The objective of this handbook is to inform the businesses in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) about environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards and the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is a valuable resource containing relevant information and practical advice for businesses and other institutions on how to most effectively implement ESG standards, assess performance and define goals and action plans to contribute to a more sustainable future.

As some companies in BiH are already pioneering sustainable development in BiH, this handbook highlights positive examples of practices implemented by past winners of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) SDG Business Pioneers Award in BiH.

There is no doubt that more and more businesses are no longer only expected to perform well but also to “do good” and “do no harm”. No matter the size, the businesses have the duty to respond and contribute to the solution for the key regional and global challenges such as climate change (and its implications evident in the rise in sea level, increased risks of droughts and floods, and threats to biodiversity), lack of equity and inclusion, corruption, etc.