Establishing a Unified Environmental Reporting System for Bosnia and Herzegovina

"Technical assistance for countrywide reporting system related to international environmental obligations (EEA, EIONET, EUROSTAT and international conventions)"

This crucial initiative, funded by the European Union, marks a significant step forward in strengthening Bosnia and Herzegovina's environmental data management and reporting capabilities.

Launched on September 2, 2024, 32-month project aims to build a comprehensive, functional, and sustainable country-wide reporting system. This effort is vital for BiH's path toward EU membership and for meeting its commitments under numerous international environmental and climate change agreements.

The Current Landscape

Currently, Bosnia and Herzegovina's environmental monitoring and reporting activities are fragmented. Data exchange between public institutions is often limited, and a standardized, country-wide system for data transfer doesn't exist. This leads to inconsistencies in reporting to international bodies like the European Environment Agency (EEA).

However, a major breakthrough occurred in the year 2023 when key environmental stakeholders in BiH reached an agreement on a model for a country-wide reporting system. The project is designed to build directly upon this consensus, providing the technical and institutional support needed to turn this vision into a fully operational reality.

Our Mission and Objectives

Our overall objective is to further align BiH's policies and regulations on environmental data management with the EU acquis. By doing so, the project will help the country meet the requirements and recommendations of the EU integration process.

More specifically, the project will  strengthen the capacity of Bosnia and Herzegovina to meet its international obligations by establishing a functional, country-wide reporting system for the EEA, EIONET, EUROSTAT, and various international conventions.

What We Will Achieve: Key Project Outputs

To achieve our goals, the project is structured around three core outputs:

A Functional Country-Wide System

The project will support BiH institutions in developing the necessary legal and procedural frameworks to establish a fully functional and sustainable country-wide environmental reporting system. This ensures that data flows smoothly and efficiently from local data providers to the relevant international bodies.

Strengthened Institutional Capacities

A system is only as good as the people who run it. Central part of this project mission is to strengthen the capacities of the relevant institutions. Through targeted training, workshops, and hands-on support, data management and reporting skills at all administrative levels will be improved.

Improved Information Technology

Modern environmental reporting relies on robust IT solutions. A core component of this project is the development of a new  Integrated Environmental Information Management System (IMS). This central IT platform will streamline the process of gathering, managing, and reporting environmental data. This portal itself is one of the project's key deliverables, designed to map all reporting obligations and make information transparently available.

Building a Sustainable Framework

Collaboration and sustainability are at the heart of the project strategy. Project outputs will be achieved through a multi-pillar approach:

Developing the Legal Framework: Close cooperation with local experts and institutions will serve as a basis for identifying necessary interventions in the existing legal frameworks in BiH and for drafting texts of legal norms, needed to formalize as well as to achieve functionality and sustainability of the reporting system, clarifying roles and responsibilities for all involved parties.

Creating the Integrated Environmental IMS: The project will design and develop a state-of-the-art, open-source IT system tailored to BiH's needs, ensuring it is interoperable with existing databases and compliant with EEA/EIONET standards.

Ensuring Collaboration through Working Groups: To ensure ownership and a participatory approach, the project will initiate the establishment of seven working group. Also, the project will provide targeted training, workshops and practical support for administrative staff at all levels of the government.

Project at a Glance

Full Title: Technical assistance for countrywide reporting system related to international environmental obligations (EEA, EIONET, EUROSTAT and international conventions)

Short Name: enviR

Funded by: The European Union

Implemented by: A consortium led by GIZ International Services (GIZ IS) in partnership with ENOVA d.o.o.

Duration: September 2, 2024 – May 1, 2027 (32 months)

Contact Us

For any inquiries about the project, please feel free to reach out.

Mr. Marko Slokar, Team Leader
Project "envir"
Podgaj 8, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Email: marko.slokar@eueionet.ba