Cultural Heritage Project

1
Cultural Heritage Project

• Mostar
• The World Bank
• Larry Hannah

2
Background

• Ottoman Bridge Built in 1566
• Long time and well known symbol of multi-ethnic
  harmony in Mostar
• Destroyed in 1993 as a typical event in this
  ethnic conflict
• Much of the city and the local economy was also
  destroyed
• Multi-ethnic city government for Mostar was
  established (1995)
• Various local international institutions
  started grass roots work
• Promoting reconciliation was the common goal
• Two of our subsequent partners started early
• Bridge and old town was agreed as a symbol of
  reconciliation
• UNESCO established International Committee of
  Experts in 1998
• World Bank joined this effort in collaboration
  with UNESCO
• A credit of 4 million out of total project cost
  of 15 was approved in 1999

3
The Project

• Objective is to improve the climate for
  reconciliation in Mostar
• Components are bridge complex, adjoining
  historical monuments and neighborhoods
• Bridge to be rebuild as an exact replica of
  original with same techniques
• Funding from many donors
• Special feature is Partnership in support of
  local leadership
• Project is managed and implemented by City Hall
  through a temporary PCU
• International partners are AKTC and WMF who had
  been working in Mostar with various local groups
• First year spent in preparation studies and
  creation of design for contracting
• Enormous coordination job among many actors
• Bank role extensive on fund raising and greatly
  affected by political situation

4
The Project and CDD

• Is this a CDD project?
• Would stronger CDD orientation help?
• How was community involved?
• Social Assessment at time of appraisal
• Through work of project partners
• Overall strategy is to address the community
  through the city government (not municipalities)
• Two-way public relations campaign for project
• Sustainability of project and longer-term
  importance to community management of old town
• New initiative of Mostar to prepare a City
  Development Strategy which has support from
  Cities Alliance