Building Back Better in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Between May 14 and May 17, 2014, more rain fell in Bosnia and Herzegovina than typically falls in three months. Rivers swelled, mountains eroded, and disaster struck the country. This flood — the worst in recorded history — affected more than 1 million people (25% of the population) and caused estimated damages and losses equivalent to nearly 15% of the country’s GDP. In a country where one fifth of the workforce is employed in agriculture, river floods inundated newly plowed fields and ravaged 81 municipalities, severely disrupting the economy and imperiling livelihoods.

This report highlights efforts supporting resilience in reconstruction after the flood. The report underlines the key role of the the Recovery Needs Assessment (RNA) which helped to ensure the prioritization of the most affected areas, the implementation of gender-responsive recovery planning, and the integration of disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation into national strategies. The subsequent World Bank-financed Flood Emergency Recovery Project aided 640,000 people, significantly improving flood protection and infrastructure. The document underscores the lessons learned, such as the necessity of early consideration of inequality reduction, local government involvement in rehabilitation measures, and the benefits of regional cooperation for integrated flood risk management.