The document outlines the development of the Environmental Strategy and Action Plan (ESAP) for Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), aimed at enhancing environmental policy compliance and capacity building among government authorities. Key objectives include the synchronization of implementation across different governance levels, promotion of gender equality, and public awareness of environmental issues. The ESAP 2030+ is currently 80% complete, with ongoing consultations and strategic assessments to finalize its implementation.

1. BiH Environmental
Transitions
Photo credit: Jurriaan / Unsplash
SITE Development Day 2021:
Environmental policy in Eastern
EuropeDecember 2021
Bernardas Padegimas
Team Lead – Environmental Policy and
Strategy Team

2. Content
• SEI
• EPS team
• BiH ESAP 2030+ project
• Further plans in BiH

4. www.sei.org
• Independent, international
research and policy institute
• Established by the Swedish
Government in 1989
• Mission of bridging science,
policy and practice &
supporting decision making in
the field of environment &
development
• About 350 staff globally – 7
centres and HQ in Stockholm
Impact areas in the 2020-2024 strategy:
• Reduced climate risk, including
adaptation and disaster risk, industrial
transitions
• Sustainable resource use and resilient
ecosystems, such as water, oceans and
agriculture
• Improved health and wellbeing, such
city planning, finance and social impact
studies

5. SEI headquarters
and seven centres

6. Environmental Policy and
Strategy Team

7. Environmental Policy and Strategy Team
The key aims:
• To support regional, national or local
governments to comply with specific
local, regional or international
agendas
• To provide technical assistance in
advancing of environment-related
policy transitions and reforms
• To build capacity associated with such
transitions
Geographic scope:
• Western Balkans
• Eastern Europe and
Caucasus
Photo: Sava river, Brcko, Getty, BalkansCat

10. PROJECT BACKGROUND
Title: Development of the Environmental Strategy and Action Plan of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Timeline: 32 months (2019 October – 2022 April)
Owners: BiH, FBiH, RS and BD
Implementers: SEI
Partners: EU delegation to BiH, NGOs
Funder: Sweden
Project website: www.esap.ba

11. The main objective:
To support relevant authorities at the BiH, FBiH, RS and BD levels
to develop the BiH ESAP 2030+. The BiH ESAP is a document that
includes environmental strategies and action plans for the FBIH,
RS and BD and BiH level actions (e.g. horizontal issues and follow-
up of BiH ESAP).
Specific objectives:
• To lay the foundation for a synchronised horizontal and
vertical implementation of BiH ESAP 2030+ in BiH
• To improve specific capacities of government authorities
• To assure mainstreaming of Gender Equality, Social Equity and
Poverty Reduction
• To raise awareness of the general public and business
representatives on environmental issues and opportunities in
BiH
• To have effective cooperation with NGO

12. Where are we at
now?

13. BiH ESAP 2030 is 80% finished
• Finalisation of cost evaluation,
prioritisation and harmonisation
• Strategic Environmental Assessment
• Public Consultations
• Adoption procedures

14. Project design and
implementation
Photo: Industry sites, Jasmin Agovic

15. BiH ESAP2030+ Stakeholder Groups
Working Groups
BiH/entity/
BD Policy
Groups
Steering
Board
Steering Board – Minister level, highest decision
making body
BiH/entity/BD Policy Groups
– Assistant Minister level, policy guidance and
active support
Working Groups – expert level, thematic
development

16. WORKING GROUPS
WG1: Water
WG2: Waste
WG3: Biodiversity and nature conservation
WG4: Air quality, climate change and
energy
WG5: Chemicals and safety and noise
WG6: Sustainable resource management
(including forests, fisheries, peat, minerals)
WG7: Environmental management (as
horizontal policy)

18. 23
meetings

19. WG
meeting
1
WG
meeting
2
WG
meeting
3
WG
meeting
4
WG
meeting
5
WG
meeting
6
Identify key
challenges
and review
Situation
Analysis
Finalise
challenges,
objectives,
start
preparing
targets
Agree on
targets, start
preparing
measures and
consider
interlinkages
Agree on
measures,
timelines and
responsibilities
Review draft
SEA and cost
estimates,
revise Action
Plan as
needed,
prepare
monitoring
plan
Review draft
ESAP, public
consultation
feedback, and
revise Action
Plans if
necessary
2020 2021 2022
1. Adoption of FBiH ESAP, RS
ESAP and BD ESAP
2. FINAL BiH ESAP 2030+

20. ESAP process
BiH ESAP 2030
BiH-level WGs FBiH WGs
RS WGs BD WGs
7 thematic
chapters
7 thematic
chapters
7 thematic
chapters
7 thematic
chapters
BiH-level AP BD ESAP
FBiH ESAP
RS ESAP

22. Covid 19 issues
Photo: Sarajevo, Jasmin Agovic

23. COVID 19 IMPACTS AND ADAPTATION

24. Project highlights
(in addition to the main aim)
Photo: Sarajevo at night, BiH, Ad

25. Strategic Environmental Assessment
• One of the first parallel SEAs in BiH
• SEA based on EU SEA Directive and
best practices
• Full ownership and commitment from
authorities
• Gender, Social equity and Poverty
reduction integrations

26. Participatory approach in strategy making
• Recognition for inclusive approach
• Potential legacy for future policy,
strategy or plan development
• Other development agents were
instructed to use SEI methodology
• Improved inter-authority
cooperation

27. Mainstreaming Gender Equality, Social Equity and Poverty reduction
• Increased awareness of the benefits of
integrating a GESEP lens
• Increased knowledge of interlinkages
between GESEP and environmental
issues
• Incorporation of GESEP institutions and
NGOs in the process
• GESEP-related objectives, targets and
measures in draft BiH ESAP

28. Webinars

29. Photo: Kakanj coal mine, BiH, Jasmin Agovic
Further plans in BiH

30. Support in
implementation,
monitoring and
reporting of BiH
ESAP 2030 and
Capacity Building
Decarbonisation Circular Economy

31. Thank you!
For more information visit project
website: www.esap.ba
Or contact me:
bernardas.padegimas@sei.org
Photo: Landscape in BiH, Adnan Bubalo