move. I would like to thank the UN, UNDP and, especially, Sweden for their help in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in BiH.”Edin Forto, Minister of Communications and Transport of Bosnia and Herzegovina
UN Resident Coordinator in BiH, Dr Ingrid Macdonald, on behalf of all UN agencies in the country, emphasized the collaborative efforts needed to tackle BiH's most pressing sustainability challenges.
Dr Ingrid Macdonald, UN Resident Coordinator in BiH
“United Nations is committed to facilitating strong partnerships with government bodies and local communities, which are important for building resilience and fostering sustainable development that truly leaves no one behind. Together with our partners from Sweden, we are continuing our shared journey toward social cohesion, economic prosperity and environmental sustainability.”Dr Ingrid Macdonald, UN Resident Coordinator in BiH
Zoran Zeljko, Director of the Directorate for Economic Planning and Chair of the SDG Council in BiH, acknowledged the critical role of local leaders in advancing sustainable solutions tailored to community needs.
“The SDG Framework in Bosnia and Herzegovina helped us to integrate sustainable development into strategic documents at various levels of government. What surely remains is the localization of the Sustainable Development Goals and therefore I am glad that today we opened the SDG Week in a way to award prizes to the pioneers of sustainable development, i.e. to local communities that apply the policies of the Sustainable Development Goals,” stated Zeljko.
“Tešanj reported projects that are recognized as those that contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals in BiH, namely the introduction of digital solutions in the management of parking lots and the heating of public facilities. They contribute to the optimization of public space and better urban living, by reducing traffic jams, reducing emissions of harmful gases and excessive energy consumption,” stated Suad Huskić, Mayor of Tešanj.
A Series of Events to Drive Sustainable Development
The 2024 SDG Week in BiH continues with more than 20 events scheduled across BiH, engaging stakeholders from various sectors. The public and media are invited to follow SDG Week events through social media using #SDGweekinBiH and #sedmicaodrzivograzvoja.
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