Co-operation between the United Nations Development Programme and the Bit Alliance was formalized through the virtual signing of a Memorandum of Understanding. The cooperation of the two organizations is based on the common aspirations to use technology as a tool for sustainable and inclusive development in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“The partnership between UNDP and the BiT Alliance, a joint voice of the ICT sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina, will create important opportunities to accelerate the digitization of governance, nurture the digital economy and foster the information society. In these challenging times, UNDP and Bit Alliance collaboration seeks to create opportunities through a new platform where people can come up with innovative ideas to help society, government and the economy overcome the coronavirus crisis,” said Steliana Nedera, UNDP Resident Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The first concrete joint activity of the BiT Alliance and UNDP is the digital ideathon, covIDEJA 2020, which is a platform for finding innovative ideas and solutions proposed by citizens, which will not only overcome the negative effects of the current COVID-19 pandemic, but will also offer looking to the future towards a broader positive change.
“By signing today’s memorandum of cooperation, UNDP and the Bit Alliance continue the successful implementation of joint projects and initiatives. Given that our goals are always going in the same direction, and that is enhancing the potential that BiH has, through different fields and activities, this cooperation will enable creating new opportunities for all our citizens. Also today, our joint covIDEIA 2020 initiative is available, which aims to show that we can all be part of a chain that works for the benefit of all of us. We are sure that the ideas that will be delivered will offer a new perspective when dealing with the emerging crisis in all aspects. Together, we will continue to fight the situation in our own way, through innovative digital processes that will become the new everyday life of society as a whole. Let Digital Awareness Society be our common victory”, said Tatjana Vučić, CEO of Bit Alliance.
Ideathon covIDEJA 2020 is available at http://digitalnovrijeme.ba, with support from more than 20 partners, including institutions, municipalities and cities, academia, professional networks, civil society organizations, the private sector, embassies and the international community. This online platform will provide an opportunity for all interested people – young people, scientists, business, media, innovators, senior citizens, professionals from various fields – to apply and present their ideas for overcoming the COVID-19 crisis.
Ideathon will run for two weeks, from April 10 to April 24, 2020, with the ultimate goal of encouraging authorities, the private sector, civil society and the international community to implement the ideas proposed, so that collective intelligence translates into concrete results that improve the quality of life for all.
covIDEJA is an initiative launched by the UNDP Accelerator Lab in Bosnia and Herzegovina as part of a global knowledge and innovation network.
covIDEJA 2020 is supported by: Embassy of the Kingdom of Sweden in Bosnia and Herzegovina, UK Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Center for Technical Culture – Mostar, Deloitte, Faculty of Economics University of Sarajevo, Green Council, HUB387, IMPACT, Innovation Center – Banja Luka, INTERA Technology Park, International Burch University, SPARK – Mostar, JSGURU, Lonac.pro, Ministry of Programming, Networks, Swedish Chamber of Commerce, German Organization for International Cooperation GIZ, Municipality Istočno Novo Sarajevo, Communications Regulatory Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Association of Municipalities and Cities of Republika Srpska.