USAID/Serbia is launching the Improving Serbia’s Environmental Protection (ISEP) Activity to enhance biodiversity and environmental protection through capacity building, public awareness, and stakeholder cooperation. This initiative aims to address Serbia's low level of protected areas (only 7% compared to a regional average of 19.9%) and the numerous challenges faced in environmental conservation, including inadequate funding, weak enforcement of policies, and limited public engagement. The program targets three objectives: increasing protected areas and management capacity, establishing sustainable financing mechanisms for biodiversity, and boosting citizen demand for environmental protection. Expected outcomes include the establishment of new protected areas, improvement of management capacities, mobilization of private sector resources for environmental initiatives, enhanced public knowledge, and greater involvement of civic groups in advocacy and decision-making processes. The initiative emphasizes collaboration among government, civil society, and private sectors while aiming to elevate the role of women and youth in environmental governance to promote sustainable development and improve the quality of life for Serbian citizens.
USAID/Serbia has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to gather insights that will inform the design of a new Environmental Protection Activity. This request is aimed at organizations and individuals willing to provide feedback through a specified survey, which is open until March 17, 2021. The RFI serves as a preliminary inquiry for information and planning, clarifying that it is not a Request for Proposal (RFP) and does not imply any future funding opportunity. Respondents should note that their participation is voluntary and that no unsolicited proposals or resumes are accepted. The responses will be confidential and strictly used for activities development, and no feedback will be provided to respondents. All submissions must be made exclusively through the provided Google survey link; other forms of communication will not be entertained. Potential offerors are encouraged to monitor official government websites for updates regarding this RFI and any subsequent solicitations.