UNDP Energy and Environment Sector on Monday, 13 February presented a draft project document "Catalyzing Environmental Finance for Low-carbon Urban Development" supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

Improvement of tourist accommodation infrastructure, offers and services along white and green trails of Via Dinarica in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Eight regional working meetings were held throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina within the project "Strengthening the Role of Local Communities (MZ) in BiH" from August to December 2016. At the meetings in Sarajevo, Tuzla, Banja Luka, Mostar, Bihać, Brčko, Bijeljina and Trebinje participants worked on defining the vision of the local community through productive discussions, which is the vision that will be used as a model for the future of BiH local governments.

The conference on “Strengthening of local governance and service delivery in Bosnia and Herzegovina: reflections on key achievements and the way forward", presented key approaches and good practice in community development and delivery of public services and their contribution to a better quality of life of citizens in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

To start successful business in your own home, has been a dream of many who wish to become entrepreneur or simply to be self-employed. That dream has become a reality for those who participated in the project “Self-employment through wickerwork” in Posavina.

Within the scope of Project „Local Integrated Development“ (LID), which is primary funded by the EU and implemented by the UNDP BiH, projects for public works (total value of 380,000.00 BAM) were selected in five local governments, which will enable the employment of 158 socially vulnerable persons in 2017.

A joint letter signed by Ambassadors of the United States of America, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Federal Republic of Germany and Sweden, Head of the Delegation of the European Union and European Union Special Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme in Bosnia and Herzegovina, was submitted to the FBiH House of Peoples, FBiH Prime Minister, and the competent Ministers in order to give their strong support for the adoption of the FBiH Energy Efficiency Law.

A training for representatives of mountaineering associations, for 14 new grants awarded under the public call for rehabilitation of mountain facilities along Via Dinarica Green Trail was held in Sarajevo, within the Via Dinarica project.

A joint project of the Government of Switzerland and the Government of Sweden „Strengthening the Role of Local Communities in BiH“ implemented by UNDP in BiH, will finance 27 projects of civil society organizations (CSOs) selected on the basis of a public invitation for CSOs from 13 partner municipalities and cities, which have been proposed as priorities for local communities in the field of social inclusion at the citizens' forums.

Within the scope to the Project “Local Integrated Development” (LID), implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Bosnia and Herzegovina and primarily funded by the European Union (EU), Public call was announced for small and medium enterprises to express interest in supporting the implementation of projects for technological improvements and training for the manpower in 2017.

A “Green Jobs” study published as a part of the Green Economic Development – GED Project, implemented by UNDP with the support of Government of Sweden and in cooperation with the project partners: BiH Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, FBiH Environmental Protection Fund, RS Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund, RS Ministry for Spatial Planning, Civil Engineering and Ecology, FBiH Ministry of Environment and Tourism and FBiH Ministry of Physical Planning, was promoted today in Sarajevo, in hotel Europe.

By signing the Charter of the Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption (GOPAC), GOPAC’s National Chapter in Bosnia and Herzegovina has been formed today at the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Online small-scale media outlets, providers and individuals (including bloggers and individuals active on social media) to submit proposals for small granting.

Additional 720,000 EUR will be added by the Government of Sweden to the current project on energy efficiency in public sector buildings, to ensure continued and increased reduction of energy costs in the public sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Currently, BiH spends about 20 percent of its GDP on energy, which is three times more than in European countries. Savings of up to 50 percent to public budgets can be achieved by strengthening of the capacity and reducing energy costs in the public sector.

Announcement of the winners of the competition "Like for the scientific team" was held today at the UN House in Sarajevo, with the support of the Swedish Embassy in BiH, where seven finalists of the contest presented their projects on energy efficiency.

On November 2nd, 2016, Foundation „Networks“ organized a unique enterpreneurship fair „Warm-Up for Startups“ which was supported by the UNDP Bosnia and Herzegovina. The fair was organized in innovative and business center Networks.

Initial workshop of the project „Strengthen Bosnia and Herzegovina Decision-Making Toward Becoming a Party to the Minamata Convention and Build Capacity for Implementation of Future Provision“ funded by Global environmental facility (GEF) was held today in the premises of the UN House in Sarajevo. Project is implemented by UNDP CO in BiH.

UNDP Resident Representative Sezin Sinanoglu stated that each investment in biomass as a renewable energy source contributes to carbon emissions reduction, which is a way of combating climate change. Moreover, she stated the additional benefit for BiH is that in this way the country will fulfill a part of its obligations in view of the EU accession.

More than 170 students learned technical and programming skills in Srebrenica

The Youth Theatre Sarajevo is one out of the seven public buildings reconstructed as a part of the activity “Increasing of energy efficiency in public buildings in Sarajevo Canton” within the UNDP project "Green Economic Development"

UNDP BiH and the Netherlands Embassy in BiH signed the contract for the last phase of the Birač Region Advancement and Cooperation

At the first meeting of the Project Board of the Municipal Environmental and Economic Governance (MEG) Project, the list of partner municipalities and cities that will be supported within the scope of this intervention was presented. The MEG Project is funded by the Government of Switzerland, which chose the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) as the implementer.

At Wilson Promenade in Sarajevo UNDP has held the first in a series of 5 events for citizens, commemorating a half-century since its founding and 20 years of its operations in BiH.

"Via Dinarica’s" "White trail" was opened in the Blidinje Nature Park which contributed towards the further development of a platform for sustainable development of tourism and local economic growth in BiH.

Launch of Sub-regional Human Development Report 2016

The report focuses on recent flood disasters that struck Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia, and Kosovo*.

During her visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Administrator of UNDP, Helen Clark, met with the young entrepreneurs from BiH, who presented their projects and solutions to the questions related to youth employment and economic future of BiH.

Thanks to the donation of milk cooling tanks through the UN TFHS agro-trade cooperative "BH Milch" boosted production of the unique “Kupres cheese”, while the purchase of milk was guaranteed to the farmers enabling them regular income.