June 2025 – December 2025
RES Foundation will be the implementing partner in United Nations Children’s Fund Programme for Serbia.
Implementation Strategy & Technical Guidance:
The implementation of this program is structured around the development and deployment of practical, locally appropriate tools to improve energy efficiency in households experiencing energy poverty, particularly those with children. UNICEF and RES Foundation will collaborate to support community-based youth energy advisors with the resources, training, and guidance necessary to carry out informed and impactful household engagement.
The program will produce six core deliverables that align with the broader objectives of the SDG Localization Programme, particularly the goals of inclusive climate resilience, citizen engagement, and the protection of child rights.
- Energy Advisor Handbook (Adapted and Localized). RES Foundation will revise and adapt existing technical materials to produce a field-ready handbook for youth energy advisors. The handbook will consolidate good practices and user-friendly guidance on low-cost energy-saving measures suitable for energy-poor households. It will be tailored to non-expert users such as community youth volunteers and local outreach staff.
- Training Package and Sessions for Community Advisors. Building on the handbook, RES will develop a modular training program focused on basic energy diagnostics, household engagement methods, and ethical considerations when working with vulnerable populations. RES will lead the delivery of these training to a defined cohort of volunteers and frontline actors mobilized by implementing partners, particularly the Red Cross of Serbia. The training will include both theoretical and practical components to ensure that participants can apply their knowledge in field conditions.
- Educational Materials for Households and Children To complement household visits, RES will design and produce clear, engaging materials to encourage simple energy-saving behaviors. Materials will be developed for both adult and child audiences, supporting awareness-raising and intergenerational learning. These resources will be available in print and digital formats and distributed during field visits and community events.
- Guide on Energy Efficiency Measures and Incentives. Many households remain unaware of existing national or municipal programs that support energy efficiency upgrades or offer protections for energy-vulnerable customers. RES will develop a short, practical guide summarizing relevant support measures, incentives, and eligibility criteria. This guide will be designed for dissemination by local governments and civil society actors, helping to increase uptake of available support.
- Household Assessment Tools and Data Collection. To strengthen evidence-based decision-making at the local and national levels, RES will design simple household questionnaires to assess energy use, living conditions, and awareness of support mechanisms. These tools will be used by trained volunteers during household visits and will enable the identification of common needs and service gaps.
- Analysis and Recommendations Report. Following data collection, RES will conduct an analysis of household-level findings to identify patterns, challenges, and opportunities for improved policy response. The results will be synthesized into a report intended for municipal and national stakeholders, with policy recommendations that reflect the lived realities of energy-poor families.
Throughout implementation, RES will also provide ongoing advisory support to partners involved in household outreach. This will include technical backstopping, troubleshooting, and responding to emerging challenges during fieldwork.
The tools and resources developed under this project will contribute to improved targeting, awareness, and local action on energy poverty. They are intended to be practical, replicable, and scalable, supporting both immediate household needs and broader SDG localization objectives. Insights generated will also inform UNICEF’s child-sensitive approach to social protection, resilience-building, and equitable energy transitions.
