Municipal Environmental Governance (MEG)


Close to one quarter of the municipalities in the country will adopt a new performance management system, in line with the reforms of the public administration. Elected officials and municipal administrations will perform their duties and interact with citizens in a more responsive and transparent way. Citizens will benefit from better services, in particular in the water sector, in line with the European Union standards, and by developing synergies with the World Bank Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Modernization Programme. The regulatory framework at all levels will be improved to support these reforms. 

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Governance
nothemedefined
Public sector policy
Decentralisation
Democratic participation and civil society
01.04.2021 - 31.03.2025
CHF  6’270’000
Background
Joining the European Union is an overarching priority of Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, progress is slow. The political and administrative structure of the country is considered as one the most complex in Europe. Access to basic public services for all people in Bosnia and Herzegovina is not yet ensured. This applies to health, education and the environmental sector, in particular water. Currently, only 75% of the population has access to safe drinking water, 41% are connected to the public sewerage system, while 90% of the collected wastewater is released into watercourses without treatment, causing serious environmental contamination. Citizens too often do not trust their institutions and do not participate enough in democratic processes. Yet the 145 municipalities in the country remain the governance level the closest to the people, with elected representatives directly accountable to their electorates, and the competence to provide efficient and equitable services and to enhance citizens’ quality of life. The COVID-19 pandemic is putting a lot of pressure on public finance and decreasing municipal revenues, which calls for even more efficiency in service delivery.
Objectives To contribute to the democratisation of local governance in Bosnia and Herzegovina and more equitable, effective and efficient public services for the citizens, particularly water supply and wastewater management services.
Target groups The main target group will be up to 35 municipalities across the whole country and their water utilities, 20 cantonal and entity ministries, and three state-level institutions. The main beneficiaries are the mayors, councillors and governments’ officials, 1,200 employees of municipalities and water utilities, entity institutions, professional associations, Associations of Municipalities and Cities and more than 1 million of citizens benefiting from improved and inclusive services. Collaboration with the private sector will be important for delivering good quality infrastructure and in promoting public-private partnerships.
Medium-term outcomes

State, entity, and cantonal governments set in place a more conducive policy and regulatory environment that affirms result-oriented local governance and improved water supply and wastewater management services.

Municipalities improve their performance, are more accountable, inclusive, and gender-responsive, and provide high quality services, in particular in the water sector.

Citizens, particularly the most vulnerable, benefit from improved water supply and wastewater management services, provided in a more efficient, accountable, and sustainable manner.

Results

Expected results:  

Entity level governments are capacitated to design policy and regulatory frameworks that advance good local governance and water services.

Municipal Councils, local administrations and citizens in up to 35 partner municipalities are capacitated to adopt a performance management system.

Water utilities are capacitated to deliver more effective, efficient and inclusive water supply and wastewater service delivery.


Results from previous phases:  

-        16 municipal administrations apply a performance management system.

-        an improved regulatory framework for water services has been developed            in 16 municipalities.

-        800,000 citizens benefit from higher quality and more accessible         infrastructure and services (in particular water)

-        the level of citizens’ engagement in public life in partner municipalities has         increased by one third. 


Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Project partners Contract partner
United Nations Organization (UNO)
  • United Nations Development Programme


Other partners
United Nations Development Program (UNDP) 
Coordination with other projects and actors Synergies will be ensured with other projects of the local governance and municipal services portfolio “Strengthening the Role of Associations of Municipalities and Cities”, and the Swiss-UN Disaster risk reduction Programme in strengthening disaster preparedness. The Project has strategic synergies with the 2021-2028 World Bank “Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Modernization Programme” co-financed by SECO. Both projects were co-designed by UNDP, SDC, SECO, EU, Sida and the World Bank. Synergies will be further developed with the SECO co-financed Regional Capacity Development Network. 
Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    6’270’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    3’745’000
Project phases Phase 2 01.04.2021 - 31.03.2025   (Current phase) Phase 1 01.07.2014 - 31.03.2021   (Completed)