Whereas

Seventeen years after the signing of the Dayton Peace Accord, serious problems remain unresolved from the wartime displacement, in particular regarding solutions for up to 150,000 displaced persons and minority returnees.

A Revised Strategy for the implementation of Annex VII of the Dayton Peace Agreement is in place, approved by state and both entity governments, and efforts are underway to support its implementation.

Whereas

2013 sees the start of the Regional Housing Programme in the Western Balkans through which the Authorities of BiH with the support of UNHCR, the European Union and other international partners and donors aims to provide housing for up to 5,400 households in BiH.

Serious and concerted efforts are underway, including a loan from the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB), through which the Authorities of BiH with the support of UNHCR aims to close most of the remaining collective centres and re-house 2,600 families.

Therefore,

We, the undersigned, representing key stakeholders with resources, mandates and programmes invested in solving the remaining problems of displacement reaffirm our commitment in implementing the Revised Strategy for the Annex 7, and prioritizing the resolution of the problem of displacement in BiH, including the closure of all collective centres.

We believe that one of the central challenges to ending the displacement issue in BiH is that of sustainability of return and local integration.  Experience of the UN Development Group Agencies and others has proven that the provision of Housing alone results in a high rate of return failure and attention must be paid to broader aspects of sustainability.

We consider certain principles fundamental to the resolution we seek and thus do hereby commit to them and agree to ensure that future interventions carried out by us, individually and collectively, in the area of displacement will be based upon and adhere to the following:

Complementary measures

Support provided to individual returnees such as housing, training for employment, agricultural equipment, or grants for self-employment is necessary but not sufficient.  It must be coupled with efforts of government authorities, in partnership with the UN Development Group and others, in community level support and policy level changes such as improving local public services especially education, social welfare and health, and economic integration.  

Prioritisation

The limited resources available are to be prioritised and the priorities should be selected on: the basis of needs; address clearly identified obstacles faced by displaced families and communities – especially those who have no other solution; the closeness of the match between needs and solutions available; and the likelihood of a successful outcome.

Government ownership

Government at all levels must be engaged and committed to finding solutions since success and sustainability of interventions is mostly dependent on action taken by governments. Openness, the provision of resources, recognition of roles and responsibilities, and consequences if obligations are not fulfilled is a key to ensuring sustainability.

Coordination

Coordination of institutional mechanisms as well as processes are to be at the center of all efforts and must include all key stakeholders. Coordination processes are the responsibility of all relevant actors, should be flexible, and address the identification of mechanisms and criteria for prioritisation; alignment of related interventions and programmes; setting of shared targets and agreed methods of measuring progress; identification and raising of issues from local level to policy makers for resolution; monitoring implementation and providing information; evaluating effectiveness of policies and interventions, and promoting effective measures.

We therefore confirm our commitment to work in a collaborative and coordinated manner of mutual support and reinforcement in order to once and for all resolve the longstanding problem of displacement in BiH, including the closure of all collective centres.

Sarajevo, 06. 07. 2013

Signatories:

Damir Ljubic, Minister,Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees of BiH

Davor Cordas, Minister, Minister of Refugees and displaced Persons of RS

Adil Osmanovic, Minister, Ministry of Displaced Persons and Refugees of Federation of BiH

Yuri Afanasiev, Resident Coordinator,United Nations office in BiH

Andrew Mayne, Representative, UNHCR

Peter Sorensen, Head of EU Delegation / EU Special Representative to BiH