This report covers the period of 01/01/2006 to 31/12/2007 of a two-year planning and appeal process 2006-2007.

In brief

Programme Summary: In 2006 and 2007 the National Society, with support from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, proceeded, as part of its health and care programme, with the promotion of healthy lifestyles among the general public by conducting various health education campaigns. An evaluation of the ongoing home care programme, which provides support to elderly vulnerable people, was carried out in autumn 2006 and this will serve as the basis for guiding future work and support. The findings and recommendations are also useful for the population movement programme, notably in terms of beneficiary selection. This latter programme continues to be a priority area of the Red Cross Society's work, supporting minority returnees in their social integration, and also addressing the issue of discrimination and intolerance.

The National Society's disaster response capacity was further enhanced by having representatives attend several disaster management trainings. Their knowledge and skills proved to be essential during the emergency relief operation responding to the drought in the summer 2007.

One of the major developments during the course of 2006 was the Red Cross Society of Bosnia and Herzegovina making substantial changes to its statutes. Implementation has been, however, postponed to the beginning of 2008 to accommodate internal adjustments.

In 2006 the Red Cross Society was awarded the right to be the only provider of first-aid training at the state level to learner drivers. This led the society to finalize the curriculum for a standardized training course for learner drivers and adopt the proposed changes to the first-aid rulebook for new drivers. Through this exclusive right the National Society has a new source of income that could well prove to be Bosnia and Herzegovina substantial, and could be used in the future to provide support to other programme areas of the society's work, for instance to its home care programme.

The overall financial situation of the two-year appeal was reasonably good. This is especially so given the general downward trend, primarily in disaster management and health activities, of international donor interest in the country. The major donors were the Norwegian and Swedish Red Cross Societies. During 2006 and 2007 the Italian Red Cross also provided considerable support to the home care programme of the Red Cross Society of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Following the drought caused by the heat wave in late summer 2007, an amount of 45,615 Swiss francs was allocated from the International Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) in August to support the Red Cross Society in delivering assistance in the form of drinking water to 14,616 beneficiaries in the southern part of the country.

Goal: To improve the quality of life for the people in need in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Needs: Total 2006-2007 budget was 2,473,260 Swiss francs (USD 2,212,218 or EUR 1,498,945), out of which was 78 per cent covered.

No. of people we help:

Programme	Number of people we helped in 2006 and 2007
Organizational Development	3,200
Health Development	105,000
Home Care	10,000
Population Movement	8,000
Disaster Management	14,616
Total	140,816

Our Partners: The International Federation's country representation worked with a total number of 10 community-based, 20 national, 3 government-based, 5 international organizations, 5 United Nations developmental agencies and partners. Within the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement the National Society and the International Federation's representation worked with five partners.

Current context

Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) has made progress in moving from dependency on international aid to sustainable development. However, although the economy is continuing to grow, the unemployment rate is 30 per cent, the proportion of the population living below the poverty line is 20 per cent whilst an additional 30 per cent of the population is hovering around it according to UNDP's Human Development Report for 2007. The government authorities are trying to develop and implement a poverty reduction strategy and improve the existing health and care system which has been rendered largely inefficient because of the lack of focus on individual beneficiary needs, insufficient capacities and lack of common standards and criteria at state level. There is broad consensus that European Union integration presents the best possible development strategy for the country. However, despite the expectations that the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) would be signed with the EU in 2007, it was only partially achieved, with initialling of the document taking place at the end of 2007.

The UNDP Human Development Report for 2007 reports that more than 12,000 people returned to their homes during 2006 and 2007, making a total number of 1,023,965 returnees who have come back to their homes in the post war period. However, there are still many challenges in securing the lasting reintegration of the returnees into the society, as the report claims that over 50 per cent of the population in Bosnia and Herzegovina is socially excluded in some way.

In 2007, the rise in the global fuel prices, as well as the drought that hit the country in summer, contributed to an increase in the prices for basic food commodities like bread, milk and oil, thus making the situation for the poorest people even worse. All of these socio-economic factors affected the work of the Red Cross Society, as more vulnerable people approached it for support.

Contact information

For further information on this Appeal, contact:

Country Representation in Belgrade: Olav Ofstad, Country Representative, phone: +381 63325895, fax: +381 11 3281 791, e-mail: olav.ofstad@ifrc.org

Central Europe and Southern Caucasus Regional Representation: Elias Ghanem, Regional Representative, Budapest, phone: + 36 1 248 3300, fax: +36 1 248 3322, email: elias.ghanem@ifrc.org

Europe Zone Office: Leon Prop, Deputy Head of Zone, Budapest, phone: + 36 1 248 3300, fax: +36 1 248 3322, email: leon.prop@ifrc.org