Belgrade, May 25, 2023 – United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) invites institutions and local self-governments to submit their applications in the Public Call for Support in Implementing Energy Efficiency Measures, which has been issued within the "EU for Green Agenda in Serbia" project. The aim of his call is to support renovations of buildings and public utility systems in the public sector so as to reduce energy consumption, use of fossil fuels, and therefore the emission of greenhouse gases and polluting particles.

Institutions under the authority of the Government of Serbia, the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, or local self-government units (LSUs) can respond to the call. For at least five selected buildings, UNDP will develop the design documentation necessary for renovations after the ESCO public-private partnership model.

ESCO, i.e., the energy services contract model, enables privately owned companies to invest their own or loaned funds in realisation of works that reduce energy consumption in public buildings. As a result of the improved energy efficiency of the renovated public building, the private company receives a return on its investment and generates a profit within the agreed-upon time frame. According to the analysis, these savings may amount to more than 50%. In this way, the public sector does not have to invest its own resources into the improvement of energy-efficiency measures, and after the contract with the ESCO company has expired, it can also save funds.

ESCO is recognised within the European Union as a way to mobilise private capital in the energy transition, as well as an opportunity to open new, green jobs.

The interested institutions and LSUs can find more details and apply to this Public Call at: https://zelena-agenda.euzatebe.rs/en/open-calls

This Public Call has been issued as a part of the "EU for Green Agenda in Serbia" project, implemented by the United Nations Development Programme with the technical and financial support of the European Union and in partnership with the Ministry of Environmental Protection, and in cooperation with the Embassy of Sweden and the European Investment Bank (EIB), where additional funding has been provided by the governments of Sweden, Switzerland and Serbia.