The evaluation covered three projects in the priority sector of the Czech Development Cooperation – Sustainable Management of Natural Resources, clean water and sanitation (SDG 6), which is also the priority sector of the Bilateral Development Cooperation in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), reflecting the country’s significant need to develop sustainable sewage disposal and sludge treatment in accordance with the principles of environmentally responsible use of natural resources. Compliance with EU standards in this area is necessary for progress towards EU membership.

The main purpose of the evaluation was to provide specific and feasible recommendations based on consistent findings and conclusions to be used for decisions by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic in cooperation with the Czech Development Agency on further cooperation in the Natural Resources Management - Water and Sanitation sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and possible replication of proven technologies and procedures in other priority countries of the Czech development cooperation. The evaluation covered project and systemic aspects, mapped the synergy of different support instruments and verified the sustainability, potential and relevance of the constructed wetlands intervention. The evaluation also assessed the business partnerships in BiH and business opportunities resulting from the three projects.

The project funded under the Foreign Development Cooperation (FDC) of the Czech Republic aimed at improving of the living standard of local population by long-term reduction of the CO2 emissions through increasing the share of renewable energy in the country’s energy mix, contributing to SDG 7.2. The “soft” components including legislative anchoring and practical implementation of development policy for sustainable biomass utilization, increasing the quality and availability of wood biomass and development of business models and financial schemes for investments in biomass were implemented by the UNDP Bosnia and Herzegovina. The modernization of heating systems in four model public buildings was implemented by Czech and local companies under the administration of the Czech Development Agency.

The main purpose of the evaluation was to verify sustainability, to provide information on efficiency of spent funds, relevance of the implementing procedure and of the thematic focus (renewable energy sources) of the Czech Development Cooperation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The evaluation examined to what extend this project contributed to increasing energy production from renewable natural sources and to building related infrastructure to make this energy publicly available and what is the potential of use of biomass in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Methods used for data collection: Qualitative (interviews with key partners, group discussions, meetings with key stakeholders, observation, transect walk, case study) and quantitative, based on secondary data (reduction of emissions, changes in the cost of heating, trends in prices of wood biomass).

The main activities of the project were building a biomass heating plant (for wood chips) and the basic network of the heat distribution in the village of Nemila, located near the town of Zenica. The village of Nemila suffered during the heating seasons from significant air pollution. The pollution was caused mainly by the exhalations produced by individual housings using the traditional solid fuel. This led to health risks associated with the upper respiratory tract and other related diseases as well as to the environmental damages. Replacement of individual heat sources by central heating based on the use of cheap organic fuel contributed to a significant reduction of air pollution bringing up other positive impacts (health, environment, improvement of tourist attraction of the area etc.). Usage of renewable organic fuel serves as a long-term sustainable source of energy as there is a considerable amount of wood processing factories situated in the area of village of Nemila. The project facilities were heavily damaged by 2014 floods. Within the follow-up reconstruction the heat line distributions and technologies of boiler room were repaired. Afterwards, the project was handed over to the town of Zenica. The heating plant is currently being operated by local association – public company GRIJANJE d.o.o. Zenica.

The main purpose of the evaluation was to provide recommendations for further planning of development cooperation of the Czech Republic in the sustainable energy sector or eventually, in the field of environmental protection and climate. Recommendations considered the needs of Bosnia and Herzegovina with a focus on the thematic areas relevant for the future Program of the Bilateral Development Cooperation of Czech Republic with Bosnia and Herzegovina 2018 - 2023, i.e. economic growth or sustainable management of natural resources. Recommendations of the evaluation were used in the preparation of the medium-term plan for the development cooperation with Bosnia and Herzegovina and in the preparation and implementation of future projects. Evaluation was performed in accordance with the internationally recognized OECD/DAC criteria with an emphasis on the long-term impacts and sustainability of benefits and will pilot the methodology of cross-cutting evaluation principles of the Czech Republic Development Cooperation: Good governance, Environment and sustainable development, Human rights and gender equity.