Deadline: 7-Jul-23
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Serbia announces a Public Challenge Call for Innovative business models that diversify electricity generation mix, reduce energy intensity of the economy or enables clean energy, especially for the vulnerable consumers.
The goal of the Public Challenge Call is to encourage the application of innovative solutions that contribute to the green transformation of the economy, energy security of the country and the prevention of energy poverty.
The objective of the challenge call
- The objective of the challenge call is to recognize and support innovative project proposals that will contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and reduction of industrial emissions, thus contributing to the decarbonization of the economy and depollution of the environment.
- It aims at selecting and supporting the implementation of innovative project ideas and business models, technologies, and applicable solutions that will contribute to green transformation and decarbonization of the economy, industry and society in Serbia while simultaneously reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other harmful emissions.
- This Challenge Call will help to support the implementation of projects which present innovative business models of the carbon-intensive industries which:
- Diversify electricity generation mix;
- Decrease in the energy intensity of the economy;
- Enable affordable supply of clean energy, especially for vulnerable consumers;
- Reduce import dependency;
- Encourage just green transition in the coal region and development of new industry branches as an alternative to the coal industry.
Categories
- Small projects
- Medium projects
- Large projects.
Funding Information
- Based on the financial plan and total project budget value, proposals will be divided into 3 categories:
- Small projects (up to 100000.00 USD),
- Medium projects (up to 1 million USD),
- Large projects (investment values exceed 1million USD).
Benefits
- The applicants whose project ideas have been selected for the acceleration process will receive the following:
- Development support and mentorship
- This type of support will be organized through a program lasting 3 months for the selected applicants who will work on the improvement of their projects/businesses and will receive valuable skills in GHG emissions calculation, business planning, fundraising, public presentations, gender mainstreaming, etc. This program will also include management assistance, education on specific environmental issues relevant to each specific area, various training, support, assessment of compliance with legal requirements (permits, licenses, etc.), networking and experience sharing among peers throughout Serbia.
- Co-financing
- Based on the financial plan and total project budget, potential co-financing is up to 50% of the total investment and not more than 150,000.00 € per applicant. In exceptional cases, for project proposals with high evaluation score and budget justification, it might be possible to increase the rate of donor co-financing.
- Development support and mentorship
What solutions are they looking for?
- The proposed solutions should contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and the reduction of environmental pollution, diversification of electricity production, encourage the development of new branches of the economy and female entrepreneurship, as well as enable the creation of new jobs and retraining of workers from the sectors that are dependent on the use of fossil fuels. It is also expected that the proposed solutions will contribute to reducing the country’s energy import dependency.
Eligibility Criteria
- Public and private companies registered in the Republic of Serbia, independently or in a consortium, can apply for this Public Challenge Call. In case of a consortium, companies from Japan and the European Union operating in Serbia can participate in it, as well as scientific research organisations and institutions, and private and public sector companies from Serbia.
- The following can apply to this call:
- Public and utility companies;
- Business companies (companies, entrepreneurs).
- All applicants must be registered in Serbia according to the national legislation in force.
- Applicants can apply independently or in consortia. If applying as a consortium, the Lead Applicant, which shall represent the consortium and serve as the main point of contact throughout the application process, must be clearly indicated. The Lead Applicant will also be the main recipient of the financing funds.
- Applicants can submit up to two applications as the Lead Applicant and can participate in an unlimited number of applications as consortium members.
- Note: Research institutions and organizations, local self-governments, public and utility companies and/or companies can apply as consortium members.
- Important note: The applications submitted by the following companies shall not be accepted:
- Companies manufacturing, selling, or distributing tobacco or tobacco products,
- Companies engaged in selling or distributing firearms,
- Companies in the alcoholic beverage industry.
For more information, visit UNDP.
