The Swiss Government is investing an additional 11 million KM in improving the work of local government and providing public services in BiH, building on support for good local governance practices.
On April 1, 2021, the Government of Switzerland signed an Agreement with the United Nations Development Program in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNDP BiH) to finance the second phase of the Municipal Environmental and Economic Governance Project (MEG II), which will be implemented over the next four years in BiH.
Switzerland has already invested 22 million KM in the first phase of the MEG project since 2016, it is planned to invest an additional 11 million KM. The total value of the MEG II project is almost 23 million KM and includes the expected financial contributions from the European Union (through IPA II funds), the Government of the Kingdom of Sweden and partner units of local self-government, said the UNDP.
UNDP BiH, in cooperation with about thirty local self-government units, which will be selected through an upcoming public call, will be in charge of implementing the MEG II project.
Barbara Dätwyler Scheuer, Director of Cooperation at the Swiss Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina, points out that “MEG is one of the leading projects supported by the Government of Switzerland in BiH.”
She says that in its first phase, the MEG project not only improved the quality of life for more than 800,000 residents in 18 local government units, but also changed the way of thinking.
According to her, a large number of mayors and municipal mayors have already asked UNDP about joining the project.
“The MEG project continues through its second phase (MEG II) and many other local government units will be able to join us,” said Barbara Dätwyler Scheuer.
MEG II will continue to work with its local government partner units on the implementation of the Good Local Governance Framework, and on the implementation of a performance-based approach, with clear benchmarks and objectives to monitor and measure progress. The focus will be on enabling the provision of fair, effective and efficient public services for all citizens, especially in the field of water supply and wastewater management, announced the UNDP.
