Disaster Risk Reduction for Sustainable Development in Bosnia and Herzegovina – Joint UN Project
High exposure to natural hazards coupled with insufficient technical, organizational, and financial capacities of BiH’s institutions and governments directly impede the country’s socio-economic development and increase population vulnerability. This Project, jointly implemented by five UN Agencies, will reduce the social and economic vulnerabilities of citizens and institutions affected by disasters and climate change by introducing and operationalizing an integrated model of disaster risk governance and livelihood enhancement starting with selected local municipalities.
| Country/region | Topic | Period | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bosnia and Herzegovina |
Climate change and environment Governance Humanitarian Assistance & DRR Education nothemedefined
Disaster risk reduction DRR
Public sector policy Humanitarian efficiency Education facilities and training |
01.09.2018
- 30.06.2023 |
CHF 2’500’000
|
- Swiss Private Sector
- United Nations Development Programme
-
Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation DISASTER PREVENTION AND PREPAREDNESS
GOVERNMENT AND CIVIL SOCIETY
EMERGENCY RESPONSE
EDUCATION
Sub-Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation Disaster prevention and preparedness
Public sector policy and administrative management
Relief co-ordination; protection and support services
Education facilities and training
Cross-cutting topics The project also supports partner organisation improvements
Aid Type Project and programme contribution
Technical assistance inclusive experts
Project number 7F09877
| Background | The overall disaster risk reduction and management (DRR/DRM) governance system in BiH is characterized by the decentralized responsibilities of different institutions, coupled with insufficient technical, organizational, and financial capacities, often lacking the proper expertise to deal effectively with existing and future hazard threats. Local governments are closest to the citizens and therefore the front-liners in any disaster. Their severe exposure to natural and human-made hazards provides them with the opportunity to become true game changers in reducing disaster risk at the local level since they face less political constraints and uncertainties in achieving results, unlike at the entity or national level. |
| Objectives | The Project’s overall goal is to improve DRR institutional capacities, frameworks, public services and partnerships at the local level of government in BiH and make the populations in risk-exposed localities less socially and economically vulnerable to effects of disasters and climate change. |
| Target groups | At least 10 local governments (with a total population of approximately 400’000) across BiH will be selected by using the criteria of vulnerability, human and technical capacity, the existence of data for land use, local development strategies, political willingness and the possibility to maximise synergies with other relevant UN, Swiss and other donor-supported initiatives. It is expected that the Project will reach at least 50’000 vulnerable people, including children, rural populations and people with disabilities. |
| Medium-term outcomes |
Outcome 1: At least 10 local governments have adopted DRR-featuring strategies, established partnerships for effective DRR interventions, and financed actions that build community resilience thus are better equipped to prevent and respond to disasters. Outcome 2: Citizens in target localities, particularly the most vulnerable population groups, have become more resilient to disasters. |
| Results |
Expected results: 1.1 Local DRR Platforms are established to serve as locally owned DRR coordination mechanisms and capacitated to mainstream DRR into local policies and strategies, and support community resilience building. 1.3 Municipal/city DRR strategic and action planning frameworks are upgraded based on a multi-sectoral perspective, with the focus on the most vulnerable population groups. 2.1. Local level capacities for flood and landslide prevention and preparedness are enhanced through capacity development, early warning systems and awareness raising. 2.5. The capacities of the agriculture sector and vulnerable farmers in target localities to increase disaster preparedness and reduce disaster losses are strengthened. 2.6 Local level capacities, tools and procedures for disaster preparedness are tested in practice to improve cross-sectoral coordination for effective disaster response. Results from previous phases: From October 2017 to March 2018, participating UN agencies convened participatory consultations with key stakeholders and partners to be involved in the Project implementation in order to validate the Project’s approach, establish baseline indicators and ensure its relevance to the country’s needs. Switzerland has already worked on DRR in BiH with UN Agencies and other partners through the provision of technical expertise and seed funding for different DRR related projects over 2015-2017. |
| Directorate/federal office responsible |
SDC |
| Credit area |
Swiss cooperation with Eastern Europe |
| Project partners |
Contract partner Private sector United Nations Organization (UNO) Other partners United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) acting as the Convening Agency of the Joint Project (UNDP, UNFPA, FAO, UNICEF, UNESCO) |
| Coordination with other projects and actors |
Primary partners are selected local governments, the Ministry of Security of BiH, entity Civil Protections, sectoral ministries. The SDC-funded Municipal Environmental and Economic Governance Project (MEG), the Integrated Local Development Project (ILDP) and the co-funded Strengthening Associations of Municipalities and Cities in BiH Project and the Local Communities Project (MZ). UN led interventions: (i) the Floods and Landslides Risk Assessment for Housing Sector in BiH, (ii) the Landslide Risk Management Study in BiH, and iii) the Climate Change Adaptation and Low Emission Development Strategy for BiH. Other donors’ programs (Czech Republic and Italy) on DRR in cooperation with UNDP and Swiss Red Cross.
|
| Budget | Current phase Swiss budget CHF 2’500’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF 2’410’877 |
| Project phases |
Phase
2
01.10.2023
- 30.11.2027
(Current phase)
Phase 1 01.09.2018 - 30.06.2023 (Active) |
