Start of the WBIF Extended Technical Assistance for the Programme “Water and Sanitation in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina”

06 February 2019: A new EU  funded project was launched under the WBIF in October 2018 to support  the implementation of the infrastructure programme “Water and Sanitation  in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina” – WATSAN FBiH. Following a  two-month inception period, a team of international and local experts  is now supporting the beneficiaries in the preparation of project  documentation for water and wastewater infrastructure investments.

WATSAN FBiH Programme uses investments in water and wastewater infrastructure to improve the living conditions of the population, ensure access to continuous water supply and sanitation services, and implement  environmental protection measures in compliance with the obligations of EU accession and legislation harmonisation. The financing of the Programme, €121.3 million in total, is secured from a €60 million loan provided by the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the contribution of participating municipalities to an equal amount.

The WBIF has allocated €6.8 million in EU grants for technical assistance  and investment works to support the implementation of the Programme. This latest award of €1.3 million for technical assistance aims to help  the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Water Management and Forestry and  municipalities with the preparation of project documentation and tender dossiers for water and wastewater infrastructure.

This technical assistance is implemented by the Infrastructure Project Facility 7 and the EIB as Lead IFI from December 2018 until December 2020. Around  30 technical documentations (feasibility studies, preliminary and  detailed designs) and tender dossiers will be developed for water supply  schemes, three drinking water treatment plants, wastewater collection systems, and eleven wastewater treatment plants for six municipalities included in the Programme. Support for the management of public  procurement procedures and capacity building will be provided as well.

Additional information on the Programme can be found here.