Bosnia and Herzegovina: Securing Access to Water through Institutional Development and Infrastructure

Access to safe drinking water in BiH is well below European standards: only 60% of the population is connected to public/municipal water utilities, compared to a 90% average for the EU. Water supply and quality is only adequate in large urban areas; in many smaller cities and rural areas, residents have to pay high prices for water delivered with tankers by private vendors. This Joint Programme aims to reduce the proportion of people without sustainable access to drinking water by strengthening government capacity, increasing investments in the water supply sector and including poor populations in water planning and policy.

The programme focuses on three levels of stakeholders -- the rights holders (citizenry), the service providers (utilities), and the duty-bearers (governments) -- to achieve the following objectives:

1. Improving the inclusion of citizens in decision-making processes;

2. Improving the economic governance of water utilities while sensitizing consumers to pay their bills; and

3. Increasing the capacities of governments for evidence-based policy making and resource planning.

The expected benefits of the programme will contribute to the achievement of BH UNDAF Outcome 2, “Improved access to and quality of basic education, health and social protection services”, and MDGs 1, 4, 5, 6 and 7.