Local Economic Development in Bosnia and Herzegovina
General Information
- Project: Local Economic Development in BIH (LED in BIH), P220057/01
- Project period: 1 August 2023 – 31 July 2027
- Contract duration: 15 June 2025 – 30 June 2027
- Country: Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH)
- Implementation: Caritas Switzerland Office in BiH and NIRAS
- Type of contract: Framework Agreement
Introduction
The “Local Economic Development in Bosnia and Herzegovina” (LED in BiH) project invites interested parties to submit their proposals for technical assistance to local economic development stakeholders.
The LED in BiH project seeks qualified Service Providers to deliver technical assistance to partner Local Government Units (LGUs) and their Local Economic Development (LED) stakeholders across two distinct LOTs:
- LOT 1 – Cluster 1: Zenica, Žepče, Tešanj, Doboj, Doboj Jug, Zavidovići, Kakanj, and Teslić.
- LOT 2 – Cluster 2: Banja Luka, Čelinac, and Prijedor.
The “Local Economic Development in Bosnia and Herzegovina” (LED in BiH) project, implemented by Swiss Caritas and NIRAS with support from the Swiss Government, aims to strengthen the capacities and cooperation mechanisms of LED actors, including the public sector, private sector, and civil society. The project fosters inclusive economic planning and implementation processes, enabling stakeholders to develop long-term strategic visions for their regions. By improving the business environment and promoting innovation, the project seeks to enhance economic opportunities and increase incomes for women and men.
The project operates in 11 local government units, organised into two clusters:
- Cluster 1: Zenica, Žepče, Tešanj, Doboj, Doboj Jug, Zavidovići, Kakanj, and Teslić.
- Cluster 2: Banja Luka, Čelinac, and Prijedor.
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Running from August 2023 to July 2027, the project focuses on two outcomes:
- Outcome 1: Local actors collaborate to improve the business environment and adapt to future challenges.
- Outcome 2: Local actors implement joint activities to maximise their locality's comparative advantages.
1. Purpose of the Request for Proposals
The technical assistance to local economic development stakeholders as part of the LED in BiH project aims to provide strategic and operational support in coordinating and facilitating project clusters that bring together local government units, business sector stakeholders, and the civil society sector to plan and implement LED initiatives. The selected Service Provider will foster collaborative relationships, ensure alignment with project goals, and support implementing cluster-based activities to stimulate sustainable local economic growth, improve competitiveness, and enhance local employment opportunities. Additionally, the assignment aims to monitor project activities’ progress while facilitating the exchange of LED best practices among partner local governments to improve sustainability.
2. Eligibility
Eligible applicants are individual organisations or consortia.
Although not mandatory, consortia are strongly encouraged to address the diverse needs of the eight partner LGUs for LOT 1 (Cluster 1). Proposals must demonstrate a clear plan for workload distribution between consortium members. Consortia must designate one Lead Service Provider as the primary point of contact for LED in BiH, ensuring quality assurance across all deliverables and coordinating reporting and compliance with project timelines.
Service Providers may apply for one OR both LOTs but must clearly specify their preferred LOT in order of priority. Awarded contracts will be limited to one LOT per Service Provider to ensure equal resource allocation and focused delivery.
3. Instructions for Proposal Submission
- Required Documents
Applicants must submit their proposals in two separate PDF documents:
1. Technical Proposal (as one PDF file)
- A maximum two-page cover letter explaining the service provider's suitability, relevant experience, and availability.
- Proposed methodology for implementing the assignment.
- At least three references from the project’s LGUs confirming the quality of their services and presence in targeted LGUs in the last 5 years.
- CVs of key experts.
- Signed Declaration of Compliance with Exclusion Criteria (Annexe 3b).
2. Signed Financial Proposal
- A summary of prices per deliverable in BAM (please complete Annexe 2).
Offers must be valid for at least 30 days after submission.
3.2 Submission Guidelines
Subject Line:
- RFP: “Public Call for Cluster Coordinators” – [Your Organisation Name]
Attachments:
- Attachment 1: Technical Proposal – [Your Organisation Name]
- Attachment 2: Financial Proposal – [Your Organisation Name] (Password-protected PDF)
3.3 File Format
PDF is preferred. All documents required under the Technical Proposal must be saved as one PDF file.
3.4 Password for Financial Proposal
Applicants must not include the password in the initial submission.
After the technical evaluation is completed, the evaluation committee will request the password from the shortlisted candidates.
3.5 Language of the Offer
The offer is submitted in English.
4. Selection Criteria
- Minimum 10 years of progressive experience in local economic development, strategic planning and/or strategy implementation, primarily at the local/regional level, specifically in BiH.
- Extensive experience in analysis, definition and implementation of local development policies, strategies or programmes, particularly relevant to the local/regional level.
- Experience in collaborative multi-stakeholder projects, particularly those involving cross-regional or cross-sectoral coordination.
- Proven experience in the facilitation and coaching of small groups of participants.
- Proven analytical skills and ability to conceptualise ideas, communicate and write concisely and clearly.
- Knowledge and previous experience at the local level within the LED in BiH Cluster 1 and Cluster 2 are considered assets.
- Ability to engage with gender mainstreaming and environmental issues in the context of local economic development planning.
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- Ability to demonstrate examples from practice and analyse lessons learned from ongoing or completed development strategies in BiH and the region.
- Fluency in both the spoken and written languages of Bih (B/C/S) and English is required.
Key Staff Requirements:
- University degree in public administration, political sciences, law, economics, engineering, or a related field.
- Minimum of 15 years of progressive experience in project management, implementation, and LED.
5. Award Criteria
The offers will be evaluated based on the quality and price criteria. The quality criteria weigh 60% and will assess the following criteria:
- Experience with LED in the project’s LGUs,
- Quality of the proposed methodology,
- Experience of the applicant in key tasks listed in the Terms of Reference under Scope of Work (Annexe 1),
- Qualification of foreseen personnel. Weighing of the price criteria is 40%.
6. Exclusion Criteria
All applicants must sign and submit the Declaration of Compliance with Exclusion Criteria (Annexe 3b).
7. Timeline
- Deadline for Submission
Technical and financial proposals must be emailed to led@caritas.ch by 23:59 on Monday, 30 May 2025. Late submissions or submissions with missing components will be disqualified.
7.2 Selection
The LED in BiH project team plans to evaluate offers in the week commencing 26 May 2025. The shortlisted applicants will be invited to an online or in-person interview.
7.3 Contract Start
The expected time of the contract start is 15 June 2025.
8. Reference Documents
Annexe 1: Terms of Reference for Technical Assistance to Local Economic Development Stakeholders Annexe 2: Financial Proposal Template
Annexe 3a: Exclusion Criteria_BHS
Annexe 3b: CACH_IC_Declaration_Exclusion_Criteria