Green Climate Fund Approves $14.4 Million to Enhance Flood Resilience in BiH

(Patria) - The Green Climate Fund (GCF) has approved $14.4 million in funding for a new project aimed at improving climate-resilient flood risk management in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), this initiative aims to enhance flood forecasting and early warning systems in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as strengthen flood risk management at the national and local community levels.

The Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Staša Košarac, welcomed the GCF's investment in this $72 million project, co-financed by relevant institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which will be implemented in cooperation with UNDP.

- The project is a key step in addressing the challenges posed by flood risks in the Republika Srpska and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina caused by climate change, with a particular focus on the river basins of Vrbas, Una, Sana, Drina, and Bosna.

It will not only increase resilience to climate change but also contribute to the well-being and prosperity of the most vulnerable communities, including women, children, and the elderly - Košarac said.

Over the past decade, climate change has led to an increase in average annual temperatures and significant changes in precipitation patterns in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Devastating floods have become more frequent, causing damage to people, property, and infrastructure, particularly in sectors such as agriculture and water management.

In May 2014, over a million people were affected by devastating floods caused by heavy rainfall across the country.

It is estimated that these floods caused damage and losses equivalent to nearly 15% of GDP, while around 90,000 people were displaced.

Effective flood management in Bosnia and Herzegovina is hampered by outdated flood protection, lack of resources and expertise, a poor monitoring network, and inadequate preparedness in local communities.

Therefore, this six-year project will help address these shortcomings and establish an integrated and gender-responsive approach to climate-resilient flood risk management, including structural and non-structural measures, as well as ecosystem-based approaches such as afforestation.

The Acting Resident Representative of UNDP in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sylvain Merlen, stated that the project aims to protect lives, livelihoods, and critical infrastructure, and to support the country on its path towards a more climate-resilient future.

- As the catastrophic impacts of climate change intensify, this project is increasingly urgent.

This intervention is part of UNDP's broader Green Transition portfolio, which represents a multi-sectoral package of strategic actions aimed at uniting the efforts of all stakeholders to increase and accelerate the green and just transition in Bosnia and Herzegovina - Merlen added.

The project is expected to begin implementation in 2024.