Ambassador Lagumdžija Calls for Strong Resident Coordinator Leadership and Effective UN Support on the Ground
New York, 5 November 2026
The Permanent Representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the United Nations, Ambassador Dr. Zlatko Lagumdžija, participated in the regional exchange between Member States and UN Resident Coordinators focused on Eastern Europe, held in the ECOSOC Chamber as part of the 2026 Resident Coordinator Global Meeting.
In his intervention, Ambassador Lagumdžija emphasized the importance of the Resident Coordinator system for Bosnia and Herzegovina, where political and institutional divisions can complicate collective action. He highlighted the Resident Coordinator’s impartial leadership and ability to bring together the expertise of 19 UN entities around nationally owned priorities.
“For our authorities, one authoritative entry point to the United Nations is essential,” Ambassador Lagumdžija stated, explaining that the RC system enables Bosnia and Herzegovina to engage the UN as a coherent partner while preserving the distinct expertise and established partnerships of its agencies.
The Ambassador highlighted cooperation on artificial intelligence governance and digital transformation as a practical example of coordinated UN support. He also underscored the Resident Coordinator’s contribution to peacebuilding through the Peacebuilding Steering Committee, co-chaired with Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Addressing the UN80 reform process and the recalibration of the RC system, Ambassador Lagumdžija stressed that strong Resident Coordinator leadership and strong UN agencies are mutually reinforcing. He called for reforms that simplify procedures and strengthen accountability while preserving specialized expertise, operational capacity and continuity of support at country level.
He reaffirmed Bosnia and Herzegovina’s support for adequate, predictable and sustainable financing for the RC system and UN entities, emphasizing that staffing decisions must reflect countries’ specific institutional and development needs.
“Our test for reform is straightforward: does it help countries achieve better results for their people?” Ambassador Lagumdžija concluded.
The full text of Ambassador Lagumdžija’s statement follows>
PERMANENT MISSION OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
TO THE UNITED NATIONS
STATEMENT
by
dr Zlatko Lagumdžija
Permanent Representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina
at
Resident Coordinators Global Meeting 2026: Exchange between Member States and Resident Coordinators
CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY
New York
4 November 2026
PERMANENT MISSION OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA TO THE UNITED NATIONS
211E 43rd STREET, SUITE 1701, NEW YORK, NY 10017 – TEL (212)751-9015-FAX(212)751-9019
Madam Moderator,
Excellencies, dear colleagues,
Bosnia and Herzegovina values a United Nations development system that responds to national priorities and brings together the full expertise of the UN family.
In our country, where political and institutional divisions can complicate collective action, the Resident Coordinator provides impartial leadership, convening partners across institutions and communities.
For our authorities, one authoritative entry point to the United Nations is essential. Managing 19 separate partnerships without a common strategic framework would be neither efficient nor desirable. The RC system enables us to engage the UN as a coherent partner while preserving the distinct expertise and established partnerships of its agencies.
I thank our Resident Coordinator and the UN country team for their commitment.
Our Cooperation Framework connects our SDG Framework with our European integration and reform priorities, supporting the green transition, human capital and digital transformation.
Recent work on artificial intelligence illustrates this approach. Working with the responsible Minister, the Resident Coordinator brought together UN expertise into an integrated offer on AI governance and digital transformation. The task now is to translate that offer into practical support and measurable results.
This convening role is equally essential for peacebuilding. Through the Peacebuilding Steering Committee, co-chaired by our Foreign Minister and the Resident Coordinator, UN support connects reconciliation, social cohesion and sustainable development.
These experiences offer a lesson for UN80.
A strong Resident Coordinator system and strong UN agencies are mutually reinforcing. Strategic leadership must draw on the specialized mandates, technical expertise, operational capacities and trusted partnerships of UNDP, UNICEF and other entities.
Coordination should enable delivery. Reform should simplify procedures, clarify responsibilities and strengthen accountability, while preserving implementation capacity. Joint programmes and shared services can further strengthen coherent support when designed around country needs.
Bosnia and Herzegovina therefore has a direct interest in an empowered Resident Coordinator system, with the authority and resources to fulfil its role. Adequate, predictable and sustainable financing sustains impartial convening and coordination. It must also support the country presence, expertise and delivery capacities of UN entities.
National ownership must remain central: our institutions and communities should shape priorities and assess results.
Our test for reform is straightforward: does it help countries achieve better results for their people?
We would welcome your perspectives on how stronger RC leadership can best mobilize agency expertise while reducing the administrative burden on national partners.
Thank you.
