Bosnia and Herzegovina

Canada's Commitment
Results
Country Profile

Canada's Commitment

Canada has provided assistance to Bosnia and Herzegovina since 1993. Early programming put in place by the Canadian Agency for International Development (CIDA) focused mainly on multilateral peace support operations, reconstruction, and humanitarian assistance. As peace was restored, CIDA's support evolved to focus on social and economic development.

CIDA continues to provide assistance to support Bosnia and Herzegovina's efforts to maintain peace and security, and build a democratic and stable society. CIDA's goal is to contribute to developing responsive, accountable, and competent national government institutions that guarantee citizens' safety and create an enabling environment for social, political, and economic stability. CIDA's programming focuses on two sectors that are key to the transition process: health and rule of law with gender equality, youth, refugees, and environment as cross-cutting themes.

Through its programming, CIDA supports the work of partners, both Canadian organizations that specialize in delivering assistance in health and judicial reform, and international organizations including the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Council of Europe, the World Health Organization, United Nations agencies, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

Bosnia and Herzegovina benefits from various bilateral (country to country) programs, such as:

• geographic and multilateral programs including the Humanitarian Assistance Program;

• other programs that allow institutions, associations, Canadian and international non-governmental organizations and, private sector enterprises to receive funding from CIDA to execute projects worldwide; and

• the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives managed by the Embassy of Canada to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

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Results

CIDA's programming in Bosnia and Herzegovina has achieved notable results. In the health sector, CIDA has helped strengthen community-based centres for the disabled and contributed to reforming primary health care clinics, including training family medicine specialists and nurses. As a result of CIDA's work in rule of law, public consultations in local planning are now the norm and are helping democratize governance in several municipalities. CIDA has also made a significant contribution in demining, allowing refugees to return to their communities and allowing economic development to proceed. The capacity of Bosnia and Herzegovina's Mine Action Center has been strengthened to the point where it is now considered one of the best in the world. CIDA has also contributed to developing civil society by supporting local initiatives in CIDA's areas of focus in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

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Country Profile

While peace has been restored, Bosnia and Herzegovina continues to face many challenges in addressing its post-conflict and post-communist past. The country is governed by a complex structure (140 ministries at three levels), which requires an estimated 60 percent of GDP to support. Efforts to strengthen the government at the state level have proven difficult given a lack of consensus between ethnic groups. Unemployment remains at roughly 40 percent, especially among youth. Poverty is high in rural areas and among vulnerable groups. Delayed structural reforms and limited investment are also challenges.

Efforts continue to be made to move towards integration in Euro-Atlantic structures. CIDA remains committed to supporting Bosnia and Herzegovina in its implementation of democratic and market-oriented reforms required for accession to the European Union.