GAP Achievements
Treasury operations launched in four GAP2 partner municipalities from January 2012
From January 2012, GAP2 partner municipalities Cazin, Gračanica, Tuzla, and Žepče introduced treasury operations. GAP2's provision of assistance in this area has laid the foundations for the establishment of a modern treasury system that will help FBiH municipalities to create smarter budgets, reduce budget deficits, and increase the quality of services to the community. In 2011, GAP2 worked with the FBiH Association of Municipalities and Cities and 10 partner municipalities to lay the foundations for the introduction of treasury operations in advance of the establishment of a full treasury system in these municipalities, in line with the entity-level Law on Treasury which was passed in 2007, along with supporting legislation adopted in 2007 and 2011.
27 FEBRUARY 2012
Ten GAP2 partner municipalities introduced innovative program budgeting to their 2012 budgets
Despite challenges they have faced in the process, 10 partner municipalities have greatly improved their budgeting capacities, adopted new program budgeting techniques, and demonstrated their newly acquired skills by developing complex program documents, and corresponding program budgets for at least two municipal sectors.GAP2 has put significant efforts over the past seven months into enabling its 10 partner municipalities (Gradiška, Mrkonjić Grad, Srbac, Trebinje, Lopare, Žepče, Goražde, Ilijaš, Konjic and Jablanica) to make the transition from traditional line-item budgeting to a more efficient, participatory, and transparent budgeting process.
30 december 2011
MUNICIPAL SERVICES WITHIN REACH
The opening of satellite offices in the local communities of GAP2 partner municipalities has changed the decades' long practice of citizens having to travel across the municipality to obtain a document they can now get today, within minutes, in their Local Community Satellite Office.In order to procure simple administrative services in the past, one had to travel for hours, possibly in poor weather conditions, for sub-par service. Today, thanks to GAP2, citizens who reside in the geographic area of Brnjic, Bilješevo, and Kraljeva Sutjeska can access administrative services virtually in their backyard.
FBiH PRIME MINISTER PRAISES GAP2 POLICY TEAM
"It has been an advantage for the Association and the FBiH Government to have such a partner at their side." Nermin Niksic, FBiH Prime Minister Less tangible to citizens, but equally significant in achieving the common goals set by GAP2 and municipalities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the efforts of the GAP2 Policy Team were publicly recognized by the FBiH Prime Minister, Nermin Niksic, before an audience of municipal mayors and other attendees of the session of the 6th Assembly of the FBiH Association of Municipalities and Cities, held in Neum on October 7, 2011.
BY CONSTRUCTING A SECONDARY WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM, GAP2 HELPED GRADIŠKA MUNICIPALITY RAISE LIVING STANDARDS IN BREZIK - LAMINCI TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL
Opening of the USAID/Sida/EKN GAP2 co-financed project ''Construction of the water supply system network in the Local Community Brezik – Laminci, on July 29, 2010, was a turning point in the development of this Local Community Aware of these problems, Gradiška Municipality CIP Team, established in cooperation with GAP, selected this project for implementation in March 2009. In total, the project was worth BAM 329,000.00, out of which BAM 125,000.00 was funded by GAP, while the rest of the necessary assets were provided by the Municipality and the RS Ministry for Refugees and Displaced Persons. Citizens of Brezik – Laminci contributed with BAM 500 per household, and, in return, they did not have to pay connection fees once the network was completed.
Mrkonjić Grad Kindergarten: Happiness augmented
By co-financing the reconstruction of the Kindergarten in Mrkonjić Grad, completed in December 2010, USAID/Sida/EKN GAP 2 created preconditions for construction of additional 350 square meters of the Kindergarten building and capacities sufficient for more than 200 preschool children"There was an alarming need for expansion of the Kindergarten capacities, because we had many children already on the waiting list, but also those who were making inquires about our capacities and a possibility to enroll their children in our Kindergarten. For the last couple of years, this has become rather serious problem for working parents in Mrkonjić Grad" – said Mrs. Protić.
Roads Completion to Historical Monuments in Nevesinje Brings in more Tourists
The construction of the GAP-supported roads leading to the Ovciji Brod Bridge and Kalufi Necropolis ensured preconditions for development of tourism activities. Kalufi Necropolis and Ovciji Brod Bridge are two insufficiently exploited sites available for tourist attractions in the Nevesinje Municipality. While Kalufi Necropolis is a very attractive destination of 468 medieval tombstones that are believed to be the largest site of standing “stećci” (tomb-stones) in the Balkans, the Ovciji Brod Bridge is a 68 meters long and three meters wide medieval stone bridge located in the Bratac village. Both sites were proposed for nomination and are potential candidates to be placed on the list of the World Cultural heritage of UNESCO.
GAP ACHIEVEMENTS
Once again, a collaboration of GAP 2 and the Association of Cities and Municipalities of the FB&H resulted in the production of a document valuable for all FB&H municipalities. GOVERNANCE ACCOUNTABILITY PROJECT (GAP 2) AND THE ASSOCIATION OF CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES OF THE FEDERATION OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA ISSUED A GUIDE FOR ESTABLISHING A TREASURY IN LOCAL SELF‐GOVERNANCE UNITS
Municipalities in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina have legal requirement to introduce treasury operations in 2011.
Selecton of Partner Municipalities to Implement Project Activities Related to Communal Services, Treasury Introduction, Program Budgeting, Youth and Gender Issues YOUTH RELATED CAPITAL PROJECT INVESTMENTS JablanicaCompletion of Municipal Action Plan (MAP) in Municipality of Rudo
Grand ceremony of Municipal Action Plan implementation completion was held on December 16th in Municipality of Rudo. Breza in GAP Phase II
Grand ceremony of Municipal Action Plan implementation completion was held on December 8th in Municipality of Breza. Completion of Municipal Action Plan (MAP) in Municipality of Travnik
Grand ceremony of Municipal Action Plan implementation completion was held on December 1st in Municipality of Travnik. Total estimated value of the MAP projects was 214, 825KM, out of which, municipality covered 116, 410KM, which demonstrate strong interest of the municipality for citizen-service-improvement projects. Beside this sufficient cost-share 54.1 %, municipality of Travnik provided more than 100,000 KM for reconstruction of urbanism and cadastre department’s premises. Another joint success of GAP and partner municipality Plan for attracting investments made by Vukosavlje through cooperation with GAP
Vukosavlje municipality was established under the Dayton Peace Accord. The newly formed municipality is mainly inhabited by the returnees. According to the mayor, Amir Zahirović, municipal administration has been left on its own, without knowledge or experience in administration and no money for education and advancement. MAP Module II training completed in municipalities of Vareš, Novi Travnik, Vitez and Olovo
Municipal Action Plan (MAP) process is built around a simplified version of the EU-standard project cycle management methodology. Training introduced concepts of problem analysis, stakeholder analysis, log frames, performance measurement and monitoring, and similar related ideas as well as the knowledge necessary to implement the MAP program.
Eight months effort resulted in completion of Local Environmental Action Plans in GAP partner municipalities of Goražde, Foča, Rogatica and Travnik
Citizens and local governments’ perception on environmental issues at the local level is somewhat limited but these issues are slowly turning into serious municipal level problems. Sometime, they are often too late to be easily resolved.MAP Project “Plan for attracting investments” completed in Kakanj and Vogošća municipalities
In the last two months, GAP Sarajevo team and STTA expert worked with municipalities of Kakanj and Vogošća to prepare a “Plan for attracting investments” at the local level. It takes a great deal of effort to attract investments, beginning with the development of an investment‐friendly atmosphere in the municipality and continuing on to the promotion of the municipality as an attractive investment location.Improved Capital Planning: New Kindergarten in Srbac
“This smile has no price”, states Zeljka Novakovic, director of this April reconstructed kindergarten in Srbac, pointing at a smiling face of the twelve-year-old Bojan Tadic. Bojan and his friend Misa, both children with disabilities, are curiously watching the colorful walls of their new playroom, decorated with characters from famous cartoons. Around them happy children crowd celebrate opening of the kindergarten, the project completed in partnership with USAID, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (EKN).“[The] local administration finally created one place for all service delivery!”
a citizen exclaimed in the comment book at the new Citizen Service Center (CSC) and Urban Permit Center (UPC) in Ilidža, a large municipality bordering Sarajevo. Before the Government Accountability Project (GAP) assisted the Ilidža municipal government to construct and equip these centers, services were dispersed across four separate locations, allowing government officials to work with little accountability, and permitting low-quality customer service delivery. To promote good governance and streamline bureaucratic processes, GAP partnered with Ilidža to establish the CSC and UPC, which opened on May 13, 2009.Municipal Government in Bosnia Sees Increased Transparency, Effectiveness
In municipalities across Bosnia-Herzegovina, citizens have had to cope with slow government processes and complicated departmental systems for years. These burdensome inefficiencies create opportunities for corruption and often force citizens to spend extended periods of time carrying out simple processes, like acquiring birth certificates or registering to work.Achieving the Rights of Local Self-Governance
On April 14, 2009, the Constitutional Court of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) declared that the right of municipalities in FBiH to local self-government had been violated by several articles of the Law on Forests in the FBiH. In the verdict, the court asked the Federal Parliament to work with the Municipal Association to change the provisions violating the rights of the municipalities within 6 months.Achieving the Rights of Local Self-Governance
On April 9, 2009 the Bosnian municipality of Visoko opened its first modern and highly functional Citizen Service Center (CSC) and Urban Permit Center (UPC). This achievement was made possible by the joint effort of Visoko’s municipal staff and technical and monetary assistance from the Governance and Accountability (GAP) project. Already, these two local centers have resulted in a dramatic improvement in the level of service delivery to Visoko citizens. Whereas before it was common to hear people complain of wasting time at the municipality in long lines, or waiting for the right person to come back from a work break, now the necessary information is readily available, and often just a mouse click away!
GAP Awards First Round of Capital Projects
BAM 2.3million awardedFor the past five years, the Governance Accountability (GAP) project has facilitated the creation of a capital improvement planning (CIP) process in 35 partner municipalities across BiH. The purpose of this campaign was to encourage and improve participatory mechanisms for citizen participation in community planning by engaging civil society, community groups, and NGOs in planning and monitoring capital improvement projects.
“For the first time ever, the municipal administration of Kladanj printed the map of their cadastral plans using their own resources, both human and technical. They are making history”, said the head of the Urban Department in her report to the mayor.
This breakthrough was made possible by a collaborative effort between the municipality and the GAP project. In addition to providing improvements in municipal administration, GAP implemented a number of Urban and Cadastral Department interventions in many of its 71 partner-municipalities in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Friday, January 30, 2009 The workshop titled: “Improvement of the Procedure for Issuance of Zoning Permits, Construction Permits, and Inspection Certificates by Establishing the Centre for Permit Issuance in the Široki Brijeg Municipality”, organized by GAP, Governance Accountability Project, was held in the Široki Brijeg Town Hall. Members of the Permit Issuance Centre Advisory Board, that is representatives of HT Mostar, PE Elektroprivreda HZHB,
Western-Herzegovina Canton Forest Economic Society, Široki Brijeg Municipality public enterprises, private company Security Engineering (Sigurnosni inzenjering), Cantonal Road Administration, Cantonal Water Management Inspectorate, Western-Herzegovina Canton Ministry of Economy, and members of the Advisory Board from the Cadastral and Zoning Department of the Široki Brijeg Municipality participated in the workshop. (read more...) 
This week, Ilijaš in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Trnovo in the
MZ Doboj IV is a small, ethnically mixed community of a few hundred households in
Kakanj, a large municipality 50 kilometers northwest of Sarajevo. For a number of years,
this community faced a serious problem: while waste heat from a nearby power plant
went unused, the homes within the community had to rely on dirty, inefficient and unsafe
wood and coal stoves for heating. (read more...)
