This memorandum is part of the program “Implementing the SDG framework in Bosnia and Herzegovina in sustainable and inclusive growth”, funded by Sweden, and is realized in the Federation of BiH.
In addition, UNDP representatives also signed a financial agreement on cooperation with the five units of local self-government in Hercegovački-Neretva County – Mostar, Citluk, Čapljina, Konjic and Jablanica.
The UNDP Resident Representative in BiH Renaud Meyer emphasized the importance of public service improvement, representing a great incentive for sustainable and inclusive development because they are approaching the Internet access and are digitally written.
He added that UNDP will work closely with municipalities to ensure the success of the program, not only to increase public service efficiency, but also to further strengthen citizens’ trust in local government and government in general.
The Federal Justice Minister Vedran Škobić pointed out that this project adopts significant technical and financial support to the digitization of services, emphasizing the role of the Federation of BiH in the adaptation of the legislation with digital solutions.
– Federal Ministry of Justice in the past period, from 2022. To date, the Law on Administrative Procedure, which was processed by electronic communication and maintenance of public hearings through the video portal. On the one hand, the Federation operates to change the law and adapts, while on the other hand, local self-government units must contribute to the way they are interested in changing their practices and introduce new technical solutions – said Škobić.
He thanked the Government of the Kingdom of Sweden and UNDP in support, not only in the field of digitization, but also in other issues such as the Law on the Protection of the Family and Violence against Women, which was recently adopted in the FBiH Parliamentary House.
Five local communities participating in the project after the completion of the pilot project will receive five valuable tools, ie digital services to deliver citizens, MoRtar MARIO Kordić said.
He emphasized that it is time for Bosnia and Herzegovina to take accelerated with digitization and the introduction of different processes in local governments to allow citizens more easily accessible services.
– In the past period we worked a lot on digitization. We worked a lot on connecting, then on the training of our staff and we procured a lot of equipment. The city of Mostar is a pretty old unit of local self-government when it comes to the year of employees, which was an additional challenge in transition to modern technologies. However, and that we have been outwined and at the right time comes this help from the federal levels of government and UNDP to make a step forward – said Kordić.
By the way, support for selected municipalities will provide the “Framework for the realization of sustainable development goals in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as a basis for sustainable and inclusive growth (SDG2BiH)”. This program is funded by Sweden, and is implemented by UNDP in partnership with UNICEF and UN Women in BiH.
Experiences from these five municipalities are expected to serve as a basis for further implementation of digitization throughout the Federation of BiH, but also wider in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
(Vijesti.ba / Fena)
