A workshop organized by the UNDP BiH was held today in Sarajevo in order to define the key steps of the last phase of the Integrated Local Development Project funded by the Swiss Embassy in Bosnia Herzegovina.
Integrated Local Development Project had two phases till now: the first project phase was implemented in the period from 2008 - 2011 when the so-called MIPRO methodology for planning at the local level was developed and based on it the development strategies of 23 local government units throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina have been made. The second project phase began with the implementation in 2012, which continued development of strategic documents in LGUs, and work on establishing the development planning system in 40 LGUs. Also, the project helped the Cantonal governments in the development of strategic documents in all 10 Cantons as well as the establishment of the development planning system of especially in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Since an independent evaluation of the present activities and results of the project was conducted in the mid-year, the general recommendation is that the continuation of the project implementation is required in order to complete and consolidate the started activities. In this regard, a proposal for the continuation of the project was prepared, which was presented to the workshop participants today. The main objective of the project continuation is in accordance with the recommendations of the evaluation, which is the consolidation of the activities initiated in the previous two phases, which will be implemented through two areas of support including: support to the system for planning at the local and Cantonal level and support to long-term sustainability of the system for planning at the Entity and BD level. It is anticipated that the consolidation phase will take place in the period 2017 – 2021.