SUTRA is guided by a Project Steering Committee (PSC), consisting of representatives of Government Institutions that directly contribute funding to the programme – BiH Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees, RS Ministry for Refugees and Displaced Person, Federation Ministry for Displaced Persons and Refugees, Brcko District and the BiH Return Fund– as well as international donors - UNDP and EC Delegation. All these have voting rights within the PSC.
Observers include representatives of UNHCR, Directorate for European Integrations, United Nations Volunteers, representative of Association of Town and Municipalities of Republika Srpska, representative of Association of Towns and Municipalities of Federation of BiH, Mr. Mustafa Alikadic - MHRR Secretary with Special Competencies, Mr. Mujo Jejna - MHRR Assistant Minister, Mr. Mario Nenadic - MHRR Assistant Minister.
The PSC is composed of the respective members Senior Management who have the authority and responsibility for:
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Defining what is required from the project
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Authorising the funds for the project
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Committing the resources
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Communicating with external interested parties
The PSC delegates day-to-day charge of the project to the Programme Manager. However, the PSC exercises overall control and is responsible for key decisions.
Some key activities of the PSC include:
Other activities are:
• Adopt developed documents (guidelines, manuals) for SUTRA PLOD project implementation;
• Adopt reporting, monitoring and evaluation methodologies and/or procedures;
• Evaluate projects proposed by the municipalities;
• Build consensus and compromises around the project strategies and planned results;
• Provide coordination with other initiatives and establish relevant synergies;
• Provide advice when substantive change or redressing is needed in the project’s planned activities or methodology;
• Monitor progress of SUTRA PLOD activities and provide early warnings to the SCRDP when appropriate;
• Provide and endorse regular reports on implementation of SUTRA PLOD to the SCRDP, UNDP and the EC.
The PSC does not cover the day-to-day activities of the Programme Manager.
The PSC is the level of management above the Programme Manager. The PSC manages by exception, monitors via reports and controls through a small number of decision points.
PSC members are busy executives with a range of responsibilities, and demands on their time are kept to a minimum, while fulfilling their responsibilities to the project. The key responsibilities can be summarised as follows:
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Overall direction and decision making
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Resource commitment.
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Ad hoc direction (monitoring progress, providing advice and guidance)
The PSC rights and responsibilities are defined by the Rule Book.
PSC sessions are held quarterly.
All decisions of the PSC are made by two thirds majority.
The PSC also ensures that all activities executed by SUTRA and its partners at the local level are in line with project’s principles and in line with the overall return strategy set by BiH authorities (Strategy of BiH for the Implementation of Annex VII, GFAP).
The PSC further formally approves municipal sub-projects designed by the Local Action Groups (LAGs) including infrastructure, reconstruction, sustainability and capacity building activities at the local level.
PSC members are regularly briefed on all aspects of SUTRA implementation.