Deadline: 30 November 2016
The Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF) is a joint initiative of the European Commission (Commission), the European Investment Bank (EIB), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB), the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW), the World Bank Group (WBG), the Western Balkans beneficiaries and bilateral donors aimed to enhance harmonisation and cooperation in investments for the socio-economic development of the Western Balkans.
The WBIF primarily aims at addressing the infrastructure investment needs of the Western Balkans region and at supporting the EU accession process of the Beneficiaries through provision of finance and technical assistance for strategic investments, particularly in infrastructure, energy efficiency and private sector development. Projects should contribute to competitiveness, growth and job-creation in the region with due regard to gender equality as well.
Objectives
The WBIF pursues two main objectives:
- the pooling of grants, loans, other forms of financing,
- contributions and expertise to prepare and finance a common pipeline of priority infrastructure and socioeconomic
- development projects and, concurrently, support the EU accession process of the Beneficiaries;
- to strengthen coordination among parties in order to improve the positive impact and visibility of these priority investments in the Beneficiary countries.
Eligibility Criteria
- Projects may be eligible for selection for financing under the WBIF if they will be implemented on the territory of one or more of the following Beneficiaries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo.
- For trans-national or regional projects involving one or more of the Beneficiaries but also other noneligible countries, the support provided through the WBIF will cover only the investment part pertaining to the Beneficiary.
- The legal entity benefiting from the grant must be registered within the Beneficiary country. For transnational or regional projects involving also non-eligible countries, the institution or body in charge of the investment may be based in a non-eligible country, but the support through the WBIF will cover only the part of the investment implemented on the territory of the participating Beneficiaries.
- Projects selected for WBIF financing may benefit:
- public entities;
- private entities such as for example, without limitation, entities established within the context of public private partnerships (PPPs), joint ventures or mutual joint ventures; or
- other entities with mixed public-private capital, in each case responsible for the management, construction and provision of public utilities and services.
How to Apply
Applicants must submit completed application forms via email.
For more information, Please visit WBIF Technical Assistance Grants.