UNDP’S COMMITMENT TO BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA
United Nations Development Programme in BiH with the support of UNDP's global framework since 1996, has, helped the country to attract and use international assistance more effectively. Our leading goals have been: supporting national capacity, implementing a variety of activities in key sectors, and helping to transfer the focus of development planning from post-war recovery to long-term development.
Bosnia and Herzegovina is a country with great human capital and valuable natural resources. Many of today’s development challenges in BiH are the direct consequence of the country’s recent past. However, the country shares a common vision of a future in the European Union, and steady progress to this effect is being made. BiH’s commitment to EU accession is generating the necessary momentum for political, economical and social reforms.
UNDP builds and fosters partnerships with other development actors, and Key Decision-makers (internal and external). At the same time UNDP supports BiH to share its own development experience and expertise with others.
UNDP is the largest development agency of the UN System and in close collaboration with other UN Agencies is focused on four key sectors in its BiH programme (Justice and Security, Social Inclusion and Democratic Governance, Rural and Regional Development, Energy and Environment).
The major contributors to UNDP in BiH are Government of Netherlands, the European Commission, the BiH Government, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, as well as, Governments of Norway, Spain, Japan and Switzerland. The donors’ contributions are delivered trough the UNDP’s collaboration with local partners such as ministries, municipalities and civil society organizations on following activities:
Justice and Security:
The activities of the Justice and Security Programme are designed to ensure the efficient performance of judicial institutions, access to and delivery of justice, and improved human security in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Programme is aimed at improving the capacities of BiH cantonal/district judicial/prosecutorial institutions and building safer communities, which includes judicial, law enforcement, and human rights services; supporting BiH citizens, primarily victims, witnesses and vulnerable groups; and reducing the risks and threats posed by natural disasters and negative consequences of war, such as weapons, ordinance and mines.
Social Inclusion and Democratic Governance:
The Social Inclusion and Governance Programme assists BiH central, entity and local governments to achieve higher standards of governance effectiveness through better planning, budgeting, provision of public goods to citizens and accountability. By tackling these challenges UNDP influences the policy level, which affects the lives of ordinary citizens and particularly the most vulnerable groups. Through the implementation of more inclusive citizen-centered policies and legislation related to EU accession, the programme provides support to activities targeting socially excluded groups in rural communities, refugees and IDPs, disabled people, the elderly, Roma, and people living with HIV and tuberculosis.
Rural and Regional Development:
The Rural and Regional Development Programme focuses on a comprehensive approach to development at the local level, in line with European principles and norms. Through its five regional offices, the Programme targets: improving local government capacity to plan, identify priorities and deliver results; stimulating economic recovery through entrepreneurial activity and investment, increasing the competitiveness of local producers and income generation; strengthening local priority infrastructure; delivery of social services to vulnerable populations, and the sustainable use of natural resources and energy efficiency. Geographically the programme focuses on the 70 least developed.
Energy and Environment:
Energy Efficiency and Environmental Sustainability are essential components of a European future for countries like Bosnia and Herzegovina. With a generally low awareness of the interdependence between environment and development, national priority setting in this area is quite limited. UNDP focuses its support to ensure that Bosnia and Herzegovina has the human and financial resources to sustainably use its environmental and natural resources, that it meets the EU Environmental Acquis and creates green, resilient economic growth and sustainable livelihoods for its population. The ultimate goal of the UNDP Energy and Environment Programme in BiH is to fundamentally change the understanding of the environment, including water resources, and sustainable energy issues in the country, from the current perception of being a burden to an important current and future development asset.
Every two years UNDP produces a BiH Human Development Report and sectoral studies, and provides expertise to the Bosnian and Herzegovinian Government in the complex process of transition. The Report is used as a reference point by members of academia, governmental institutions, media and other international organizations.
UNDP programme activities are streamlined through a targeted approach to strategic national partners and programme presence both centrally, in Sarajevo, and in the field, in our field office in Banja Luka, Bihac and Mostar.
What have we accomplished so far and what we aim for in the near future
UNDP BiH programmatic activities are guided by the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) 2010-2014 which has been endorsed by the BiH Council of Ministers and United Nations Country Team (UNCT). Consultations with senior key officials in the government and amongst the donor community indicate that the expected programme results will make strategic contributions to achievement of Millennium Development Goals (MDGS).
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