Contacts:

In Sarajevo: Srecko Latal (387) 33-440-293, Slatal@worldbank.org;

In Washington: Miriam Van Dyck (202) 458 2931, mvandyck@worldbank.org

WASHINGTON, January 9, 2007 –The World Bank’s Board of Directors today approved additional financing in the amount of US$5 million for the ongoing Community Development Project (CDP) for Bosnia and Herzegovina. The project was launched in 2002, with an initial value of US$22.6 million and an aim to improve basic services and facilities for low-income and poor communities in under-served municipalities.

“The Community Development Project’s (CDP) approach to infrastructure reconstruction in Bosnia and Herzegovina involves citizens in the decision-making process for project investments.  The project supports local government and citizens’ partnerships in financing investments in local communities,” said World Bank Country Manager for Bosnia and Herzegovina Dirk Reinermann.   “The CDP also strengthens the capacity of local governments to deliver services to the poor through fostering linkages and partnerships between poor communities and municipal governments in investment identification and decision-making,”

So far, a total of 400 sub-projects (250 in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and 150 in the Republika Srpska), have been supported under this project in the 80 poorest municipalities in the country. Through these investments in local infrastructure and other priority projects, the CDP has reached over one million beneficiaries, or 25 percent of the country's population.

The majority of CDP projects have, as priority works, water supply, sewage, sanitation, rural roads, street lighting, libraries, cultural centers, youth centers, sports fields, playgrounds, schools, and health clinics, among other things. Among these 400 sub-projects, CDP supported construction or provision of 76 water and sewage systems,  75 local roads, 18 schools, 9 ambulances, 57 sports or cultural centers, three bridges and many other infrastructure or capacity-building sub-projects.

Local participation in the decision-making, co-financing and implementation of the CDP project has resulted in increased impact of these sub-projects, improved capacity of local communities, as well as better local ownership of achieved results. Given the positive impact of the project, the government of Bosnia and Herzegovina has requested the Bank to provide the additional financing for this project which was approved today.

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