EPTISA has achieved remarkable success with the “Technical Assistance to the Regional Housing Programme (RHP),” a collaborative initiative involving Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, and Serbia. Over the past 12 years, the project has provided nearly 36,000 vulnerable individuals with access to decent housing across these four nations, assisting over 11,300 families.
The RHP focused on those most in need—refugees and displaced persons—offering them secure homes. This initiative was not just about building houses; it was about laying down the foundations for a better future. With an impressive budget of €23 million for technical assistance, the programme’s scope and impact have been substantial.
The success of RHP owes much to the concerted effort of the four partner countries. They did not just contribute financially; they took charge of the entire implementation cycle. Their dedication was matched by robust support from three international organizations. The Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) managed donor funds and coordinated RHP activities. Meanwhile, UNHCR and the OSCE played crucial roles in monitoring the selection of beneficiaries and ensuring the sustainability of the housing solutions provided.
Sustainability was a core focus of the RHP. The program addressed numerous factors vital for the long-term success and integration of the housing solutions, including environmental impact, social integration, economic stability, community engagement, and strengthening local institutions to manage the provided services effectively.
The overarching goal of RHP was to address and resolve the protracted displacement situations in the partner countries comprehensively. It aimed to do so by providing durable housing solutions that respected the rights of refugees and internally displaced persons and promoted cooperation and synchronized activities among the participating countries.
EPTISA extends heartfelt thanks to institutions like CEB, UNHCR, OSCE, lead institutions and PIU from all 4 PCs for their unwavering support, which was crucial in turning our shared vision into reality. We are also grateful to our consortium partners—Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and the Danish Refugee Council (DRC). Our thanks goes also to all experts, support staff and managerial team, backstopping team of EPTISA, as well as to our ex-colleagues who were directly or indirectly involved in bringing the project to successful completion. We in EPTISA are proud that we were part of the RHP and this project represents a significant milestone for our experience.
For anyone interested in learning more about this transformative initiative, please visit our project page www.regionalhousingprogramme.org.
Through the Regional Housing Programme, thousands have found homes, and hope — a testament to what can be achieved when nations come together for a common cause.