FAO helps local communities help themselves to a more sustainable future

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the lives and livelihoods of people living in rural areas could transform to be more sustainable through combining priorities and finding solutions that address needs in both the agriculture and tourism sectors. Recognizing the missed opportunities caused by this lack of an integrated, multistakeholder approach to rural development, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) initiated a Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP), with the aim of establishing local agricultural and rural development plans to advance sustainability.

This initiative draws on previous experiences from similar efforts in the Livno area (Canton 10) conducted a few years earlier.

The project “Supporting local agricultural and rural development planning” was implemented in seven municipalities in Republika Srpska: Gacko, Rogatica, Rudo, Visegrad, Osmaci, Foca and City of Zvornik, and in Una-Sana Canton and in the City of Bihac in Bosnia and Herzegovina. These communities have committed to develop and later adopt the local agricultural and rural development plans, following the guidance and support of FAO. 

Local communities are essential for sustainable development in rural areas due to their understanding of local ecosystems. Effective planning involves community engagement, tailored agricultural practices, and sustainable resource management based on traditional ecological knowledge. Capacity building through training empowers residents, while collaboration with stakeholders enhances initiatives. Economic growth is supported by investments that improve livelihoods. Local planning also aids in progress monitoring, boosts resilience to environmental and market changes, and protects cultural identities. 

A milestone was the adoption of the Agriculture and Rural Development Strategy in Una Sana Canton. The document is a strategic framework for promoting sustainable development in agricultural and rural areas of the Canton, in alignment with national strategies, specifically the country’s Agriculture and Rural Development Strategy (2021–2027) and Bosnia and Herzegovina's Rural Development Plan (2022–2027). The framework aims to enhance dynamic development of the agricultural sector and rural areas within the Canton while considering its comparative advantages and ensure effective allocation of budget resources to meet local needs.

Within a timeframe from 2023 to 2027, the strategy adopts an inclusive approach that prioritises the needs of relevant actors, empowers women, and includes youth, with a strong emphasis on economic, social, and environmental sustainability. This shift reflects a commitment to improving the quality of life in rural areas through focused actions.

“We have included all relevant actors in the agriculture sector for drafting this document. From local organizations and communities to government institutions and national experts and education institutions in the field of agriculture. Our aim was to make a document which will be perfectly tailored to the concrete needs of the community, not merely adjusted to their needs but based on their actual needs and requirements,” states Vlado Pijunovic, FAO National Project Coordinator.  

Helping rural areas thrive

Addressing significant challenges such as rural depopulation, the framework aims to secure necessary attention and resources for rural initiatives in Una-Sana Canton Bosnia and Herzegovina. Special attention was paid to gender issues and worrying negative population trends to ensure equal opportunities for women and on retaining and attracting young agricultural producers.

“The new strategy increases the allocated budget for women in rural areas to ten percent, higher than any other category, and the one for young producers is at five percent of the total budget. The strategy makes a great leap forward in ensuring the financial means within the budget, creating realistic conditions for rural development, so the population not merely stays and survives but actually prospers in this area,” explains Rasima Bobic, Assistant Minister for Agriculture, Rural Development and Financial Support at Una-Sana Canton Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.  

A multi-stakeholder working group was formed to create development and action plans with support from FAO. The group prioritised a participatory approach by organizing workshops and consultations to gather input from all stakeholders, including rural youth, women, and other vulnerable groups.

This ensured that all benefits and efforts coming from all the levels of government are harmonized so that small and medium-sized producers can be strengthened and their farms self-sustainable through diversification of activities. Furthermore, the strategy regulates the production control system from the farm to the table, the permitting system for construction of production facilities, compliance with European Union standards on agriculture and farming, and a gender balanced budget approach.

“The Strategy is a basic roadmap document for agriculture and rural development and gives a direction for the government in which to act. This is valid till 2027, after which we will assess and see what we have done and how much, to make the next one even better, with the full backing of all levels of authority,” concludes Bobic. 

Empowering communities is crucial for sustainable development and for enhancing both environmental and economic outcomes. Additionally, strong local ownership of the agricultural and rural development plans of the Municipalities and the Cantonal strategy is key to ensuring the long-term sustainability of project results.