The Inaugural Session of the Peacebuilding Steering Committee in Bosnia and Herzegovina

The inaugural session of the Peacebuilding Steering Committee for Bosnia and Herzegovina, co-chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Elmedin Konaković and the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dr. Ingrid Macdonald, was held today in Sarajevo.

The Committee will oversee and guide the activities of the United Nations Secretary General’s Peacebuilding Fund in Bosnia and Herzegovina as a cornerstone of the partnership between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the United Nations, as well as seek to promote coherence across reconciliation efforts more broadly.

Activities that will be prioritized during 2023-2027 include fostering stronger community ties to look to the future, while reconciling the past; working to bridge the gap that hinders women’s participation in decision-making processes; empowering young peacebuilders and cohesion of local communities, all in partnership with various government and civil society counterparts across the country.

The Peacebuilding Committee will also seek to accelerate efforts to meet the government’s commitment to Key Priority 5, “creating an environment conducive to reconciliation”, of the European Union Accession 14 priorities.

“I would like to congratulate Bosnia and Herzegovina for taking this important step forward with the support of the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund. With the commitment to invest 36 million KM until 2026, this opportunity will enable a longer-term and inclusive approach to peacebuilding and reconciliation across the country. I would also like to sincerely thank our partners and donors for their steadfast support.”, said United Nations Resident Coordinator Macdonald.

“Fulfilling the priorities for membership in the European Union is the key foreign policy goal of Bosnia and Herzegovina. We are thankful to the United Nations and other international partners for all their support to institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Working together to build trust amongst people in Bosnia and Herzegovina is and needs to be a key internal goal of all stakeholders in the country”, said Elmedin Konaković, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Members of the Peacebuilding Steering Committee currently include the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina and United Nations Resident Coordinator in Bosnia and Herzegovina, ministers, multilateral high-level representatives including the Delegation of the European Union to Bosnia and Herzegovina and bilateral representatives.