Sarajevo, February 21, 2008 – The U.S. Government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is pleased to announce that U.S. Ambassador Charles English, Swedish Ambassador Lars-Erik Wingren and Dutch Ambassador Karel E.T.I. Vosskuhler will launch an expansion of the jointly funded, $30-million program for BiH municipalities.  The program is the second phase of the US-Swedish, $20-million Governance Accountability Project (GAP).  The second phase will be launched at a conference that will bring together the mayors of GAP’s 56 partner municipalities.  The conference will be held on Friday, February 22, 2008, at 10:00 a.m. in Herzegovina Hall, Holiday Inn Hotel in Sarajevo.  All media representatives are invited to attend.  

            GAP assisted 41 municipalities throughout BiH so far to build their capacities and improve service provision to citizens.  The development of One-Stop-Shops (OSSs) was a GAP flagship activity intended to provide efficient, user-friendly and transparent service delivery, increase citizens’ satisfaction and improve trust in local government and democracy.   Since December 2005, when the first GAP-supported OSS was inaugurated, an additional 40 citizen service centers have been opened, benefiting some 1.5 million citizens and, in some cases, reducing waiting times by 50%.

             Over the next five years, an additional 30 municipalities will participate in similar activities in the second phase of GAP.  As a unique example of donor coordination, GAP will continue to establish OSSs, improve budgeting and financial management, and advance urban planning and zoning.

Last updated  on:12/01/2008

Links  |  Contact Us  |  Search