For the approval and implementation of projects in the environmental and climate protection sector, SECO is looking for advisory experts with specific expertise in the following 5 areas for the period 2024-2029:

• Water and wastewater management
• Energy management in municipalities
• Energy efficiency and renewable energies
• Mobility, transport and urban planning
• Remediation of contaminated sites and disposal of hazardous substances.

The backstopping services are to be procured in an open tendering procedure broken down into 5 thematic lots.

The tender will be published on simap.ch on 14 August 2023.

N.B.: The invitation to tender will be issued in accordance with the Public Procurement Act (PPA, SR 172.056.1). This means that there will be no communication between potential bidders and the contracting authority. Questions may be submitted in the forum on  simap.ch during the tender.

With approximately 20 nature parks, Switzerland has extensive experience and expertise to share regarding sustainable tourism in and around national parks and protected areas. This knowledge has been attracting interest in central and eastern Europe: Bulgaria, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Estonia aim to promote sustainable tourism, better manage their national and regional parks and protect biodiversity with support from the second Swiss contribution towards European cohesion.

SECO and the Swiss National Park organised a study trip to Zernez, Bern and Birmensdorf, where leading representatives from administration, science, environmental protection and business presented the latest Swiss findings and research results. They used practical examples to illustrate Swiss parks' activities and management practices, and showed ways to strike a balance between tourism and nature conservation – and where these strategies reach their limits.

Laying the foundations for Swiss partnerships

As part of Switzerland's contribution, the country is making its expertise available to support partner states in conceptualising and implementing their own programmes. While on the study trip to Switzerland, the visiting delegations were able to network with Swiss experts and lay the foundations for further discussions and longer-term partnerships. Learning from colleagues was an important pillar of the study week, as was direct exchange between the delegations. These included officials from environmental ministries, heads of national parks and other specialists.