REOI 2026-31 - Support in strengthening capacities of Centers for control of plant protection devices in Serbia

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), intends to pre-qualify a group of organizations in a timely manner, and potentially solicit proposals from them shortly thereafter. The services/outputs being sourced are: Provision of technical and operational support for the strengthening of capacities of Centers for control of plant protection devices in Serbia. The activities would include: ▪ Organize and deliver training programmes for inspection/testing Centers across Serbia on the proper inspection and testing plant protection application equipment under field and laboratory conditions; ▪ Detailed assessment of the condition and upgrade of testing equipment in the Centers; ▪ Conduct necessary calibration tasks on the sprayer testing equipment in all Centers; ▪ Development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the inspection, testing, calibration, maintenance, and reporting of plant protection application equipment; ▪ Provide practical training to inspectors and testing centre personnel on the implementation and consistent application of the developed SOPs; ▪ Promote the importance of regular inspection, calibration, and proper use of plant protection application equipment through awareness-raising activities, open days, demonstrations, and collaboration with selected testing centres. ▪ Green technologies assessment to identify green technologies and innovative practices relevant to pesticide use reduction in Serbia and organize their promotion in the field, including a structured literature review of scientific and grey literature to identify relevant green technologies and innovative practices for pesticide risk reduction in Serbia; ▪ Collect farmer-level information and consult technology providers and vendors to assess technical characteristics, costs, availability and support requirements; ▪ Compile an inventory of at least 20 green technologies and practices relevant to local cropping systems; o development and application of screening and scoring criteria, including eligibility checks, risk and impact assessment, scoring, shortlisting and mitigation planning; o Score and rank identified technologies and practices, in collaboration with relevant technical experts, and shortlist 5-10 priority options suitable for piloting; ▪ Prepare technical reports and practical guidance materials summarizing the methodology, findings, selected technologies/practices and recommendations.