Bosnia and Herzegovina has approved a €37m loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) for a project to manage the Sava and Drina river corridors. The repayment period is 30 years, with 25 million euros for the Brcko district and 12 million for the Federation. The project aims to strengthen water sector cooperation, improve navigability, and protect the environment.
The original Sava and Drina Rivers Corridors Integrated Development Objective, launched in 2020, was to strengthen transboundary water cooperation and improve navigability and flood protection in the Sava and Drina. It started with a World Bank €30m fixed spread loan for Bosnia and Herzegovina with a final maturity of 32 years, including a grace period of 7 years. Serbia was given a €78.2m loan and Montenegro €15m.
“This project is a perfect example of enhancing Bosnia and Herzegovina’s climate resilience in times when environmental threats are stronger than ever,” said Christopher Sheldon, World Bank Country Manager for Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro. “The project’s focus on enhancing regional cooperation, both in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in the Western Balkans, aligns perfectly with our vision of a greener and more prosperous future for the region.”
Bosnia and Herzegovina face water hazards, natural disasters and climate change impacts from the Drina and Sava rivers – which form the largest tributary in West Europe after the Danube.