United Nations Development Program, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Acting Head Sylvain Merlen

5 January 2024

Dear Mr Marlen,

I would like to refer to the history of collaboration and trust that has characterized the relationship
between the OSCE and UNDP.

Upon UNDP’s request, we jointly initiated a process aiming at co-locating our presences in Tuzla
which was meant to commence on 1 January 2024. By email you informed us on 29 December 2023
that “UNDP will not be in position to commit to move (…) to Tuzla in the immediate future.” You
added that “While (you) can’t judge what verbal commitments were made between OSCE and UNDP,
(you) understand that OSCE will have to make commitments to Tuzla landlord before end 2023.” You
added that you “understand that this office space will likely be relinquished and (you) also appreciate
that preparing this arrangement has come with much work within and outside OSCE. However (….)
your deadline for decision making of 31 December does not leave (you) enough time to re-assess
UNDP situation and make a commitment to co-locate.

I would like to recall upon receiving UNDP`s request and interest in co-locating with the OSCE field
team in Tuzla in mid-2023, we diligently adjusted our tender requirements, leading to the issuance of a
corrigendum to the OSCE Request for Proposals on June 15, 2023. In good faith, we secured premises
exceeding the original OSCE requirements by an additional 80m2, aligning with UNDP's
specifications that were also confirmed on site during a visit by UNDP. The tender adjustment was
made to ensure the successful co-location of both organizations, incurring additional financial
commitment for the Mission as the main contracting party(lessee).

It is crucial for us to highlight the time-sensitive nature of our commitments to the landlord in Tuzla
and also the need to ensure uninterrupted operations of our Tuzla Field Office. Based upon our
common agreement we of course concluded a lease agreement with the landlord for a premise that
includes space originally allotted for UNDP. This leaves OSCE in a highly unfavorable position vis-a-
vis the landlord, affects our alignment with OSCE regulatory framework and compels the Mission to
take remedial action within shortest possible timeframe.

Thank you for your attention to this matter, and we look forward to hearing from you officially by 31
January 2024, should you wish to reconsider your position on relocating UNDP office to Tuzla.

Thomas Busch

Deputy Head of Mission

Cc: Ingrid McDonald, United Nations Resident Coordinator, BiH

Mariana, Roibu, Senior Policy Support Officer, Conflict Prevention Centre, OSCE
Frederic Claus, Deputy Director, Mission Support Sector, OSCE

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