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Theme: Accelerating Action for a Sustainable Future (Act4SDGs)

4 – 8 November 2024

 

Day 1 – Monday, November 4

Opening Ceremony – 2024 SDG Local Governance Awards: Pioneering the Possible in BiH

About: The ceremony will put a spotlight on local governments in BiH that implement projects contributing to SDGs and promote sustainable development. Best practices will be presented and collaboration and innovation among municipalities encouraged. 
Location: Swissotel Hotel, Sarajevo
Organiser: Embassy of Sweden in BiH & UNDP

CampUp” 2024

About: Camp UP is a five-day intensive program at the Banja Luka University Campus, aimed at introducing 60 young people (ages 18 to 35, including university and final-year high school students) to the world of startups.  Through the program, participants will learn how to spot ideas, identify problems, form teams, and develop startups. On November 4, Camp UP will be round off with teams pitching their startup ideas to a jury, followed by an award ceremony for the best ideas. 
Location: Science and Technology Park of Republika Srpska, Banja Luka
Organiser: Science and Technology Park of Republika Srpska, with UNDP, University of Banja Luka, and RS Ministry of Science and Technology Development and Higher Education

“Inclusion through Art” 

About: Mural production workshop with the participation of children from local community, children under international protection, asylum-seeker children, and children from marginalized groups, aimed to foster social cohesion and integration. Workshop is going to be concluded with the joint production of a mural with a social inclusion theme on the wall of the elementary school in Čapljina.
Location: Elementary School, Čapljina
Organiser: UNHCR
*This event will last the whole duration of SDG Week (4-8 November)

 

Day 2 – Tuesday, November 5

From Pollution to Solutions: A Franco-Bosnian Air Quality Summit

About: The conference aims to tackle air pollution in cities like Sarajevo and Tuzla by uniting Bosnian and French stakeholders to share solutions and best practices. It seeks to inspire local actions to improve air quality and promote sustainable urban environments. 
Location: UN House, Sarajevo
Organiser: French Embassy in BiH

The Special Olympics

About: The event is one in a series, featuring inclusive sports competitions across cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This time The Special Olympics will be hosted in Tuzla. These events were designed to promote inclusion and demonstrate the capabilities of persons with disabilities by integrating them with able-bodied participants in basketball and football games. The initiative seeks to challenge stereotypes, raise awareness about the capabilities of persons with disabilities, and highlight the importance of inclusive practices in sports and society. Teams will compete in basketball, football, and athletics, with the scores and performances across the cities contributing to the overall standings.
Location: Tušanj City Stadium, Tuzla
Organisers: UNFPA, Tuzla City, & Special Olympics

Governing sustainable development: Evaluating strategic documents in Republika Srpska

About: One-day workshop gathering planners from 16 ministries in the RS Government, addressing implementation of the SDG Framework in BIH through the strategic planning and development management system in line with the new Republika Srpska legal framework. The event is expected to equip a critical number of development practitioners from the government ministries with the “know-how” required for successful implementation of the new legal framework through the preparation of strategic documents, with a special focus on their evaluation. 
Location: Banja Luka
General Secretariat of Republika Srpska, with UNDP support

Mental Healthcare and Social Services in Peacebuilding 

About: The event supports local partners in organizing discussions on “Mental Healthcare and Social Services in Peacebuilding” in partnership with public institutions. The event contributes to SDGs 3, 10, 16, and 17. 
Location: Banja Luka
Organisers: IOM & UNDP

Circular Accelerator training for SMEs

About: As part of the Circular Accelerator, a two-day training session will be held on the 5th and 6th of November. The program is designed to enhance the capabilities and competencies of SMEs by developing skills, innovative business models, and sustainable solutions based on circular economy principles. The training sessions are tailored to meet the specific needs of participants and are structured to be replicable, ensuring consistency and efficiency for future iterations of the Circular Accelerator. With 10 SMEs from various industries participating, the program offers a flexible and scalable approach to address diverse business needs and sector-specific challenges.
Location: Vitez
Organiser: UNDP

 

Day 3 – Wednesday, November 6

Opportunities and Challenges for Gender-inclusive Environmental Justice

About: Together with the BiH Gender Equality Agency and UN WOMEN, UNDP BiH launched in October 2022 a Coalition on Gender and Climate as part of action coalitions established under Generation Equality. The Coalition is an informal platform made up of governmental and non-governmental actors. The November meeting, organized by UNDP, will serve to present and discuss findings of the study on women’s engagement in environmental justice in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Location: UN House, Sarajevo
Organiser: UNDP

Gender-responsive local governments: Local gender action plans and development strategies in the service of prevention of domestic violence and violence against women

About: The conference will focus on integrating local gender equality mechanisms into development strategies. The event aims to strengthen efforts in preventing and responding to domestic violence and violence against women by encouraging discussions, sharing best practices, and providing guidelines to enhance local government responses to these critical issues.
Location: Hotel Termag, Jahorina
Organisers: The Association of Municipalities and Cities of the RS and the FBiH & Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SALAR)

Circular Accelerator training for SMEs

About: As part of the Circular Accelerator, a two-day training session will be held on the 5th and 6th of November. The program is designed to enhance the capabilities and competencies of SMEs by developing skills, innovative business models, and sustainable solutions based on circular economy principles. The training sessions are tailored to meet the specific needs of participants and are structured to be replicable, ensuring consistency and efficiency for future iterations of the Circular Accelerator. With 10 SMEs from various industries participating, the program offers a flexible and scalable approach to address diverse business needs and sector-specific challenges.
Location: Vitez
Organiser: UNDP

 

 

Day 4 – Thursday, November 7

Agreement Signing Ceremony – Via Dinarica: Infrastructure Projects for the Improvement of the Nature-based Tourism Offer

About: An agreement to jointly invest in green tourism infrastructure along the Via Dinarica trails in Bosnia and Herzegovina will be formally signed in a ceremony at Mostar City Hall. This event will gather representatives from local and cantonal authorities to commemorate the collaboration. Following the signing, attendees will visit the Fortica sports and recreational park to observe firsthand the successful partnership between local government, civil society organizations, and the Via Dinarica project.
Location: Mostar
Organiser: UNDP

Recycle and Win

About: This interactive afternoon event aims to inspire Sarajevo citizens to actively recycle. Participants can drop off their plastic, paper, and glass packaging at designated booths, join a prize draw, and win educational sets, all designed to encourage involvement in reducing waste. Small businesses that create products from recycled materials will also be invited to showcase their offerings. 
Location: Wilson’s promenade, Sarajevo
Organiser: Foundation Mozaik

Capacity building of relevant stakeholders on HPV vaccination, including access for marginalized groups in FBIH

About: The event aims to raise awareness among parents, guardians, social workers, and staff at institutions for marginalized children about the importance of HPV vaccination. The focus will be on ensuring equitable access for marginalized youth, promoting health equity, and empowering participants to advocate for vaccination through evidence-based practices and culturally sensitive communication. 
Location: Institute for Public Health FBiH, Sarajevo
Organiser: Insititute for Public Health FBiH, Ministry of Education of Canton Sarajevo, UNFPA

The Energy Behind What You Wear – Threads for Tomorrow 

About: This event is focused on the environmental impact of fast fashion and the importance of sustainable choices. It will explore how sustainable fashion aligns with the energy transition, promoting more efficient resource use and a greener future. Participants will gain insights into actionable steps they can take to support a circular economy and reduce the energy footprint of the clothing industry.
Location: EU House, Sarajevo
Organiser: Delegation of the European Union to Bosnia and Herzegovina

Digital literacy in transformation: AI or Ouch? 

About: Under the theme “Science, Technology, and Innovation and Digital Cooperation,” events will be held at the University engaging approximately 80 students and faculty at each location. The focus will be on AI and Media Information Literacy.
Location: Faculty of Political Sciences, University of Sarajevo
Organiser: UNESCO

Transforming Bosnia and Herzegovina Through Health, Technology and Collaboration

About: The event will explore cross-sectoral collaboration to advance sustainable development goals (SDGs) through healthcare innovations. Panelists will discuss challenges like healthcare decentralization and data regulation, using Sweden’s life science ecosystem as example. It will showcase Bosnia and Herzegovina’s health technology practices, while fostering dialogue to improve accessibility and preventative care. The event aims to promote partnerships and strengthen ongoing efforts to modernize the healthcare system​. 
Location: UN House, Sarajevo
Organisers: UNDP, Embassy of Sweden, & WHO

Day 5 – Friday, November 8

Official Delegation Visit to City of Trebinje

About: High-level representatives from UN agencies and the Embassy of Sweden, as well as the SDG Council, will visit the City of Trebinje to review the outcomes of the grant scheme aimed at supporting cantons and local governments across Bosnia and Herzegovina. The visit is will be marked by the official opening ceremony of the sensory room of the Day Centre for Persons with Developmental Disabilities in the City of Trebinje.  The Day Centre reconstruction is part of the small grant scheme for SDG localization, financed by Sweden under the SDG2BIH program. 
Location: Trebinje
Organisers: UNICEF & UNDP

“Gendergy” – Energy and Gender Equality

About: The event will emphasize the importance of considering gender differences and promoting inclusivity in the energy sector to ensure that both men and women benefit equally from energy resources and opportunities. It will spotlight the contributions of women in the energy sector and examine strategies to dismantle barriers for a more inclusive, greener, and sustainable future.
Location: EU House, Sarajevo
Organiser: UNDP

Relations Between AI and Media and Information Literacy

About: Under the theme “Science, Technology, and Innovation and Digital Cooperation,” this event will engage approximately 80 students and faculty at the University. The focus will be on AI and Media Information Literacy. 
Location: Faculty of Political Sciences, University of Banja Luka
Organiser: UNESCO

 

A tree-planting activity will be held to offset each event’s carbon footprint.