Partnerships and innovation for a sustainable future
The fifth SDG Week in Bosnia and Herzegovina was marked by 30 events held across the country from 20 to 24 October, bringing together representatives of institutions, local communities, the private sector, academia, civil society, and international partners. Under the common theme “From Commitments to Results: Accelerating the SDGs in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” the Week reaffirmed the importance of collective action, innovation, and partnerships in advancing the 2030 Agenda.
Day 1: Local communities and inclusion
The Week opened with a high-level event at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of BiH, highlighting the role of local governments in implementing the 2030 Agenda through the five dimensions of sustainable development – People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace, and Partnership. A session dedicated to the inclusion of persons with disabilities was held in Sarajevo, while in Mostar and Sarajevo, youth and innovators, through UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime) initiatives and Climathon, worked on solutions for safety, resilience, and green technologies.
Day 2: Innovation, equality, and digital transformation
The second day focused on innovation and sustainable business. The two-day conference “Innovate for Growth” brought together more than 180 participants from Bosnia and Herzegovina, the European Union, and the region. In parallel, UN Women, UNFPA, and UNICEF organized a session on the care economy and women’s employment, while workshops in Prijedor and Banja Luka addressed Industry 4.0, green chemistry, and the circular economy. UNODC gathered institutions and experts in Mostar for a high-level conference on strengthening institutional responses to corruption and organized crime, while IOM and the Association of Italian Entrepreneurs presented initiatives on safe labour mobility.
Day 3: Gender equality, education, and climate action
The third day featured events dedicated to gender equality, sustainable business, and education for peace. In Konjic and Doboj, trainings and workshops were organized for small and medium-sized enterprises on ESG principles and digital transformation. In Sarajevo, UN Women and partners led a dialogue on gender equality, while youth discussed climate change and innovation at a dedicated forum. IOM and COI Step by Step held a forum on peace education in Goražde, and UNFPA gathered companies and experts in Banja Luka for a panel on the importance of family-friendly workplaces. At the same time, IOM’s No Nation Fashion initiative in Sarajevo showcased, through the exhibition and workshop “The Story of Us,” how migration and fashion can promote inclusion and sustainability.
Day 4: Partnerships, youth, and energy transition
The fourth day focused on the role of the private sector, youth, and local communities. UNDP gathered previous winners of the SDG Business Pioneers Award at the All-Stars event, while UN Women, the UN Peacebuilding Fund, and the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator held an online session presenting priorities of 17 local communities in the areas of peace and gender equality. The EU4Energy initiative was officially launched in Sarajevo, and UNICEF, UNFPA, and IOM jointly organized a workshop on youth empowerment priorities. On the same day, UNICEF convened education experts at the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH to discuss improving the quality of early and preschool education. UNESCO opened an international conference on media and information literacy at the University of Sarajevo, while IOM organized an exercise in Kiseljak involving youth in disaster risk reduction.
Day 5: United Nations Day
The final day of the Week was dedicated to marking United Nations Day and the 80th anniversary of the entry into force of the UN Charter. It was an opportunity to reaffirm the shared values of peace, solidarity, and international cooperation at the heart of the 2030 Agenda. UN Day was marked by the screening of the documentary In Search of a Dream by director Mladen Mitrović at the Meeting Point Cinema in Sarajevo. Through a story of friendship and remembrance, the film highlights universal values of solidarity, peace, and humanity — the very foundations of the United Nations. The same day, a volunteer activity took place in the Inclusive Sensory Park Kantarevac in Mostar, where young volunteers planted flowers and medicinal herbs, landscaped garden beds and play areas, and discussed the values of volunteerism, activism, and the role of youth in building a fairer and more inclusive society. Both events were organized under the Dialogue for the Future project, jointly implemented by UNDP, UNESCO, and UNICEF, with the support of the UN Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund, in cooperation with the Presidency of BiH and the Ministry of Civil Affairs of BiH.
Week-long activities
Throughout the Week, UNDP and the ILO (International Labour Organization) led online campaigns dedicated to the Sustainable Development Goals, showcasing concrete results and trends in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The WHO (World Health Organization) organized an exhibition on public health achievements in the UN building, while Sparkasse Bank, Mozaik Foundation, and ReUseChain.ba held an exhibition “From Waste to Value,” dedicated to circular economy and sustainable design. Tree planting activities were organized for every event during the Week to offset the carbon footprint.
SDG Week 2025 demonstrated how joint action by institutions, the private sector, international partners, and citizens transforms commitments into results — contributing to a society of equal opportunities, a resilient economy, and a healthier planet.
The organization of SDG Week in Bosnia and Herzegovina was supported by the programme “Translating the SDG Framework in BiH into Sustainable and Inclusive Growth” (SDG2BiH), funded by Sweden and implemented by UNDP in partnership with UNICEF and UN Women, under the coordination of the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in BiH.
