Regional Housing Programme — Bosnia and Herzegovina factsheet (November 2023)

The Regional Housing Programme (RHP) factsheet, published by the Regional Housing Programme, presents a comprehensive account of the initiative’s achievements across Bosnia and Herzegovina up to November 2023. The document, compiled through automatic extraction from the programme’s official PDF, details the scale of housing assistance delivered to refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and returnees after the 1990s conflicts. It highlights the collaborative nature of the programme, involving ministries from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia, and financed primarily by the European Union together with a range of international donors.

RHP succeeded in providing 2 778 housing units to families in Bosnia and Herzegovina. These deliveries encompassed three main modalities: provision of building materials, construction of new apartments, and reconstruction of houses. The total number of families assisted translates to roughly 9 000 individuals, representing a significant contribution to post‑conflict reconstruction and social stability.

The programme was supported by a total budget of € 63.1 million, of which € 57.5 million was allocated as grant funds. National contributions amounted to € 5.6 million. Detailed cost breakdowns for each sub‑project show substantial investments: for example, Sub‑project BiH1 incurred a total cost of € 2 821 432, with € 2 387 311 in grants and € 434 121 from national sources. Similar financial structures are reported for the remaining sub‑projects, illustrating the blended financing model that combined EU and other donor aid with domestic funding.

The factsheet enumerates six sub‑projects (BiH1‑BiH6) covering diverse housing interventions. Activities included reconstruction of 808 family houses, design of 198 houses and 251 apartments, construction of 567 flats in multi‑apartment buildings, and provision of building materials to 20 families with turnkey reconstruction assistance for 146 families. The technical measures also incorporated sustainability considerations, though specific environmental standards are not detailed in the summary.

Implementation was overseen by a lead institution, the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in partnership with several project implementation units: the Federal Ministry of Displaced Persons and Refugees, the Republic Secretariat of Displaced Persons and Migration, and the Department of Brčko District Government for Displaced Persons, Refugees and Housing Issues. This multi‑level governance ensured alignment with national policies and facilitated coordination across the four participating countries.

The RHP benefitted from a broad donor base. While the European Union served as the principal donor, additional contributions came from the United States, Germany, Norway, Switzerland, Italy, Denmark, Türkiye, Luxembourg, Spain, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and the Slovak Republic. This extensive support underscores the pan‑European commitment to sustainable, post‑conflict housing solutions.

For a pan‑European audience interested in sustainable housing, the RHP exemplifies a large‑scale, donor‑driven approach to rebuilding resilient communities. The programme’s integration of reconstruction, new construction and material provision, combined with substantial financial backing and cross‑border cooperation, offers valuable insights into delivering durable, socially inclusive housing in post‑conflict settings.