The 1990s conflicts in the former Yugoslavia led to the displacement of more than 1 million people within the borders of Bosnia and Herzegovina. At the end of 2011, some 113,000 were still displaced, out of whom some 8,500 lived in collective centres and alternative temporary accommodation. Many of those were unemployed, elderly, ill, or otherwise socially vulnerable.

Bosnia and Herzegovina, supported with the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) loan, joined with grants provided by European Union through Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF), Spain, Norway, and, recently, Italy and the Slovak Republic, is working on closing the collective centres and providing adequate accommodation for the 7,200 people.

The project is implemented by Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees BiH and entails the construction and rehabilitation of 82 buildings in 45 municipalities and cities throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina. These are then provided to beneficiaries based on social, not-for-profit rental housing model or within institutional accommodation (welfare) centres.

By the end of 2019, 150 families have moved into new locations, following the closure of eight collective centres and alternative accommodation locations. Only in Foča, 20 families have moved in new flats, marking the closure of the Miljevina collective centre in December 2019. Works are ongoing in remaining locations in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska.

Watch the video on the delivery of keys to beneficiaries in Foca here.

More information about the project here.

More information about WBIF activities in Bosnia and Herzegovina here.