Serbian Climate Resilience & Irrigation Programme SCRIP

Overview
Project Summary Document
Environmental and Social Documentation
Procurement
Complaints

Overview

Provision of a sovereign loan to the Republic of Serbia (the "Client") in an amount of EUR 48 million to finance the construction and rehabilitation of critical irrigation infrastructure in three distinct regions of Serbia: Negotin (Eastern Serbia), Svilajnac (Central Serbia) and Vojvodina (Northern Serbia). The investments will be financed from an initial loan to the Republic of Serbia in the amount of up to EUR 30 million and Loan Extensions totalling EUR 18 million (to be signed in 2023). Financing of the Programme is split into two phases: (i) Loan I (for investments in Negotin and Svilajnac) of up to EUR 15 million, which was signed in December 2019 and which will be completed by a Loan Extension of EUR 10 million, and (ii) Loan II (for investments in Vojvodina) of up to EUR 15 million, which was signed in 2021 and which will be completed by a Loan Extension of EUR 8 million.

The Programme is being implemented by two Public Water Management Companies ("PMWC"), PMWC Srbijavode for Loan I and PMWC Vode Vojvodine for Loan II, in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Water Management ("MAFWM"), and respective municipalities.

The Loan Extensions are required to cover (i) recent material costs' increase that have negatively impacted the total investment cost, and (ii) project preparation for the Pambukovica dam, a critical infrastructure investment to ensure flooding protection and which, at later stage, will serve irrigation purposes.

The Programme also entails continuation of policy dialogue with the MAFWM by assisting in preparation of the country's first Irrigation Strategy and a five-year Action Plan.

Project ID 50848

Status Repaying

Location

Serbia

Business Sector

Municipal Infrastructure

Notice Type

State

Project timeline

Exploratory
Passed Concept Review
Passed Structure Review
Passed Final Review
Board Approved
Signed
Implementing
Completed

Company Contact Information

JVP Srbijavode
office@srbijavode.rs
+381 11 3119400
https://www.srbijavode.rs
Bulevar umetnosti 2A, Beograd 11070, Serbia

Project ID 50848

Status Repaying

Location

Serbia

Business Sector

Municipal Infrastructure

Notice Type

State

Environmental Category

Approval Date

11 Dec 2019

Disclosure date

24 Jul 2019

Project description

The Programme also entails continuation of policy dialogue with the MAFWM by assisting in preparation of the country's first Irrigation Strategy and a five-year Action Plan.

Project objectives

Agriculture plays an important economic role in Serbia, representing 6 per cent of the GDP. However, irrigation infrastructure is obsolete and irrigated areas remain constrained through a lack of sustainable water resources.

Moreover, the country's climate related vulnerability is increasing (according to recent estimates, 30 per cent of the total country area and 52 per cent of agricultural land is vulnerable to rainwater related flooding or water logging).

Therefore, the Government of Serbia has decided to engage in upgrading, expanding and modernising its irrigation infrastructure to sustain Serbia's climate resilience and support its agricultural sector, including a shift towards higher yield-crops. Additionally, the rehabilitation of Serbia's aged irrigation and water infrastructure is expected to contribute to water and energy savings.

Client information

SERBIA SOVEREIGN

Government of Serbia, represented by MAFWM as the body responsible for agriculture and water management.

EBRD Finance Summary

Two consecutive sovereign loans in a total amount of up to EUR 30 million, completed by two Loan Extensions totalling EUR 18 million. EBRD Financing in relation to Loan I will total EUR 25 million following Loan Extension. EBRD Financing in relation to Loan II will total EUR 23 million following Loan Extension.

Total project cost

EBRD Financing in relation to Loan I will total EUR 25 million following Loan Extension. EBRD Financing in relation to Loan II will total EUR 23 million following Loan Extension.

Additionality

Financing structure: EBRD offers financing that is not available in the market from commercial sources on reasonable terms and conditions;
Standard-setting: The client seeks/makes use of EBRD expertise on best international procurement standards and higher environmental standards above 'business as usual'.
Knowledge, innovation, and capacity building: EBRD provides expertise, innovation, knowledge and/or capabilities that are material to the timely realisation of the project's objectives, including support to strengthen the capacity of the client.
Risk Mitigation: (i) EBRD helps the client to mitigate physical transition risks and take climate action, such as to identify and manage physical climate risks and build resilience to them; (ii) EBRD helps the client to mitigate climate governance risks and take climate action, such as to improve its internal corporate governance for managing climate risks.

Environmental & Social Summary

The Project has been categorised B in accordance with the Bank's 2014 Environmental and Social Policy. Environmental and Social Due Diligence ("ESDD") has confirmed that the project's environmental and social ("E&S") risks and impacts are readily identifiable and can be mitigated by way of a commitment to implementation of suitable mitigation measures. Overall, the programme is expected to have positive socio-economic impacts during the operation period by improving access to irrigation water, and increased crop yields and value. Both loans have been subject to ESDD which has been carried out by an independent consultant.

The components of Loan I include the Negotin irrigation system which will convey around 4.6 million m3 of water per year, with an abstraction rate of 1.089 m3/s. ESDD concluded that for Component 1 water abstraction represents 0.008 per cent of the Q95 mean annual flow of the Danube and will therefore have an insignificant environmental impact on water availability or upon aquatic species and habitats. This component may be subject to an Environmental Impact Assessment ("EIA") under national law once the design is further developed.

Total water abstraction in Svilajnac is estimated at 1.916 million m3/year. Sustainability tests

indicated that abstraction from the shallow aquifer at the indicated rates would not have significant impacts on groundwater availability, including abstraction for drinking water. Abstraction from the Resavska River at a rate of 0.343 m3/s, will be approximately 20 per cent of the monthly average during summer. A review of the environmental flow prescribed within the local water permit has established that an increase from the current figure of 0.399 m3/s to 0.5 m3/s is recommended to ensure habitat continuity of the river for aquatic species. The revised environmental flow is within the natural variation of the river flow during the irrigation season and water will not be abstracted during fish spawning season. As further mitigation the weirs will be designed to allow unimpeded fish passage upstream and downstream. Effectiveness of the mitigations measures will be reviewed during monitoring in the first year of operation. An EIA under the national law is not required for this component.

In Loan II water will be abstracted from a yet to be constructed Jaraika Jariina canal, supplied with water from the Sava river, which is estimated at less than 0.07% of the river average annual minimum flow and hence no significant impacts are expected. No impacts on the functioning of the existing reservoirs which will receive the water are anticipated. The reservoirs do not provide any high value habitat or species. Entrapment of fish at the abstraction point will be mitigated through the use of screens. Non-native fish species were found in the river and the reservoirs, and possible risk of transfer of non-native/invasive species, will be evaluated through additional field surveys informing the need for any additional mitigations. This component may be subject to an EIA under national law once the design is further developed.

Construction phase impacts for Loan I and II mainly relates to land acquisition, the majority being temporary acquisition for the right of way of the pipelines with some permanent acquisition for fixed facilities. No physical displacement is anticipated and economic displacement will be minimised through location of pipelines along existing infrastructure routes e.g. road, field boundaries where possible. A Livelihood Restoration Framework has been developed and Livelihood Restoration Plans, appropriate for the scale of the land acquisition will be developed to comply with Performance Requirement PR5.

Construction contractors will be required to develop an Environmental and Social Management

Plan to manage impacts of construction including pollution prevention, traffic management and occupational and community health and safety. The infrastructure for both Loan I components avoids any sensitive biodiversity areas and is located on modified or agricultural land and associated biodiversity impacts are therefore expected to be minimal. For Loan II, the biodiversity assessment concluded that impacts on Priority Biodiversity Features and Critical Habitat are not anticipated to be significant since terrestrial habitats will be reinstated post-pipeline construction and additional habitat created along the pipeline route to create a net gain for these habitats. The final parts of the pipeline are within the National Park Fruška gora, in the area under the lowest degree of protection. Measures to comply with PR6 are considered sufficient to mitigate impacts, however upon securing approval for the Project any additional conditions from the appropriate authorities will need to be implemented by the Client.

Srbijavode and Vode Vojvodine as the implementing entities will develop and implement an E&S Policy and E&S Management and Monitoring Plan for the operation phase. In addition, a Stakeholder Engagement Plan and community grievance mechanism in accordance with PR10 will be implemented by the Company. Support is being provided by EBRD through TC through provision of training to farmers on new irrigation techniques, which will also include water use efficiency and pollution prevention measures.

Environmental and Social Action Plans have been developed to ensure the Project is structured to meet the PRs agreed with Srbijavode and Vode Vojvodine. ESAP implementation is on-going as appropriate for the development stage of each Loan component.

Non-Technical Summaries and Stakeholder Engagement Plans are available for this project.

Technical Cooperation and Grant Financing

The Project benefits from the following TC of up to EUR 1.2 million:

EBRD-FAO Framework agreement - Irrigation and Drainage improvements (USD 44,000, financed at 70 per cent by the EBRD Shareholders Special Fund ("SSF") and 30 per cent by the FAO). Key objectives of the assignment were identification of the country's investment needs in irrigation and drainage infrastructure, understanding of national capacity to implement irrigation and drainage projects, and definition of priority areas for irrigation and drainage investment. The assignment was implemented by FAO.
Technical, financial, environmental and social due diligence for Loan I (EUR 290,000, financed by the Government of Austria). The assignment included a review of technical designs and the present and planned irrigated agricultural activities in the Project areas, environmental and social audit of the facilities to be financed from an EBRD loan, climate risk analysis, assessment of the economic, social, environmental water-/energy-efficiency and climate resilience benefits of the Project.
Project preparation for Loan II (EUR 350,000, financed by the Government of Austria). The assignment included preparation of a Feasibility Study, designs, climate risk analysis and climate resilience benefits from the infrastructure to be financed from the an EBRD loan.
Environmental and social due diligence for Loan II (EUR 74,200), financed by the SSF. The assignment included the environmental and social audit of the project to be financed from the Loan II and the biodiversity study in the relevant region.
Preparation of the Irrigation Strategy for Serbia (USD 905,860, financed by Israel, Central European Initiative, SSF and FAO, and implemented by FAO). The assignment will result in development and adoption of a national strategy on irrigation, including the Action Plan for implementation of the Strategy and methodology for prioritisation of investments and financing strategy.
Serbian Irrigation Training and Gender-Responsive Service Provision Capacity-building for the Agricultural Advisory and Professional Services of Serbia to deliver quality training on irrigation and ensure gender-sensitive service provision (EUR 75,000 funded under the Gender Advisory Services Framework).

Company Contact Information

JVP Srbijavode
office@srbijavode.rs
+381 11 3119400
https://www.srbijavode.rs
Bulevar umetnosti 2A, Beograd 11070, Serbia

PSD last updated

28 Jun 2023

Understanding transition

Further information regarding the EBRD’s approach to measuring transition impact is available here.

Business opportunities

For business opportunities or procurement, contact the client company.

For business opportunities with the EBRD (not related to procurement) contact:

Tel: +44 20 7338 7168
Email: projectenquiries@ebrd.com

For state-sector projects, visit EBRD Procurement:

Tel: +44 20 7338 6794
Email: procurement@ebrd.com

General enquiries

Specific enquiries can be made using the EBRD Enquiries form.

Environmental and Social Policy (ESP)

The ESP and its associated Environmental and Social Requirements (ESRs) set out the ways in which the EBRD implements its commitment to promoting “environmentally sound and sustainable development”. The ESP and the ESRs include specific provisions for clients to comply with the applicable requirements of national laws on public information and consultation, and to establish a grievance mechanism to receive and facilitate resolution of stakeholders’ concerns and grievances, in particular, about the environmental and social (E&S) performance of the client and the project. Proportionate to the nature and scale of a project’s environmental and social risks and impacts, the EBRD also requires its clients to disclose information, as appropriate, about the risks and impacts of projects or to undertake meaningful consultation with stakeholders and consider and respond to their feedback.

More information on the EBRD’s practices in this regard is set out in the ESP.

Integrity and compliance

The EBRD's Office of the Chief Compliance Officer (OCCO) promotes good governance and ensures that the highest standards of integrity are applied to all of the Bank's activities in accordance with international best practice. Integrity due diligence is conducted on all Bank clients to ensure that projects do not present unacceptable integrity or reputational risks to the Bank. The EBRD believes that identifying and resolving issues in the project assessment and approval stages is the most effective means of ensuring the integrity of Bank transactions. OCCO plays a key role in these protective efforts andhelps to monitor integrity risks in projects post-investment.

OCCO is further responsible for investigating allegations of fraud, corruption and misconduct in EBRD-financed projects. Anyone, either within or outside the Bank, who suspects fraud or corruption should submit a written report to the Chief Compliance Officer by email to compliance@ebrd.com. OCCO will follow-up all matters reported. It will review all matters reported. Reports can be made in any language of the Bank or of the Bank's countries of operation. The information provided must be made in good faith.

Access to Information Policy (AIP)

The AIP, which entered into force on 1 January 2025, sets out how the EBRD discloses information and consults with its stakeholders to promote better awareness and understanding of its strategies, policies and operations. Please visit the Access to Information Policy page to find out what information is available from the EBRD website.

Specific requests for information can be made using the EBRD enquiries form.

Independent Project Accountability Mechanism (IPAM)

If efforts to address environmental, social or public disclosure concerns with the Client or the Bank are unsuccessful (for example, through the client’s project-level grievance mechanism or through direct engagement with Bank management), individuals and organisations may seek to address their concerns through the EBRD’s Independent Project Accountability Mechanism (IPAM).

IPAM independently reviews project issues that are believed to have caused (or to be likely to cause) harm. The purpose of the mechanism is: to support dialogue between project stakeholders to resolve environmental, social and public disclosure issues; to determine whether the Bank has complied with its Environmental and Social Policy or the project-specific provisions of its Access to Information Policy; and where applicable, to address any existing non-compliance with these policies, while preventing future non-compliance by the Bank.

Please visit the Independent Project Accountability Mechanism webpage to find out more about IPAM and its mandate and how to submit a Request for review. Alternatively, contact IPAM by email at ipam@ebrd.com for guidance and more information on IPAM and how to submit a request.

Environmental and Social Documentation is not available for this project.

Selected procurement notices related to this project may be shown below. Further procurement opportunities related to this and other projects, if available, maybe be viewed in the EBRD Procurement Portal.

The EBRD's Environmental and Social Policy (ESP), Access to Information policy (AIP) and Project Accountability Policy (PAP) enable sound and sustainable development in its projects. The Independent Project Accountability Mechanism (IPAM) deals with complaints about environmental, social and disclosure matters related to the Bank’s investments.

No complaints about this project have been made so far.

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Serbian Climate Resilience & Irrigation Programme SCRIP

Overview

Project timeline

Company Contact Information

Project description

Project objectives

Client information

EBRD Finance Summary

Total project cost

Additionality

Environmental & Social Summary

Technical Cooperation and Grant Financing

Company Contact Information

PSD last updated

Understanding transition

Business opportunities

General enquiries

Environmental and Social Policy (ESP)

Integrity and compliance

Access to Information Policy (AIP)

Independent Project Accountability Mechanism (IPAM)