May 2026-May 2029
During the 2026–2029 period of extended institutional support by Rockefeller Brothers Fund, RES Foundation will continue its role as an independent policy resource hub in the fields of energy transition, energy poverty and air quality in Serbia and the Western Balkans. Building on its work and learning from the 2023–2026 period, the Foundation will deepen its focus on implementation-aware policy design, with particular emphasis on financing mechanisms, energy security and citizen-centred energy systems.
Aim is strengthening the capacities of current and future public good agents: newly elected representatives, students and young professionals, and research-oriented journalists to engage in informed oversight of energy policy and public finance. By deepening understanding of financing instruments, sustainability criteria, regulatory design and implementation risks, the intervention aims to improve policy quality, reinforce democratic accountability and contribute to rebuilding public trust in Serbia’s energy transition.
Key strands of work include:
- policy research and analysis related to energy efficiency, clean heating, renewable energy and decentralised citizen-led energy systems, with attention to regulatory design and financing frameworks;
- analysis of public funding instruments and investment programmes to assess their alignment with climate, air-quality, energy and transport poverty objectives;
- advisory engagement and structured dialogue with public authorities, international organisations and regional bodies to support evidence-based policy design and evaluation;
- development of policy platforms, briefs and knowledge products that translate complex technical and financial issues into accessible formats for decision-makers and civil society;
- continued convening and knowledge exchange through regional platforms, including thematic conferences and targeted expert dialogues;
- structured engagement of young professionals and students through research involvement, mentoring and participation in international climate and energy policy processes, including COPs.
Desired and expected outcomes
By the end of the 2026–2029 period, RES Foundation expects to contribute to:
- improved design and social targeting of public policies and financing instruments related to energy efficiency, clean heating and renewable energy;
- stronger alignment between energy transition investments, energy and transport poverty alleviation, air-quality improvement and energy-security objectives;
- development of enabling frameworks for citizen distributed energy (for example through the development of report on Distributed energy in the Western Balkans);
- increased use of evidence and independent analysis in policy decision-making at local, national and regional levels (for example through our flagship product Atlas of Good Energy that will be updated in the grant implementation period);
- strengthened accountability and quality assurance in the use of public and international funds for energy transition measures;
- enhanced capacity of young professionals to engage constructively in energy and climate policy processes at national, regional and international levels (for example through delegating youth delegates for COP31-33);
- sustained relevance of Western Balkans perspectives in EU and international energy and climate policy debates.
RES Foundation is granted with this institutional support by Rockefeller Brothers Fund.
