april 2005 submission 04uk403 helping...

April 2005 Submission 04UK403 Helping Communities to Help Themselves

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FINAL REPORT ON

INTEGRATED ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT OF THE NERETVA AND TREBISNJICA RIVER BASIN PROJECT

STUDY 4: SOCIAL AND RURAL

DEVELOPMENT ASSESSEMENT

PREPARED BY GOLDER ASSOCIATES & BOSNA-S OIL SERVICES COMPANY

Submitted to:

Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Ministry of Physical Planning and Environment

Project Implementation Unit Maršala Tita 9, 71000 Sarajevo,

Bosnia and Herzegovina

DISTRIBUTION:

1 email copy in English ............................................................................................................Client 3 hard copies in English ...........................................................................................................Client 15 hard copies in Bosnian.........................................................................................................Client

April 2005

04UK403


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TABLE OF CONTENT

1.0 INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………….5 Purpose of the Final Report Report organisation Report outputs Location and setting of the NRTB

2.0 CURRENT SOCIAL AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT SITUATION IN

THE WATERSHED………....……….………………………………………8 Population and demographics Operating Context Employment Civil Society groups Social Services Government bodies Role of the international community 3.0 ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY……………………...………...………..21 Research process

Issues relating to the research process

4.0 STAKEHOLDERS…………………………………………………………...36 Community based stakeholders Factors affecting capacity to deliver Local level disputes 5.0 SUMMARY OF FINDINGS ………………………………….……………...52

Summary of key findings from the household survey Current levels of community participation Factors that limit development Priority areas that should be addressed to improve livelihoods Observations

6.0 RECOMMENDATIONS……………………………………………………..84 7.0 PRELIMINARY TIME HORIZON AND ESTIMATED COSTS OF RECOMMENDED

ACTIVITIES………...…………………………………………...…………..95 8.0 NEXT STEPS………………………………………………………………...98


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LIST OF TABLES Table 2.3.a Economic activities: Environmental impacts and legislative framework Table 2.3.b Enforcement of existing legislative frameworks, compliance and related

social impacts Table 3.1 Table of stakeholders with strategic importance to social and rural

development in the watershed area Table 3.2 List of organisations involved in the consultation process Table 4.3 Disputes identified during the consultation process Table 5.1 Key issues identified during the consultation process and their impact on

local resources dependency Table 5.3.a Issues obstructing social and rural development Table 5.3.b Local perceptions of economic activities that affect environmental quality LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1.4 Map of the NTRB watershed area Figure 2.1 Population demographic comparison for Stolac Figure 2.3.a Unemployment figures for Jablanica, Konjic, Mostar, Stolac and Trebinje Figure 2.3.b Households dependent on other sources of income Figure 2.5.a Perceptions of standards of social services Figure 3.1 Research process design in order to maximise local inputs Figure 4.0 Issues map of the Watershed area Figure 4.2 Pressures facing local NGOs in the NTRB Figure 4.3 Network groups Figure 5.1 Key findings which emerged from the household survey Figure 5.3.3 Sites of historic, cultural and natural significance in the NTRB LIST OF TEXTBOXES Textbox 2.4 Social Assistance funding in Stolac Textbox 2.5 Overcrowding in schools in Konjic Textbox 4.1 Roma Cleaning Up in BiH Textbox 4.2 Proposal writing capacity building at Hutovo Blato Textbox 5.2 Politicised allocation of public lands in Stolac Textbox 5.3.3 Laying the corner stone of Osman Pasha Mosque in Trebinje Textbox 5.3.4 Močvara Udraga: Exhibition on Healing Herbs


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LIST OF APPENDICES Appendix 1 Bibliography Appendix 2 On-going relevant initiatives to support social and rural development Appendix 3 International organisation Interview scripts Appendix 4 Konjic focus groups report Appendix 5 Bilateral interview scripts and responses Appendix 6 National workshop Social and Rural Development session participants

invitation and attendee list Appendix 7 National workshop: Social and Rural Development Assessment

presentation Appendix 8 National workshop: Social and Rural Development Assessment discussion

group participants Appendix 9 National workshop: Social and Rural Development Assessment discussion

session: Proposed recommendations and facilitator notes Appendix 10 Agreed recommendations and correlating proposed activities Appendix 11 Detailed overview of proposed project expenditure by phases and

suggestions for co-funders


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1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Purpose of Final Report The goal of Study Component 4: Social and Rural Development Assessment is to ensure that the needs and concerns of local stakeholders within the NTRB are addressed in the design of the Integrated Eco-System Management study. The report focuses on collecting views of local stakeholders at the “grass root” level. The Social and Rural Development Assessment has used both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods to address the following objectives:

• Identify important rural and social development issues to address • Identify economic activities which may pose threats to biodiversity conservation • Identify key stakeholders and their capabilities, interests, and conflicts • Identify opportunities to link rural development with integrated water resource

management and ecosystem conservation • Identify existing or potential income generating activities and financial mechanisms

to support these activities • Provide options and recommendations for community based enterprises • Assess current levels of community participation in decision-making in water

resource management • Identify existing structures and mechanisms to enable community participation

1.2 Report organisation This report is organised in the following sections:

• Section 2.0 gives localised socio-economic analysis for the watershed area • Section 3.0 provides details on the assessment methodology, issues and results. • Section 4.0 gives a summary of key stakeholders, their interests, and capacities and a

summary of key issues affecting capacity to deliver • Section 5.0 gives a summary of findings on key social and rural issues of concern and

factors to improve livelihoods as identified by stakeholders • Section 6.0 makes recommendations on priority areas for action • Section 7.0 provides preliminary costs and timeframe on activities recommended in

Section 6.0 • Section 8.0 provides recommendations on next steps.

The report includes 11 appendices which provide background information to support the text contained in the document.


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1.3 Report Outputs The report gives detailed background analysis to support the proposal of 7 recommendations for consideration by the Technical Working Group for the GEF initiative. The recommendations aim to maximise social and rural development in relation to land and water resources, which focuses on developing sustainable mechanisms which will maximise positive impacts in the long term. These 7 recommendations are:

1. Enable community based planning – develop a community vision of the future 2. Enable community inputs into local tourism management strategies 3. Enable communities to protect and develop sites of significance 4. Enable communities to represent their own interests 5. Develop capacities of local communities to support agricultural development 6. Develop community-based recycling initiatives 7. Enable community involvement in the development and implementation of the Local

Environment Action Plans 1.4 Location and setting of the Neretva Trebisnjica River Basins The Neretva Trebisnjica River Basin (NTRB) watershed is a transboundary river basin shared by Bosnia Herzegovina (BiH) and Croatia. (Figure 1.4) Within BiH, the river basin is shared by two entities: the Federation of Bosnia Herzegovina (FBiH) and Republika Srpska (RS). The Neretva river is located within the FBiH, while the Trebisnjica flows through the territory of RS. The Trebisnjica is the major tributary of the Neretva, and runs through complex karst hydrological systems. Both rivers impact agricultural lands, marine water and freshwater in Croatia. There is a diversity of land and water conditions in the Neretva and Trebisnjica River Basin, that arises from its geographical position which encompasses both a mild Mediterranean and a harsh continental climate. The upper Watershed is mountainous and characterised by narrow canyons and rushing rivers, interspersed with large lake/reservoirs created by hydroelectric dams. The high plains of the middle Watershed are remote and characterised by distinctive karst geology, which resembles an arid moonscape but is extremely fertile. Moving towards the mouth of the Neretva into the Adriatic sea, in the lower watershed, one encounters flat-lands, a number of wetlands and meliorated land which is used for agriculture. There is an abundance of flora and fauna. In the Trebisnjica river watershed, the landscape varies from elevated mountainous areas to fertile flatlands. The karst strip separates the Trebisnjica basin from the Adriatic coast. Please see the map below which demarcates the political boundaries and the main towns of the watershed area.


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Figure 1.4.1 The NTRB watershed


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2.0 OVERVIEW OF CURRENT SITUATION IN THE NERETVA TREBISNJICA RIVER BASINS WATERSHED This section describes the current situation in the Neretva Trebisnjica River Basin (NTRB) from a social and economic perspective. It draws on quantitative and qualitative data supplied by the National Statistics Office for Cantons VII and VIII and from the results of the household surveys undertaken by the research team. It also includes background Entity-level data that is relevant to the NTRB. This section also summarises the current situation for vulnerable groups, provides a summary of legislation which supports key economic activities and describes the role of the international community in the NTRB. 2.1 Population and demographics The National Statistics Office provided 2003 figures for employment, birth, death and education for towns in Canton Hercegovačko-Neretvanski (hereafter referred to as Canton VII) and Canton Zapadno-Hercegovački (hereafter referred to as Canton VIII), however the full localised inputs into the National level statistics from the local municipalities, were not readily available. According to the available data, the NTRB is home to 341,0571 people, the majority of whom are rural poor. On average, almost 18% of the population is under the age of 15 and almost 14% of the local population is over the age of 652. The watershed towns prior to the war, were fairly multi-cultural, however, the cultural demographic has changed and now towns tend to be dominated by a majority ethnic group. Figure 2.1 below identifies the difference in population demographics in Stolac, which is in the lower watershed, in 1991 when the census was conducted, and again in 2000. The transformation from a fairly multi-cultural environment to one dominated by one cultural group was a common experience across the entire watershed. Figure 2.1. Changes in Population demographics in Stolac

1 224,535 from Canton VII and 81,522 from Canton VIII which are figures from Population survey conducted in June 2004, provided by the FBiH Office for National Statistics. The figures for the towns in the Croatian watershed area have been sourced from the Request for Proposal for this study. 2 Procjene ukupnog broja prisutnih stanovnika, po starosnoj strukturi, stanje 30.06.2004

5000, 37%

400, 3%

8000, 60%

BosniaksSerbs

Croats

Population figures in Stolac in 1991

8033, 44%

3923, 22%

6165, 34% BosniaksSerbsCroats

Population figures in Stolac in 2000


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2.2. Operating Context Transition and war brought new causes of poverty to the NTRB, including high levels of unemployment, an under-funded social safety net, economic emigration and related loss of technical expertise and an aging population. As a result of these factors, social dependency has escalated just as welfare and state social insurance are suffering from inadequate resources and a need for investment. There is also increasingly less financial, material or human capacity to fuel reconstruction and development. There is a tendency to support nationalistic platforms and the resulting politicisation of issues is a factor in decision-making. 2.2.i Macro-economic stability There has been significant macroeconomic stabilisation, especially from the service industry. A single currency has been introduced, with the central bank functioning as a currency board. Sound monetary trends include low inflation, convergence of prices and increasing economic integration between entities. Privatisation has, however, been neither efficient nor transparent, and prospects for foreign investment, which is one of BiH’s major sources of growth, are limited in the short term. Efforts to increase macro-economic stability have had limited impact in the NTRB. The World Bank Living Standards Measurement Survey measures the level of extreme poverty in Bosnia and Herzegovina at KM760 per person per year and KM2,198 per person per year is the general poverty line3. According to the UNDP Early Warning System for Bosnia Herzegovina Annual Report for 2003, there is no extreme poverty in BiH, however, one fifth of the population lives below the poverty line. 95% of pensioners belong to this category, as do the majority of displaced people, those in collective centres, people with special needs, some unemployed, employed and wait-list workers – those which the UNDP classify as “acutely socially handicapped”.4 There are high levels of poverty in both the upper and middle watershed areas of the NTRB5.. The upper watershed is characterised by remote rural communities with limited access to main sources of communication and transportation. There is little evidence of economic endeavour, except for facilities which were situated along the main Sarajevo-Mostar road and in the larger urban areas. There is limited infrastructure to facilitate development in the NTRB, in particular in the upper watershed, which relies mainly on the main road from Sarajevo to Mostar which runs in the valley of the canyon. The middle, lower and Trebisnjica watershed areas are better connected. 3 This includes basic nonfood items 4 UNDP, Early Warning System for Bosnia Herzegovina, Annual Report 2003 - A Year in Review p. 33 5 Both the World Bank LSMS and the UNDP Annual Reports indicate that living standards were much better before the war: appliances, technological equipment and technical resources were of much higher standards.


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2.3 Employment 2.3.i Traditional sources of employment in the NTRB Historically BiH was the supply unit of the Former Yugoslavia and therefore hosts coal, bauxite, and aluminium extractive industries. These facilities are now outdated and in need of substantial investment. Other industries which previously provided employment included: agriculture; printing; textiles production; the production of construction materials; electricity production; industrial cable production; transportation; mechanics; and lumber. Currently, the largest employers are the Municipal Authorities and Public Entreprises (PEs)6. 2.3.ii Current economic activities and employment opportunities in the NTRB Table 2.3.a. identifies economic activities which may have potential for future development but which could also have significant impacts on the local environment and biodiversity. This table includes details of the legislative environment, within which these industries operate. Table 2.3.a Economic activities: environmental impacts and legislative framework

Industry

Potential Environmental impacts/risks

Legislative framework

Fishing Potential for export and tourism

Depletion of fishing stocks

• Burdensome registration process at local, municipal and Canton levels

• Registration with local water supply company

• Good monitoring of fishing laws by University of Agriculture in Sarajevo

• Fishing laws do not limit size of catch only number of fish caught

Agricultural production

Huge potential if land ownership and access to credit can be facilitated

Commercialisation of subsistence farming Pesticide use

• Land ownership issues relating to WWII and recent conflict not resolved

• Lack of clarity over land ownership limits access to funding

• Wine producers need EUR-1 customs for export and analysis from the Agronomic Institute in Mostar

• Animals are registered at and breeders must get licenses from the Ministry of Agriculture

Tourism Huge potential if tourists can be attracted to the area

Rafting companies in Upper WS act to protect the environment although local communities think they cause pollution

• Rafting companies need to register with the Municipality

• No legal requirements to protect environment

• All companies consulted had developed own guidelines on safety and protection of environment

Hydro Power Potential development Identified as significant • Legal protection for those affected by

6 The figures relating to employment in the Municipalities and PEs were unavailable


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Industry



Plants for energy export threat to biodiversity, aquatic systems and natural habitats Increased risk of sedimentation Affects natural river flow Increased risk of flooding

floods7

Logging Potential development for sustainable logging export

Soil erosion Depletion of timber resources

• Law to protect forests and 16% of land in Upper watershed is designated as protected areas

• No mechanisms to enable monitoring of law implementation and mechanisms used to deter local inspections

Hunting Limited potential, however will continue until alternative income revenues are available

Depleted animal stocks Bear, wild goat, and bobcats are endangered

• Hunting licenses for wild boar, deer, fox and birds are available from hunting associations

• REC providing mediation with hunting groups and local authorities

Bauxite extraction

Potential but needs significant upgrade of facilities

Air pollution Possible ground water pollution

• For all types of water usage, a water use permit must be obtained

• No harmonised legal framework for the entire Bosnia and Herzegovina. In the Neretva area, the Water Law of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina is implemented.

• The Department for Water Management of the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Management and Forestry is responsible for water management, and creates standards and policies, inspects their implementation and issues permits.

• The Department has two public enterprises which are its technical and financial services; the one in charge for the Neretva area is the Public Enterprise for the Water Sector of the Adriatic Basin in Mostar.

Water privatisation

Huge potential income earner however, difficulties in collection of fees

Risk of sea water penetration Destruction of agricultural lands

• Upper Horizons Project framework currently mediated by the OSCE

Printing Good potential - especially in light of increased tourism (and subsequent stimulation of supply industries)

Air pollution Ground water pollution Ground contamination

• Environmental Protection Law • Protection of Nature Law • Little monitoring of air pollution • Soil law

Textile production

Huge potential in leather goods production and possible development of natural products

Ground contamination Ground water pollution

• Environmental Protection Law • Protection of Nature Law • Soil Law • Little monitoring of air pollution

7 One HPP in the middle watershed is currently being taken to court because it flooded agricultural lands in the Middle watershed.


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Industry



textile market Construction materials

Big potential for provision of raw materials and developing a processing capacity within watershed

Ground water pollution Ground contamination Air pollution

• Environmental Protection Law • Little monitoring of air pollution • Soil Law • Waste law • Physical Planning law NB. UK business Natural Building Technologies provide production methods for construction materials which are environmentally sound – potential capacity building partner

Industrial cable production

Huge potential to become regional supplier of industrial cables with increases in cable demand in the region

Ground water pollution Ground contamination Air pollution

• Harmonised legal framework for business and macro-economic facilitates international export

• Protection of Nature Law • Soil Law • Waste law • Physical Planning law

Transportation Potential for transit through Eastern Europe to the coast by: rail; road; river

Water pollution Air pollution Noise pollution

• Environmental Protection Law • Protection of Nature Law

Mechanics Potential is related to the success of transportation possibilities identified above

Water pollution Air pollution Noise pollution

• Environmental Protection Law • Protection of Nature Law

Table 2.3.b below identifies the main laws which are currently in place in the watershed which protect land and water resources. The table displays the levels of compliance to this legislative framework and the related subsequent social impacts of conservation. Table 2.3.b. Enforcement of existing legislative framework, compliance and related social impacts Activities

Legislative environment Compliance Impacts on livelihoods

Fisheries Environmental Protection Law Protection of Nature Law

Regular monitoring by independent body (University of Sarajevo)

Limits on size of catch & therefore limits potential supply to buyers

Hunting Environmental Protection Law Protection of Nature Law Communal Activities law

Lack of compliance by local hunting associations and international tourists

Negates sources of income for local hunters

Pollution Water protection is conducted in accordance with the State Plan on Water Protection and the County Plans for Water Protection.

Several actors do not comply with pollution controls (see table 2.3.a) Inadequate monitoring

No impacts identified

Flooding Legislation includes actions and measures of flood protection, prevention of ice formations in water courses, protection from

Inadequate monitoring of laws Responsive legal framework which

Devastating impacts on agricultural producers affected, which in turn impacts on ability to repay


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Activities

Legislative environment Compliance Impacts on livelihoods

erosion and seasonal rivers along with amelioration activities. Flood protection is conducted based on the State Plan for Flood Protection and the Plan for Flood Protection for the River Basin

enables compensation for affected individuals

credit Proof of land ownership issues affects ability to claim compensation Evidence of litigation against perpetrators

Agriculture Environmental Protection Law Protection of Nature Law Soil Law Waste law Physical Planning law Communal Activities law

Evidence of most agricultural producers making use of pesticides on a regular basis. Monitoring by KRAV and AIAB for Agroplod

Organic certification aids promotion and sales of products internationally

Forestry management

Environmental Protection Law Protection of Nature Law

Little compliance Evidence of use of mechanisms to avoid inspection

Soil erosion leads to land slides in upper watershed area

Tourism Environmental Protection Law Protection of Nature Law Physical Planning law Communal Activities law

Little compliance or inspection due to recent establishment of standards

Improvements in tourism facilities Financial cost to small outlets is substantial and in most cases unaffordable

2.3.iii Unemployment There are high levels of unemployment among people living in the NTRB watershed. Official unemployment (highest among 19– 24 year-olds) is growing faster than registered employment, and high levels of grey8 labour mean huge losses to public revenue. Figure 2.3.a displays the official figures for unemployment levels in some of the towns in the watershed area. Estimates given by local government and international aid agencies put overall unemployment levels at 26-46% in the watershed area. Figure 2.3.a Unemployment for Jablanica, Konjic, Mostar, Stolac and Trebinje9

8 Please note the term ‘grey’ refers to informal economies 9 Measured as a percentage of the working-age population and taken from figures for 2004 from Zaposlenost I Place po Opcinama, Office of National Statistics

Unemployment levels

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

Towns where data sourced

% Jun 2004

Jablanica

Konjic

Mostar

Stolac

Trebinje


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On average, 59% of respondents to the household survey received other sources of income to support their livelihood. The majority of these funds come from family members who are earning, or from family or friends from the Diaspora. There are still approximately 1 million people dispersed around the world as Bosnian Diaspora.10 Figure 2.3.b displays the percentage of households surveyed that were dependent on other sources of income. Figure 2.3.b Households dependent on other sources of income 2.4 Civil society groups 2.4.i Operating Context – legal and governance framework for vulnerable groups Vulnerable groups are legally protected by the Federal Law on Social Protection, Protection of Civilian War Victims and the Protection of Families with Children, which was instituted in 1999 and required Cantons to adopt the laws within 3 months. However, the Federal law has not been adopted in Canton VII, as parties cannot reconcile differences of opinion over implementation. In the Stolac municipality, the local authorities simply did not have the funds for social services and therefore the local business community contributed to a “Solidarity Fund” which funded necessary local social facilities. See text box 2.4 below. 10 Bosnian Institute http://www.bosnia.org.uk/bosnia/viewMetatype.cfm?metatypeID=29

Textbox 2.4: Social Assistance funding in Stolac There are two systems of social protection, but according to municipality sources in Stolac, there are limited resources available. However, the Cantonal budget allocated 1,941,000 BAM in Stolac to ensure that the system functioned (604,000 BAM was allocated specifically to Bosniaks for social welfare). Despite provisions to support the vulnerable, only 4 cases of requests for assistance were recorded in 2004 and a total of 40BAM was distributed. A group of local businesses have established the “Solidarity Fund” which works with local community groups to fund social support services, however this fund relies on voluntary contributions. (UNDP Interview, 18.02.05)

Households dependent on alternative sources of income

0

20

40

60

80

100

Mostar

Blagaj

Trebinje

Gacko

Bileca

Čapljina

Počitelj

SirokiBrijeg

Konjic

Jablanica

Sites in watershed

% o

f Hou

seho

lds

surv

eyed


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NGOs and civil society groups operate under a confusing legal framework. In 2001, there was a concerted effort by the international donors and local NGOs to create an enabling framework to facilitate cross-Entity partnerships, simplify registration processes, and make amendments on tax deductible status. This process established the BiH NGO Council. The lobbying effort was mostly effective and now an NGO can co-operate freely with an NGO from another Entity with the exception of political reintegration programmes. NGOs are protected and administered by an over-arching Law on Associations and Foundations, as well as two Entity-level laws. The BiH NGO Council, the HCA Youth Network and the NGO Foundation for BiH are all NGO networks which have been established to facilitate co-ordination and collaboration and reduce reproduction of efforts. Despite the existence of these networks and their achievement in co-ordination and collection of information on 300 member organisations, there is no effective resource centre for NGOs and there are no other formal channels for advocacy or lobbying in BiH. Networks and coalitions that have come together, in general, have developed in response to existence of international funding rather than a sense of mission. Among the most susceptible groups in the watershed area are the following:

• refugees and displaced people with no income, who are unable to integrate into the social security system;

• the elderly, whose benefits have fallen to minimum levels; • women, whose status means they suffer the effects of poverty more immediately and

acutely, as well as suffering the threat of trafficking; • Roma people • orphaned and abandoned children who are prone to truancy, delinquency, drug abuse

and prostitution and crime; and • social welfare beneficiaries, including physically and mentally disabled people.

2.4.i Returnees and IDPs There are continuing returnees to the Herzegovina-Neretva and Western Herzegovina Cantons, although the numbers are declining.11 It is generally accepted that population figures are now stabilising as a result of families choosing to settle in new areas, in particular those with children of school age. The UNHCR suggests that poor economic situation and limited job opportunities are also reasons for the gradual decrease in the number of returnees, as well as the decrease in reconstruction and sustainability assistance for refugees and lack of implementation of social welfare legislation in Canton VII. Some population movements still occur, although in general, these tend to be the young who undertake urban-rural migration in search of employment. 11 In 2004, there were a total of 1,601 returnees comprising 944 returnees and 657 displaced people, although there were no movements recorded during the last quarter of the year11. The Municipality of Trebinje population estimates in 2002 were approximately 37,500, 25% of which are believed to be Internally Displaced Peoples (IDPs), however, only 500 IDPs have registered formally with the local authority.11


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2.4.ii Elderly This group is extremely vulnerable to extreme levels of poverty and their average salary is 125KM p.c.m. according to Trebinje municipality. The UNDP RMAP co-ordinator estimates that a third of pensioners receive 80KM p.c.m. in the lower watershed, which is the equivalent to the price of a tank of water.12 2.4.iii Women Female headed households (FHH) are vulnerable and those of a pensionable age have difficulty in securing pensions as traditionally in the lower watershed area, these are paid to the man of the household. 2.4.iv Roma 70% of Roma cannot provide for their basic physical existence without social security, while 90% of them do not have the right to free health protection. Roma residents in Stolac are given 6 month residency permits, which are issued by the local police station. Very few Roma have a job or stable income source and the majority of Romani children do not go to school.13 2.4.v Orphaned children Orphaned children exist at the very margins of society and rely on other family support or local charity. 2.4.vi Physically and mentally disabled Despite the fact that some 15% of the population has suffered psychological trauma, negative attitudes towards mentally disabled people are deeply entrenched in state and society. Services focus on diagnosis rather than treatment. People with mental health problems are placed in the same institutions as people with mental handicaps. Physical disability is better understood, but the approach is still medical rather than social, excluding physically disabled people from society and hindering their access to education and employment.14 2.5 Social Services Health and education services are severely under-resourced. Education facilities are suffering from a lack of investment. There are indicators of overcrowding in schools in the watershed, for example, there is only 1 school for 1,231 pupils in Konjic and overcrowding in schools was a significant issue for those consulted. See textbox 2.5 12 This price is enough to buy one tank of water which if used sparingly can meet the needs of a household for one month (Interview with UNDP RMAP 18th February 2005) 13 http://www.gfbv-sa.com.ba/romabihe.html 14 http://www.gfbv-sa.com.ba/romabihe.html


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Educational facilities have also become political tools. For example, Mostar schools are either Croat or Bosnian and follow separate curricula. In Berkovići, both Serbians and Bosnians use the same school facilities, however, the students use different entrances and have separate classes. The OSCE is currently trying to address this issue and encouraging the unification of all classes, except history which would be taught separately15. See figure 2.5.a below which displays the results of the Household survey responses on local perceptions of the adequacy of health, education and pension services. Figure 2.5.a Perceptions of adequacy of health, education and pensions services 15 Interview with OSCE Mostar 28th November 2004

Textbox 2.5: Overcrowding in schools in Konjic and increasing exposure to drugs As the local education authority had limited resources available for education facilities, they introduced a two-tier day. Primary school pupils would have lessons during the first half of the day and secondary school pupils would have lessons in the classes afterwards. Local parents had noted that suspected drug dealers were waiting at the school gates during cross-over times and therefore very young primary school children were being exposed to drugs. The discussions referred to another story about a local prostitute who had contracted HIV and who had infected approximately 50 school boys with HIV by not using protection. (Discussions at the focus groups in Konjic on 10th February 2005)

Perceptions of social services

020

406080

100

120

Blagaj "Good"

Blagaj "Adequate"Blagaj "Poor"Konjic "G

ood"Konjic "Adequate"Konjic "Poor"Jablanica "G

ood"Jablanica "A

dequate"Jablanica "P

oor"

Sir Brijeg "Good"

Sir Brijeg "Adequate"Sir Brijeg "Poor"M

ostar "Good"

Mostar "Adequate"

Mostar "Poor"

Bileca "Good"

Bileca "Adequate"Bileca "Poor"C

apljina "Good"

Capjlina "Adequate"

Capljina "Poor"

Gacko "G

ood"G

acko "Adequate"G

acko "Poor"Trebinje "G

ood"Trebinje "Adequate"Trebinje "Poor"

Towns and viewpoints

%

HealthSocial ServicesEducat ion


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2.6 Government Bodies The political structure of Bosnia Herzegovina is complex and differs between the two entities: the Federation of Bosnia Herzegovina and the Republika Srpska. FBiH and RS have their own assemblies16. BiH has a collective presidency of three which rotate authority every 8 months and represent the three main national groups. National elections are held every 4 years, each member of the Presidency elected directly by the people.17 The Presidency is the Head of State institution and has responsibilities for Foreign policy and proposing the budget. The Parliamentary Assembly is the lawmaking body.18 The Entities have their own governments and Council of Ministers which deal with internal matters not dealt with by the State Council. • Entity Level

The political structure of the Federation Entity is divided into Cantons. Each of the ten cantons in the Federation has its own assembly with the power to adopt cantonal laws and cantonal government. Each Canton is divided into Municipalities and each municipality has its own municipal council and administrative structures.

By contrast, the Republika Srpska (RS) has no cantons, only five municipalities. At the RS level there is a National Assembly, a Council of Peoples, a president, two vice presidents, and a government under a Prime Minister. The municipalities all have their own assemblies and administrative structures. There are three constitutional courts, one at the State-level and one in each Entity.

• Municipal/Canton Government Agencies and Local Authorities There are 10 Cantons in the Federation, 2 of which (Canton VII and Canton VIII) cover the watershed area. The watershed area in RS falls mostly under Municipality of Trebinje. All of these areas suffered displacement, violence and substantial war damage during the conflict. Currently, Municipal public administration in both Entities is characterised by weak internal controls, short-term planning and is significantly oversized and expensive to sustain. Services provided to the public are often delivered inefficiently and not in a timely manner and positions have been awarded on the basis of political patronage, rather than merit and experience. Town mayors are very influential. The OSCE Public Administration Reform Department is supporting municipal administrations to establish efficient and effective financial and human resource management practices, with focus on quality service delivery. The complexity of the political structure, which was described by some as perpetuating nationalistic divisions, has led to a lack of co-ordination and communication on activities.

16 BiH has a two chamber parliament: the House of Representatives and the House of People, ⅔ elected from the Federation and ⅓ from the RS. A valid majority requires the support of at least ⅓ of the members representing each entity 17 In general, the Federation votes for the Bosniak/Croat representatives and RS for the Serbian representatives. 18 and consists of two houses: the House of Peoples; and the House of Representatives which are responsible for enacting legislation to implement the decisions of the Presidency and allocating budgets to BiH institutions. Elections for the Houses take place every 4 years.


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In terms of legal protection for water resources, there is no clear hierarchy in the jurisdiction between the Federation, the Entities, Cantons and the Municipalities and the competence depends on the ownership of the water management facility. There are varying levels of competence when dealing with concessions at the different administrative levels. This has led to confusion and a lack of coordination between different levels over who is doing and financing what. 2.7 Role of the International community The Dayton peace agreement called for the appointment of a High Representative, a senior foreign diplomat charged with monitoring implementation of the agreement and coordinating the activities of international organizations operating in BiH. The High Representative is advised by the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) which includes all the signatories to the Dayton agreement. In December 1997 the PIC strengthened the role of the High Representative to allow him to impose decisions in cases of disagreement and to punish officials who obstruct the implementation of the Dayton agreement. The international community has assisted BiH with a US$5.1 billion reconstruction package. In general, aid has been directed to developing legal and institutional frameworks for a market economy, facilitating private investment and export-oriented development, improving the balance between state and entity institutions, building a single economic space in BiH and developing new democratic institutions and processes.19 The international NGO sector has facilitated the transition from war to peace by serving as service providers and encouraging public discourse. Due to the economic situation post-Dayton, many early local NGOs were established by a need for employment more than a commitment to a particular mission, in response to the international funding made available.

The Office of the Higher Representative has become a de facto decision-maker in BiH and the international community has become the delivery mechanism for much of social service provision. This has not developed local capacities in decision-making and implementation. The international community is also resented in parts of the watershed due to the fact that poverty is so widespread and international personnel are paid international salaries. Local community perception is that the majority of the recipients of aid earmarked for the watershed area, are in fact, the ex-pat personnel, rather than the local population. • On-going initiatives In the interests of co-ordination and to reduce the risk of replication, the study reviewed on-going projects which support social and rural development. The international community have supported and continue to support initiatives which tackle four recurrent themes and needs which were highlighted during consultations. These needs are: 19 http://www.vso.org.uk/about/cprofiles/bosnia.asp


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1) Support for rural livelihoods 2) Protection for the environment 3) Preservation of cultural heritage and local knowledge 4) Development of opportunities for communities to have a voice Please see Appendix 2 for a list of projects that support these needs which were identified during the research process, which have been undertaken by the local civil society with support from the international community.


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3.0 ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY The research process was developed in order to meet the study objectives which were to:

• identify important social and rural development issues; • assess current levels of participation in communities in decision-making for water

resource management; and • identify existing structures and mechanisms for community participation

The consultants wanted to solicit “grass root” level inputs into the project design. Therefore, the research processes engaged with individuals, community groups and government agencies at the local level in order to best understand:

• what is important to them and why; • what could the community do to support/ enhance/ protect these important things; • what would motivate the community to action; • ideas on how community projects could be managed; and • and what support would be required to enable the above

In order to most effectively source the information at the local level, the consultants devised a research process that would be led by local concerns and issues. The research process is outlined in Figure 3.1 below. 3.1 Preliminary stakeholder identification The desk review (please see the bibliography in Appendix 1) and the interviews with international agencies, identified a long-list of key stakeholders whose participation and input could be of strategic importance to the project. This was built upon during the Inception Mission, the Household surveys, Spot surveys and stakeholder consultations. Stakeholders who have possible strategic importance to the project are presented in Table 3.1 below and were contacted during the research and consultation process.


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Figure 3.1 Research process design in order to maximise local inputs

INTERVIEWS WITH INTERNATIONAL ACTORS

BACKGROUND READING

ISSUES SCOPING

HOUSEHOLD SURVEYS SPOT SURVEYS

COLLECTION OF INFORMATION FROM

WATERSHED RESIDENTS

DISCUSSIONS ON KEY ISSUES

SOLUTIONS AND

WAYS FORWARD

FOCUS GROUPS BILATERAL CONSULTATIONS

BILATERAL INTERVIEWS

NATIONAL WORKSHOP

SOCIAL AND RURAL DISCUSSION GROUP


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Table 3.1 Table of stakeholders with strategic importance to social and rural development in the watershed area

Organisation Location in the Watershed Strategic importance

Local Government

Local education authorities Mostar

• Collaboration on dual educational facilities • Recognition of problems of drugs and prostitution

in schools Local education authorities Stolac • Collaboration on dual educational facilities

Local administration Konjic • Interest in developing rural plans Local health authorities Konjic • Identification of employee lists problems

• Willingness to co-operate on health delivery Local health authorities Stolac • Support for case for improved water supply

systems Municipal Government

Canton VII Upper/Middle

• Implementation of policy • Management of delivery on services to support

social and rural development • Tackling transparency issues

Canton VIII Lower



RS Entity RS/Trebisnjica



Entity/Ministerial level Government FBiH Entity level

RS Entity level

Croat representatives Entity level

• Leadership for Education; Health; Culture and Sport; Finance; Foreign Trade; Investments; Exports; Economic Relations; Refugees and Displaced people; Labour and Social policy; Labour and Veterans; Health and Social welfare; Tourism; Human Rights

• 8 months in leadership • Decision-making powers

Health services All areas • lobbying partner • Technical inputs on health issues relating to land

and water Educational services

Kindergarten Mostar • Ecological awareness • Festival of peace in Olive garden • Celebration of Earth Day

Srednja Poljoprivredna I Tehnička Škola Opuzen • Agricultural and Technical College

• Rural development capacity building

University of Mostar Mostar • Representation of issues surrounding education delivery

University of Sarajevo Sarajevo • Mediation of disputes relating to fishing and agriculture in Upper watershed


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• MBA programme development Fakultet za proizvoidnju I menadžment

Trebinje • Capacity building and skills development in business management

Fisheries and co-operatives Pečina Fishery and restaurant Čelebići • Documents fishing experiences on daily basis

Riba Neretve Upper • Fish health expertise • Network of local fisheries

Norfish Upper • Sustainable fishing practices • Capacity building potential

Farmers Co-operatives & Agricultural groups

Elmar Trebinje • Ethereal oil production • Good management capacity • Outreach to informal workers

Močvara NGO Čapljina

• Documenting knowledge on Healing Herbs of Herzegovina

• Raise awareness among children • Developed contacts with local radio

Mostar Express Bijelo Polje • Production of mushrooms • Production of strawberries • Wants to document practices

Trgoprodukt Jurkovići Čapljina • Cattle farms (5-6 barns) • Meat production • Cultivate feed requirements

ZZ Agriplod Stolac • Production of herbal products • Co-operative of agricultural workers

KRAV Mostar • Certification for Agricultural Producers in Organic Food production

Agroneretva d.o.o. Mostar • Support in developing markets for agricultural producers

Agros d.o.o. Trebinje and Ljubuški • Large scale orchards and vegetable plots

BiH Wine Producers Association Čitluk • Represents interests of wine producers

• Develops marketing capacity

ZZ Bijelo Polje Mostar • Supports fresh fruit producers • Supports vegetable producers

Čitluk Chambers of Commerce Čitluk • Represents the interests of local traders

• Dialogue with local authorities

Vino Domanovici Čapljina • Wine producers • Links with local authorities

Agrohercegovina ad Nevesinje • Cereal production

Agrohercegovina d.o.o Ljubuški • Greenhouse production • Greenhouse sales • farm machinery sales

PZ Konjic Milk Konjic • Collection of milk from local milk producers • Milk sales

Kujan d.o.o. Mostar • Potato seed production • Informal network of potato farmers

Maksumic Komerc d.o.o Jablanica • Potential for further development of local supply

chain economy: Lamb breeding; lamb sale; Butcher


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shops; Restaurants

PZ Agroplod Čitluk, Stolac

• Organic food products • Nurseries • Vineyard • Fruits and vegetable production • Tobacco production

PZ Ravno (RS) and PZ Ravno (FBiH) Ravno

• Fruit and vegetable production • Vineyards • Potential collaboration

ZZ Nevesinje Nevesinje • Flower production • Vegetable production

PZ Trešnja Produkt Buna • Nurseries • Invitation to cherry producers to become part of a

co-operative Lijanović d.o.o. Široki Brijeg • Meat production Meggle d.o.o. Posušje • Dairy store

Ad Milojevići Trebinje

• Orchards • Vineyards • Network of local clients • Collaboration with nursery associations in Ravno,

Čapljina, Metkovic and Gabela • Collaboration with Institute in Banja Luka • Engagement to change use of pesticides

Lijanovići Meat Company Čitluk • Provision of education for workers on livestock

care and maintaining standards

Co-operative for Petrovo Polje Trebinje

• Potential for partnership • Production of apples, cherries, wine and rum • Engagement to change use of pesticides

Credit providers

PZ DuBrave Stolac • 820 members • Financial provider – conditions on loans

PZ Sunce Čapljina

• 160 members • collaboration with other lenders to provide finance

for large scale loans • Flexible on repayment times

LOK Micro Konjic, Mostar • Support from USAID SEED • Experience in providing micro-credit

Sunrise Jablanica, Konjic, Mostar

• Support from USAID SEED • Experience in providing micro-credit

EKI Mikrokreditna organizacija Konjic, Mostar • Support from USAID SEED

• Experience in providing micro-credit

Zagrebacka Bank NTRB • Presence in Lower and Trebisnjica watersheds • Support for agricultural producers

Raiffaisen Bank NTRB • Presence all over watershed Entity level banks

Central Bank of BiH Entity • Finance • Monetary policy

Religious leaders/Cultural groups

Iman Blagaj • Protects Tekija at Buna • Protects waters at the source of the Buna in Blagaj


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Catholic nun at House of Sister Elvira Međugorje • Protect waters at Knežpolje

Bishopric Mostar and Trebinje • Catholic community representation

Society of Threatened people NTRB • Roma representation

Udruženje Roma Neretva Mostar • Roma representation

La Benevolencija NTRB • Representation of Jewish issues and interests Preporod NTRB • Representation of Muslim issues and interests Srpsko Gradansko Vijeće Mostar • Representation of Serbian identity and culture

Prosvjeta Mostar • Representation of Serbian Orthodox interests and

issues • Serbian identity

Islamska Zajednica Konjic • Iman • Representation of Muslim interests and issues

Odbor Islamske zajednice Trebijnje • Representation of Muslim interests and issues

Rimokatolički župnni ured Trebinje • Representation of Catholic interests and issues

Medžlis Trebinje • Identification of significance of water resources in Trebinje for religious purposes

Vulnerable groups: elderly; handicapped; war victims; refugees; unemployed

Ezerema Rebac (Elderly) Ostrozac

• Traditional story telling • Traditional skills • Support for tourism near Jablanica lake

Udruženenje Građana Penzionera Jablanica • Support for pensioners

Association for children and youth with special needs

Trebinje

• Links with local authorities on specific needs • Uses public spaces to organise seminars • Lobby on issues relating to children with specific

needs • Willingness to engage on environmental projects

Srpsko Građansko Viječe “Prosvjeta” Mostar • Advocate of agricultural production

• Support for refugees and returnees Udruženje Građana “Nada Više Konjic • Network

Agencija za zapošljavanje Trebinje • Job opportunities

Agencija za zapošljavanje Nevesinje • Job opportunities

SLUH Mostar • Hard of Hearing and deaf representation

Udruženje RTV Konjic • Support for war victims • Support for handicapped persons

Udruženje RTV Jablanica • Support for war victims • Support for handicapped persons

Centre for Social Work Trebinje

• Co-ordination Centre • Collects Solidarity fund • Good collaboration with local authorities on social

service needs and delivery Tourism operators


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Tourism Community of Neretva-Herceg NTRB

• Wide network of tourism operators at the local level

• Web site • Tourism literature

ATLAS Mostar • Tourism operator • Capacity to stimulate local markets

Turistički Savez Trebinje • Tourism operator • Capacity to stimulate local markets

Turistički zajednica Široki Brijeg • Tourism operator • Capacity to stimulate local markets

Turistički zajednica TZ HNK Čapljina • Tourism operator

• Capacity to stimulate local markets

Sports-Tourist Club Blagaj • Ecology and tourism • Youth engagement • Historic heritage and ecology awareness raising

Europe Rafting Konjic • Ecology and tourism • Nature lovers • Advocates of clean environment

Badžo Rafting Konjic • Educate clients about environmental protection • Organise “Clean up” boat trip every year

College of Tourism Trebinje • Training in Tourism Facilities management • Potential to partner on eco-tourism training and

capacity building Youth groups

YIA Mostar

• Wide media network • Public support • 300 local celebrity advocates • Enable young to lobby, develop artistic skills and

support ecological projects • Capacity building and training in youth advocacy

AP Neretva Konjic • Youth information • Counselling

Omladinski Klub “Pod Istim Suncem” Jablanica • Youth information

• Counselling Hrvatska demokratska zajednica BiH Mostar • Representation of Croat youth interests in BiH/

Youth politics Savez Studenata Trebinje • Youth information

Nevesinje Youth Initiative Nevesinje

• Youth information • Cultural heritage information awareness raising • Engagement on local eco-tourism project

Narodna Stranka “Radom za boljitak” Široki Brijeg • Representation of Bosnian youth interests in BiH/

Youth politics Centar za Prava Djece Mostar • Childrens’ rights Gender groups

Women of BiH Trebisnjica

• Post-war healing and trauma in East Herzegovina • Relations with some NTRB networks • Relations with local authorities • Willingness to engage on environmental issues

Koraci Nade Nevesinje Mostar

• Developing social solidarity • Alternative Women’s Parliament (women from

East and West Herzegovina collaborating to act


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together)

Oaza Trebijne • Ecology • Reviving traditional activities and skills

Environmental groups Eko team, Green Neretva Konjic • Campaigning to protect local eco-system

Eko-Zeleni Neretva Mostar • Water protection Mountaineering Association Sarajevo • Representative of indigenous communities

• Advocate of environmental protection

Green Visions Sarajevo

• Network of 5,500 individuals through Group Green • Research skills • Good understanding of local customs and

traditional knowledge • Political advocacy skills

Society for the Preservation of the Neretva

Trebinje • Conservation

Democracy and Human Rights groups Institute for Strengthening Democracy

Konjic • Potential to develop mediation capacities

Human Rights Centre Mostar • Human rights advocacy and lobbying

Face to Face Mostar • Inter-religious dialogue • Mediation capacity

DIFID Trebinje • Political reform

Alternative Scene Stolac • Publication of independent media • Publication of local newsletter

League for the Protection of Human Rights and Private Property

Trebinje • Property Law Implementation Programme

monitoring • Representation of returnees

Association of Social Work Experts of RS Trebinje • Representation of social issues

• Relationship with trade unions Media, Culture and Art

Foundation for Creative Development NTRB

• Skills training in communication • Capacity building in presentation through video

collection of stories from peoples experiences

Narodna Biblioteka Gacko • Library • Local community communication

Narodna Biblioteka Trebinje • Library • Newsletter publication • Local community contact

Forum Mladih Mostar • Active in media • Works with youth networks and womens groups • Creative development

Lijepa Naša Čapljina Čapljina • Environment information • Youth information • Health information

Museum of Herzegovina Trebinje • Publishes Tribunia Magazine


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Public Enterprises Parković Mostar • Landfill operator Komos Mostar • Landfill operator Forests of Herceg-Bosna d.o.o Mostar • Forestry management

Hercegovacka Electropriveda Trebinje

• Influential • Large employer • Energy production

PE Veterinary Station Mostar • Animal health • Advice on animal care • Records of animal productivity

PE Airport Mostar Mostar • Tourism development partner

PE Veterinary Station Konjic • Animal health • Advice on animal care • Records of animal productivity

PE Veterinary Station Jablanica • Animal health • Advice on animal care • Records of animal productivity

Eronet d.o.o. Mostar • Telecom provider HPT d.o.o. Mostar • Telecom provider PE “Forestry of RS” - Botin Nevesinje • Forestry management

PE Adriatic sea basin Mostar • Water management Foreign organisations

JICA Nevesinje, Podvelez & Blagaj

• Eco-tourism project to generate income through country lodgings and sports associations

• Blagaj historic Heritage Trail

UNDP FAO NTRB • RMAP roll out and community development • Local networks

USAID LAMP NTRB • Credit support for agricultural producers • Linking producers to markets • Increasing export potential for local producers

IFC SEED NTRB • Local business network support • Connect to regional networks

OHR NTRB • Political transparency

OSCE NTRB • Mediation of disputes • Works with local authorities on water issues

EU Entity • Animal Identification programme • Regional Development (RED) programme • Provides Business advisory service in Mostar

UNHCR NTRB • Representation of refugee and IDP issues • Tackling psycho-social healing at the individual

level

Swiss Institute for Organic Production

Lower watershed

• Herb picking certification • Training and capacity building in herb

sustainability • Developing export potential of herb producers

OTC Spain • Seed provision and Training in agricultural production


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3.2 Bilateral Interviews and Consultations Bilateral meetings with the international community were conducted which largely focused on understanding initiatives which are currently being implemented in the NRTB watershed and the potential for collaboration at a later stage. This proved successful in identifying areas where the project could replicate lessons from experiences in other parts of BiH, as well as develop partnerships with similar initiatives and networks. A total of 84 organisations or individuals were directly consulted through interviews or workshops. Please see table 3.2 below. A total of 39 interviews were conducted with local organisations and 12 interviews were undertaken with representatives from international organizations. Please refer to the Interview scripts and responses in Appendix 3. Tables 3.2 Lists of Organisations involved in the consultation process Table 3.2.a Bilateral meetings with international organisations

NAME ORGANISATION LOCATION

1. Riccardo Biancalani FAO Sarajevo 2. Alexander Paine IBRD/WB Southeast Europe Entreprise

Development Sarajevo

3. Rolf van Uye OSCE Mostar 4. Paul Forrest USAID Mostar 5. Josip Polic EBRD Sarajevo 6. Armin Kloeckner USAID LAMP Sarajevo 7. Brian Fahey USAID LAMP Sarajevo 8. Samir Besirevic IFC SEED Sarajevo 9. Mautner Markhof Agroservice Vienna 10. Alistair Bridgwood British Embassy Sarajevo 11. Maja Simic UNHCR Mostar 12. Katica Hajrulahovic SIDA Sarajevo 13. EU Information

Service EU Brussels

Table 3.2.b Bilateral meetings with local organisations

NAME

ORGANISATION LOCATION

14. Idriz Mezit Iman, Blagaj 15. Marinka Cvitanovic House of Sister Elvira, Siroki Brijeg 16. Tea Beno Youth Information Agency, Mostar 17. Ezerema Rebac Grandmother Ostrozac 18. Marinka Cvitanovic Kindergarten teacher Mostar 19. Mijat Sarovic Association for children with special needs Trebinje 20. Nadja Dzabic Women of BiH Mostar 21. Emina Kukic Koraci nade, Trebinje 22. Marija Kadic Oaza, Mostar Mostar


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23. Nijaz Hodzic Mushroom producer, Mostar Mostar 24. Nedzad Klepo Sport-Tourism Club, Blagaj 25. Sejo Pintul Eko Team, Green Neretva, Konjic 26. Samir Krivic Europe Rafting, Konjic 27. Zdenka Lelcic Mocvara NGO, Čapjlina 28. Sulejman Badzak Badzo Raft, Jablanica & Konjic 29. Nail Bukvic Fish restaurant Pecina, Jablanica 30. Employee Islamska Zajednica, Konjic 31. Employee PPI Gradska Pekara Bakery, Jablanica 32. Ratko Pejanovic Prosvjeta/Srpsko Gradansko Vijece, Mostar Mostar 33. Ibrahim Kujan Kujan Potato farms, Mostar Mostar 34. Marko Raguz Self employed honey producer, Stolac 35. Dzevad Basic Norfish, Mostar Mostar 36. Enver Zele Agroplod, Stolac 37. Marija Zadro Vino Domanovici, Čapjlina 38. Asim Bilal PZ Du Brave, Stolac 39. Employee Trgoprodukt – Jurkovici, Čapjlina 40. Husein Hodzic Medzlis, Trebinje 41. Miodrag ninkovic Agros, Ljubuski &

Trebinje 42. Janko Milojevic Ad Milojevici, Trebinje 43. Jovo Runjovac Co-operative for Petrovo Polje, Trebinje 44. Dodje Maric Elmar ethereal Oil producer, Trebinje 45. Employee Cattle breeding/Dairy producer, Trebinje 46. Zoran Mateljak REC Mostar 47. Dr Nesad Seremt REC Sarajevo 48. Tim Clancy &

Thierry Joubert Green Visions Sarajevo

49. Jan Zlatan Kulenovic

Youth Information Agency Sarajevo

50. Alma Pasalic Foundation for Creative Development Sarajevo 51. Employee Stolački Podrumi Stolac 52. Mirjana Guska Life Centre Konjic


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Table 3.2.c Participation in workshops

3.3 Inception report The preparation for the Inception report clarified the process and mechanisms to solicit local level inputs into the identification of issues and proposals to support community level inputs into land and water management in the broader GEF project. The inception report also identified national level issues which informed the basis of analysis for local level concerns.

Name

Organization

Location

53 Nina Omerović OK You and Me Konjic 54 Vesna Saradžic Institute for Strengthening Democracy Konjic 55 Mirsada Marušic Women BiH Mostar 56 Mirjana Guska Life Centre Konjic 57 Emina Blažević Life Centre Konjic 58 Sead Buturović Hospital Konjic 59 Adil Klepo High School Konjic 60 Esad Omerovic Municipality Konjic 61 Amila Grebović OSCE Sarajevo 62 Angela Petrović Federal Ministry of Culture and Sport Sarajevo 63 Dragi Žujo Agroneretva d.o.o Mostar 64 Džorđ Odović Trebinje 65 Elvir Karović OIA (Youth Information Agency) Sarajevo 66 Enver Zele Z.Z. «Agriplod» Stolac 67 Ermin Numić OIA (Youth Information Agency) Sarajevo 68 Henefija Topuz Federal Ministry of Culture and Sport Sarajevo 69 Inka Šehović REC Sarajevo 70 Ismet Imamović REC Sarajevo 71 Katrin Hett OSCE Mostar 72 Melisa Ljuša UNDP Sarajevo 73 Mehmet M Zele University of Wine Technology Sarajevo

74 Nermina Skejović Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Sarajevo

75 Nijaz Ivković PE «Hydropower plants», Neretva Mostar

76 Ognjen Škunca OIKON Ltd. Institute for applied ecology Banja Luka

77 Refik Sjekirica Elementary School “Zalik” Mostar

78 Reuf Hadžibegić Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations Sarajevo

79 Riccardo Biancalani FAO Sarajevo 80 Samir Beširević IFC/SEED Sarajevo 81 Slavica Popović 82 Stevan Bekan Trebinje 83 Zlatko Pletikapić Sarajevo 84 Zoran Mateljak REC Mostar


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3.4 Household surveys After producing the questionnaires and testing these in 2 locations, guidance notes and guiding principles were produced for the researchers. The household survey involved the hire of 7 researchers who were sourced through the local offices of the Youth Information Agency. The researchers conducted household surveys which involved the systematic application of a series of questions which including the following areas:

1. Socio-economic profile 2. Environmental concerns and awareness 3. Uses, access and quality of water 4. Uses, access and quality of land 5. Skills, ambitions and access to resources 6. Decision-making, community groups and support networks

200 household surveys and 5 spot surveys were conducted during late December and early January in the following 12 sites: Upper Watershed area: Konjic; Jablanica; Ostrozac Middle Watershed area: Mostar; Siroki Brijeg; Blagaj Lower Watershed area: Čapljina; Opuzen; Pocitelj Trebisnjica Watershed area: Trebinje; Gacko; Bileca The results identified areas of key concern and areas for discussion during the focus groups. A summary of the key findings from the results of the household surveys can be viewed in Figure 5.1 in Section 5 on pp 52-55. 3.5 Focus Groups The consultants conducted 2 focus groups in the upper watershed in Konjic on the 10th February which were successful in highlighting local issues relating to the environment and social problems and concerns. Please see the focus groups report in Appendix 4. The consultants organized six other focus group discussions, planning to host two focus groups in each of the other watershed areas. These focus groups were organized for the 15th February in Mostar, 17th February in Čapljina and 21st February in Trebinje. However, when bad weather forced the cancellation of the first of these, the consultants embarked on a series of telephone interviews. An interview script was prepared for different stakeholders: agricultural producers; religious leaders and representatives; elderly groups; vulnerable groups (including women, children and special needs groups); Roma groups; Educational facilities; Tourism operators and Environmental NGOs. The bilateral consultation interview scripts and individual responses can be viewed in Appendix 5. The consultants conducted a


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total of 41 interviews with local organisations. The telephone interviews proved to be a very effective mechanism for engaging with local organizations and solicited specific information. The information was analysed and details were verified through the triangulation of responses. The issues that were identified are represented in Section 4.0 and 5.0 and summarized in table 5.1 on p55. 3.6 National Workshop The consultants held a National level workshop which was coordinated with Study Component 2: Land and Water Resource Management. This was hosted at the Hotel Bosnia in Sarajevo and welcomed in total 60 participants. A list of participants who were invited and those who attended can be viewed in Appendix 6. The conference was initiated with an introduction from the Minister of Physical Planning and Environment of Bosnia Herzegovina and short presentations on the Study component 2: Land and Water Resources, and Study component 4: Social and Rural Development Assessment. The presentation for the Social and Rural Development study can be viewed in Appendix 7, however, in brief, the presentation explained:

• the focus of the study, • detailed the specific objectives of the study, • gave a brief synopsis of the research methodology, and • an overview of the findings from the research

The findings were presented in terms of the most significant ways in which a community could be improved and the most significant impediments to community development, which had been identified during the consultation process. The presentation proposed four main areas of focus for the discussions. The consultants then held a 3-hour discussion session, which included participants from all over the watershed including a range of representatives20. A list of participants in the Social and Rural workshop discussions can be viewed in Appendix 8. The discussion sessions were very productive. The facilitator made a brief presentation which clarified the objectives of the session and how it would be organized. The facilitator then provided an overview of the recommendations which emerged from the consultation process and a rationale for the selection of recommendations which were proposed for discussion. The facilitator provided a framework for the discussions and split the participants into small groups in order to identify and agree the requirements in order to meet the proposed

20 agricultural producers, representatives from education facilities, Democracy and Human Rights organizations, Micro-credit schemes, Milk producers, agricultural networks, Fisheries, Tourism agencies, a member of the Konjic municipality, and a representative from the OSCE Mostar office


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suggestions. A copy of the proposed recommendations and the facilitator notes which were produced for the workshop can be viewed in Appendix 9. The discussion group reconvened and the objectives were agreed by all participants in the discussions which were then presented to the rest of the workshop participants. Please see the agreed recommendations in Section 6, and correlating activities which were produced during the workshop discussions in Appendix 10. 3.7 Limiting factors relating to the research process Information accessibility Many studies have been undertaken by the international community (and some local organisations) on various issues in the Watershed area. Please see the bibliography presented in Appendix 1 for an idea of the scope and range of these reports. There is little specific localised analysis, although this is gradually changing with research into local activities in the tourism sector and environment. The research process was hindered by a lack of accessible up-to-date data. For example, although some modifications and estimations are made, national statistics refer to population levels recorded in 1991. It was challenging sourcing information from local organisations. Some organisations simply did not want to participate in the process, and others, deferred responding to the questions by phone, preferring either to respond by fax or pass the interview questionnaire onto other colleagues.21 This suggests survey fatigue, a lack of willingness to engage in surveys by telephone or possibly, a lack of willingness to be held accountable for the responses given. The most useful source of data proved to be from the bilateral consultations and testing the information from different perspectives. Overall, this gave much more specific inputs into the situation analysis and needs assessment, presented in this report. Statistical data and analysis Despite the increasing capacity of the National Statistics Office, the inputs into the published Annual statistics reports are not documented in a form which is easily accessible to the employees that work there and therefore, the majority of statistics requested, remained inaccessible to the consultants.

21 A few organisations responded to the faxed questionnaires, however, many did not respond by the report deadline and only one of the organisations that had deferred the questionnaire to colleagues, responded.


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4.0 STAKEHOLDERS This chapter identifies the key local stakeholders who are affected by or have an interest in land and water resource management in the NTRB. Section 4.1 identifies key community-based stakeholders and describes their interests, geographical coverage, and capacity. Section 4.2 provides an analysis of key issues affecting the capacity of stakeholder groups to deliver community-based initiatives. Government agencies operating in the NTRB were identified in Section 2.8. 4.1 Community-based Stakeholders Key stakeholders are identified as:

1) those affected by conditions or activities taking place in the watershed; and, 2) those who have an influence, responsibility or interest in the watershed and its development.

These include individuals, households, community associations and special interest groups, networks, business groups, and government agencies. The household surveys collected information at the individual and household level, while participants in focus groups, workshops and interviews were generally representatives of business, government or community interest groups. There are many specific interest groups in the NTRB. Some date from the Second World War, but the majority have emerged post-1995 via international development funding. More than 200 locally-based stakeholder groups were identified in the NTRB, excluding international aid agencies. These groups range from small, informal networks to large well-organised national groups, and represent a broad range of interests, that can be broadly categorised as including:

• Youth Groups • Environmental Groups • Democracy and Human Rights • Vulnerable Groups • Business groups

• Tourism Associations • Agricultural Associations/Cooperatives • Religious/Cultural Organisations • Credit providers • Government bodies

Table 3.1 lists the groups identified within these categories. The following sections summarises the interest and capacities of key stakeholder groups operating in the NTRB. In the watershed area, participation in citizens and interest groups is low and there is a lack of civil representation in decision-making structures, and a lack of awareness about citizen


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rights, as well as a lack of knowledge about mechanisms and processes which are available to protect them22. • Youth Groups There are several youth groups in the NTRB, which have developed in response to the need to develop local potential and increase opportunities for the future development of the watershed and in part, due to the presence of the international community, offering funds to youth groups. Engagement takes on a plethora of forms: some developing capacities to express themselves and engage in debate; others through art; some groups work with vulnerable such as the elderly. The majority of youth groups operate at the local level and on an informal basis, whereas others, such as the Youth Information Agency, funded by the OSI, operate at the Entity level, have great capacity and are highly professional.

“Our framework for activities is to promote youth policy and make young politicians more visible, as well as facilitating a more active participation of young people in public life. We provide training in developing and advocating youth policy.” Tea Beno, Co-ordinator YIA February 2005

At the Entity levels, youth groups are active agents, particularly in the fields of political advocacy and media. At the local level, youth groups tend of offer short term and unsustainable support in response to local needs. In terms of land and water resource management, the Nevesinje Youth Group works with JICA to develop eco-tourism ventures including awareness-raising for a Cultural trail in the local area. The same eco-tourism initiative is also starting to develop similar projects with youth groups in Blagaj. • Environmental Groups Environmental groups range from many small groups working on specific issues, to a large network of 30 organisations and access to up to 5,500 individuals, called Group Green. Environmental groups in the NTRB tackle identified threats to the environment and sometimes adopt aggressive lobbying tactics in the form of protest. However, the level of protest is dependent on the resources available to the organisation and the majority are wholly under-funded. Group Green has developed a partnership with local rafting companies in the upper watershed area to create collective opposition to the development of HPPs.

22 http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/UNTC/UNPAN013828.pdf


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Representatives of Group Green have participated in discussions about local development in the upper watershed. This discussion raised issues which stimulated opposing views on road development.

Discussions about road development in Konjic led to a dispute between the local community, local authorities and local tourism operators. The tourism operators wanted to preserve the pristine natural environment to encourage the development of activity tourism, however the local community wanted to have increased access to the main Sarajevo-Mostar road and therefore were in favour of local authority road development plans. The representatives from Group Green felt intimidated and believed that there had been some negative propaganda initiated by some parties before their arrival. Group Green representatives, December 2004

Other groups take a more reconciliatory and proactive approach to engagement such as REC which is currently facilitating dialogue between local environment groups, local authorities and the local hunting community in the Middle watershed. Therefore, some groups are not invited to participate in and contribute to important debates, whilst other groups provide a neutral space for dialogue and therefore are often placed in a mediating role. This segregation of groups reduces resources available to jointly work on environmental concerns. The capacity of environmental groups and networks, with only a few exceptions, is limited. There is a lack of capacity in project planning, proposal development, financial management and monitoring and evaluation. There is strong opposition to the development of HPPs from local environmental groups.

“We believe that the plan for BiH to become the energy base of Europe is wrong since it would only benefit investors and not locals. We believe that it will not bring technological progress, that it will damage eco-systems, as well as our prospects for tourism.” Sejo Pintul, Eko-team, Green Neretva, February 2005

• Democracy and Human Rights Groups Most democracy and human rights organisations in the watershed have developed since 1995. Many have ceased to exist without the support of international funding. Those that have

“Sarajevo municipality has been a great support for all rafting companies – they have been strongly against the development of HPPs in our area” Sulejman Badžak, Badzo Raft, February 2005


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survived are typical of young organisations, and often lack strategic vision and direction. They are therefore more responsive to immediate needs rather than taking a long term approach to issues. Despite the international resources available to develop, enhance and support democratic processes, most organisations are extremely under-funded and are staffed by unpaid volunteers. The capacity of local democracy and human rights groups is not well developed and those that have proved effective, such as the work of the Society for Threatened Peoples, have stemmed from regional initiatives.23 Democracy and human rights groups do not engage in advocacy and lobbying on land and water issues, unless their programme works with returnees and specifically relates to the implementation of Property Law Implementation Programme. • Vulnerable Groups Vulnerable groups identified within the watershed include:

• women and in particular, female-headed households • refugees and displaced persons • the elderly • the disabled, and • Roma.

In general, issues relating to access to land and water resources for vulnerable groups were not brought up during the consultation process, and therefore this would suggest that access and use of land and water resources is not affected necessarily by vulnerability. However, there were comments which related to land and water use which are represented in the text below. Women’s groups are common and active in the watershed, however, most suffer from a shortage of funding. Many women’s organisations developed after the signing of Dayton through consultation processes conducted by the international community. The work of women’s groups is often directed by the requirements of the international funding available, which focuses on targeted interventions and an individual-needs-based approach to problem solving. Some of the problems facing women in the watershed, require more strategic and political level responses and are hindered by a lack of available funding.

“We had worked on post-war trauma healing, approaching it at the individual level because this was the priority of the UNHCR. The social reconstruction should have aimed at developing social solidarity, not on individual health. Even the democratisation process focussed on individual not community

23 The term ‘regional’ here refers to South East Europe


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issues, which increased self-awareness but not awareness of shared values.” Emina Kukic, Koradi nade, February 2005

The findings from the consultation process did not indicate a significant gender differentiation between access to water and land resources. However, access to decision-making fora relating to land and water use is limited for women.

“The problem for women relates to access to decision-making arena on land and water issues.” Nadja Džabić, Women of BiH, February 2005

Women’s dependence on land and water depends very much on their ability to access these resources. No incidents were identified where livelihoods had been threatened, except in the case of Stolac, where the lack of basic water supply had forced many women to seek alternative water resources which came from unprotected and unprocessed sources. Female-headed households received a great deal of attention in the immediate aftermath of the war and initiatives to support this group were developed and funded by the international community. Of these, several have been sustained over the decade post-Dayton. The Bosnian Handicraft network and the STAR network are initiatives which support women, including female-headed households and focused on developing their capacity to support income generation. These initiatives are now locally managed, have good management capacity and are effectively self-sustaining networks. Female headed households are often dependent on land resources for subsistence agriculture, however, there was more evidence of this in the middle and lower watersheds. Issues relating to water quality and supply affect FHH who might be less able to tackle these issues. For example, many residents of Stolac buy water from licensed tanks, however, these provide adequate water supply for a month and are enormous and therefore heavy to lift. FHH livelihoods are threatened by the tradition of local authority payment of pensions to the man of the household. Widows are often left therefore without any source of income and means to support their livelihoods. Women still experience gender issues in the political arena and are marginalised by mainstream credit providers.

“Women seem like they have as many rights, but they have to try their hardest to become successful. Women, for example, do not have the rights to get credit from Micro-credit. When they are elected for anything it is so they are just a statistic” Employee, Oaza – Center for Women, April 2005


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Refugees and displaced people continue to receive support from the international community, however, this is diminishing due to a substantial decrease in funding available for IDPs/refugees. There are informal groups which have developed in the IDP/refugee communities and these groups have developed informal networks of support. However, the majority of these informal groups developed when people were placed in collective centres in the watershed and often in the face of antagonism from local communities. The main source of support and communication on IDP/refugee issues is through the UNHCR. There used to be a few active organisations in the upper watershed area to represent IDP/refugee issues, however, these are no longer in existence. Refugees and displaced people have had difficulties in accessing land and water resources in the past due to the fact that their place of birth or voter registration is recorded in different towns to their current place of residence. Refugees and IDPs who are living in collective centres have adequate access to land and water resources. There were incidents of returnees in remote communities who had difficulty in accessing water supplies when they first returned, however, these issues have been resolved.24 The elderly are often dependent on a meagre pension, marginalised from mainstream politics and most are dependent on family or community support. They have little formal support.

“Some elderly work the land if they have help from their children. Others receive support from their children who live abroad and send money home. Some people help me to collect wood or water and someone helped me to collect fruit and vegetables recently.” Ezerema Rebac, Grandmother from Ostrozac, Feburary 2005

Organisations that do support the elderly are international charities, such as Help the Aged or Caritas. Most of the elderly support organisations direct their support towards pensioners who are largely retired men, however, one local organisation identified in the watershed, Osmej, supports older women. There are localised organisations, such as Udruženje Građana penzionera in Jablanica that support pensioners in most of the larger towns. The majority of these receive funding from the two international organisations identified above. Access to water and land resources for the elderly is comparative to other residents in the watershed, however, their ability to farm land is limited by their physical capacity. Most elderly consulted stated that they were dependent on family members or neighbours for support to access land and water. Disabled people are also marginalised in society. Physical handicaps are tolerated but the mentally handicapped are hidden from view by their families or placed in institutions. There are a few organisations in the watershed that support the physically handicapped and war

24 UNHCR interview, Mostar, November 2004


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victims such as Udruženje Porodica Šehida i Palih Boraca in Konjic and Savez Udruženja Građana Distrofičara in Mostar. They are reliant on international expertise and funding. No formal support was identified for mentally handicapped people living in the watershed. Land and water is accessible to special needs and disabled groups, however, these groups have no access to related decision-making fora and a lack of support to enable their participation in environmental protection programmes.

“Our beneficiaries suffer a lack of access to decision-making on water and land resources and from a lack of support to practice environmentally friendly use of these resources.” Mijat Šarović,Director, Sunce nam je zajedničko, March 2005

Roma groups are stigmatised and many are not registered formally as residents. The majority of Roma children do not benefit from any form of social support, including education. However, the Society for Threatened Peoples is an international organisation that provides support to Roma living in the NTRB. World Vision has in the past, also provided substantial support for Roma people, (although not in the watershed area) including capacity building to enable advocacy on Roma issues, as well as income generation schemes. See textbox 4.1.

Roma are marginalised in terms of land and water resources, as Roma groups have little ability to pay for land resources. Due to this factor, there is little home ownership among Roma and many reside in settlements. In the past, none of these Roma settlements have a sewage system or running water: in one case, 600 Roma living in a settlement, have only one tap to share between them which is used for cooking and laundry. To access running water they had to walk about 1 kilometre and the settlement has only one toilet25. Romani people in general, work as gardeners, cleaning staff, kitchen staff, as musicians amateurs and handicraftsmen.26 They have very little access to decision-making fora relating to land and water and any campaigning action is largely undertaken by the Society for Threatened Peoples. 25 http://www.gfbv-sa.com.ba/romabihe.html, 1999 26 ibid

Textbox 4.1: Roma cleaning up in BiH World Vision developed an income generation scheme for Roma in Sarajevo called Eko Secund. This was a recycling project developed in 2003, which now employs 29 people. This project also developed a car wash business and a laundry and won contracts from Sarajevo Municipal authorities to clean up sites in Sarajevo. (http://meero.worldvision.org/news)


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Most local organisations respond to available funding resources and therefore do not take a strategic approach to building internal capacity to support vulnerable groups. This is exacerbated by the international aid community, who offer funds for concrete, results-oriented programmes or for institutional capacity building which contribute to a specific aim.

“Our support comes mainly from international organisations and development agencies and small contributions from the Trebinje Municipality and Ministry of Education.” Mijat Šarović, Association for Children and Youth with Special Needs, Trebinje, February 2005

Therefore NGOs try to respond to these needs rather than developing their own capacities to identify problems and suggest concrete solutions. There are some co-ordination efforts by specific interest groups. However, these networks suffered from a lack of resources to champion and take forward these causes. • Agricultural Associations/Cooperatives There are several agricultural associations and co-operatives of varying sizes and levels of organisation in the watershed. These include small, informal, local agricultural producer

“We work with other people if there is a need of course” Dairy store, Trebinje, February 2005

networks, such as the fishing networks in the upper watershed and mushroom and strawberry pickers who work for Mostar Express in Bijelo Polje. In the middle/lower parts of the

“I share my knowledge with the people that I work with. There are about 50 families that work together and we all share our methods for growing crops. We also work with Poljooprema, Institute of Agriculture, Sjeme Tuzla, Poljoprom Bihać, and USAID” Ibrahim Kujan, Potato farmer, Mostar, February 2005

watershed where large scale agriculture is practised, there are well-organised industry-representative organisations such as ZZ Agriplod in Stolac, the Vintners and Vineyards of Herzegovina in Čitluk and the BiH Wine Producers Association. Agricultural co-operatives have, in general, been indigenously led and develop ad-hoc partnership, as and when the needs arise. Agricultural co-operatives have also been successful in harnessing support from the international community. Agricultural networks and associations have benefited from capacity building programmes in agricultural and market development, as well as financial and business management in the watershed area. However, very few engage in advocacy and lobbying as representative industry groups.


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“We are all disappointed that the State doesn’t give any credit to honey producers. We want to discuss forming an association to support honey producers and market our products together, here in BiH” Marko Raguž, Honey producer, Stolac, February 2005

Most agricultural groups identified a complex registration process, requiring visits and documents to the Municipal registry. Registration for agricultural producers in the Trebišnjica is conducted at Court and producers require 3 years experience to be registered. Agricultural associations and co-operatives registered different levels of access to and ownership over land and water resources. There is evident politicisation of decision-making relating to the allocation of public lands in the lower and middle watersheds. Agroplod has not received a response to their request to the local authorities to use public lands near Stolac. However, Dubrava Vino was allocated similar abandoned public lands in Domanovići after making a similar request. Agroplod speculated that the reason behind the disparity in decision-making related to the connections between the company’s senior management and the local authority. All agricultural producers identified the importance of a sustained and safe water supply. Water shortages occur over Summer, however, most agricultural producers have alternative mechanisms in the lower watershed. Agricultural producers in the upper and middle watershed appear not to suffer as much as other producers in the watershed.

We only had water shortage one time when the entire region of Mostar and surroundings could not fix the water pumps. Ibrahim Kujan, Kujan potato producer, April 2005

Mostar Express sources its water from an underground supply on its land, which they believe comes from the Neretva. Agroplod stressed the importance of protecting herbs and the need to preserve water in order to sustain the crops throughout the summer months. Agroplod recognises that their most successful crops are those that grow in fields where tributaries flow. Agroplod also identified the need for a good irrigation system which is exercised all year round, but most extensively in the Summer. Vino Domanovići ensures that there is a sustained water supply from July to September, which is essential to maintain crops which are growing on the Dubrava Plateau. The wine producer believes that there would be substantially enhanced production if water and irrigation systems could be established which supply the plateau. Fire was identified as a problem by Močvara, however, this is a significant problem for all agricultural producers, especially in areas near Stolac which suffer significant water pressures in the Summer when agricultural fields are most at risk.


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During a dry period especially during summer the level of water declines; however plants are usually very adaptable to such situations and changes. During this period we usually have big problems with fire and that is what can mostly damage the plants. Zdenka Jeličić, Močvara, April 2005

Norfish also identified the increased risk of flooding during the spring and in autumn, when there is more rainfall. The rains cause muddy waters and the organisation has to develop tighter security measures to ensure that the fish farms are not flooded and overflow. Cattle breeders noted the importance of a specific type of grass called djetelina which is very healthy for the animals and can affect their breeding patterns. This type of grass grows in the mountains and meadows near Trebinje. Trgoprodukt – Jurkovići feed their animals on hay and corn which they produce on their land. The OHR “50 Reforms in 150 days” Initiative, whilst supportive of reforms relating to the business administration and registration procedure, did not include reforms relating to the agricultural sector apart from a stipulation to protect BiH fruit and nut trees27. • Tourism Associations The Tourism Community of Herzegovina-Neretva is the main co-ordination body for tourism in the watershed area. This network has strong organisational and strategic capacities and often works with the international community, local and municipal authorities. The Community adopts strategic approaches to local tourism development. It is working with Entity authorities to identify sites of significance and undertaking small scale, low cost initiatives such as the publication of brochures and the maintenance of a web site for international users to support local tourism outfits. The Community is also developing a project to create Brown Signs for tourism sites in the watershed area. The successes of the Tourism community are due to the commitment and capacity of its management team, however, its members require varying levels of capacity building and investment in order to deliver tourism services and facilities that would meet international standards. The Tourism Community is currently undertaking a consultation process with REC to develop a Tourism Standardisation programme. Tourism associations are dependent on sound land and water management for their success as business and therefore work with a range of actors to consider issues relating to land and water management. However, evidence of this consideration was ad-hoc and in relation to other priorities. For example, the Tourism Community is working to develop a Standardisation project for tourism sites in the watershed. This is relevant to all parts of the watershed, however, it is significant in the upper watershed where there is the greatest potential to develop activity-related tourism and in the middle watershed where there is the 27 www.ohr.int/ohr-dept/econ/bulldozer-initiative/pdf/eng-bulldozer-brochure.pdf


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greatest potential to develop cultural tourism. In both these areas, there are many informal lodgings where people offer beds in their homes, some of which do not have adequate water supply. • Other Business networks There are few business networks in the watershed area, apart from the agriculture and tourism networks described above. Other industries that have a large presence in the watershed area (such as extraction, vehicle servicing and import services) have not organised themselves into networks, largely because the industries comprise individual outlets which have not needed to collaborate with similar organisations for lobbying or representative purposes. There are however, experiences of network development in other parts of BiH. These networks have developed more specifically in formerly industrial areas such as Tuzla and Banja Luka. All of these business networks and associations have developed through the support and funds of the international community, (such as the GTZ Competitive Clusters Initiative or the USAID LAMP programme) including agricultural producer, automotive and export networks. Therefore, there are lessons to be learned from other experiences in other areas of BiH. The main source of information for local business is through the local Chambers of Commerce and the OHR Economic Section, which has been working to facilitate the business environment and administration processes for both local and international firms. The OHR launched an initiative to implement 50 reforms in 50 days28. This initiative has developed a network of business leaders whose members are large national companies, and all are based in Sarajevo. However, the reforms that they have set in motion have an impact on some business administration processes in the watershed. Two other business networks that have proved successful indigenous initiatives (although made possible by international funding) are the Bosnian Handicrafts initiative and the STAR network. Bosnian Handicrafts is a successful sales outlet for the products crafted by over 300 women, which developed from a small group of women in a Norwegian Aid refugee camp. The STAR network is a regional association of women business leaders that was formed in BiH in 2001. It works with women business leaders and is highly organised in lobbying and advocacy initiatives. USAID currently continues to fund the co-ordination secretariat. 28 In 2002, the OHR launched an initiative which made 50 recommendations, known as the ‘Bulldozer initiative’ on how to ease the administrative burden of business laws and challenged the government to make them effective in 150 days. Some of the reforms were dealt with through government decisions and others (which required legal amendments to existing laws) were sent to Parliament. The BiH, FBiH, RS and Brcko parliaments adopted all of the Bulldozer recommendations. Phase II of the Bulldozer initiative was launched in June 2003 with the aim of developing a partnership between the business community, local advocacy organisations, civil society and government. The initiative has developed a Committee to work specifically on Agriculture, Agribusiness and Natural Resources and two committees have been established in Trebinje and Mostar to implement reform at the municipal, canton and regional levels. The Committees work with trade unions. http://www.ohr.int/ohr-dept/econ/bulldozer-initiative 07.03.05


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• Religious and Cultural organisations Local religious groups, including Rijaset Islamske zajednice BiH, (Muslim) Udruženje Roma Neretva Mostar (Roma), La Benevolencija (Jewish), Rimokatolički župni ured (Catholic) and Srpsko Građansko Vijeće (Orthodox and Serbian ethnicity) provide support networks in the watershed area. These groups received significant levels of funding in the immediate aftermath of the war and therefore have become a well organised mechanism for delivery of social programmes. Many religious groups support drugs rehabilitation, health services and provide support for elderly. Religious groups are considered, after friends and family, as the most important support system by residents in the local watershed. However, during and since the war, religious leaders have been notably political. During elections, religious leaders become vocally supportive of candidates and have been known to stir up unrest. The Serbian Orthodox, Muslim and Catholic leaders who were consulted, all promote a message of environmental respect and in general, try to engage with young people. Islamska Zajednica identified the importance of water for religious practices. Water is used during prayer five times a day and also in funerals. The mosque sources this water from public taps located near the mosque. The Prosvjeta in Mostar stressed the need to protect the local water supplies, in particular in light of future global demand for fresh water. The Prosvjeta also demonstrated willingness to adopt a monitoring role to support environmental protection. The Medžlis from Trebinje sources water from the City Water Works and uses water for cleansing rituals before prayers. • Public Enterprises Public Enterprises (PEs) operating in the watershed include operators responsible for water, waste, and landfill management, telecommunications provision, forestry management, veterinary services and airport management (Table 3.1). The majority of the PEs date from the mid-1950s when the NTRB was the industrial production centre for the former Yugoslavia. Many facilities have not been updated with current pollution control technologies and thus represent significant point sources of pollution. However, they control water flows, are also the largest individual employers within the watershed, and are very influential and wield political power. PEs are a key partner for development in the watershed. They have varying levels of capacity, some displaying a lack of internal financial management. Others suffer from a lack of income from local users who lack the ability to pay for their services. PEs have in the past been accused of non-transparent hiring practices.


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• Credit Providers Agricultural credit providers have in general developed from international initiatives to support local rural development. There are effective credit providers in the watershed area and two international banks, Zagrebanka and Raiffessen, that have an extensive presence in the watershed area. Raiffessen was under-going investigations in response to allegations of non-transparent processes among senior management at the time of research. The main credit providers are: Sunshine Credit; LOK Micro; EKI Microkreditna organizacija; PZ DuBrave; PZ Sunce Co-op and Partner Microkreditna organizacija. Combined, these credit organisations offer loans to over 1000 agricultural producers in the watershed area. In general credit facilities are efficient, abide by processes recognised by international industry, and are profitable. However, the credit facilities are also inflexible, often have high loan interest rates and they do not have special terms for agricultural producers whose ability to repay the loan is affected by their crop harvest. PZ DuBrave indicated that it would consider collaborating with other lenders to absorb risks and offer more flexible terms, however, PZ Sunce considers this option as unprofitable. Credit providers require legal documentation relating to residence status to issue loans. This is a significant issue in the watershed area as many residents have no legal proof of ownership or occupancy of their properties. 4.2 Factors Affecting Capacity to Deliver The GEF proposal will make recommendations for community-based initiatives to be delivered via local stakeholder groups. The following discussion summarises some of the current limitations of community-based groups that could affect their capacity to deliver programmes effectively. Community groups suffer from various pressures which are represented in Figure 4.2 below. The text below explores two of these issues further. Figure 4.2 Pressures facing local NGOs in the watershed

Lack of co-operation

with like minded NGO



Lack of management

capacity

Lack of management

capacity

Social Service Delivery

Social Service Delivery Donor drivenDonor driven

Politicisation of problems


Competition for funding


Lack of technical resources


NGONGO





Lack of management

capacity

Lack of management

capacity

Social Service Delivery

Social Service Delivery Donor drivenDonor driven







NGONGO


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• Project Management Skills Most community-based groups are lacking training in basic skills associated with project management and delivery. These include: proposal preparation, project and budget management, process facilitation, and performance monitoring and evaluation. While training programmes have been undertaken as part of internationally-funded project initiatives, the results in creating sustainable capacity have been poor. Feedback suggests that this is because training is treated as an ‘event’ that is not backed up by ongoing technical support and feedback. See textbox 4.2 below. • Competing Interests Community-based groups may have overlapping interests. For example, agricultural groups may have an interest in environmental issues that are also shared by environmental NGOs. However there does not appear to be a high level of cooperation between different interest groups, and they are often in direct competition for funds. There have been efforts to create an environment which would facilitate more co-ordination among the local NGO community and civil society. DFID sponsor an Aid Co-ordination unit in RS for the international community and therefore, by default provides some co-ordination of local NGO activities. There is a Human Rights Co-ordination Centre at the OHR which co-ordinates information on a range of issues in the FBiH29. The NGO Foundation for BiH is working on providing a facilitative and enabling environment to NGOs and the BIH NGO Council has launched an initiative to co-ordinate among all umbrella organisations in order to enhance collaboration and co-ordination efforts. There is additional need to develop mechanisms that would facilitate cross-sector decision-making at the local level.

29 including: refugees and IDPs; Right to Return; Property; Rule of Law; Policing; Right to a Fair Trial; Economic and Social Rights; Freedom of Expression; Education; Gender Equality; and Human Rights.

Textbox 4.2 Proposal writing capacity- building at Hutovo Blato The Regional Environment Centre secured some funding for the capacity building of local environment NGOs in proposal writing and fundraising. The REC sourced an expert in fundraising for environment projects and organised a complete 2-day training workshop for the 14 participants that had signed up. Unfortunately, only 4 of the 14 participants showed up and only 2 remained for the whole of the first day of training, some turned up late whilst others had to leave early due to other commitments. No-one attended the second day of training. The REC did not receive any funding proposals and through feedback, discovered that whilst the training had been useful, the participants had needed more support in developing and writing funding applications after the event. REC believed that if there had been some technical support and advice available after the training course, then the adoption of the skills would have been more successful, however there was no funding available for this. Interview with REC, Mostar, 29/11/04


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4.3 Disputes The research process highlighted some examples of local level disputes relating to access and control of land and water resources. Table 4.3 below summarises these disputes. Table 4.3 Disputes identified during the consultation process Dispute Actors Issues

Related action

Konavle and Upper Horizons Project

Croatia, BiH and RS authorities Local residents

• Siphoning off water along the pipe reduced pressure which violates agreement between authorities

• Source of, control of and access to water held with different parties

OSCE mediating dialogue

Water supply in Stolac

Local residents, local municipal authorities

• Antiquated supply systems • Lack of capacity of local residents to

pay for water supply and therefore lack of investment in supply system

• Health issues from tapping into insecure sources

RMAP UNDP identification of problems and in consultation with local residents

Water supply in Trebinje

Local residents, local municipal authorities

• Local springs run dry during the Summer months

• Surrounding forests create fire risk during Summer months

Local residents purchase water from local fire brigade or from the Public Water Supply Company

Road development in the upper watershed

Local residents, local authorities, local environment groups and local tourism operators

• Local residents want increased access to main transport arteries

• Local tourism companies and environmental groups want to preserve the pristine natural environment

• Hostile environment for discussion

Unsustainable forestry management in the upper watershed

PE, local environment groups, local authority

• Suspicions that logging companies are using unsustainable forestry management practices

• Landmine taping makes formal inspections impossible

• Environmental group evidence was obtained by trespassing

Unsustainable hunting in the middle watershed

Hunters, Hutovo Blato, hunting associations, REC

• Proposed moratorium on hunting ignored

• Hunting used as an attraction to stimulate tourism from Italy and Hungary

• Means of survival for many families and no alternative income earning opportunities

REC mediating dialogue between environmental groups and local hunting community

Politicised land allocation in Stolac

Agroplod, local authority

• Lack of response to request to develop local agricultural lands

• Another company (Dubrava Vino) which has close links to the local authorities were allocated public land in Domanovići

Renovation of Osman Pasha Mosque

Nationalistic group, local Muslims

• Demonstration of ethnic cleavages Symbolic ceremonies have been undertaken discreetly since clash in


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Dispute Actors Issues

Related action

2003 Hydropower production development

Tourism companies, PE, local government

• Water perceived as public good • Strong opposition to HPP development

(from tourism companies, local communities, environmental groups and agricultural producers)

Land ownership in Grančarevo (near Bileća)

Local agricultural producers, HPP

• HPP in Mostar has flooded fields, damaged biodiversity and natural habitats

• Land lying fallow

HPP being taken to court

Waste management in upper watershed

Local rafting companies Local communities

• Local groups accuse rafting companies of littering natural environment

• Rafting companies dispute this accusation and suspect a negative propaganda campaign from the local authorities which are acting on behalf of the PE involved

Waste management in the lower watershed

Local residents, Landfill operators, local authorities

• Lack of capacity of local population to pay for waste management services

• Lack of collection from cisterns which leads to pollution of domestic water supplies

• Increased recorded cases of scabies

Construction on agricultural land in the middle watershed

Aluminij, Prosvjeta and Srpsko Građansko Vijece

• There is uncontrolled and unmonitored construction taking place on prime agricultural land – a concern for returnees who are mainly agricultural workers

Honey production and purchasers

Network of 53 honey producers from Stolac, Croatian companies

• Croatian owned companies in BiH purchase more expensive honey from Croatia-based honey producers rather than BiH-based honey producers

• Honey filling station in Ljubuški soon to close due to a lack of funds

Honey co-operative seeking funds to purchase honey filling station but cannot access credit


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5.0 SUMMARY OF FINDINGS: SOCIAL AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT ISSUES IN THE NTRB

This chapter summarises current social and rural development issues that affect land and water resource management in the NTRB. The findings presented reflect the views expressed by local residents, community-based organisations, businesses and government agencies. The information was collected through household surveys, interviews, focus groups, and workshops, as described in Chapter 3.0. The stakeholder surveys and discussions were organised along two main lines of questioning:

‘In the context of relating to land and water resource management – 1) What are the main factors that limit development, and 2) What are the most important areas to address to improve livelihoods?’

While these questions are obviously related, the first is designed to capture issues that are seen to be the biggest problems. The second identifies those areas where participants believe that significant improvements are achievable that will enhance their quality of life. This second line of questioning therefore provides clear direction for development of initiatives that are likely to be supported by the community. Section 5.1 provides a summary of main findings which emerged from the household survey and an overview of the issues which were identified for each of the watershed areas. The overview of issues is presented as a table and summarises the impact on livelihoods with respect to dependency on natural resources for different groups. Section 5.2 describes the current level of community participation in land and water resource management in the NTRB. Section 5.3 discusses the factors that local stakeholders believe are limits to development. Section 5.4 summarises the key areas that should be addressed to improve livelihoods. Section 5.5 captures additional observations and suggestions developed by the consulting team during the course of the stakeholder engagement process. Figure 5.1 highlights the key findings from the household surveys. See below. Figure 5.1 Key findings which emerged from the household survey in the NTRB

ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS

% of Household perception of natural assets

05

10152025303540

Water Good land Forests Wildlife Fish Naturalbeauty

Potentialfor tourism

Natural resources

%

% o f H o useho ld perceptio ns o f biggest po llutants

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Dumpsi tes Fuelcombustion

Explosivesin f ishing

Noise Air Householddischar ge

Municipaldischar ge

Industr ialdischar ge

Pesti cides Roadtr af f ic

Hydr o-PowerPlants

Biggest pol lutants


- 53 -

WATER ACCESS & USE

% of Households surveyed that would recycle if given resources

020406080

100120

Konjic

Jabla

nica

Siroki B

rijeg

Mostar

Blagaj

Capljina

Pocitel

j

Trebinje

Gacko

Bileca

Towns

%

% of Households survey that had adequate water supply

020406080

100120

Konjic

Jabla

nica

Siroki

Brijeg

Mostar

Blagaj

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Pocite

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Trebinje

Gacko

Bileca

Towns

%

% of Households that pay for their water supply

020406080

100120

Konjic

Jabla

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Siroki

Brijeg

Mostar

Blagaj

Capljina

Pocite

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Trebinje

Gacko

Bileca

Towns

%

% as Household awareness of environmental impacts of job

020406080

100120

Konjic

Jabla

nica

Siroki

Brijeg

Mostar

Blagaj

Trebinje

Gacko

Bileca

Towns

%

Job aspiration Awareness of impact

Participation in an environmental forum

020406080

100120

Konjic

Jabla

nica

Siroki

Brijeg

Mostar

Blagaj

Capljin

a

Pocite

lj

Trebinje

Gacko

Bileca

Towns

%

Never participated Interest in participation

% of Household survey respondents that are fearful of water quality

020406080

100

Konjic

Jabla

nica

Siroki

Brijeg

Mostar

Blagaj

Capljin

a

Pocite

lj

Trebinje

Gacko

Bileca

Towns

%

Use of pesticides for crops

05

101520253035

Konjic

Jabla

nica

Siroki

Brijeg

Mostar

Blagaj

Capljin

a

Pocite

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Trebinje

Gacko

Bileca

Towns

%

Households with piped water supply

020406080

100120

Konjic

Jabla

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Mostar

Blagaj

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Pocite

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Trebinje

Gacko

Bileca

Towns

%


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LAND ACCESS & USE

% of Households surveyed that is dependent on their land to make a lliving

(range from wholly, very to fairly dependent)

020406080

Konjic

Jabla

nica

Siroki B

rijeg

Mostar

Blagaj

Capljina

Pocitel

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Trebinje

Gacko

Bileca

Towns

%

% of Households that use land for income generation

020406080

100

Konjic

Jabla

nica

Siroki

Brijeg

Mostar

Blagaj

Capljin

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Pocite

lj

Trebinje

Gacko

Bileca

Towns

%

Households that pay land tax

05

101520253035

Konjic

Jabla

nica

Siroki

Brijeg

Mostar

Blagaj

Capljin

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Pocite

lj

Trebinje

Gacko

Bileca

Towns

%

Respondent status to household

020406080

100120

Konjic

Jabla

nica

Siroki

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Mostar

Blagaj

Capljin

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Pocite

lj

Trebinje

Gacko

Bileca

%

Ow nership Renting

Participation in Land collectives

020406080

100

Konjic

Jabla

nica

Siroki

Brijeg

Mostar

Blagaj

Capljin

a

Pocite

lj

Trebinje

Gacko

Bileca

%

member interest


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COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION

SKILLS AND AMBITIONS

% of Households that would collaborate on a community problem (i.e. flooding)

020406080

100120

Konjic

Jabla

nica

Siroki

Brijeg

Mostar

Blagaj

Capljina

Pocitel

j

Trebinje

Gacko

Bileca

Towns

%

Community collaboration to lobby government

01020304050

Konjic

Jabla

nica

Siroki

Brijeg

Mostar

Blagaj

Capljin

a

Pocite

lj

Trebinje

Gacko

Bileca

Towns

%

Most important sources of information

05

1015202530354045

%Respondents who would contribute neither time

nor money to a community project

020406080

100

Konjic

Jabla

nica

Siroki

Brijeg

Mostar

Blagaj

Capljin

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Pocite

lj

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Bileca

%

Skills training needs

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%


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5.1 Key issues identified during the research process and their impact on local dependency on natural resources. Upper Watershed Area Issue Consequence Social

1. No stimulation of local economy 2. High incidence of alcoholism 3. Non-representative authorities

4. Standards of health facilities 5. Health worker registry 6. Sewage discharges in river

7. Lack of awareness of safe sex and

drug use in schools 8. Under resourced schools30

9. Low pensions and lack of family support

1. High unemployment levels31 2. Alcoholism and domestic violence 3. Political apathy & low voter turn out 4. Increased risk of scabies 5. Non-payment of health worker

salaries 6. Pollution of river upstream affecting

all towns and villages downstream 7. High level of contraction of HIV and

drug use 8. Split classes and times of primary and

secondary classes means younger children exposed to drugs

9. High incidence of poverty and illness among elderly

Rural

10. Lack of rural development plan

11. Lack of strategic guidance on rural development from Entity authorities

12. Ban on export of wood met with opposition from local groups

13. Rubbish disposal on river

14. Illegal logging

15. High proportion of land ownership with proportionally very little tax collection32

16. Little engagement on land or water issues33

10. No co-ordinated strategy with varied

inputs to determine localised development vision or direction

11. Little impetus to engage in rural development planning

12. Ban does not offer alternative income revenues

13. Pollution of river upstream affects all towns and villages downstream and make river unsightly which affects tourism potential

14. Unsustainable management of local resources

15. No tax-base for reinvestment into local community

16. Lack of ownership over local development process and sense of disaffection

Other

17. HPP development and energy plans

for BiH will meet opposition from local groups

17. HPP are perceived as damaging to

local environment and there is discussion around the fact that there are already 5 HPPs in the area, which are currently not used to capacity

30 I school in Jablanica for 523 students and 1 school in Konjic for 1,231 students 31 4,110 unemployed in Konjic where the average salary is 427KM p.c.m. and 1,807 unemployed in Jablanica where the average salary is 516KN p.c.m. (BiH Office for National Statistics, 2003) 32 64% of Household survey respondents in the Upper watershed owned land but 62% of these landowners did not pay taxes 33 No respondent of the Household survey had participated in either a land or a water discussion, forum or collective in this area and only 14% of those surveyed wanted to participate in such a fora


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Upper Watershed Area Issue Consequence

18. Conflict between local tourism operators and local population over road development & preservation of natural environment

19. Low pensions

20. Use of wells for water supply

18. Antagonism between local tourism operators, local authorities and local residents developed from competing needs to enable progress and to preserve the natural habitat and environment

19. Elderly are severely impoverished and many without regular family support, others depend upon financial support from the Diaspora

20. Incidents of illness caused by pollution of wells

Middle Watershed Area Issue Consequence Social

1. Water supply in Stolac is politicised

2. De facto separation of local

authorities in Mostar 3. Non-representative budgetary

allocations 4. Non-transparent recruitment

processes in Public Enterprises 5. Huge dependency on Bregava

Springs 6. Cisterns not emptied regularly 7. Lack of ability of local population to

pay for waste disposal/ management 8. Lack of education on environmental

issues 9. Water scarcity

10. Widespread poverty

1. 75% of Households do not have water

supply 2. Lack of ability to move towards

development and reconciliation 3. Discrimination against under-

resourced groups 4. Positions of power dominated by one

cultural group 5. Vulnerability

6. Pollution of current water supplies 7. Landfill sites are under-resourced

8. Little awareness about long term

environmental sustainability 9. No ability to tackle forest fires

Households place illegal taps along water supplies

10. Little tax base and no stimulation of local economies

Rural

11. Control, access and use of water

resources shared by different parties from RS, FBIH and Croatia

12. Water budget management is poor

13. Land distribution is politicised

14. Locals drill wells to access underground waters at DuBrave

11. Water supply is politicised

12. Local Authority debts are covered by Municipal budget which is unsustainable

13. Particular groups benefit from land distribution policies

14. Potential health issues as no way of checking water quality – reported increases in cases of Scabies in some towns34 Also an issues relating to water

34 Stolac and Mostar in particular, UNDP FAO


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Middle Watershed Area Issue Consequence

15. Laws relating to Agriculture are not obeyed and not monitored

16. No community involvement in waste management decision-making

17. Mined agricultural land

18. Access to credit is limited

19. Alumnij is a political power

20. No rural development plans and no co-ordination body

21. Lack of clarity over land ownership 22. Huge importance of Bregava

Springs 23. Cisterns not emptied regularly

24. Antiquated water supply system

25. Hunting ban

26. No property lists or real estate

27. Upper Horizons Project

28. Lack of efficacy and effectiveness of inspection offices

29. Forest fires

30. Widespread poverty

pressure and payment agreements between municipal authorities

15. Pesticide usage

16. All sites for waste disposal are rejected by local community and old sites are over-run

17. Potentially productive lands lie fallow35

18. Farmers are unsupported and therefore rely on subsistence farming

19. Unaccountable practices threatening the environment

20. Lack of impetus, resources and framework for rural development and risk of reproduction of efforts by donor community

21. Limited access to credit for farmers36 22. Over-dependence on one source of

water 23. Pollution of water supplies (especially

informal water supplies) 24. 75% of water is estimated to be lost to

leakages 25. Hunters forced to hunt illegally as no

alternative for income is available/offered

26. Lack of proof of ownership leads to lack of access to credit

27. Possibility of affecting water quality and flow quantity at Bregava Springs

28. No credibility in inspection or monitoring systems

29. Destruction of commercial, rural and rural properties

30. Lack of ability of local residents to pay for water supply, waste disposal or national taxes to invest in social infrastructure leads to development of ad-hoc and unsustainable initiatives

Cultural

31. Discriminatory allocation of

residency permits

32. Discriminatory allocation of communication resources

33. Private company ownership largely within Croatian community

34. Parallel education authorities

31. Fuelling ethnic tensions and lack of

access to basic services for marginalised groups

32. Fuelling ethnic tensions and lack of access to basic services for marginalised groups

33. Increases cultural tensions

34. Fuelling of ethnic tensions due to imbalance of resources available to

35 For example, there are unexploited vineyards on municipal land near Stolac, which coupled with the lack of accessible credit for agricultural producers in the area, leads to sustained poverty, (Mehmed. M. Zele 25.02.05) 36 Without access to credit to lift themselves out of poverty, there is increased risk of ensuring that agricultural producers remain in what Marx terms as “the trappings of the underclass”


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Middle Watershed Area Issue Consequence

35. Legal frameworks for protection of

Cultural heritage sites is ignored

invest in Bosnian education system 35. Commercial development on sites of

cultural importance

Other

36. Social welfare is limited and

resourced from unsustainable mechanisms from private resources37

36. Takes responsibility away from local

authorities and therefore incentive to establish regular tax base and collection infrastructure

Lower Watershed Area Issue Consequence Social 1. Strong nationalism

2. Waste management issues 1. Lack of co-operative environment 2. Easy to stimulate nationalistic fervour

Increased risk of water supply pollution and Scabies

Rural 3. Saline water intrusion

4. Flooding near Ravno 5. No legal limitations on meat

production 6. Problems implementing Property

Law Implementation Programme (PLIP)

7. Lack of clarity over land ownership 8. High interest rates on credit 9. Herb and Mushroom picking 10. Pesticide usage in agriculture

11. Water supply and water scarcity

3. Dykes have been built to protect crops

4. Agricultural lands destroyed 5. Risk of unsustainable stock

management 6. Returnee process slowing 7. Lack of access to credit for

agricultural producers 8. Difficulty in repaying loans 9. Lack of knowledge and awareness

can impact on biodiversity 10. Reduction in number and types of

herbs 11. Pollution of local water supplies

Affects tourism potential and agricultural productivity

Cultural 12. Day of St Ivan celebrations at Knežpolje

13. Catholic Pilgrimages to Međugorje

14. Day of Three Kings celebration

12. People believe river Lištica has healing properties

13. Seasonal increased in number of visitors to the area (10,000 a day)

14. Water used as a spiritual cleanser and taken to Community house of Sister Elvira

Other 15. Illegal taps on water pipeline at Konavle leading to loss of water pressure

16. Dumpsites near road side

17. Meat provider gave training to employees on meat quality

18. Un-used railway

15. Disagreements over payment for and pressure of water supply

16. Spectacular view points are unsightly and do not draw tourists

17. Proved controversial as many perceived this initiative as a tax dodge

18. Increased traffic on road

37 Such as the Solidarity Fund in Stolac, which is a group of local business which collectively contribute every month to pay for social services (UNDP, RMAP 15th February 2005)


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Trebišnjica Watershed Area Issue Consequence Social 1. Pensions are traditionally paid to

man of the household 2. Elderly population

3. Homogenised population 4. High levels of unemployment 5. Lack of funds to support Social

Policy

6. Need to pay for water in some areas

7. Psycho-social healing support conducted at individual rather than community levels

8. Lack of affordable heating

1. Many widows cannot access financial support

2. Lack of local economic stimulation and income generation

3. Lack of cultural diversity 4. Youth migration to urban centres 5. No implementation of social policy

and funds available are from unsustainable sources

6. Cost of water the same as monthly pensioner income

7. Treatment for psycho social problems tackled by individual not community

8. Local wood stocks are burnt for fuel Rural 9. High interest rates on credit

10. Slow registration process 11. Agricultural producers not covered

by employment bureau 12. Use of fertilizers in agricultural

production 13. Carpet factory in Bileca 14. Thermal Electricity Plant in Gacko 15. HPP control of water in upper and

middle watersheds

16. Construction of channels to Popovo Polje

17. Control and access to water supply in Gacko

9. Difficulty in repaying loans 10. Lack of support for start-up businesses 11. Lack of access to health care for

agricultural producers 12. Pollution of land resources

13. Air pollution 14. Air pollution 15. Flooded agricultural lands at

Grančarevo, Damaged ecology and biodiversity

16. Endemic fish stocks destroyed at Gaovica

17. Politicisation of water supply

Cultural 18. Water resources close to the Mosque in Trebinje

19. Significant funding for celebration of cultural life

20. Continuing antagonism between local groups

18. Significance to local Muslim population

19. Traditional kept alive and local culture celebrated by young

20. Religious or cultural festivals run risk of facing protest or violence

Other 21. Lack of transparent recruitment processes at some PEs

22. Regional waste site to be introduced

21. Ethnically homogenised labour force at some PEs

22. Consequence for old sites which have suffered from a lack of management and financial resources

5.2 Current Level of Community Participation in Land and Water Resource Management The Social and Rural Development Study Component is a ‘grass roots’ study. It seeks to capture the concerns, interests, opinions and awareness of land and water management issues of key local stakeholders in the NTRB. The main strength of the findings contained within this report are that they objectively reflect the views and priorities of local stakeholders. A limitation of the study is that there is not a strong tradition of public participation in decision-making within the NTRB, and local people generally have little knowledge of how to


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effectively apply public pressure to raise awareness of their concerns and desires. This affects public awareness and interest in promoting community-based initiatives. For community-based initiatives to be successful there will need to be significant effort applied to developing a sense of ‘community ownership’. The following section describes some of the key findings concerning attitudes toward community participation. While there are substantial issues relating to land and water supply and management in the NTRB, the discussions relating to the solutions have been at an administrative level and there has been very little community involvement38. The local level consultations were consistent in identifying clearly that local communities feel disconnected from the decision-making process. Despite the fact that the majority of respondents to the Household survey in all watershed areas felt that they had control over most decisions (43%) or all decisions (20%) affecting their lives, all of the respondents who took part in the local focus groups, and interviews felt that they had very little control over decisions affecting their lives. The lack of community input into and control over decision-making surfaced as a recurrent issue, however, these discussions always referred to a feeling of powerlessness to engage or change the status quo. This was supported by the number of references which were made to the problems of alcoholism, drugs and political apathy. A lack of a sense of local ownership emerged during the consultations, and a sense of dispossession with the political process became evident. Voters regularly vote along nationalistic lines. Consultation with the political adviser at the British Embassy suggests that this is because, such is the tension that still exists between the national groups, the voter feels that these parties are the only ones which will represent their interests. Despite a widespread and healthy scepticism of politicians, there is no energetic and effective opposition. Many potential opposition parties claim to be a representative party, however, in general, they do not have any clear policies or mandate to offer credible or effective opposition. The complex political arrangements, coupled with the current status quo of decision-making and subsequently influential presence of the international community, could all be contributing factors to the general sense of disenchantment and disengagement from the political process at the grass roots level. The Household Survey revealed that there is little participation at the grass roots level in community organisations, in particular, relating to land and water issues. Of the 205 individual stakeholders surveyed, none had ever participated in either a land or water collective and overall, only 14% expressed an interest in doing so if offered the opportunity. Despite this lack of interest, there were many instances of informal support networks on land and water issues.

38 This was identified as a problem when the local authorities determined the location of a waste site near Stolac without conducting any local consultation. There was protest and unrest in response to the decision which has now been deferred.


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• Farmers interviewed indicated that they usually supported each other through labour or by lending each other agricultural equipment when the need arose, although no references were made to the provision of financial support. Support groups have tended to be informal and fluid, and established in response to need. There was evidence of other such informal networks in areas relating to animal husbandry networks and fishing.

“There are no secrets in this business and so even if we don’t want to tell other fishermen about ideal fishing locations, they can all find out at the place of registration.” Nail Bukvić, Fish restaurant Pečina, February 2005

• Agricultural producers in the middle and lower watershed areas act collectively and

have received support from international organisations to develop into more formalised networks. Agroplod was identified by the consultants as extremely active and with the capacity to represent the interests of its members in debates and consultations. Ad Milojevići in Trebinje is an agricultural network which works with several different associations including a partnership to develop nursery plants with a network in Ravno, and loose types of co-operations with networks in Čapljina, Metković and Gabela. Ad Milojevići also works with the Institute of Banja Luka which controls their production. Large agricultural producers like Agros d.o.o. which is based in Ljubuški and Trebinje and owns 13,000 Ha of greenhouses and 23,000 apple trees provide training on agricultural production methods and would be willing to share their experiences and knowledge about plant protection.39

• The rafting companies in the Upper watershed claim that they work with local

authorities and engage in clean-up projects in the Upper Neretva once a year. The local companies have also created a network which collaborates with the Zavidovići Group and the Mountaineering Association on small scale environmental protection initiatives. One company, Co-Europe Rafting supported the clear up of the Neretva River through a collaborative initiative after the war, however, this project has since been rescinded. There is a representative Environmental NGO network operating in the area called Eko-Zeleni Neretva.

• Youth groups support the elderly in Ostrozac by collecting wood, vegetables water or

fruits and local religious groups use water in their daily rituals. Youth groups in the Middle watershed have developed a wide network of similar organisations and engaged in projects to promote debate and engage young people in public life. The youth networks also promote art, raise awareness on the environment and host exhibitions of young talents.

39 Agros d.o.o. use pesticides in their growing processes.


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• The teachers who were involved in the consultation process were usually very active in encouraging engagement in debate on local issues and the PTA groups work together on specific issues of concern.

“Ecological awareness is very low on the whole. Individual actions is more effective than those organised by the authorities. The problem lies in a lack of solidarity and awareness of the common good. Kindergarten teacher from Mostar, February 2005

• Local religious leaders conduct community outreach throughout the month of May in

the Lower watershed and try to connect with the young in the area, however, religious leaders were often referred to as the main instigators of propaganda and the consultants were made aware of cases when they were responsible for stimulating local unrest.

“We want to educate the young and want them to be aware of what religion is all about and how to live a good life.” Islamska Zajednica, Konjic, February 2005

These loose networks and associations engage in discussion on issues relating to rural development and social concerns, although none appear to work specifically on land or water issues. Loose networks develop out of mutual interest and concerns and are spontaneous and most often initiated from a conversation between friends or acquaintances. Furthermore, with the exception of the Environmental groups in the upper watershed which campaign against the development of HPPs, none of the formal or informal networks consulted, engage directly and specifically in advocacy and lobbying on issues relating to land and water. 5.3 Factors that Limit Development Table 5.3 shows the key issues raised by local stakeholders within the various regions of the NTRB. The table demonstrates a remarkable consistency of issues and concerns in all areas of the watershed, despite the very significant differences in biophysical conditions. The factors identified as limiting social and rural development fell into two broad categories: • environmental – factors that limit development directly as a result of resource limitations

or environmental degradation (Section 5.3.1), and • lack of infrastructure to support community development – factors that limit

development directly as a result of lack of regulation, policy and planning guidelines, or economic infrastructure (Section 5.3.2).

Key issues raised by stakeholders are summarised below. Table 5.3.a. identifies issues obstructing social and rural development and Table 5.3.b identifies economic activities within


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the watershed that local stakeholders identified as having an adverse impact on environmental quality. 5.3.1 Environmental Factors The consultation indicated that stakeholders throughout the watershed are concerned with resource limitation and environmental degradation. In many cases these concerns are based on the lack of basic human needs being met with respect to adequate water supply, or subsistence hunting and fishing. In other cases, stakeholders are concerned that environmental degradation will affect the potential for economic development through agriculture and tourism. Lastly, many expressed a feeling of lack of self-esteem that results from living in a litter-strewn and uncared-for environment. Table 5.3.a. Issues obstructing social and rural development Upper Middle/Lower Trebisnjica

Environmental

Pollution (many types)

Garbage disposal

Unsustainable forestry practices

Inadequate water supply

Poor water quality

Support for Community Development

Lack of employment opportunities

Unclear land ownership

Poor access to credit

Complex legal requirements

Lack of planning framework

Table 5.3.b Local Perceptions of Economic Activities that Affect Environmental Quality Economic Activity Location Nature of Concern Rafting Companies upper Neretva - Litter

Hydro-electric Power Plant

upper Neretva - impact to flow regime - flooding - sedimentation - impact to aquatic habitat quality and biodiversity

Logging upper Neretva - soil erosion


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- impact to habitat quality and biodiversity

Commercial Fisheries upper Neretva - depletion of fish stocks

Bauxite Ore Extraction Middle Neretva

- air pollution - Ground water pollution

Privatisation of Water Resources

Middle Neretva

- Lack of ability of local population to pay for water - Lack of investment into water supply networks

Hunting middle Neretva

- impacts to tourism - depletion of stock - impact to biodiversity

‘Upper Horizon’ water diversion project

lower Neretva - water supply - loss of spring water source at Bregava - saltwater intrusion

Agriculture Middle, lower Neretva and Trebisnjica

- pesticides - water taking - salt intrusion

1) Water Supply & Water Quality The Household survey demonstrated that water was perceived as the most precious natural resource in the NTRB by 42% of respondents. However consultations with community-based and government organisations identified ‘the supply of good quality water for drinking and agricultural’ as a serious and pressing issue in most parts of the watershed. Water Supply The consultation process revealed that there are systemic problems relating to the quantity of water available, the infrastructure for water supply, control over water resources, and administration of water supply. Water supply issues are most pressing the middle/lower Neretva watershed and in the Trebisnjica watershed. The following observations from participants demonstrate the significance of this issue. • Overall, 42% of Household survey respondents viewed water as their most precious local

resource, although this was most apparent in the lower watershed where 83% of respondents identified this as water.

• In the middle Neretva watershed, systems which supply the town of Stolac, and date from the 1960s, were identified as inefficient and it was estimated that up to 75% of water supply was lost due to leaks in the network.40

• There are ongoing disputes relating to water supply shortages in the Herceg Novi and Konavle in the Trebisnjica watershed. These towns are at the downstream receiving end of water supplies that arise in BiH, then flow though Croatia before reaching Serbia and

40 UNDP RMAP Interview Feb 2005


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Montenegro. A fair water management arrangement is being brokered by the OSCE, who are providing an impartial mediation to the dispute, but deep-seated levels of mistrust between the national groups hinders resolution of this issue.

• water scarcity is a serious issue in the summer months when there is increased risk of forest fires in particular in the lower watershed

• there is intermittent flooding of villages and agricultural plains, in the middle watershed which relates to the control of water flows by the HPP in the upper watershed.

Water supply payment is also a limiting factor. High levels of poverty throughout the watershed, but particularly in the middle/lower Neretva watershed areas, mean that the local population, in general, are not able to pay for water supply. Consequently, rather than connect to the formal water supply network, pipes are often tapped by the local population who siphon off water. This has several consequences that limit development. Firstly, water quality may be affected. Secondly, water pressure is often less than performance levels agreed in contracts between municipalities and this has led to disputes at the administrative level. Lastly, the water supply company loses income that could be used to invest in upgrading the supply network.

“An agreement between Herceg Novi Water and Sewage Company and its counterpart from the municipality of Konavle was signed in August 1996. The agreement was supposed to last 10 years but was suspended by Herceg Novi because they could no longer afford the prices and believed that ½ of the supply was being siphoned off by villages on the Croatian side. Water pressure at Plat is usually around 600 litres p/sec and by the time the water reached the meter on the Croatian border, the pressure had dropped to 300 litres p/sec and often less.” Interview with OSCE, November 2004

Local authority water budget management, in general, is poor and unsustainable. Several examples were provided where international community or municipal budgets had been diverted to cover costs for water supply. This is partially due to lack of capacity at the administration levels, but also partly related to the unwillingness to charge those who simply cannot afford to pay. For any kind of commercial, industrial or domestic water use, a water use permit must be obtained, however currently, despite substantial efforts to the contrary, there is no harmonised legal framework at the entity level for Bosnia and Herzegovina. In the Neretva area, the Water Law of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina is implemented. A Catchment Coordination Committee has been proposed for the management of each river catchment, which will collaborate with cantons and their Catchment Management Boards. These boards will be in charge of permits for water use, which will facilitate coordination and registration.


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Water quality While few respondents to our survey had suffered the effects of bad water, many were fearful about water quality. Overall 58% of respondents were fearful of water quality. 27% of these respondents were from the Upper watershed area, 83% from the Middle watershed, 44% from the lower and 79% from the Trebisnjica watershed areas. However, overall, only 10% of Household surveyed had ever experienced bad water. Key areas of concern to watershed residents included the following. • Contamination of water by sewage overflow from cisterns • Some cisterns in the watershed area collect their water at dams which have not been

checked for water quality, one of which, in Stolac is situated by a tobacco co-operative and near a fire station.

• The Upper Horizons Project41 might affect the water quality of Bregava Springs which supplies several towns and villages in the middle/lower Neretva watershed.

• The local health care centres in Stolac, where there have been issues surrounding the standards and coverage of piped networks, have reported an increase in the recorded cases of Scabies42

• Salt spikes from the sea which make agricultural lands redundant and have reached as far as Opuzen in the Trebisnjica watershed.

• A carpet factory in the lower Neretva watershed was identified as having a significant adverse impact on local water resources.

“Septic tanks are poured into the Neretva and people drink the water in Ortiješ, Buna, Zitomislići, Raštani and other places around Mostar” Ratko Pejanović, Srpsko Građansko Vijece, Mostar February 2005

2) Waste Management Inadequate or non-existent waste management is a widespread concern and highly visible problem throughout the NTRB. Watershed residents recognise that this impairs their quality of life, could lead to disease, and is a major deterrent to potential tourist initiatives. There were also high incidences of rubbish disposal which, in the upper watershed, appeared of a domestic nature. In the Middle and Lower watershed areas, the disposal sites were of a scale that would suggest that rubbish collection at the municipal level was responsible. However, in the Middle watershed, this problem evidently related to the lack of payment and

41 The Upper Horizons Project proposes the construction of tunnels to take underground waters from Patnica Polje to Bileca Lake, however, the project runs risk of drying out the Springs which source the Bregava River and increases risk of saltwater intrusion. An initial report including recommendations was presented to the 64th Session of Government of Federation of BiH for discussion in May 2004. 42 UNDP RMAP Interview


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subsequent lack of ability to invest in upgrading waste disposal services and invest in management capacity. 3) Flooding Agricultural plains in the middle and lower watershed areas are at risk from flooding for which there is neither sufficient warning nor information supplied by the authorities.

“The river floods and information is not provided in terms of warning, what to do, the status of the flood, whether it is receding and the authorities seem disinterested when this happens. This was the case when the Buna swimming pool was destroyed by floods this winter.” Nedžad Klepo, Sports Tourism Club, Blagaj, February 2005

4) Pesticide Use The middle/lower Neretva watershed experiences pollution from pesticide use. Most of the agricultural producers contacted in this study confirmed that they used pesticides. Only one agricultural producer from Bijelo Polje, who was interviewed, used natural supplements instead of pesticides.

“We use pesticides – we use this protection method every 15 days” Miodrag Ninković, Ljubuški, February 2005

5) Air Quality The participants expressed concerns about air emissions from the thermal electricity plant near Gacko and from several ceramic production factories which do not have adequate pollution control technology. 6) Unsustainable forestry practices 39% of respondents to the Household survey identified forests as the NTRB most precious resource. The network of environment NGOs, Group Green, identified continuing unsustainable forestry practices as a significant problem, in particular in the upper Neretva watershed, although there were other reports of this issue in the lower watershed. They suggested that the newly instituted BiH Environment Law, which includes provisions on


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sustainable forestry management, was neither being implemented nor monitored. Members of the group suggested that there was an organised plan of deception.

“forests looked healthy from an external perspective, but were stripped inside and this remained undetected because the forestry companies had purposefully left the trees within a 50m parameter of the exterior. This means that unsustainable forestry management would not be detected from external inspection.”. Green Visions, 5th December 2004.

They also suggested that landmine taping was used to cordon off areas where there had been suspected unsustainable logging. 7) Land mines The presence of land mines and Unexploded Ordinance (UXO) means that large swathes of potentially productive agricultural land, especially in the lower watershed remain unused. Land mines and UXOs are a significant problem in the middle/lower Neretva watershed. Many buildings in these areas are mined, as well as surrounding fields. De-mining initiatives are expensive and time-consuming, and funding for these activities has been reduced. Only the OSCE and SFOR (now EUFOR) are engaged in activities related to land mines, and their involvement is limited to conducting awareness-raising activities in schools. 5.2.2 Lack of Infrastructure to Support Community Development Local stakeholders in all parts of the watershed expressed a sense of desperation, and in some cases a feeling of hopelessness at the lack of employment opportunities. Those who were motivated to create their own sources of income were frustrated by the lack of clarity around many fundamental planning and development issues, the lack of financial support for business enterprises, and the complexity of administrative systems. These issues are discussed in more detail below. 1) Lack of employment opportunities High unemployment is evident in all regions of the NTRB. Accurate figures of the unemployment levels were not attainable; however, local government agency representatives provided estimates ranging from 26% to 46%, excluding returnees or IDPs who are registered elsewhere, so this estimate could be even higher. Concerns expressed in surveys and local consultation included the following. • Many young people move to urban areas in search of employment. When they cannot find

employment, they return to study. Many respondents to the surveys identify themselves as students.


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• Public Enterprise employment opportunities are not transparent, and there were numerous comments about ‘crony-ism’.

• Public Enterprises and privatised companies tend to be owned or controlled by Croats and are ethnically homogeneous. Local Serbian and Bosnian residents feel excluded from employment opportunities.

2) Unclear land ownership The lack of clarity over land ownership is a long-term issue in the NTRB and is seen as a serious limitation to development and access to credit. Local stakeholders identified the following concerns. • Some land ownership disputes date from the Second World War and remain unresolved. • Population movements have triggered more recent conflicts. • The Property Law Implementation Programme is tackling the right to return, however,

implementation is slow. • There appear to be no property lists that were identified by the consultants during the

study. • In many cases it is not land ownership that is in dispute but the lack of legal

documentation. This prevents property owners from gaining access to capital credit or from selling their properties.

• Allegations were made of discriminatory allocations of public land. The distribution of public lands is not a transparent process and therefore is open to claims of abuse and politicised decision-making. See textbox 5.2.

• There are Roma residents in the lower Neretva watershed who are not given permanent residency status but instead receive six-month residency permits from the local police station. This affects the Roma community’s ability to access social services.43

43 The Federal Law on Basis of Social Protection, Protection of Civilian War Victims and the Protection of Families with Children which was adopted in 1999, required Cantons to adopt the law within 3 months. These Social welfare laws for BiH are considered effective and are protective of vulnerable groups. However, these laws have not yet been fully adopted or implemented in Canton 7 as the local political parties cannot reconcile opinions on implementation.

Textbox 5.2 Politicised allocation of public lands in Stolac There were unexploited vineyards available for potential development in the area surrounding Stolac which was municipal owned land. A local agricultural co-operative called Agroplod requested permission from the local authorities to develop the lands in 2002. Unfortunately this request never received a response and therefore Agroplod never developed the initiative. There were allegations that another similar site in Domanovicí had been allocated to a company called Dubrava Vino which is a wine producer with links to the local authority. (RMAP interview, February 2005)


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3) Poor access to credit • There are a number of credit facilities which are available to agricultural producers in the

watershed area. Generally these are initiatives which have been developed by the international community. Three consistent issues emerged during the consultations in relation to access to credit for agricultural producers. These issues affect the ability of agricultural producers to develop their capacities beyond subsistence production.

• Some agricultural producers are not able to provide the relevant documentation to prove their ownership of the land and therefore no credit is available to them.

• Those who can prove land ownership, can only access credit that has high interest rates attached due to the fact that many lenders need to absorb the risk of lending to agricultural producers

• Loan conditions are unmanageable for many agricultural producers, especially relating to normal allowances of 2 years to enable returns on sales of produce.

“Our main problem is financing. We have problems accessing credit from the banks. Interest rates are very high and banks act as usurers. We don’t get any support from the municipality nor the State.” Dojđe Marić, ELMAR Etheral Oil Production, Trebinje, February 2005

4) Lack of development planning framework Development planning is not a concept that is familiar to the majority of local stakeholders. Most were unclear whether development plans actually existed. Many stakeholders also identified a need to have both a framework for development planning and input into local planning processes. Issues that were raised included the following. • Institutional arrangements in the watershed area have historically been top-down, with

authority and communication narrowly focussed. • Lack of planning coordination at the local, municipal and Cantonal development plans

manifests itself in avoidable mishaps which, with some dialogue between these entities, would have been avoided.

• Planners exist, but no one seemed to quite understand what they do. • As a first step, local stakeholders would like to see a strategic development framework

produced by the Entity-level government. • Local authorities in Konjic felt that community-based planning would require significant

resources, training, and guidance documents. • Local communities have not historically had any input into community decision-making.

Communities often witnessed the impacts of decision-making by authorities once the decision had been made and the project implemented.


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5) Complex legal requirements Feedback on the effectiveness of reforms which have been progressed to reduce the level of legal and administrative complexity for businesses included the following. • Local business owners described a burdensome administrative process of business

registration, often requiring registration with two or more bodies. • Once registered business owners reported that the relationship this local authorities was in

general, supportive. • Some specific groups cannot access support. Agricultural groups around Stolac are not

covered by the Employment Bureau and therefore they are not eligible for Health Care. This is a significant problem for subsistence farmers who will not receive a pension.

5.3 Priority Areas that Should be Addressed to Improve Livelihoods Table 5.3 shows the key issues raised by local stakeholders within the various regions of the NTRB. Again, there is a high level of agreement on key issues throughout the watershed. There are three priority areas for action that local stakeholders identified: • improve environmental quality - especially as relates to management of water resources

(Section 5.3.1); • build economic capacity – through development of business opportunities and direct job

creation (Section 5.3.2); • strengthen historical/cultural traditions – through support and development of sites of

significance and supporting cultural activities (Section 5.3.3). Table 5.3 Factors to improve livelihoods Upper Middle/Lower Trebisnjica

Improve Environmental Quality

Access to safe water

Build Economic Capacity

Provide business development opportunities

Increase employment

Improve access to credit

Strengthen Historical/Cultural Traditions


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Preserving sites of natural beauty

Developing historical and cultural sites

Support cultural activities

Rural markets

5.3.1 Improve Environmental Quality As described in Section 5.1, limits on environmental resources and widespread environmental degradation are significant concerns in the NTRB. The key concern is the adequate supply of water of good quality. However when stakeholders were asked for their views on how to improve the situation, few solutions were provided. This is because in general people feel powerless to effect change in these areas. The magnitude of what needs to be done to upgrade the supply infrastructure, and improve the efficiency of administration is not something that stakeholders feel that they can effect – and they are right! This is the responsibility of government agencies and where applicable, private water supply companies. Community-based stakeholders do not currently have the means or understanding of how to apply pressure to government agencies to effect change in these areas. Community-based recycling was one area of environmental improvement that local stakeholder groups felt that they could influence. Although there are currently no recycling initiatives in the watershed area, the majority of respondents to the household survey (74%) said that they would be interested in recycling if they were given appropriate resources. Two ideas for recycling were raised: • The development of a glass or paper recycling processing plant would be expensive and

would require development of market to receive recycled goods. However, the YIA is working with local schools and radio to raise awareness on recycling and ecological issues.

• Recycling of clothes, furniture, white goods, and household goods. These products could

be repaired and re-worked so that they are suitable for second-hand re-sale. This would provide cheap goods and also stimulate local economies. This type of recycling is currently being conducted on a household level out of necessity, but development of a formal network would have a number of benefits, including:

− Raise awareness about recycling and impacts on the environment that would be

consistent with EU Directives on waste disposal; − Develop capacities of the long-term unemployed and women; − Create jobs;


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− Create small-scale support industry that could be extended to include other materials; and

− Develop localised retail outlets. 5.3.2 Build Economic Capacity Local stakeholders identified support for business development, job creation, and access to credit as the priority areas for building economic capacity to improve livelihoods. Almost without exception they believe that these activities should be undertaken within the context of developing the agricultural and tourism sectors. These two sectors are strongly linked in the minds of local stakeholders, since most believe that re-invigoration of the agricultural sector to produce specialised local food products for local use and export will also be a major draw for tourists. As identified in Section 2.9 and in Appendix 2, there are many internationally-funded initiatives that are currently being developed to support the agriculture and tourism sectors in the NTRB. Study Component 3: Economic Development of the NTRB also provides a number of recommendations for local economic development in these areas. Watershed residents, community-based groups, and local government agencies have a reasonable level of awareness of these initiatives, since some are community-based. Many of the initiatives support social and rural development at the Entity and Canton or Municipal levels. As such, they represent one of the few areas of economic development within many parts of the watershed. This section provides detail on potential areas of development. • Development of gastronomic tourism. Local stakeholders identified many food

specialties that they were proud of , including: Burek (meat pie in filo pastry), zeljanica (spinach and cheese in filo pastry), Sirnica (home made cheese in filo pastry), Kromirusa (diced potatoes and spices in filo pastry), spit roasted lamb, Ćevapi, (minced meat kebabs) Pršut (air-dried ham), Suho meso (dried meat), Mladi Sir (soft unsalted cheese), iz mjeha (strong dry cheese prepared in sheepskin), and local sweets.

• Develop local wines and spirit products. Products such as Stankela, Blatina and

Žilavka, and local spirits such as Šljivovica (plum) or kruške (pear) or loza (grape).

• Advertise and develop Eco-tourism. Enhancing opportunities and services relating to activities such as rafting, walking, abseiling, biking, skiing, mountaineering, bird-watching, fishing, etc.

• Re-establishment of cherry and walnut orchards. Cherry and walnut tree orchards

were purposefully destroyed during the recent conflict. Re-establishment of this traditional agricultural crop would support the reaffirmation of a cultural sense of identity and stimulate economic development, and preserve traditional skills in carpentry and furniture making. These products also have potential for export.


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• Stimulation of rural markets. This has been identified by many groups as a key

mechanism to tackle poverty and enhance local development opportunities, and is much welcomed within the watershed. There are many local products which could be sold at rural markets, which, if connected to the development of local tourism strategies, would bring in much needed financial resources and stimulate local rural economies44. Traditional practices and customary celebrations which could attract tourists are described in more details in Section 5.3.3.

• Stimulation of export industry. Agricultural stakeholders especially in the lower

watershed are very supportive of developing the potential for export of agricultural goods for export: flowers; citrus fruits; and cheese which all have export potential There are a number of existing import/export agencies in the lower watershed and the USAID LAMP study is examining further development of agricultural products that are suitable for export.

• Local Supply Chains. Stakeholders identify the need for better development of local

supply chains for agricultural products and traditional goods. This would enhance economic and communications links within the NTRB.

“If our machine broke down, our production would have to stop. Fortunately, there is a company that repairs these machines but getting parts always takes a long time as we usually need to import them.” PPI Gradska Pekra, Jablanica, February 2005

• Attracting international tourists. Local stakeholders identified the importance of

attracting international tourists to the NTRB as a means of attracting much needed foreign currency. They noted that, unlike Croatia, BiH is not a destination which is on the international traveller map and therefore there is a need to raise awareness of BiH and in particular the NTRB, as a potential holiday destination. Suggestions for accomplishing this include:

o Improve access by air. There are currently direct flights from Egypt, Hungary,

Austria, Germany and Slovenia, but none from London or Paris. In particular access from London would attract not only tourists from the UK, but also those from North America45.

44 This would also stimulate social development through the creation of a financial base for tax collection, assuming that local authorities would direct the increased available finances into social service provision. 45 The consultants made contact with Bosna Air who indicated that they were in consultation with British Airways to discuss the potential of introducing a direct flight to Sarajevo from London. Other airlines, including Easyjet, have been rumoured to be in discussion with authorities about introducing a flight path from London to Mostar. At time of print, the authors of this report had not heard any development of the discussions.


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o Develop targeted advertising. Perform marketing studies to identify key target groups (e.g., tour companies, students, young professionals, elderly and bird watchers), produce literature, and investigate most effective means of dissemination (e.g., tourist brochures, newspapers, magazines)46.

o Increase Day tourism from the Croatian coast which is an initiative that is supported by local tourism operators and is being taken forward by the local Tourism Community of Neretva-Herceg.

5.3.3 Strengthen Historical/Cultural Traditions Local stakeholders identified many natural features sites of cultural and historical importance within the NTRB. They also identified local festivals, traditional skills, and handicrafts that are part of their heritage. They wish to maintain significant features and cultural traditions, and they also recognise that there is tourism potential in developing these. Figure 5.3.3 shows sites of environmental, cultural and historical importance in the NTRB. Important environmental sites More than 25 sites have been identified by local partners as being of particular environmental significance. These include: 1) Black Munica pine tree forests in Glogovo Heights; 2) Podvelezje plateau; 3) Tise Beech tree forests; 4) Bird sanctuary at Hutovo Blato; 5) the Valley of Diva Grabovica; 6) Delta Neretva RAMSAR Site; 7) Vineyards (largely in Hezegovina); 8) Flower production (largely in Herzegovina); 9) Medicinal herbs (in both the upper watershed and Herzegovina); 10) Fertile soil for mushrooms (in the upper watershed); 11) walking trails through sites of outstanding natural beauty (in the upper watershed); 12) fields for lamb rearing (in the upper watershed); 13) rivers for fishing (in the upper watershed); 14) Waterfall at Duge; 15) natural forests (in the upper watershed); 16) Agricultural plains of the Popovo polje valley; 17) Lake Bilecka; 18) Vjetrenjaca caves at Ravno; 19) House of Peace Island on Ramsko Lake; 20) Rakija and Loza production areas (in the upper watershed); 21) sheep rearing areas near Rama-Scit; 22) Source of the Neretva at Buna; 23) Bregava Springs; 24) Endemic fish stocks at Gaovica; 25) Dubrava Plateau. Important cultural or historical sites There are numerous cultural and historical sites and monuments in the NTRB, including Stećci (medieval tombstones) which date from the 11th – 13th Centuries, Churches, Monasteries, Forts, and a rich ethnographic history which boasts evidence of life from 12,000BC, as well as archaeological sites from the 4th – 1st Centuries BC47. 23 sites have been identified through local consultations, as being of cultural or historical significance. These

46 This could be co-ordinated with the current activities to identify sites of significance, post tourism brown signs and create tourism-related literature such as maps and information. 47 Bradt, 2004, 20


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include: 1) traditional mills in the Trebisnjica watershed; 2) Stećci; 3) Tvrdos Orthodox Monastery; 4) Zavala Orthodox Mosque; 5) Osman Pasha Mosque in Trebinje; 6) Orah Bronze age graveyards; 7) Panok Roman ruins; 8) Osanci Roman ruins; 9) Radmilja medieval tombstones (which have been proposed as an UNESCO site); 10) Velagic House; 11) Dervish Monastery; 12) Herceg Stjepan; 13) traditional communities near Lukomir; 14) traditional cherry roof tiles in the upper watershed; 15) Kajitaz house; 16) New Serbian Orthodox Church; 17) Tekjia at Buna 18) Badanj caves near Stolac; 19) Mogorjelo settlement near Čapljina; 20) Traditional boat races at Rupe; 21) Traditional milk, butter and cheese production (in the upper watershed); 22) The site of the Battle of the Neretva at Jablanica; 23) the Arslanagic most in Trebinje. The FBiH Ministry of Culture is in the process of preparing a list of heritage sites for BiH and is consulting with local tourism operators and communities to identify them. This process will identify sites which are in need of protection and raise awareness of sites of national heritage. Local stakeholders believe that development support for these sites is critical for economic development and capacity-building in the tourism sector. Figure 5.3.3 Sites of natural, cultural and historical importance in the NTRB


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Indigenous knowledge and traditional skills There were some cases of indigenous knowledge about land and water resource management and use which were identified during the consultation process. The elderly population of Stolac who are not connected to the main water supply network, are forced to continue to use divining methods to source water during dry periods48. The fishing company Norfish until recently, used traditional fish spawning methods49. Other agricultural practices such as medicinal herb collection (which significantly was noted only by the elderly groups who had been consulted) are still in use and small initiatives have been developed to increase public awareness about methods of picking herbs to maintain the natural ecology. Please see Textbox 5.3.4 Močvara Udraga: Exhibition on Healing Herbs on p82. Traditional hand-made tools and local agricultural production methods are used by subsistence farmers all over the watershed, however, this practice is more prevalent in the upper watershed (in particular, among the residents of highland communities of Bijelemići on Mountain Visoćica50). In the Diva Grabovica, there were incidences of continuing traditional practices of sheep sheering, dairy production, meat drying and honey production. It should be noted that the fact that these traditional practices have been sustained, relates more to the lack of resources to invest in new technologies rather than forming part of a sense of cultural identity.

“We used traditional farming methods which were very productive, although four years ago, we started to introduce more progressive methods.” Dževad Bašić, Norfish, February 2005

Traditional skills In the Middle watershed, craftsmen often work in their shops, as is evident from a stroll through the ancient trade street of Kujundžiluk of Mostar. Traditional skills, in general, are passed on from father to son through the practice of Stari Zanati (meaning old crafts). Other traditional skills identified which were practised by local communities, included wood carving (for example, the Nišić Brothers in Konjic continue a family tradition of wood carving a range of products from furniture to small boxes, largely in hard Walnut wood), woollen clothes production and boat making. Folk music is alive and practised in rural communities. Most songs are expressions of love, tragedy and turbulent times and locals have been known to spark into spontaneous singing in response to hearing the sevdalinka (lyrical song). The ganga is also performed in the middle - 48 UNDP RMAP interview February 2005 49 Norfish described these methods as “classical school methods for cultivation of fish” but would give further detail despite a follow up interview 50 Bradt, 2004, 193


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western watershed and remote communities, which is a deep chant-like music most often sung by men. Dance is also used as a form of cultural expression and highlanders celebrate by performing the gluho kolo (deaf dance). In the Trebisnjica watershed local communities and local authorities place strong emphasis on celebration of Serbian culture. The City Cultural Society of Trebinje is very active in the organisation and promotion of Serbian traditions. 3.8% of the Trebinje Municipal budget is allocated for the “celebration of cultural life” which includes folklore festivals that are hosted in the summer, as well as the annual Zvonke Children’s Music festival which enjoys the talents of several Serbian dancers, musicians and singers, as well as performances on traditional Serbian musical instruments such as the Gusle (a small guitar-like instrument). Significant sites/use of land and water for cultural practices Local religious leaders stressed the importance of the source of waters at Buna. Hundreds of Muslim visitors travel to the Tekija for celebrations relating to Mevlud (a messenger of Mohammed) on the 2nd Saturday in May at source of the Buna in Blagaj. The leaders also said that some conduct marriage ceremonies at Blagaj. Traditional practices relating to use of land and water Local teachers in the watershed area identified “Earth Day” which is celebrated on the 22nd April as a significant event. On this day, one teacher takes her pupils to a local park in Stolac where they planted a tree, when they were in the youngest class to monitor its growth throughout their school careers. In the lower watershed, there are several customary practices which make use of land and water. During July, on the day of St Ivan, people go to the river Lištica at Knežpolje for cleansing, as many locals believe that the water has healing properties. The site of Međugorje is significant and many make pilgrimages to the area, and some conduct marriage ceremonies and baptisms by the waters in the town. At the House of Sister Elvira, water is drawn from the local river on the Day of the Three Kings into the House which is believed to bring peace to the families of the residents. In the Trebisnjica watershed, there are celebrations for Iuridan, which is the warmest day of the year and traditionally celebrated by water. The Holy day of prayers for rain is held on the 18th August and when their prayers are answered, rain water is collected in Čatrnjas and then kept in Herzegovina for times of need. The Trebisnjica watershed area also hosts the Ada which is a day of traditional boat rides at Rupe.

“Blagaj Tekija has been identified as a site of religious significance and the only building truly connected to water. Here we celebrate practices and the sanctity of the Islamic faith. This practice was lost in Herzegovina until 50 years ago and has been revived since the late 1990s” Idriz Mezit, Iman for Blagaj, February 2005


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Local residents described the inspiration that the water provides for local artists, writers and poets. Religious observance and the reconstruction of religious sites The rate of religious observance remains relatively low among the traditional religious groups; however, some areas of significantly greater observance do exist, for example among Roman Catholic Croats in the Herzegovina region. The majority of Bosnian Muslims have a secular, European-oriented worldview and practice their religion only intermittently. For Bosnian Muslims, religion often serves as a community identifier, and religious practice is confined to occasional visits to the mosque or significant rites of passage such as birth, marriage, and death. Nevertheless, religious leaders from the three major faiths claim that observance is increasing among younger persons as an expression of increased identification with their ethnic heritage, in large part due to the national religious revival that occurred as a result of the Bosnian war, as the local Muslim leader in Trebinje observes of the Serbian Orthodox religion.

“Churches are visited a lot especially during the holidays. Mainly young people go to churches. They are full most of the time. Big number of young people and even more than before the war visit the church on a regular basis. A mosque has been built a few months ago but there are hardly any visitors since a very small number of populations that is Muslim have returned after the war” Husein Hodžić, Medžlis, Trebinje, April 2005

Leaders from the three main religious communities observed that they enjoy greater support from their believers in rural areas of Bosnia and Herzegovina rather than large urban centres such as Mostar51. However, it was noted that there is significantly less integration of the religions which in comparison to the successful multicultural history, contributes to the mistrust between the resident cultural groups.

“I think traditional practices of different cultures mixing together are dying out. People of different religions hardly celebrate the holidays of others anymore.” Husein Hodžić, Medžlis, Trebinje, April 2005

Local Muslim leaders consulted, spoke about their encouragement of the practice of Zakat52. Among the religious buildings destroyed during the war were 618 mosques and 129 churches in RS territory. The Commission to Preserve National Monument of BiH identifies that in

51 http://www.classbrain.com/art_cr/publish/bosnia_herzegovina_religious_freedom_report.shtml 52 The Muslim customary practice of Zakat encourages all Muslims to give a proportion of their salaries to charity. The practice does not allow for the earning of capital on income.


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total, 2,771 architectural heritage properties were either destroyed or damaged during the war and it has already restored 2,267 immovable cultural monuments since 1995. Several US$ billions have been expended on the reconstruction and redevelopment of sites of cultural significance, the majority of funding came from restricted international funding assistance53. It is significant that, despite the levels of poverty and lack of basic services, most places of worship in the watershed have received the benefit of international funds for reconstruction. While celebrating culture and imbuing a localised sense of identity, this, in some cases, has fuelled nationalistic fervour and antagonism. This was most notable in the towns of Mostar54 and Trebinje. See textbox 5.3.3 below55. Customary practices Very little of the indigenous knowledge or skills have been formally recorded and most of it survives through traditional story-telling. There are a number of internationally-funded projects to document traditional practices (see Appendix 2). One project is being undertaken by a local researcher, Alen Lepirica56, that looks at the Oral traditions of history telling in the highland communities, Semi-nomadic traditions and ethnology in the upper watershed area. There is another small initiative that documented and exhibited details on herb-picking in the lower watershed area, which is essential to protect one of Herzegovina’s most exportable products. Incorrect ways of picking herbs have threatened their abundance and therefore all organisations that deal with herbs and were consulted during the research process recognised the importance of maintaining the natural eco-system in order to enhance natural herb growth and production. There are 70-80 identified types of herb in the area and they grow most productively in areas around Čapljina, Nevesinje, Gacko, Sokolac, Romanija. Močvara have conducted research into declining numbers of herbs.

53 Exact figures on levels of expenditure were not available at time of print. 54 The huge white cross which overlooks the town of Mostar cannot help but be noted as something of a provocation to the Bosnian population of the town 55 The group comprised Četniks who are members of a Serbian nationalist group which was part of a group who fought the Turks before World War I, and was involved in guerrilla warfare in World War I and World War II 56 Alen Lepirica was integral in the establishment of Green Visions (an eco-tourism organisation) and Group Green, a network of local environmental NGOs and is also widely published.

Textbox 5.3.3 Laying of the Corner stone of Osman Pasha Mosque in Trebinje After the development of a new mosque had been agreed on the site of an Ottoman mosque, Osman Pasha Mosque, and the local authorities had prepared a ceremony in order to celebrate and lay the corner stone, a local nationalist group led a protest which quickly descended into violence and the abandonment of the ceremony. The corner stone was laid in the Summer 2003, without aplomb or ceremony. (Interview with Mufti Head office in Mostar, February 2005)


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However, this has been completed and due to a lack of funding at the time, the exhibition did not produce any literature. Please see textbox 5.3.4 below. ELMAR, which is a company that produces ethereal oils and employs approximately 100 pickers identifies the need to protect herbs in the area and therefore conducts annual seminars with the Swiss Institute for Organic Production in order to educate their workers about the correct ways of picking herbs. 5.4 Observations The findings that have been portrayed above have emerged from the consultation process, however, there are other issues which are worth highlighting to inform decision-making on integrated water and eco-system management in the NTRB. Other Environmental concerns The fact that the river is accompanied by a main transport route from the coast to Mostar to Sarajevo has meant that there is significant pollution from cars and transit vehicles. Traffic will increase with local development, and therefore there is a need to look for alternative transport. There is an old railway which also hugs the river, which remains un-used. Fisheries also have a significant impact on the local fishing stocks, which despite the legal framework for fisheries, remains unchecked. There was no mention of car wrecks, despite the fact that there are many dumping sites for old cars and car parts along the Neretva River. These wreckages have gone rusty and are now polluting the river in the upper and middle watershed areas.

“Every year, there are fewer and fewer herbs! However we sometimes come across some herbs that were thought of as gone and nonexistent. Zdenka Jelčic, Močvara, February 2005

Textbox 5.3.4 Močvara Udruga: Exhibition on Healing Herbs Močvara Udruga is a small organisation, which developed a project to understand, document and raise awareness about the herbs of Herzegovina. The co-ordinator is a women who used to be a professor and now runs the charity which developed the project. She is very knowledgeable about herbs, ways and times to pick the herbs. The project ran two exhibitions but did not manage to produce any brochures to document the exhibitions because of a lack of funding. The target audience is the young and Močvara works with schools whose pupils participate in the documentation process. Local radio has been a supportive partner and a useful medium to communicate the project to wider audiences. (Interview with Zdenka Jelčić, Močvara Udruga, February 2005)


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There are also several rubbish tips along the river banks, which are accumulating in scale and size. These tips are causing disquiet among local environmental groups. Community involvement in decision-making The lack of tradition of public participation in the watershed has meant that communities have not involved themselves in local decision-making in the past. The consultations and background reading have shown that current sustainable projects have involved the local communities at the decision-making stage and other projects that haven’t have been met with resistance. However, there is a sense of a lack of willingness to take ownership of problems and therefore decisions are often either avoided or left un-made. Role of religious leaders Leaders of the Muslim, Orthodox, Catholic, and Jewish communities have committed themselves publicly to building a durable peace and national reconciliation. The leaders of these four communities are all members of the Inter-religious Affairs Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which operates with the active involvement of the World Conference on Religion and Peace.57 The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and OHR facilitate interfaith meetings at the local level as well. The international community provides financial support to the Human Rights Chamber, which hears cases on religious discrimination, as well as provides funding to train lawyers and judges on representing human rights issues, including religious freedom.

57 http://atheism.about.com/library/irf/irf02/blirf_bosnia.htm


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6.0 RECOMMENDATIONS Inputs into the recommendations The research process identified an overarching desire of local communities to be able to increase their input and control over decision-making on issues which affect their lives. The recommendations in this report seek to develop initiatives which “Help Communities to Help Themselves”. In particular, four recurrent themes were consistently highlighted as priority needs by the local community representatives who have been involved in the consultation process. These needs are:

1) Support for rural livelihoods 2) Protection for the environment 3) Preservation of cultural heritage and local knowledge 4) Opportunities for communities to have a voice

The recommendations have also been informed by two realities in the Watershed area, and particularly in BiH. The first is the fact that the international presence has developed a de facto governance structure which has directly supported and stimulated local development since the signing of Dayton in 1995. However, this state of affairs needs to be addressed by developing and supporting an active civil society, in order to engage in their local development processes, as well as building capacities and confidence to hold decision-makers to account. This is particularly significant in light of the fact that the international community will start withdrawing their support in 2005 and the fact that funds secured through the EU accession package which is under discussion for Croatia, is still a few years off for Bosnia and Herzegovina. The recommendations were also informed by a session at the National level workshop where six recommendations (emerging from the consultations) were proposed for discussion. The discussions dismissed one of the recommendations and added another two. The participants agreed on seven final recommendations. The research process for Study 4: Social and Rural Development Assessment was designed to

• Understand how people use land and water in the NTRB: o to make a living (agriculture; fisheries; tourism) o for local traditions and customs (crafts; events; and festivals)

• To identify sites of significance (cultural, historical and environmental) • To identify what communities can do for themselves in these areas and what support

they need to do it.


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The consultants presented an abridged version of the main issues in the presentation to all workshop participants, and prepared recommendation sheets to share with the participants in the Social and Rural development discussion groups. The session was designed in order to enable the opportunity to discuss with relevant stakeholders the specific recommendations, which had emerged from the consultation process. The national workshop was designed to ensure that concrete recommendations on activities and implementation would emerge from the discussions. The specific aim of the discussion sessions was to identify activities to recommend to be taken forward for funding. The consultants explained that the rationale behind the selection of recommendation proposed, was informed by the fact that initiatives by international aid agencies do and will benefit groups in the community, however, in the past, less attention had been given to how a community as a whole can be proactive and engage in the development process. The consultants clarified that they wanted to identify initiatives that will ‘Help Communities to Help Themselves’. The agenda of the discussions session enabled 50 minutes discussion to agree the recommendations. The consultants proposed the following recommendations which had emerged from the consultation process:

1. Develop a vision for rural development: what will my community look like in 5-10 years?

2. Develop rural development plans and increase capacity to manage and implement plans

3. Develop a tourism management strategy 4. Develop flourishing markets 5. Enable communities to protect sites of importance 6. Enable communities to represent their own interests 7. Training for local communities to access the resources that are available to them

By the end of the initial plenary discussion, the following were proposed as final recommendations.

1. Enable community based planning – developing a vision 2. Enable communities to input into local tourism management strategy 3. Enable communities to protect and develop places of importance 4. Enable communities to represent their own interests 5. Develop capacities for agricultural development 6. Community based recycling 7. Development and Implementation of LEAPs

The consultants then split the participants into small groups (2 or 3 people) who chose which recommendation, they wanted to take forward. Participants selected the recommendation which were relevant to their field of experience and expertise. The groups were aided with an


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Example sheet in order to guide the specific recommendation group discussions. The National workshop aimed to identify specific activities (what will be done) to help meet the overall recommendation objective, as well as the related organisation (how will it be done), and the support that would be required to deliver the activities (what is needed). The tables also include space to record any issues which were identified during the discussions. The example sheet prepared a table for Recommendation 1: Developing a Community Vision which is represented below:

Actions (what will be done)

Organisation (how)

Support (what is needed)

Issues

1. Invite community members to participate

2. Identify community planning team

3. Generate ideas 4. Communications 5. Decide on plan 6. Implementation

strategy

Key stakeholders Advertising Funding sources Decision making processes Research Communicate with government

Project champions Experts in several areas Administrative support Local business support Funding Manager Training Networks Venues for meetings Publicity/Meetings

Lack of community interest No existing regional planning framework No funding availableGovernment inertia

The tables which were produced from the small group discussions can be viewed in Appendix 11 as noted in section 3.6. The group then reconvened and gave abridged presentations of the recommendation, and the main activities which they proposed. These were discussed and agreed by the group as final recommendations to present for the workshop plenary discussion. Final Recommendations The final recommendations are informed by the process outlined above and also by the rationale Golder Associates and Bosna S Oil Services wanted to support communities so that they could develop initiatives which would

a) Help lift local communities out of poverty b) Develop local employment opportunities in order to attract young people back to their

villages c) Support the documentation of local traditions, customs, practices and skills and d) Help develop a sense of civic pride and ownership over the future

The consultants would therefore, like to make the following recommendations to the Ministry of Physical Planning and Environment.


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1) Enable Community-Based Planning – Developing a Vision 2) Enable Community Inputs into Local Tourism Management Strategies

3) Enable Communities to Protect and Develop Sites of Significance

4) Enable Communities to Represent Their Own Interests 5) Develop Capacities of Local Communities to Support Agricultural Development 6) Develop Community-Based Recycling Initiatives 7) Enable Community Involvement in the Development and Implementation of the Local

Environmental Action Plans (LEAPs) The following tables include a brief description of what activities would support the delivery of these recommendations and how these activities would be implemented.


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PROJECT NUMBER

1

Project Name Enabling Community Based Planning: Creating the Vision

Description Enabling Community Based Planning will develop a locally owned vision of the community’s future development. The process of collating thoughts and aspirations will not only identify needs but also stimulate interest and local ownership over the whole local development process. The process will also create Community Development Working Groups (DWG)58 which will comprise representatives from different sectors, organisations and interest groups. The DWG will convene actors and develop a vision for local community development and related action plans. The DWG will connect with local, municipal and Entity level authorities to inform the strategic development of Guidance notes for local development planning in other areas. The process will also disseminate information about the value of a co-ordinated, coherent and representative local community development plan to encourage broader participation into the process. The DWG will be responsible for developing activities in consultation with the local community, representing the community interest in other fora, and developing fundraising and project management capacities.

Project Rationale

1.2., 1.3., 1.4., 1.5., 1.6

Estimated costs

$189,000

Estimated duration

Phase I (Months 1-6) 1. Select pilot areas 2. Analysis of interested/influential parties 3. Contact and engagement of actors Phase II (Months 7-12) 4. Creation of the DWG 5. Raise awareness of initiative and invite broader participation 6. Create linkages with other authorities 7. Consultation on initial local development vision – ideas/actors/activities/

timeframe for implementation 8. Building capacities in project and budget management and fundraising Phase III (Months 13 – 36) 9. Implementing the Vision 10. M&E of plans 11. Identifying sustainable income revenues/funding mechanisms

58 Local Development Committees and citizens committees, as well as the development of Municipality Visions and strategic goals were proposed as ways forward in a paper on ‘Local Governments and Citizens Reaching Development Together: Experiences from Bosnia Herzegovina’ written at the end of 2001 by Damir Mijević http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/UNTC/UNPAN013828.pdf


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PROJECT NUMBER

2

Project Name

Enable community inputs into local tourism management strategy

Description Tourism has received attention over the last couple of years being the focus of a few studies commissioned by the international community. This is largely because tourism has enormous potential in the watershed area and it provides great opportunities to build up foreign exchange reserves through foreign exchange income. Building up local capacity to develop foreign incomes reserves will reduce dependency on the soon-to-be-withdrawing international community. There are on-going initiatives (identification of tourism resources; standardisation of tourism facilities; assessments of tourism facilities) and pilot projects to develop eco-tourism as a sustainable tourism development model. Pilot programmes are being rolled out in 3 towns in the watershed area. This report makes recommendations to support these on-going initiatives by enabling local community support for the initiatives, increasing awareness about the value of increasing tourism potential, as well as increasing opportunities for the local communities to benefit from the development of local tourism industry. It is essential that local communities feel empowered and can input into any tourism related strategy and therefore this project will maximise opportunities for local communities to connect to existing tourism management decision-making structures.

Project Rationale

2.1, 2.2, 2.3

Estimated costs

$57,000

Estimated duration

Phase I (Months 1-6) 1. Identification of on-going initiatives to protect/identify/develop tourism sites 2. Raise awareness of local tourism sites 3. Identify training needs to enable community inputs into tourism

management Phase II (Months 7-12) 4. Enable community inputs into regional tourism strategies 5. Connect community to current Tourism standardisation programme 6. Connect to current regional tourism development networks 7. Implement training to enable community inputs into tourism industry

decision-making structures Phase III (Months 13-36) 8. Promote tourism through media 9. Lobby regional tourism networks to promote local tourism internationally


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PROJECT NUMBER

3

Project Name Enabling communities to protect and develop sites of significance

Description This project aims to enable communities to learn about, protect and maintain local sites of significance, including historical, cultural and natural sites. The project will identify key organisations to develop a network within the local community to monitor significant sites. The network will include local tourism facilities representatives, agricultural producers, herb growers, mushroom growers, heritage site residents, historians, religious representatives, local authorities in order to agree the best mechanisms to enable protection and development of the sites. The network will document the data recorded through local consultations and will include projects detailing specific customary or traditional agricultural practices. This project will work in collaboration with other similar initiatives in the area. The local communities groups will inform municipal, NTRB, Canton and Entity level groups working on tourism related development and environmental protection in order to inform them of issues and maximise opportunities for local communities to input into the strategic management of NTRB resources. The project will develop specific interest partnerships and facilitate planning and co-ordination of activities among actors working to the same objectives. The project will also develop an awareness raising campaign in order to develop a local sense of civic pride.

Project Rationale

3.1., 3.2., 3.3., 3.4.

Estimated costs

$104,000

Estimated duration

Phase I (Months 1-6) 1. Identify lead organisations in the community 2. Create and educate a network of site protection parties 3. Development of specific interest partnerships to represent community Phase II (Months 7-12) 4. Create localised action plans for significant sites 5. Raise public awareness of initiative Phase III (Months 13-36) 6. Build capacities in project and budget management 7. Monitor and evaluate effectiveness of local community significant sites

project


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PROJECT NUMBER

4

Project Name Enabling communities to represent their own interests

Description This project adopts different approaches: Short, medium and long term. Each approach maximises the potential of the long term positive impact of the project and therefore proposes focused interventions which will maximise the opportunities, skills and confidence of local communities to represent their own interests in different fora. This project will connect to the DWG created through the development of Project Number 1: Creating the Vision. The project will also be strategic in the selection of activities that it undertakes to ensure that it makes effective interventions. Therefore, this initiative will develop local information centres which house information on local resources, on-going rural development initiatives, past rural development initiatives and statistical data. The information centre will provide training in data collection and analysis, as well as training in presentation, advocacy and lobbying. This project will also seek to raise awareness of current sources of information and potential avenues to represent specific issues and interests. Therefore, the project will raise awareness of opportunities to input into decision-making processes. It will advertise forms of media and public fora and debates. The centre will develop to become a co-ordination centre on public participation and support/create mechanisms to increase local public participation. The information centre will also provide training tools relating to sustainable development including: tourism; rural development; agriculture; and environment. These training tools will initially be developed for education programmes at primary and elementary level schooling.

Project Rationale

4.1., 4.2., 4.3., 4.4., 4.5., 4.6

Estimated costs

$393,000

Estimated duration

Phase I (Months 1-6) 1. Study on public participation and relevant mechanisms to enhance public

participation 2. Identify suitable information centre venues in pilot towns 3. Identify local residents for training 4. Training in statistical data collection and analysis

Phase II (Months 7-12) 5. Raise awareness of media and opportunities to input into decision-making 6. Build local capacity in research, public speaking, advocacy and lobbying 7. Develop ideas about training modules for educational institutions

Phase III (Months 13-36) 8. Raise awareness of media and opportunities to input into decision-making 9. Build local capacity in research, public speaking, advocacy and lobbying 10. Develop and raise awareness about ideas for training modules for educational

institutions


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PROJECT NUMBER

5

Project Name Develop capacity to support agricultural development

Description This initiative has been proposed in order to develop opportunities in the agricultural sector for long term unemployed industrial workers. By providing levels of training in environmental protection skills and tools for the agricultural sector, the project meets needs to stimulate local employment potential which were identified in the introduction to this report. The skills identified during the consultation process included: water purification; water protection; water management; funding applications and proposal writing; project management and decision-making. Developing the capacity of the local agricultural producers will enhance their opportunities to access credit facilities, increase production and develop new markets for their products. This project will be co-ordinated with Project 2: Enabling community inputs into Tourism Management Strategies. Developing rural produce and markets and connecting them to the Tourism strategy will bring potential consumers and thus stimulate local economies. Other activities include a registration of current and past agricultural initiatives (to learn from experiences or to connect to current producers), as well as the creation of a local database of support for the agricultural sector, including contact, process and access details. This project will develop a network of credit facilities who can collectively absorb risk and jointly offer specific credit terms to those producers who experience issues relating to proof of land ownership. Activities proposed here have been identified to support, as much as possible, on-going initiatives which provide support to local agricultural producers and also develop markets for their produce. This project proposes that the agricultural producers will benefit from understanding what avenues for support are made available to them and therefore will create a database of all technical and financial support that is available for the agricultural producers community.

Project Rationale

5.1., 5.2., 5.3., 5.4., 5.5., 5.6., 5.7.

Estimated costs

$102,000

Estimated duration

Phase I (Months 1-6) 1. Agricultural development training 2. Development of information sharing networks 3. Local registration of current and past agricultural projects Phase II (Months 7-12) 4. Agricultural development training 5. Development of information sharing networks 6. Discussion with credit facilities to offer joint funds with flexible conditions 7. Develop local database development of agriculture support Phase III (Months 13-36) 8. Agricultural development training 9. Develop flexible collaborative credit fund 10. Create technical team of trained experts to advise on skills


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PROJECT NUMBER

6

Project Name Community based recycling

Description This project tries to tackle the problems of long term unemployment, dumpsites in the local areas, and stimulate job creation and local economies. The project aims to develop a private sector facility which will ultimately be self-financing (10-15 years). The service will employ local long term unemployed and train them in skills to recycle goods, including: white goods repair; electrical goods repair; furniture repair; upholstery repair and replacement; clothes; metal work and eventually glass work. The project will raise awareness about recycling, and distribute the tools to enable local residents to recycle their waste. The project will create accessible recycling centres in local towns. It will work with long term unemployed who will be trained in relevant skills to support recycling as noted above, as well as capacity building in retail development and outlet management. This project will be co-ordinated with OHR inputs. The project will develop a retail outlet in order to sell off the recycled goods, providing cheap goods for the local residents and a sustainable income for the project. In the long term, it will develop a collection service which collates all recyclable goods to a central depot. This project will also be co-ordinated with local and municipal authorities, as well as local landfill operators. This project will seek contributions of seed funding from the GEF initiative to fund phase I and partial funding for Phase II. The project will then seek funding from the investment community and private sector.

Project Rationale

6.1., 6.2., 6.3., 6.4., 6.5.

Estimated costs

$1,642,000

Estimated duration

Phase I (Months 1-6) 1. Identify partners 2. Develop co-operation agreements with local partners and local authorities 3. Identify training programmes and implementers for long term unemployed 4. Develop recycling networks Phase II (Months 7-12) 5. Develop recycling information campaigns 6. Develop recycling collection centres/services 7. Initiate clean-up programme for tourism sites Phase III (Months 13-36) 8. Develop/expand recycling centres 9. Develop/Expand skills training 10. Develop centres for the re-sale of recycled goods


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PROJECT NUMBER

7

Project Name Develop and implement Local Environment Action Plans (LEAPs)

Description This project will make use of the DWG from Recommendation Project 1 and the contacts developed through the implementation of Recommendation Project 4. It therefore will make use of existing and established local community regular meetings and groups. The LEAP will be presented and discussed in the DWG in order to co-ordinate environmental awareness raising, and environmental concerns into the DWG recommendations, lobbying and action plans. This project will also connect to the local, municipal and Entity level authorities, as well as develop local capacities to manage projects, planning processes, funding and expenditure.

Project Rationale

7.1., 7.2., 7.3.

Estimated costs

$152,000

Estimated duration

Phase I (Months 1-6) 1. Develop co-operation mechanisms between LEAP actors and local

authorities Phase II (Months 7-12) 2. Draft LEAP recommendations 3. Development of local capacity to manage, raise and monitor funding Phase III (Months 13-36) 4. Seed funding for LEAP implementation


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7.0 PRELIMINERY TIME HORIZON AND ESTIMATED COSTS OF RECOMMENDED ACTIVITIES The recommendations which were presented in Section 5 have been summarised in the table below. The table proposes an indicative timescale for implementation of the activities, as well as an estimated budget to support implementation. Please see the full estimated budget in Appendix 11 for a detailed overview of proposed expenditure, which includes suggestions on potential co-funders.

RECOMMENDATION ACTIVITIES

DURATION (MONTHS)

COSTS US$

1) ENABLING COMMUNITY BASED PLANNING

1.1 ANALYSIS OF INTERESTED PARTIES 1.2 DEVELOP COMMUNITY

DEVELOPMENT WORKING GROUP (DWG) OF INTERESTED PARTIES

1.3 CREATION OF LINKAGES BETWEEN MUNICIPALITY ADMINISTRATION AND DWG

1.4 PRODUCE LOCAL DEVELOPMENT VISION & PLANS

1.5 PROMOTE PROJECTS AND VALUE TO COMMUNITY

1.6 DEVELOP ACTION PLANS WITH FOCUS ON FUNDRAISING AND MONITORING

1-2 1-36

ON-GOING

1-36 ON-GOING

6-12

6-12

ON-GOING 6-12

ON-GOING

25,000 70,000

25,000

21,000

12,000

35,000

36 $189,000 2) ENABLE COMMUNITY INPUTS INTO LOCAL TOURISM MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

2.1 IDENTIFY TOURISM RESOURCES AND COMMUNICATE TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES

2.2 DEVELOP REGIONAL TOURISM STRATEGY

2.3 CREATE REGIONAL TOURISM NETWORKS

2.4 PROMOTE TOURISM THROUGH MEDIA

2.5 IDENTIFY TRAINING NEEDS FOR TOURISM INDUSTRY AND IMPLEMENT APPROPRIATE TRAINING

2.6 CREATE STANDARDISATION FOR TOURISM INDUSTRY

1-2

6-12

6-12

ON-GOING

1-6

ON-GOING

0

15,000

7,000

2,000

10,000

20,000

3,000

36 $57,000 3) ENABLE COMMUNITIES TO PROTECT AND DEVELOP SITES OF IMPORTANCE

3.1 IDENTIFY LEAD ORGANISATIONS IN COMMUNITIES

3.2 EDUCATE AND PRODUCE A NETWORK OF INTERESTED PARTIES

3.3 DEVELOP SPECIFIC INTEREST PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES

3.4 CREATE LOCALISED SITES OF SIGNIFICANCE DEVELOPMENT ACTION PLANS

3.5 RAISE PUBLIC AWARENESS

1-2

1-6 ON-GOING

1-36

1-36

7,000

30,000

36,000

21,000

10,000


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36 $104,000 4) ENABLE COMMUNITIES TO REPRESENT THEIR OWN INTERESTS

4.1 INCORPORATE ISSUES RELATING TO SUSTAINABLE TOURISM, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, AGRICULTURE & ENVIRONMENT INTO EDUCATION PROGRAMMES AT PRIMARY AND ELEMENTARY LEVELS

4.2 INCREASE AWARENESS OF OPPORTUNITIES TO INPUT INTO DECISIONS THROUGH MEDIA

4.3 CREATE LOCAL INFORMATION CENTRES FOR LOCAL STATISTICS, DATA COLLECTION & ANALYSIS

4.4 TRAINING IN RESEARCH, PUBLIC SPEAKING, ADVOCACY & LOBBYING

4.5 CO-ORDINATION ON PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

4.6 STUDY ON MECHANISMS TO INCREASE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

4.7 IMPLEMENT PLANS OF ACTION

ON-GOING

1-36

1-36

12-36

12-36

1-6

6-12

14,000

30,000

286,000

21,000

9,000

15,000

18,000 36 $393,000 5) DEVELOP CAPACITY TO SUPPORT AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT

5.1 AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING FOR UNEMPLOYED INDUSTRIAL WORKERS • TRAINING IN WATER

PURIFICATION AND PROTECTION

• TRAINING IN SUSTAINABLE WATER MANAGEMENT

• TRAINING IN GRANT/ FUNDING APPLICATIONS

• TRAINING IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT & DECISION MAKING

5.2 DEVELOP INFORMATION-SHARING AND COMMUNICATION NETWORKS

5.3 LOCAL REGISTRATION OF CURRENT AND PAST AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

5.4 LOCAL DATABASE OF SUPPORT FOR AGRICULTURE

5.5 TRAINING IN MEDIATION & DIALOGUE MANAGEMENT

1-24

1-12

1-6

6-36

24-36

50,000

12,000

15,000

5,000

20,000

36 $102,000 6) COMMUNITY BASED RECYCLING

6.1 CLEAN UP AT TOURISM SITES 6.2 DEVELOP CO-OPERATION

MECHANISMS WITH LOCAL GROUPS AND AUTHORITIES

6.3 DEVELOP RECYCLING NETWORKS 6.4 DEVELOP RECYCLING

INFORMATION CAMPAIGNS 6.5 DEVELOP RECYCLING CENTRES 6.6 DEVELOP CENTRES FOR RE-SALE

OF RECYCLED GOODS 6.7 DEVELOP TRAINING PROGRAMMES

6-36 3-9

3-9 6-12

12-36 24-36

1-36

15,000 14,000

21,000 42,000

210,000 280,000

30,000


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FOR LONG TERM UN-EMPLOYED 6.8 DEVELOP RECYCLING

COLLECTION SERVICES

6-12

1,040,000

36 $1,642,000 7) DEVELOP & IMPLEMENT LOCAL ENVIRONMENT ACTION PLANS

7.1 DEVELOP CO-OPERATION MECHANISMS WITH LOCAL AUTHORITIES & MUNICIPALITIES

7.2 DRAFT LEAP RECOMMENDATIONS 7.3 DEVELOP LOCAL CAPACITIES TO

RAISE AND MONITOR FUNDS 7.4 LEAP IMPLEMENTATION (SEED

FUNDING)

1-6

6-12 6-18

12-36

0

42,000 60,000

50,000

36 $152,000 TOTAL ESTIMATED COSTS OF IMPLEMENTATION $2,639,000

ESTIMATED INCOME FROM PRIVATE FUNDING $1,040,000 ESTIMATED INCOME FROM AVAILABLE FUNDING RESOURCES $200,000

TOTAL REQUESTED FROM GEF PACKAGE

$1,399,000

The consultants are making a request to the GEF to support Social and Rural Development activities to support the delivery of an Integrated Water Resources Management system in the NTRB. This request will fund Phase 1 activities as detailed in the overview of the proposed expenditure budget presented in Appendix 11. This budget makes suggestions for co-funders for initiatives where appropriate.


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8.0 NEXT STEPS The consultants have undertaken a consultative approach to understanding the issues relating to social and rural development in the watershed area and identifying projects in order to best tackle those issues which maximises co-ordination with current on-going activities, minimises reproduction of efforts, stimulates broader processes of development, engages with and empowers local communities and stimulates local ownership over the development process. The selected recommendations are likely to be more sustainable due to the fact that they are dependent on local community efforts and can progress independently of Municipal, Canton or Entity level plans, however, they have also been developed in order to:

• create sustainable horizontal networks; • develop spaces for dialogue which convenes groups with specific interests; • develop a community based voice; • maximise opportunities to integrate local plans into local, municipal and Entity level

planning; as well as • create sustainable vertical linkages to enable this.

The consultants submit the 7 recommendations for consideration by the Technical Working Group to the GEF project and request approval in order to advance the project planning. The consultants would then undertake the following steps

1. Define project and budget management processes

2. Convene with partners and conduct joint planning to provide detailed project implementation plans for Months 1-36

3. Discuss, agree and establish frameworks and processes with partners to support project implementation

4. Engage with donors, partners, local authorities and other stakeholders to communicate project activities and seek opportunities for further partnership

5. Build capacities to manage, implement and fundraise for projects

6. Implementation of projects

7. Build capacities and feedback mechanisms to enable regular monitoring and evaluation

8. Conduct monitoring and evaluation