Development Strategy of the City of Bijeljina 2024–2030
The Development Strategy of the City of Bijeljina for the period 2024–2030 (Development Strategy) is the key strategic planning document that aims to chart the city’s development over the next seven-year period. The document was prepared in accordance with the methodology and approach defined by the new regulatory framework for the development of strategic and implementation documents in RepublikaSrpska. Among other things, the methodological approach prescribed the sequence of basic steps in the process of drafting the Development Strategy, while adhering to the required structure as a mandatory part of every strategic document in RepublikaSrpska.
With the Decision on Initiating the Strategic Planning Process, the work on developing the strategic platform was formally launched as the first phase in preparing the new Strategy. In line with the planned timeline, the preliminary draft of the strategic platform was prepared during the period July – September 2023 by the Working Group for the preparation of the strategic document, which was appointed by the Mayor, with external consultancy support. Relevant planning documents that guide the future development of the City of Bijeljina were used as the basis for drafting the strategic platform — primarily the Spatial Plan of the City of Bijeljina for the period 2019–2038, available data from the competent departments of the City Administration, as well as relevant data from various statistical sources. Special attention was given to the findings from the Evaluation Report on the implementation of the previous Development Strategy of the City of Bijeljina (for the period 2014–2023), as well as the results achieved in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals during the previous period.
Based on the aforementioned groundwork, collected and updated data, a Draft Strategic Platform was defined, and a public consultation process was conducted, in which socio-economic partners, councillors, representatives of the civil sector, the business community, and designated local government officials participated. In order to review the initial findings of the situational analysis, identify strategic focuses, and define the vision and strategic goals with indicators, specific thematic focus groups and consultative working meetings were held, including consultations via online platforms.
Following the development of the strategic platform, the next steps in drafting the strategic document were undertaken. Based on the defined strategic goals, priorities, measures, and key strategic projects were identified. The final phase of drafting the strategic document included the development of an indicative financial plan for implementing the proposed measures and projects, as well as an overview of key activities and designated entities responsible for implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the strategic document. It is important to note that, in defining the strategic goals, priorities, and measures, special care was taken to ensure alignment with higher-level strategic and planning documents — in particular, with the European integration process and the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) defined in the Agenda 2030 Framework for the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goals in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as other relevant strategic and planning documents.
Technical support in developing the Strategic Document was provided by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through the program “SDG Framework as a Foundation for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth in Bosnia and Herzegovina” (SDG2BiH), funded by the Government of Sweden and implemented by UNDP in partnership with UNICEF and UN Women in BiH, under the coordination of the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator. The views expressed in this Development Strategy do not necessarily reflect the views of UNDP in BiH or the Government of Sweden.
With the Decision on Initiating the Strategic Planning Process, the work on developing the strategic platform was formally launched as the first phase in preparing the new Strategy. In line with the planned timeline, the preliminary draft of the strategic platform was prepared during the period July – September 2023 by the Working Group for the preparation of the strategic document, which was appointed by the Mayor, with external consultancy support. Relevant planning documents that guide the future development of the City of Bijeljina were used as the basis for drafting the strategic platform — primarily the Spatial Plan of the City of Bijeljina for the period 2019–2038, available data from the competent departments of the City Administration, as well as relevant data from various statistical sources. Special attention was given to the findings from the Evaluation Report on the implementation of the previous Development Strategy of the City of Bijeljina (for the period 2014–2023), as well as the results achieved in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals during the previous period.
Based on the aforementioned groundwork, collected and updated data, a Draft Strategic Platform was defined, and a public consultation process was conducted, in which socio-economic partners, councillors, representatives of the civil sector, the business community, and designated local government officials participated. In order to review the initial findings of the situational analysis, identify strategic focuses, and define the vision and strategic goals with indicators, specific thematic focus groups and consultative working meetings were held, including consultations via online platforms.
Following the development of the strategic platform, the next steps in drafting the strategic document were undertaken. Based on the defined strategic goals, priorities, measures, and key strategic projects were identified. The final phase of drafting the strategic document included the development of an indicative financial plan for implementing the proposed measures and projects, as well as an overview of key activities and designated entities responsible for implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the strategic document. It is important to note that, in defining the strategic goals, priorities, and measures, special care was taken to ensure alignment with higher-level strategic and planning documents — in particular, with the European integration process and the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) defined in the Agenda 2030 Framework for the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goals in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as other relevant strategic and planning documents.
Technical support in developing the Strategic Document was provided by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through the program “SDG Framework as a Foundation for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth in Bosnia and Herzegovina” (SDG2BiH), funded by the Government of Sweden and implemented by UNDP in partnership with UNICEF and UN Women in BiH, under the coordination of the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator. The views expressed in this Development Strategy do not necessarily reflect the views of UNDP in BiH or the Government of Sweden.
