Public Call for the Selection of Beneficiaries (Cantons, Local Self-Government Units, and Regional Landfills) for Support in the Development of Investment-Technical Documentation for Waste Management Projects 

SUBJECT OF THE PUBLIC CALL

The subject of this Public Call is the selection of cantons, local self-government units, and regional landfills in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina for technical and financial support under the Project for the development of investment-technical documentation for waste management projects (hereinafter referred to as "the Project").

This Public Call is conducted in accordance with the Decision of the Government of the Federation on the adoption of the spending program with allocation criteria for "Current transfers to other levels of government and funds – Environmental Strategy Action Plan," as established in the 2025 budget of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the Federal Ministry of Environment and Tourism. The Decision confirms the cooperation between the Federal Ministry of Environment and Tourism and UNDP in Bosnia and Herzegovina in supporting the development of investment-technical documentation in the field of waste management.

For the purposes of this call, the documentation includes:

• a feasibility study,
• an economic-financial analysis.

Based on this Public Call, UNDP will create a ranking list of beneficiaries according to the scoring criteria defined below.

The total available funds for co-financing the preparation of documentation amount to BAM 260,000. For each individual project, financial support between BAM 25,000 and BAM 50,000 is envisaged, depending on the scope of the planned documentation and the estimated value of services. Beneficiaries will be selected in order of ranking until the proposed projects can be financed from the total available funds.

Selected beneficiaries will formalize their participation in the Project by signing a Memorandum of Cooperation with UNDP BiH. Upon signing the Memorandum, UNDP BiH will initiate a tendering procedure for the selection of company/ies to be engaged in the preparation of the investment-technical documentation. The engagement of selected companies will be implemented following the conclusion of Financial Agreements with the beneficiaries, under which the beneficiaries will transfer their co-financing share to the UNDP BiH account.

To implement these activities, funds from the Federal Ministry of Environment and Tourism, together with the co-financing contributions from the beneficiaries, will be transferred to UNDP and used exclusively for the purposes stated above.

ABOUT PORTOFOLIO  „CATALYSING THE GREEN TRANSITION IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA“  

The Energy and Environment (EE) Sector of UNDP in Bosnia and Herzegovina implements projects in the areas of climate change mitigation, climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and environmental development. These projects aim to reduce economic, social, and territorial disparities and to ensure sustainable management of energy and natural resources, as well as the creation of green jobs through a coordinated approach involving regional and local stakeholders. All interventions are carried out in close cooperation with relevant government institutions, other UN agencies, multilateral and bilateral donors, the private sector, and civil society.

Bosnia and Herzegovina is at a critical juncture, facing significant environmental challenges that require a comprehensive and transformative approach. In response to these challenges and in an effort to pave the way toward a sustainable future, UNDP BiH, together with its institutional and UN partners, launched the Green Transition Portfolio in BiH. The logic of the portfolio is to offer a compelling path toward a green and just transition in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with appropriate scope and pace.

The goal of the portfolio is to contribute to the green transition in Bosnia and Herzegovina by empowering decision-makers, businesses, communities, entrepreneurs, and scientists to develop and implement policies and solutions that lead to significant decarbonization and reduction of CO₂ emissions. Key areas include the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy (with a special focus on enabling the most vulnerable to escape energy poverty), waste and pollution reduction, mitigation of harmful environmental impacts, adoption of circular and climate-neutral business models, and protection of natural resources. The portfolio supports efficient, just, and sustainable development through policy dialogue, improvement of the regulatory framework, capacity building, and incentives in the areas of energy sustainability, waste management, sustainable business models, green chemistry, and environmental protection—initiating systemic changes toward a green transition in BiH.

The portfolio is organized around four pillars: Decarbonization, Pollution Reduction, Biodiversity, and Circular Economy. Within the pillar of Pollution Reduction, the portfolio’s contribution to the green transition consists of implementing interconnected interventions focused on the following areas:

a) Regulatory framework and institutional capacitation for management of hazardous waste and chemicals, focused on Persistent Organic Pollutants

b) Supporting the remediation of contaminated industrial sites and building capacity for effective environmental management;

c) Promoting green chemistry in key industries through stakeholder engagement, environmental audits, and financial support mechanisms;

d) Strengthening the rule of law in the field of environmental protection in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR APPLICATION TO THE PUBLIC CALL

Cantons, local self-government units, and regional landfills1 in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina are eligible to apply if they meet the following criteria:

• Have jurisdiction over municipal waste management in the area where the project2 for the preparation of investment-technical documentation is planned to be implemented;
• Possess a valid waste management plan (municipal or cantonal), in which the project is identified or justified;
• Have institutional capacities to monitor the process of preparing technical documentation and to participate in further project implementation;
• Are ready to provide the necessary technical, organizational, and/or logistical support for the implementation of project activities;
• Are willing to participate in co-financing the costs of preparing the documentation in an amount of at least 20% of the total investment value;
• The project is included in the Public Investment Program of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the period 2025–2027, or has been nominated for the Public Investment Program for the period 2026–2028.

II. Required documentation:

• Completed application form, signed and stamped by an authorized representative (Annex I);
• Decision of the competent authority (e.g., municipal council, management board) on participation in the public call;
• Proof of jurisdiction over the proposed project (e.g., statute, inter-municipal agreement, landfill management contract);
• Copy of the valid waste management plan (municipal or cantonal);
• Excerpt from a relevant strategic document (e.g., LEAP, development strategy, investment plan) in which the project is identified or planned;
• If available: conceptual design, project concept note, situation analysis, or other previously prepared technical documents;
• Nomination of a contact person on behalf of the applicant;
• Statement of readiness to co-finance and provide additional support, indicating the planned percentage of contribution. The source of co-financing may be: municipality, city, relevant cantonal ministry, or public utility company;
• Certified and signed Public Investment (IP) form confirming that the project is included in the Public Investment Program of the Federation of BiH for the period 2025–2027, or nominated for the program for the period 2026–2028.

Notes:

1. Applications that do not meet the prescribed requirements and do not include all requested documentation will not be considered in the further selection process.
2. If a canton, local self-government unit, or landfill is selected, the minimum co-financing3 contribution from the above-mentioned sources must be at least 20% of the total investment value. If the estimated investment value is exceeded at any stage of the project process, and with the consent of the parties, the co-financing contribution from the canton or local self-government unit, UNDP, and other parties may be increased proportionally to the initial co-financing percentage.
3. The funds allocated by UNDP for co-financing range from a minimum of BAM 25,000.00 to a maximum of BAM 50,000.00 per selected beneficiary/project.

BASIC SELECTION CRITERIA

1. Existence of relevant strategic and/or planning and/or program documentation – maximum 30 points
   1. Waste management plan at the level of the local self-government unit or canton – 10 points
   2. The project is included in the Public Investment Program of the Federation of BiH for the period 2025–2027, or has been nominated for the Program for the period 2026–2028 – 20 points
   3. Readiness to co-finance with an amount of at least 20% of the total investment value – maximum 50 points 
      Points are awarded as follows:

• 20% co-financing = 20 points
• 21% = 21 points
• …
• 50% or more = 50 points (maximum)

EVALUATION OF APPLICATIONS

The evaluation and ranking of applications received through the Public Call will be carried out by a special Evaluation Committee composed of representatives from UNDP BiH and the Federal Ministry of Environment and Tourism. The selection of cantons, local self-government units, and/or regional landfills will be based on the Committee's assessment according to the above-mentioned criteria.

The results of the Public Call will be published on the official website of UNDP BiH within seven (7) days from the date of the decision. Before making the final selection decision, UNDP BiH reserves the right to request additional clarifications from applicants.  

APPLICATION TO THE PUBLIC CALL

The application documentation, in accordance with the above-stated requirements, should be submitted in a single electronic version with the subject line “Application for Participation – Preparation of Investment-Technical Documentation in the Field of Waste Management in the Federation of BiH” to the following address: registry.ba@undp.org, no later than 30 August 2025.

Interested applicants may request additional information and clarifications by sending inquiries to registry.ba@undp.org, with the subject line “Application for Participation – Preparation of Investment-Technical Documentation in the Field of Waste Management in the Federation of BiH,” no later than 15 August 2025.