The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development appointed Salience as the Lender’s Monitoring Advisor for Serbia’s large-scale rural broadband rollout. The engagement focused on ensuring that the project was designed, procured, and implemented in full compliance with Serbian construction law, international best practices, and EBRD Procurement Policies and Rules over a multi-year period.
The challenge
EBRD required independent oversight to validate project costs, technical designs, procurement strategies, and contract documentation across two implementation phases. The bank needed assurance that the project’s scope and budget were realistic, compliant, and aligned with lender requirements, while also safeguarding the integrity of procurement and the effective use of funds.
Project outline
-
Reviewed and validated project cost estimates for both phases based on technical designs and market data.
-
Assessed Phase 1 technical designs for compliance with Serbian construction laws and FIDIC Red Book standards.
-
Advised EBRD on procurement strategy modifications submitted by the Client.
-
Provided guidance on Employer’s Requirements under Serbian law compared with FIDIC Yellow Book standards, addressing legal-practice gaps.
-
Evaluated scope and design modifications to ensure feasibility and alignment with EBRD expectations.
-
Reviewed tender evaluation reports for Phase 1 to confirm adherence to EBRD Procurement Policies and tender documentation.
Our impact
Salience delivered an independent, comprehensive monitoring function that strengthened transparency and compliance throughout the rural broadband rollout. The engagement safeguarded EBRD’s investment by validating technical and financial robustness, ensuring alignment with legal and FIDIC standards, and enhancing the integrity of procurement and project execution.
Duration of engagement: July 2022 – March 2026