Historique

Purpose

To provide support and expert inputs to the Development Agency of Serbia (DAS) and FDI (Foreign Direct Investments) Unit administered project team related to innovative, sustainable, and green energy industries for attracting/facilitating potential investments in Serbia.

Objective

To improve investment climate in Serbia and increase the level of foreign direct investments in Serbia.

Background Information

Improving investment climate plays a central role in growth and poverty reduction. To improve the institutional infrastructure for supporting the development of the business environment in Serbia, the Development Agency of Serbia (DAS) was established in 2015. In the previous period through the “Improving the Investment Climate in Serbia” predecessor project of the “FDI (foreign direct investments) Unit administered” component of the current Development Services Agreement, DAS was capacitated in terms of structures, capacity building and procedures to effectively attract new investments and manage the existing projects. The structures developed through the previous project were well placed and had a good coordination role, helping both the DAS and investors to make promising progress in attracting more direct investments. However, there is a need for further strengthening the DAS capacities and coordination role of the FDI Unit. 

The Development Services Agreement between the Government of Serbia and UNDP is envisaged to provide a framework for services requested by the Government, for ongoing initiatives of the Government, for which it bears full accountability. Most development services envisaged under the Agreement relate to support to policy making through research, advocacy or policy alternatives, aimed at fulfilling priorities as articulated in the Government plans, presented before Parliament, and in line with progress in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

The overall objective of the continuation of the FDI Unit is to support the effective coordination of all institutions in the Republic of Serbia, relevant for improvement of the investment climate, which in turn directly affects the country’s sustainable growth and development. This particularly will be needed in the next post-pandemic period and as an answer to economic impact of Covid-19. In that sense, UNDP will engage assistance for supporting policy work enabling investment projects, facilitating and attracting individual FDIs and for continuation of the capacity building of the Development Agency of Serbia.

Devoirs et responsabilités

Scope of work 

In December 2019 European Union presented the European Green Deal, comprehensive sustainable growth strategy aiming at making Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050. Reaching this target requires coordinated actions in investing in environmentally friendly technologies, supporting industry to innovate, creating cleaner, cheaper and healthier forms of private and public transport, decarbonizing the energy sector, ensuring more energy efficient constructions and working with international partners to improve global environmental standards. 

In October 2020 the governments of Western Balkans, including Republic of Serbia, committed to Green Agenda for the Western Balkans as a concrete plan to expand the European Green Deal to Southeast Europe. The Green Agenda accompanies a comprehensive Economic and Investment Plan for Western Balkans, which aims to spur the long-term economic recovery of the region supporting a green and digital transition and fostering regional integration and convergence with the EU. The Plan entails a substantial investment package mobilizing up to 9 billion euros of funding in the region. 

Recognizing the opportunities and benefits in attracting sustainable investment in green and innovative technologies, Development Agency of Serbia has set promotion of the Serbia’s investment potential in renewable resources and green energy as one of the top priorities. With this goal in mind, the consultant will support the DAS in fully assessing Serbia’s prospects in becoming part of the various initiatives emerging from the European Green Deal and consequently becoming integral part of the European green energy production value chain.

Specific responsibilities include:

1. Report on European Green Deal and EU set of proposals for reaching the intermediate strategic goal – reducing net greenhouse emissions by at least 55% by 2030. The report shall contain:

- Overview of the strategic implications of the Green Deal on member countries economic and social development,

- Best practice example of the EU country response to Green Deal – Spain 2050 Strategy,

- Analysis of the impact of the Green Deal on candidate countries, with focus on Serbia.

2. Report with a detailed overview of Economic and Investment Plan for Western Balkans and the Green Agenda for Western Balkans. The report shall contain:

- Analysis of critical parts of the above-mentioned strategic documents with clear emphasis on boosting development and investment opportunities for Serbia,

- Detailed overview of the conditions and requirements for Serbia in fulfilling the requirements set in the Economic and Investment Plan and the GA.

3. Analysis of Serbia’s potential in renewable resources and investment opportunities in green energy. The analysis shall contain:

- Detailed overview of the resource and processing potential related to all forms of renewable energy production in Serbia,

-     List of all investors operating in renewable energy production in Serbia with the description of 

      their business activities and production capacities,

-    Detailed overview of the ongoing investment projects in the area of green energy production.

4. Report on the analysis of EU initiatives related to carbon border tax and battery passports. The report shall contain: 

- Overview of the legislative requirements related to the initiatives of decarbonization, with specific focus on transportation sector i.e. automotive industry,

5. Progress reports on EU and Serbia initiatives related to e-battery value chain and critical raw materials. The reports shall contain:

- Detailed chronological overview of the FDI unit efforts in establishing close cooperation with European Battery Alliance and European Raw Materials Alliance,

- Planned activities between the EU and Serbian side in establishing closed cooperation in this area. 

All reports should be electronically submitted in English language. The reports shall, as a minimum, contain a content page, list of relevant resources and citations. 

The consultant shall be responsible for the following deliverables:

All deliverables shall be quality reviewed and accepted by the UNDP Technical Advisor for Investment Climate and UNDP Portfolio Manager.

Compétences

• Consistently ensures timeliness and quality of project work.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to summarize and systematize complex information and present ideas clearly.
• Shares knowledge and experience. 
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
• Demonstrates integrity by modelling ethical standards.

Qualifications et expériences requises

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in technical science or related fields, master’s degree considered an asset.

Experience:

• At least 10 years of experience in working with EU companies/institutions including experience within sustainability/energy sector.
• At least 10 years of progressively responsible managerial experience in the area of renewable energy production
• Experience in providing support to the public authorities. 
• Sound understanding of the national institutional and legal framework related to the investment facilitation/attraction process and most important doing business in Serbia practices including energy and sustainability sector.

Language and other competences:

• Excellent knowledge of written English, German and Serbian. 
• Full computer literacy in the use of MS Office package.

Application Procedure:

Qualified and interested candidates are asked to submit their applications via UNDP Web site: UNDP in Serbia under section “Jobs” no later than Sunday, 10th October 2021.

Application should include: 

• CV in English language containing date of birth, contact information (home address, phone number, e-mail) and timeline of work experience (including description of duties);
• Offeror’s Letter (only PDF format will be accepted) confirming Interest and availability for the Individual Contractor (IC) Assignment. Can be downloaded from the following link: https://www.undp.org.rs/download/ic/Confirmation.docx . The Offeror’s Letter shall include financial proposal specifying a total lump sum amount for the tasks specified in this announcement with a breakdown of costs. 

In order to apply please merge above listed documents into a single PDF file. The system does not allow for more than one attachment to be uploaded.

Any request for clarification must be sent by standard electronic communication to the e-mail: Vacancy.rs@undp.org . The procuring UNDP entity will respond by standard electronic mail and will send response, including an explanation of the query without identifying the source of inquiry, to all consultants.

The shortlisted candidates may be asked to provide copies of diplomas and any other certificates providing evidence of their education and experience in relevant fields.

Financial Proposal

Lump sum contracts

The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount in USD currency, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e. whether payments fall in instalments or upon completion of the entire contract). Payments are based upon approval of each deliverable.  In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (including travel in Serbia, per diems, and number of anticipated working days).

In the case of unforeseeable travel, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed.

Evaluation:

Cumulative analysis 

When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

a) responsive/compliant/acceptable in terms of relevant experience and academic background, and

b) Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation. 

* Technical Criteria weight; 70%

* Financial Criteria weight; 30%

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Additional Information:

• Individual Contract (IC) will be applicable for individual consultants applying in their own capacity. If the applicant is employed by any legal entity, IC would be issued upon submission of Consent letter from the employer acknowledging the engagement with UNDP. Template of General Conditions on IC could be found on: https://rs.undp.org/content/dam/serbia/downloads/General%20Conditions%20for%20Individual%20Contracts.pdf 
• Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA) will be applicable for applicants employed by any legal entity. Template of RLA with General Terms and Conditions could be found on: https://www.undp.org.rs/download/RLA%20with%20General%20Terms%20and%20Conditions.doc . In the case of engagement of Civil servants under IC contract modality a no-objection letter should be provided by the Government entity. The ‘no-objection’ letter must also state that the employer formally certifies that their employees are allowed to receive short-term consultancy assignment from another entity without being on “leave-without-pay” status (if applicable) and include any conditions and restrictions on granting such permission, if any. If the previous is not applicable ‘leave-without-pay’ confirmation should be submitted.

Engagement of Government Officials and Employees

Government Officials or Employees are civil servants of UN Member States.  As such, if they will be engaged by UNDP under an IC which they will be signing in their individual capacity (i.e., engagement is not done through RLA signed by their Government employer), the following conditions must be met prior to the award of contract: 

(i)  A “No-objection” letter in respect of the individual is received from the Government employing him/her, and; 

(ii) The individual must provide an official documentation from his/her employer formally certifying his or her status as being on “official leave without pay” for the duration of the IC. 

The above requirements are also applicable to Government-owned and controlled enterprises and well as other semi/partially or fully owned Government entities, whether or not the Government ownership is of majority or minority status.   

UNDP recognizes the possibility that there are situations when the Government entity employing the individual that UNDP wishes to engage is one that allows its employees to receive external short-term consultancy assignments (including but not limited to research institutions, state-owned colleges/universities, etc.), whereby a status of “on-leave-without-pay” is not required.  Under such circumstance, the individual entering into an IC with UNDP must still provide a “No-objection” letter from the Government employing him/her.  The “no objection” letter required under (i) above must also state that the employer formally certifies that their employees are allowed to receive short-term consultancy assignment from another entity without being on “leave-without-pay” status and include any conditions and restrictions on granting such permission, if any.  The said document may be obtained by, and put on record of, UNDP, in lieu of the document (ii) listed above.