Introduction of SDGs in Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were officially introduced in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) in April 2017 during a high-level conference on the 2030 Agenda, held under the auspices of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Following the conference, institutions responsible for coordinating the implementation of the 2030 Agenda were appointed at various levels: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republika Srpska, the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Brčko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina. By a decision of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina in March 2017, the Directorate for Economic Planning of Bosnia and Herzegovina was designated as the technical coordinator for this process. The Federal Institute for Development Programming was tasked with coordination on behalf of the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Ministry for European Integration and International Cooperation for Republika Srpska, and representatives from the Brčko District Government, including the Brčko District Coordinator’s Office at the BiH Council of Ministers and the Department for Economic Development, Sports, and Culture of the Brčko District Government.
During this period, Bosnia and Herzegovina opted to adapt the global SDGs to its local context. Consequently, in 2021, the Framework for Implementation of SDGs in BiH was adopted, including a set of monitoring indicators.
Monitoring and Evaluation in the Implementation of SDGs in BiH
Monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of the SDGs in Bosnia and Herzegovina are essential processes for ensuring the successful implementation of the global 2030 Agenda. These processes enable progress tracking, obstacle identification, and strategy adjustments to ensure effective goal implementation at regional, national, and local levels. An organizational structure for SDG monitoring and evaluation has been established in Bosnia and Herzegovina, led by the Council for Monitoring the Implementation of SDGs in BiH, which prepares periodic reports on the implementation of SDGs.
The Role of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and the Need for Monitoring and Evaluation
CSOs play a critical role in ensuring transparency and accountability in the implementation of SDGs. One of the key principles underpinning the SDGs, “Leave No One Behind (LNOB),” creates opportunities for inclusive participation in implementing and monitoring these goals. With the SDGs currently at the halfway mark of implementation, there is an increasing need to introduce evaluations of the goals globally, reflecting new circumstances and changes in the world since 2015, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and conflicts in Ukraine, Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria. These changes necessitate evaluation processes at global, national, and regional levels.
Challenges in Conducting M&E
To initiate effective SDG evaluations, adequate resources are required, including necessary skills, knowledge, and financial means. After adopting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the UN Statistical Commission (UNSC) agreed on a list of 232 global indicators for tracking progress on 169 targets under 17 SDGs. This involves monitoring a large number of multidimensional and global indicators on a regular basis.
A significant challenge is the lack of adequate statistical indicators for SDG monitoring, both globally and nationally. This issue is particularly acute in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where most indicators are derived from census data and relevant annual or quarterly surveys, which are rarely conducted in BiH.
Conclusion
Like all countries, Bosnia and Herzegovina has committed to implementing the SDGs, which serve as a powerful integrative mechanism for various development policies. Given the broad scope of these goals, Bosnia and Herzegovina developed an adapted roadmap for SDG implementation in 2021, titled the Framework for Implementation of SDGs in Bosnia and Herzegovina, accompanied by relevant indicators. At the end of 2024, an updated list of indicators was adopted to address the issue of insufficient statistical data. Further strengthening of statistical institutions to produce required indicators, as well as bolstering governmental and non-governmental institutions forming the Council for Monitoring SDG Implementation in BiH, is necessary to improve the monitoring system and lay a solid foundation for evaluating the Framework for SDG Implementation in BiH.
