Integrated Local Development Project (ILDP)

The Integrated Local Development Project (ILDP) was launched in 2008 as a joint project of the Government of Switzerland and UNDP in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), with the aim of harmonizing integrated and inclusive strategic planning at the local level. The project is currently in its third phase, and as part of the previous two phases, ILDP has made a significant contribution to standardizing development planning and management at the local level and supported 60 local governments across BiH in creating and implementing their development strategies. This approach to development planning and management was subsequently applied at the cantonal level and all 10 cantons were supported in the development of their integrated development strategies. The project also helped to pave the way for the establishment of strategic planning and development management systems at the entity level, including the establishment of financial mechanisms for targeted support to implementation of local development priorities.

ILDP is implemented in partnership with the Government of Switzerland, the Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees of BiH, the Federal Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Administration and Self-Government of Republika Srpska and the Association of Municipalities and Cities of the Federation of BiH and Republika Srpska.

What we do:

ILDP supports partner institutions at entity and cantonal level and local governments in BiH in establishing a functional development planning and management system. The aim is to strengthen effective design and implementation of public policies and thus contribute to better development outcomes. At the same time, financial mechanisms to support local development ensure contribution to implementation of local development priorities, which at the same time contribute achieving strategic goals at entity level, especially in the context of implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals in BiH. By improving development planning and management, these financial mechanisms ultimately contribute to the improvement of public services at the local level, the growth of household income and the quality of life of citizens across the country. In its current and final phase, ILDP works with 41 local governments and all 10 cantons to strengthen their capacity to effectively meet citizens' needs and accelerate development through an inclusive, accountable and results-based development planning and management system. In this regard, the Project defines three main results:

First result: Lead planning structures at entity level steer the development planning and management systems characterised by vertical and horizontal coordination and greater accountability towards the citizens;
Second result: Local and cantonal governments effectively address needs of citizens and accelerate growth through inclusive development planning and management;
Third result: Citizens, civil society organisations and media take pro-active part in development management and benefit from improved services.

What we achieved in the first two phases:

With the support of the Project, a standardized methodology for strategic planning at the level of cantons and local governments was developed. As a result, more than 83% of local governments across the country and all 10 cantons designed their development strategies in an harmonised manner. The planning processes were guided by the principles of sustainable development and social inclusion;
ILDP has provided significant contribution to the introduction of a systematic approach to local development management in 60 municipalities and cities across the country in order to make development strategies viable documents and key platforms for local government budgeting and investment;
Successful development planning and management practices and approaches have been transferred from the local level to the cantonal level in the FBiH. All ten cantons adopted development strategies that were created through an inclusive and participatory manner, also involving constituent local governments;
ILDP has paved the way for the development and adoption of new regulatory frameworks for development planning and management in both entities. In FBiH, the Project supported partners in the participatory design of the Law on Development Planning and Development Management, which was adopted in 2017. This Law establishes an overall system of strategic planning and development management in this entity. Similar support is currently being provided to partners in the Republika Srpska as well as to the Brcko District of BiH, seeking to ensure the incorporation of Agenda 2030 into development planning and management processes;
ILDP supported the establishment of financial mechanisms to support local development at the entity level. The goal of these financial instruments is to strengthen the vertical coherence of public policies and to support implementation of priorities defined in local development strategies;
Since their establishment in 2014, more than USD 3.5 million has been allocated through financial mechanisms, in both entities, for 44 local development projects selected on a competitive basis. These projects have improved the quality of service delivery for more than 103,000 citizens (including 17,062 citizens from vulnerable groups), in the areas of administrative and communal services, health and education. They also contributed to increased income for 2,400 households in rural areas and the creation of 529 new jobs. Drawing on the work of the ILDP, the EU provided additional financial support through the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) for projects supported through the financial mechanisms.

What we are working on:

In addition to activities aimed at strengthening the development planning and management systems, in its final, the so-called consolidation phase, ILDP will support the implementation of additional three cycles of financial mechanisms to support local development. More than 250,000 citizens are expected to benefit in terms of improved quality of public services and increased incomes.

The expected results of the current phase are:

Functional planning and development management systems in both entities to contribute to better policy making and implementation, quality of life for citizens and BiH’s integration into the EU.
Improved implementation of development strategies and enhanced service delivery.
Reduced economic, social and territorial inequalities through more coherent and vertically aligned design and implementation of development policies.
Strengthened capacities of partners - local governments and cantons - to develop and implement projects, thereby improving their overall absorption capacity, especially in the context of EU pre-accession funds and other external sources of financing.
Increased involvement of citizens in local decision-making processes.

Status

Closed

Project start date

March 1, 2017

Estimated end date

February 28, 2022

Geographic coverage

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Focus area

Rural and Regional Development

Partners

Government of Switzerland
Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Ministry of Justice of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Ministry of Administration and Local Self-Government of Republika Srpska
Association of Municipalities and Cities of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Association of Local Authorities of Republika Srpska
All 10 cantons
Selected Municipalities and Cities

Where we work