Bosnia and Herzegovina was not one of the 88 countries that had broad Post-2015 National Consultations in 2013. However, as part of the preparation of the new United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) 2015-2019 for Bosnia and Herzegovina, the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) conducted an online survey with key national partners, UN staff, donors and citizens on development priorities for the country for the next five years - a ‘mini’ Post-2015 consultation with feedback received from 6,542 individuals.

Given that the full National Consultations were not conducted in the country, UNCT in Bosnia and Herzegovina welcomed the opportunity to hold these consultations on the theme of Culture for Development.

Building on the framework of the UN General Assembly Resolution on Culture and Development, UNESCO, UNFPA and UNDP co-led the initiative for national and global consultations on culture and development, with technical and logistical support from the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office (UN RC Office). Key stakeholders were invited to take part, including institutional counterparts, NGOs and civil society organisations, UN agencies and members of the general public.

An opening conference and workshops in July 2014 (6 one-day thematic workshops and round tables with up to 20 participants in each) were followed by an online citizens’ survey conducted from July to August 2014 and focus groups for young people in October. The consultations took place between June and October 2014, and centred on 6 sub-themes: Culture and Poverty Reduction; Culture and Education; Culture, Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment; Culture, Environment and Climate Change; Culture, Sustainable Cities and Urbanization; and, Culture, Inclusion and Reconciliation.

The final report titled “Post-2015 National Consultations in Bosnia and Herzegovina: Culture and Development” highlights how citizens and professionals in the culture domain recognise that culture can act as an important catalyst for comprehensive societal change on many levels, from sustainable economic development, income generation and jobs creation, to environmental protection and preparedness for climate change; gender equality and women’s empowerment; improved urban and rural living; and, peace, security and social inclusion.

This cultural influence is linked to the transformational role of formal and informal education, media and communications, as well as to higher youth participation rates and the effective implementation of legislative frameworks in related sectors, which requires that appropriate enforcement mechanisms be put in place. The report, therefore, stresses the key importance of providing further support for capacity development among public servants, teachers, local leaders, media professionals and citizen, in order for the transformation to gain momentum.

Commenting on the initiative, the Minister of Civil Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sredoje Nović, stressed the need to include the general public in culture preservation activities, with a focus on education. ''I believe that culture in this country should be instilled at pre-school institutions. It is thus necessary to start from scratch and make a step forward. Only 13% of children attend pre-school institutions. We have to instil more in children. Education and culture have to go hand in hand.''

''What attracts people from around the world is the heart of Balkans and its cultural diversity. That is what we need to preserve in the attempt of defining our belonging,'' said the UN Resident Coordinator in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Yuri Afanasiev. ''This is also an opportunity for citizens and cultural activists to participate in the global discussion.''

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The consultations on culture as a driver and an enabler of sustainable development are part of a wider effort to acknowledge and promote culture as a key resource to address both the economic and social dimensions of poverty and conflict, and to provide innovative and cross-cutting solutions to complex issues. Over the past decade, countries in South-East Europe have put culture high on the agenda of regional cooperation, believing it to be a key instrument in the pursuit of peaceful coexistence and sustainable economic development for the region.