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The Sustainable Development Goals in Bosnia and Herzegovina


Matilda: When you are lucky enough to be born under Prenj mountain, by that very fact you are predisposed to love mountains. I was also lucky that my parents were mountaineers, they hiked a lot, and taught us to love nature from an early age. For more than 20 years I have been a member of a mountaineering club, I hike in the mountains, and now being in nature gives me such peace, pure zen. I work with a lot of people and the mountain is my rest from everything. In that way a person pushes their limits, talks with themselves. Nisada: Yes – there is a connection between mountaineering and Mountain Rescue Service (GSS). Through the history of GSS we see that in the past only the most experienced mountaineers could be mountain rescuers. Today that has changed a little, but still, if you are not connected with nature and the mountain, you will not even feel the need to become a mountain rescuer or do some volunteer work related to nature. I grew up in nature, in the countryside, and regular trips to the mountain, outings, and walks were implied. That continued through the school mountaineering section and the mountaineering club. Arina: When I was in primary school, we had a scout section and I, of course, wanted to join. We went camping at Jablaničko Lake and on the second day I wanted to go home because I could not bear to live in a tent for the next seven to ten days, and I said never again. I believe there is a right time for all of us. Now nature is something I enjoy. So, my story is a little different. Why did you decide to join the mountain rescue service, what was the main motive, and what does it mean to you today to be a member of such a team? Matilda: Earlier, the mountain rescue service was not a separate legal category, but a section within a mountaineering club. When the mountain rescue services separated, I joined the Konjic station immediately when it was founded. For me that was a logical step because I had already been a member of the mountaineering club for years. Since the mountain rescue service is exclusively about volunteerism - we do not receive any compensation - I think the only motive for everyone, including me, is to help people in trouble. That is the empathy a person has inside. Arina: I worked in the Sector for Protection and Rescue within the BiH Ministry of Security on administrative, logistical, and coordination tasks. That sector did not have an operational rescue team, but I closely cooperated with entity civil protection administrations and the Public Safety Department of Brčko District. I could not be a member of the field team because there are conditions for being part of civil protection rescue teams that I did not meet. To better understand the needs of rescue teams, I decided to join the mountain rescue service and at the same time help and also understand how teams actually function, and understand their needs when they request something from the administration. Nisada: I am not originally from Sarajevo, and in my town, there was no mountain rescue service, so when I learned more and found out about GSS, I realized that I could use my love for mountains to help someone. I believe that helping others in trouble is the greatest act of humanity and we should use it if we already do mountaineering. Is there a rescue operation that particularly left its mark on you, maybe even tested your strength and courage? How did you overcome the obstacles in that situation? Nisada: We had one intense and exhausting operation in bad weather conditions, where it was very cold with strong winds, and visibility was minimal. But the motivation and focus on the person we were searching for kept us focused and moving. Our training and team harmony helped us a lot because when you see everyone giving their maximum, then you also give your all because you cannot and must not do less. That operation left a big mark on me, especially since it had a negative outcome. I would also mention the operation in Turkey during the 2023 earthquake. The scenes we saw and experienced there are something none of us had encountered before, and I hope we never will again. It was difficult in the field, but we all endured stoically, although it left consequences we felt when we returned home. Matilda: The operations of my team, since we live in Konjic, are usually stressful, distant, and in the mountains. The challenges are always endurance and strength because mountain rescue saves people in inaccessible terrain where an ambulance cannot reach. We had a night operation when we climbed Cetina; unfortunately, we knew a colleague had died, but we had to reach him and retrieve him. I have never been colder in my life, I think it was February, we spent around 12 hours at minus 15. All those challenges are overcome through teamwork. In our station we talk a lot, we are there for each other, after every operation we have a briefing where we talk, and respect emotions. Arina: That was one of the first search and rescue operations for me. When we found the person, unfortunately, he was dead, he had died of a heart attack. We could not influence that, only if we had found him at that very moment could we have tried to save him. Sometimes things happen like that. Later, I saw a woman I recognized approaching, who was the sister of the deceased person. That was the hardest for me. She just ran to me, and that was the moment when I realized how weak I am, but that I must overcome it and be strong for that person and for the whole family, and somehow suppress my own emotions. Because the family expects us to dedicate ourselves to them, not to ourselves, and we are not important at that moment. The biggest mark on all of us from BiH who were part of the rescue team was left by the earthquake in February 2023 in Turkey. I think we are not yet ready to talk about what we saw and the way each of us experienced it. I know I am not. Are there additional challenges that women in GSS face compared to men? Arina: As for physical exertion, we somehow carry it equally. Our colleagues will never allow us to carry a 200-meter rope, they will step in, but all the courses we go through are the same. Some handle it more easily, some harder, but I think the biggest barrier is mental, and the ego we will overcome by asking a colleague to help us. What is most important in the field is that we are safe, that our colleagues are safe, and then comes everything else. I think women contribute with empathy and conversation, we have a women's instinct, and gather the team. We keep things gentler and make it easier to endure rescue operations or very stressful situations. Nisada: The advantage of a woman is that she can react a little better emotionally if we have, for example, a search operation. There we have family members who are worried and desperate, and somehow we calm them better than male colleagues because we pay more attention to such things. But as for participating in operations themselves, sometimes there are prejudices when a woman joins GSS, in the sense that someone thinks she is not physically ready and strong enough for certain tasks. But through the quality of work itself, expertise, and readiness to go out into the field shoulder to shoulder, those differences and prejudices are lost and mutual respect in the team is built. Matilda: We had an operation in the Rakitnica canyon, a British citizen fell, broke her leg. We immobilized her leg and carried her for hours. I happened to be the only woman in the team, and at one point I asked her if she needed to go to the toilet, to which she said she did. She could not get up from the stretcher, and I told the guys let’s put her down, everyone, move away, so I could help her, undress her, and return her to the stretcher. That is just one example of how important the presence of women is in the mountain rescue service team. That women's attention stands out especially if the injured person is a woman. We have the strength to calm, comfort, even hug those in distress. What does the path to joining GSS look like, what conditions must you meet, and what are the duties and responsibilities that come with membership? Nisada: Unfortunately, in BiH we do not have a law that regulates the work of mountain rescue services and requires that all have the same standards, so I can speak for the Sarajevo Station. First, we have a public call where anyone can apply, with certain requirements such as being of legal age, physical fitness, practicing some outdoor sport. After the introductory interview with all candidates, basic training begins, which lasts at least six to eight months and is very intensive. When you successfully complete this training, you become a member of the station and obtain the title of candidate for trainee. This gives you the right to participate in courses organized by the GSS Federation of BiH, as our umbrella association, after which you acquire the title of trainee. The trainee period lasts two years. This means that the person is very active, and also has the right to participate more actively in operations. The period of training, courses, and trainee status is already a period of at least five to six years, after which you have the right to take the exam for mountain rescuer, which is very demanding and includes everything learned until then, in both winter and summer conditions. Matilda: Duties and responsibilities are big. You must practice some type of activity that involves being in nature – mountaineering, alpinism, cycling, and/or other activities that contribute to rescue operations. You must be ready to respond at any time to help. You also need to safeguard the privacy of the rescued person because it is not up to us to decide whether the public will find something out before the family does. You must continuously improve your own psychophysical abilities, knowledge, and skills necessary for rescue. What would you say to girls and women who are thinking about practising mountaineering and exploring nature, but maybe also dream of becoming members of GSS? What should they keep in mind? Matilda: Join the mountain rescue service. You will certainly acquire skills that will make you love yourself. Being part of a team that saved a life is invaluable, above all, personal satisfaction. Contact the mountain rescue station in your city, it will be an honor for us to have you, girls, in the team. Arina: What we need to have is the ability to build selflessness and generosity within ourselves. It is fine to put yourself first, but at the same time, the most important thing, not only in the mountain rescue service, but generally in life, is to treat others with respect because everyone can contribute - whether they work in administration, logistics, rock rescue, or a specialization such as diving, water, and underwater rescue. Building a career through mountain rescue is not possible, it is done voluntarily, and it really requires going into it with heart and soul. Nisada: I would tell girls not to think in terms that gender should be a question of whether they can or cannot do something. The most important thing is that a girl is ready to dedicate herself because this is a very long and intensive process that requires a lot of sacrifice, effort, and learning. It is important that the person is a team player because here, one person alone cannot do anything. You can be perfect in rescue techniques or first aid, but if you are not a team player and do not work with colleagues, you cannot do anything. Women can, if they want, do everything equally as men. The initiative “Women Lead the Way Towards Peace and Security in Bosnia and Herzegovina”, is supported by the UN Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) and jointly implemented by UN Women, UNFPA, and IOM on behalf of the United Nations in BiH in partnership with the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and Herzegovina.





Doing so requires strong collaboration with local stakeholders across sectors to ensure that efforts are aligned, inclusive and impactful.Seville brought together public and private sector leaders, regulators and development financing institutions from across the globe to rethink how financial systems can better serve people, planet, and progress. It was not only a platform to identify funding gaps, but a call to action - to mobilize capital in new ways, align public and private investment with SDGs, and empower countries to lead their own development journeys. Globally, Infrastructure investment in developing countries fell by 35%, including in vital areas like water and sanitation.Foreign direct investment (FDI) declined for a second consecutive year, with Least Developed Countries receiving less than 2% of global FDI.Around 3.3 billion people live in countries where more is spent on debt servicing than on health or education.At the same time, every year, countries lose an estimated USD 500 to 600 billion due to tax avoidance, and while the global effective corporate tax rate has declined from 28% in 2000 to about 21% today, public demands for essential services have only increased.An estimated annual funding gap of USD 420 billion is holding developing countries from achieving gender equality as outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals.Fair and progressive taxation, debt sustainability, and more equitable global financial governance must be at the heart of the financing for development agenda. These factors shape a country’s capacity to invest in essential public infrastructure—such as schools, hospitals, and beyond—affecting not only education and healthcare, but a wide range of services vital to sustainable development, including climate resilience.Eager to drive change and face the challenges, Bosnia and Herzegovina entered the conference in Seville with concrete progress and a unified agenda. In the lead-up to the Conference, the United Nations, in partnership with the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Embassy of Spain, convened a high-level roundtable in Sarajevo under the title Financing Development in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This gathering brought together leaders from the state and entity ministries of finance, senior advisors from the Presidency, international financial institutions, and development partners to identify concrete pathways for unlocking investment in development priorities.The event reflected a growing consensus around a future-oriented financing agenda, grounded in the SDGs and supported by the country’s first-ever SDG Financing Framework. Endorsed in 2023 by the Council of Ministers, this framework marks a turning point: it signals a shared commitment across all levels of government in Bosnia and Herzegovina to align policies and financial systems with long-term development goals and international standards.Yet the financing challenge remains stark. Bosnia and Herzegovina currently invests approximately USD 1,545 per capita in SDG-related spending—62% below the average of similar upper-middle-income countries. With modest domestic savings, limited credit to the private sector, and a heavily public-driven financial landscape, the country risks falling short of its 2030 ambitions unless new financing sources are activated and existing resources are better targeted. As much as BAM 3.4 billion in surplus banking funds remain underutilized, and while capital markets are still in their early stages, there is a growing appetite for innovation. To close the financing gap, the SDG Financing Framework recognized that Bosnia and Herzegovina would need to increase cumulative investment from the projected BAM 79.9 billion to BAM 86.1 billion by 2030. The opportunities are equally clear. The SDG Financing Framework provides a practical response: new instruments like green and SDG bonds, energy performance contracting through Energy Service Companies, and apex financial structures to support small and medium enterprises. It envisions strategic investment funds, blended finance facilities, and innovative partnerships that can crowd-in private capital and reduce dependency on external grants and loans. In short, it offers a roadmap not just for financing development, but for transforming the financing system itself across the country.Importantly, both entities— Republika Srpska and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina—are already moving forward, preparing to launch investment funds and SDG bonds, with feasibility studies expected by the end of summer 2025. This marks a strong signal of political will and commitment to implementing the SDG Financing Framework and narrowing the financing gap. In Seville, Bosnia and Herzegovina was represented by H.E. Željka Cvijanović, who affirmed that Bosnia and Herzegovina is not just participating in the global conversation—it is seeking to actively shape its course.Sustainable development financing is not only a global priority—it is also a cornerstone of the country’s path toward EU membership. The adoption of a new Reform Agenda to unlock the funds under the EU’s Growth Plan for the Western Balkans has the potential to be transformative, opening access to significant funding while driving forward essential reforms. Spain’s partnership with the United Nations and institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina in convening the Sarajevo roundtable reflects our shared commitment to turning these opportunities into tangible progress for all citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina.As we look ahead, the focus must shift from planning to action. It is time to turn frameworks into financing, and policies into real-world progress. Achieving this will take persistence, strong coordination, and mutual trust. International financial institutions must align more deliberately with country-led financing strategies. Donors and bilateral partners must find new ways to de-risk investment environments. Governments must continue advancing public finance reforms, especially program-based budgeting and gender-responsive financing. Equally important is fostering an enabling climate for the private sector— through clearer regulations, stronger financial infrastructure, and fair competition—so private capital can play its full role in sustainable development.Bosnia and Herzegovina has begun this journey. Now is the time to build momentum, deepen partnerships, and deliver results. Seville may mark a milestone—but it is the months ahead that will determine whether promises become reality. Sustainable financing for the SDGs is not just a goal— it is a catalyst to empower people, expand opportunities, and ensure no one is left behind.
Where we work: The UN’s programmatic interventions
The UN is implementing 0 programmatic interventions during the ongoing programme cycle. The map below displays the number of programmatic interventions per location (note that a programmatic intervention may be linked to more than one location). Click on the number on the map to get a summary description of the programmatic interventions. Programmatic interventions may be linked to the national level or specific locations/sub-national level. Note that some interventions linked to specific locations might also have components at the national level, even if they are not categorized as country-level interventions. Click on “Show location details” in the bottom right corner to view a summary table with locations, the number of programmatic interventions, and the UN entities working in those locations. For definitions of programmatic interventions, please refer to the Glossary section.