Strengthening the capacity of Ministry of Mining and Energy in implementation of financing line for improvement of energy efficiency

The global objective of the project of which this contract is part is as follows: Strengthened capacity of the Ministry of Mining and Energy (MoME) and Municipalities in implementation of financing line for improvement of EE. The specific objective of this contract is improved operation of financing line for the improvement of Energy Efficiency (EE). Within this assignment, the Consultant proposed certain improvements to the budget fund's operations, within the limits of the existing institutional framework as budget line for EE (without the institutional set up of the Energy Efficiency fund). In the forthcoming period, the effects of the adopted improvements can be expected, primarily in terms of gaining new experiences to the MoME's organizational units, implementing the new Rulebook that determines improvements (the implementation of a new financial mechanisms) in accordance with the law and the existing institutional framework. However, despite improvements in operations, the existing EE financing system continues to have significant constraints due to the institutional framework. Hence, based on a Study on the possible improvement of the existing mechanism and operation of the budget fund and the selection by MoME of one of the analyzed new institutional options in the Study, the Consultant, elaborated proposals for the revision of relevant regulations for the purpose of establishing an EE fund. Activities: Analyzing the Budgetary fund status and implementation practices; Presenting the findings from the analysis from Activity 1 to the Work Group (WG); Drafting proposal for the amendment of the Rulebook; Finalizing the Rulebook text through work with the WG; Describing operational procedures and developing guidelines for applicants on relevant topics; Developing templates for public calls for different mechanisms of the Budgetary fund; Developing IT tools and implementing training for tools applications; Preparing and organizing trainings for municipalities; Assisting Ministry in the assessment of applications for the Budgetary Fund public call; Analyzing possible improvement of existing mechanism and Fund operation; Preparing input for revision of the relevant Serbian regulation; Implementing 2 study tours for at least six people from the Ministry or WG to two EU countries. The outputs: Output 1: Report on Budgetary fund operation improvement; Output 2: New/ revised Rulebook; Output 3: Defined and described procedures; Output 4: Developed 4 types of public calls templates (for municipalities, housing communities, vouchers and grants for households); Output 5: Developed Terms of reference (ToR) for the development of the IT system that would enable the implementation of all types of procedures as described in the Rulebook; Output 6: Implemented 4 one-day trainings (3 one-day trainings for Municipalities and 1 one-day training for households' sector); Output 7: A report on assistance to the Ministry in assessment of public call; Output 8: Study on possible improvement of the existing mechanism and Fund operation (including proposals of several options of future institutional options); Output 9: Report containing input for revision of the relevant Serbian regulation (for the purpose of establishing an EE fund); Output 10: Implemented study tours (Hungary and Slovenia).