Call for National Researcher _EICEE project

A. BACKGROUND

Association for Democratic Prosperity – Zid from Montenegro together with CEDRA from Croatia, Deli Center from Serbia, ARNO from Macedonia, Lens from Kosovo, Green Building Council from Bosnia and Hercegovina implementing project “EICEE – Western Balkan Eco Innovation and Circular economy Ecosystem” supported by European Union through call EU Civil Society Facility and Media Programme in favor of the Western Balkans and Turkey for 2021-2023 (IPA III).

Overall objective of this project is strengthening capacities and engagement of civil society organizations in policy development leading to green and digital transition in the WB region. The primary value of the action is set with a defined impact on the capacities of the social economy actors and the perception of the industry and the public sector on the use of resources in a sustainable way and based on the concept of eco-design. This action is perceived as a model that can provide solutions to the challenges within circular economy in project countries. This is set to be achieved by the following steps towards reaching defined specific objective, which is: to contribute to the active engagement of the network of social economy actors which endorses the creation of supportive ecosystem for green and circular economy development.

Sustainable economic development is one of the challenges which the entire social system is facing, not only a challenge for one of the WB countries. It includes integral economic, social, technological and cultural development, which are harmonized with the needs of environmental protection and improvement which enables the satisfaction of needs and the improvement of the quality of life for present and future generations. A number of steps have been recognized in the country, as well as in all WB countries, at the level of strategic planning and development of action plans, but also numerous challenges have been identified that need to be addressed and remedied.

The current economic model in the region is still based on “take-make-replace.” It depletes our resources, pollutes our environment, and damages biodiversity and climate. It also makes countries dependent on resources from elsewhere, for majority of the production process. To address these problems, the EU has the aim to move to a more circular economy model based on more sustainable products. Western Balkan has to follow that route. Addressing the environmental impact of products throughout their life cycle and extending their lifetime will lead to more sustainable, circular and more resource-efficient products. More sustainable products such as electronics, furniture and textiles will contribute to the resilience of the economy. Through research work, the regional research team will develop a set of recommendations as a response to identified challenges.

The key stakeholders have been identified primarily as middle-developed NGOs and social enterprises dealing in the circular and green economy sector. There is a significant number of actors in the civil sector who have developed ideas that encourage the development of the green and circular economy. But green technology is not available to most, as well as tools for prototyping, business plan development and sustainability plan for such production. In order to detect how individual waste can be managed, whether products can be sustainable and as such become part of strategic documents, market testing is needed and a group of people who believe in such a process is needed. But also the group of people who has the knowledge to make the process sustainable. With this action we replace the missing elements, support to services to help develop the production process and the knowledge of members that can help them make the process sustainable. The focus is on the business associations, clusters, and cooperatives within Chambers of commerce and SMEs interested in matchmaking the economy with social economy and community innovation as well as public, regional and local institutions working on the achievement of sustainable development, economy, and sustainable development of communities.

The beneficiaries of this project are: research community in the Western Balkans, which received additional findings and services for applying research work in the development of innovative products and the economy in general; social economy enterprises who will further use the developed project services and outcomes; and community representatives, citizens’ association and all interested in gaining support and using green technology, knowledge and services for the development of eco innovation and 3R products.

B. DUTIES AND RESPONSBILITIES

Objectives of assignment
Position – National researcher

National researcher is recognized as an expert with excellent knowledge and experience in economic sciences effects analysis of infrastructure and entrepreneurial investments (e.g. feasibility studies, cost-benefit analysis). Knowledge in the fields of green economy, circular economy, sustainable development thereof is desirable.

The team will, under mentorship of the Main researcher, identify basic challenges through analysis of current state of social economy, its actors and enterprises. Then they will present examples of good practice in social enterprises as well as identified business barriers to circular and social economy with possible models and scenarios for overcoming them, all in order to get to a Digital Product Passport in the Western Balkans region and the potential of creating and placing 3R products in the region.

Identifying the stepping stones towards raising not only awareness but the need to act from an individual level in order to achieve the objectives set out in the Map towards the circular economy that are finished or being prepared in all of the WB countries. Prepared 5 Baseline reports will demonstrate the potential of smart infrastructure, green tech and the state of intra-regional cooperation, and the potential of developing a regional circular economy value chain that would promote the integration of Western Balkans into the EU industrial supply chains.

Content of the job

Tasks of the National Researcher focus on ensuring answers for the purposes of the regional research document and national researches, which include:

· Active participation in the work and direction of a Regional research team through expert contribution and research into the economic effects of green and digital transition in project countires, by creating a supportive ecosystem through the engagement of social economy actors
· Definition, overview and state of play of social economy and social enterprises;
· Strategic direction of development of the country and role of the social economy in that process;
· State of play of green and digital initiatives in the country – green tech, smart infrastructure, including examples of good practice in social enterprises;
· Identified business barriers to circular and social economy, in the country and in the business community;
· Needs in the development of the social (solidarity) economy in order to be able to apply it, as well as recommendations on how to include social economy actors in the green and digital transition;
· Map of innovative infrastructure of civil society organizations, enterprises and social economy actors from partner countries for developing smart and green infrastructure.
· Scan of relevant regulations and requirements for the future Digital Product Passport with the focus on reuse, repair, remanufacturing and less on recycling;
· National potential in adopting and applying eco-design requirements and the potential of creating and placing 3R products in the region – SWOT analysis of the Digital Product Passport;
· Success stories and main obstacles, structural deficiencies and challenges in the implementation (socio-economic, political, institutional and legislative, technological, etc.) of the green and digital transition in project countries (Bosnia and Hercegovina, Serbia, Macedonia, Kosovo and Montenegro);
· Domains and possibilities of social economy company participation and how to put into operation the potentials and cooperation mechanisms of the private sector, the social economy and innovative infrastructure (examples are current projects, centers of excellence, etc.);
· Recognized and classified support for the development of 3R products and prototypes;
· Overview of the up-to-date data on the so-called composite indicators (such as Human Development Index, Ecological Footprint etc.) that reflect the country’s dedication to the concept of sustainable development.
· Collection and interpretation of indicators forming part of the Eco-Innovation index, i.e. at least one indicator per group (Western Balkans economies are not part of this Index). It’s not necessary to measure the index, but developed documents should summarize data for certain thematic areas to be able to form a picture on the state of play in these economies in terms of applying the sustainability concept;
· All important issues that will be recognized by the Main researchers in the process of research realization.
· Participation in regional project meetings, workshops, round tables, meetups and consultations with decision makers and stakeholders (up to 8 national and regional events, the first regional meeting in Podgorica, Montenegro with proposed dates for the first meeting 12-13.06.2023. or 26-27.06.2023.);
· Consultations will be carried out through individual interviews and organized public debates;
· Communication with project team can be conducted both live and online

Methodology

Meetings with the regional research team in person and using Zoom/Teams platforms, will be necessary to agree on deliverables, actual materials to be delivered may be worked on at the location of the expert’s choice.
The National Researcher is expected to work in close cooperation with other members of Regional Research Team.
The National Researcher will work under the supervision of the Main Researcher.
The National Researcher is expected to work in close consultation with the overall National Project team.
Methods of collecting the data will be a survey, statistical analysis and content analysis. Methodology used would represent muti-stage research, which would include desk research and analysis of the previously conducted researches and secondary analysis, analysis of the key trends in economy, and analysis of the stakeholders and experts attitudes with interviews conducted.
Copyright and ownership – Produced material, findings and other intellectual property created for the project purpose, will be solely owned by ADP – Zid, CEDRA from Croatia, Deli Center from Serbia, ARNO from Macedonia, Lens from Kosovo, Green Building Council from Bosnia and Hercegovina and Regional research team.

Requirements:
Qualification, Competences and experience

· Young researcher/PhD student/researcher in the area of economic sciences;
· Excellent speaking and writing language skills of English;
· An academic background in the relevant field;
· Demonstrated involvement in national-level programs supporting green and/or social enterprises.
· High level of organizational and time management.

C. THE WORK CONDITION

Place of work – Bosnia and Hercegovina/Serbia/North Macedonia/Kosovo/Montenegro
Contractual nature – Service contract
Maximum duration of the Assignment: 16 months
Gross amount for this service is 6,000.00 EUR

Expected deliverables of the regional research team on Western Balkans Eco Innovation and Circular economy Ecosystem:
· Baseline report – Potential for development of smart infrastructure, promote fostering of green technologies and strengthening intra-regional cooperation via social economy (minimum number of words in the final report: 11000 (single spaced, excluding references); date for the initial draft of the report: 15.09.2023.; date for the final completed report: 10.10.2023.).
· Database with contacts of mapped social economy enterprises;
· Database for collected indicators forming part of the Eco-Innovation index, i.e. at least one indicator per group;
· National research (minimum number of words in the final report: approximately 11000 (excluding references); date for the initial draft of the report: 15.12.2023.; date for the final completed report: April, 2024.);
· Regional policy paper – WB action for circular and sustainable products (date for the initial draft of the report: 31.10.2023.; date for the final completed paper: 28.02.2024.).
· Contribution to Regional research reports by the Main Researcher and other Researchers. This implies mutual contributions and transparency of work and reports from all researchers.

National researcher is recognized as an expert with excellent knowledge and experience in economic sciences effects analysis of infrastructure and entrepreneurial investments (e.g. feasibility studies, cost-benefit analysis). Knowledge in the fields of green economy, circular economy, sustainable development thereof is desirable. Additionally, should be able to summarize data for some thematic regions to form a picture on the state of play in these economies regarding applying sustainability concepts.

D. APPLICATION PROCEDURE:

All interested parts with required skills are invited apply not later than May 29th, 2023.
CV have to be sent by e-mail to arno.mkd@gmail.com with subject “National researcher”.
Contact person is Aleksandar Bogoevski.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
ARNO is committed to equal employment opportunities, which do not discriminate against a candidate in national, sexual, age, national, ethnic, racial, religious, or other grounds. ARNO will ensure all candidates respect for fundamental rights and freedoms guaranteed.

The tasks of the National Researcher focus on the following:

1. Actively participating in a regional research team by contributing expertise and conducting research on the economic effects of green and digital transition in project countries. This involves creating a supportive ecosystem by engaging social economy actors.
2. Defining and providing an overview of social economy and social enterprises.
3. Determining the strategic direction of the country’s development and assessing the role of the social economy in that process.
4. Evaluating the current status of green and digital initiatives in the country, including green technology and smart infrastructure. Providing examples of successful social enterprises in these areas.
5. Identifying barriers to circular and social economy practices in the country and the business community.
6. Identifying the needs for the development of the social (solidarity) economy and making recommendations on how to involve social economy actors in the green and digital transition.
7. Creating a map of innovative infrastructure involving civil society organizations, enterprises, and social economy actors from partner countries, specifically focused on developing smart and green infrastructure.
8. Conducting a scan of relevant regulations and requirements for a future Digital Product Passport, with an emphasis on reuse, repair, and remanufacturing rather than just recycling.
9. Assessing the national potential for adopting and implementing eco-design requirements, as well as the potential for creating and promoting 3R (reuse, repair, remanufacturing) products in the region. Conducting a SWOT analysis of the Digital Product Passport.
10. Investigating success stories, main obstacles, and structural deficiencies in implementing the green and digital transition in project countries. This includes socio-economic, political, institutional, legislative, technological, and other factors.
11. Identifying areas and opportunities for social economy company participation and exploring mechanisms for collaboration between the private sector, social economy, and innovative infrastructure. Providing examples of current projects and centers of excellence.
12. Identifying and classifying support available for the development of 3R products and prototypes.
13. Providing an overview of up-to-date data on composite indicators that reflect the country’s commitment to sustainable development. These indicators may include the Human Development Index and Ecological Footprint.
14. Collecting and interpreting indicators for the Eco-Innovation index, focusing on specific thematic areas in the project countries. Note that the Western Balkans economies are not part of this index, but the collected data should provide insights into the state of play regarding sustainability concepts.
15. Addressing any important issues that may arise during the research process, as recognized by the Main Researchers.
16. Participating in regional project meetings, workshops, round tables, meetups, and consultations with decision makers and stakeholders. There will be up to 8 national and regional events, with the first regional meeting in Podgorica, Montenegro, proposed for either 12-13.06.2023 or 26-27.06.2023.
17. Conducting individual interviews and participating in organized public debates as part of the consultation process.
18. Maintaining communication with the project team through both in-person and online channels.