While political context stays difficult and external debt level in BiH has increased since the outbreak of the global financial crisis the Republika Srpska has formally manifested its commitment to reform the waste water sector and improve waste water treatment. The project aims to support this endeavour on the RS entity level with skills development measures and policy dialogue and at municipal level with corporate development measures and targeted investment. SECO and KfW can build on solid experience in policy dialogue, skills and corporate development and sustainable investment measures in BiH and in the Balkan Region.

To contribute to the protection of the environment, specifically the river Sava in Gradiska and downstream, and to the improvement of the hygienic situation of the population in Gradiska.

The project strengthens wastewater management and establishes the collection and treatment of municipal wastewater of the municipality of Gradiska in an environmentally sound and hygienic manner at affordable costs. Furthermore, the public utility shall run in an economically sustainable way within a functioning and adequate institutional and regulatory framework. The project serves as a best practice example for other utilities and municipalities to illustrate reliable and sustainable waste water treatment services.

To foster the policy dialogue in the waste water sector on entity and municipal level

Aquasan to be recognized center of competence for water protection and utility management

Public utility to run in an economically sustainable way

Municipal wastewater to be collected and treated in an environmentally sound and hygienic manner

Expected results:  

BiH national water association Aquasan is trained and skills developed

Development of curriculum for O&M for WWTPs

WWT team trained and in place

Rehabilitation and extension of sewerage network

The waste water treatment plant is constructed and is put in operation