DOBOJ

Doboj municipality is situated in the North part of Republic of Srpska and it is an administrative center of a wider region. It spreads on 85 per cent of its pre-war territory (part of the territory was commissioned to municipalities Doboj Istok, Doboj Jug and Usora). Before the war, Doboj had a second largest railway network in ex Yugoslavia and developed economy and industry (steel, textile, food processing, furniture, etc.)

Doboj is positioned in a valley crossed by three rivers surrounded by hilly landscape.
The biggest challenge is to tackle high level of unemployment. Infrastructure networks are quite damaged. City’s water supply system is functioning but with huge water losses due to poor pipelines and installations. Road network is in a poor condition, too. Power supply was somewhat improved.

The main potential for development is to strengthen the light industry (food processing, furniture and textile) and steel processing.
Doboj possesses certain capacities and prospect to develop into the economic, cultural, traffic and sport center as it once were.

There are 8,500 unemployed persons registered in Doboj, although there are some indicators that this number is even larger. Secondary sector (industry, mining, civil engineering) represents 50 per cent of economy. Industry is mostly based on metal processing, basic chemical products, coal production, processing fruits and vegetables.

The basis of a regional development is a light metal industry. The primary sector, agriculture and forestry contribute only with 2 % in the total gross production.
There are 70 local communities in Doboj municipality grouped into 6 micro regions. The communication between local communities and local governance was described as unsatisfactory especially when related to common development plans between local communities and municipality. At the moment there is an ongoing municipal project supported by MDP dealing with formation of a body which would represent local communities of Doboj at the municipal level.

There are 12 registry offices in Doboj municipality dispersed around with the main one in municipality building, issuing birth certificates, citizenships certificates, etc.
Modern information system was established and installed with MDP support, and it will certainly improve the links between field offices and the main one.
NGO sector is quite developed in Doboj municipality and it is covering the majority of vulnerable society groups like youth, women, elderly population, returnee, etc. There are around 25 NGOs, dealing with youth and children and over 100 when sports and cultural clubs are included.

NGOs in Doboj are faced with lack of funding sources and space. Cooperation with Municipality is improving.
Exchange and cooperation with other municipalities was registered during the implementation of MDP activities and there are potentials for cooperation in various sectors. The project which dealt with constructing sports field in the returnee community on the entities border line was implemented with Doboj Istok, FBiH. A common cross entity project for waste management engaging five municipalities, Doboj, Doboj Jug, Usora, Maglaj and Petrovo is in a preparation phase.