Bosnia and Herzegovina - Federation Road Sector Modernization Project (English)

Ratings for the Federation Road Sector Modernization Project for Bosnia and Herzegovina were as follows: outcomes were satisfactory, the Bank performance was satisfactory, and the monitoring and evaluation quality was substantial. Some lessons learned included: a key aspect of the activity involved conducting a vulnerability assessment of the network, pinpointing assets most susceptible to extreme weather and climate change impacts. Data from the assessment was incorporated into an upgraded RAMS to help plan short term maintenance programs and longer-term reconstruction plans. Additionally, the quality of the RAMS data continues to be enhanced by meteorological stations provided under the project, further enhancing the agency's capacity to make climate resilient road management decisions. The project's success in integrating climate change resilience into infrastructure asset management, rather than creating a parallel management system, is replicable and appropriate to use with other road infrastructure agencies facing specific climate hazards. Land acquisition, compensation, and resettlement processes are complex and can take many years to complete, particularly in countries with burdensome administrative procedures and where many stakeholders(municipalities) are involved. The lack of funds allocated to land acquisition during the crucial first year of implementation aggravated the situation. Unfortunately, the processes could not be completed before the contract start dates and land acquisition issues would persist for most of the project's duration. The experience suggests the need to allow adequate time for land acquisition procedures and to develop and approve relevant policies and regulations during project preparation. Adequate funding should also be allocated, particularly in the early stages of implementation. Otherwise, such complications could lead to cascading delays, impacting the overall pace of efficiency of project implementation.