Public Sector

Our dedicated team of specialists committed to delivering advisory and other professionals services to the public sector, EU institutions, international financial institutions, donor organisations and development aid agencies have a proven track record of managing complex projects. Our specialists are committed to assisting the Public Administration in its efforts to achieve goals and address challenges in designing and implementing public policies aimed at: solving the genuine needs of general public and the business sector, meeting the demand for reform and modernisation of governance and public services, satisfying the demand for education and training of central and local government public servants, and other goals and objectives.

Our team comprises a number of former public servants who bring a wealth of hands-on experience in the field of public administration, and long-term cooperation with both the public and private sectors. Considering our long-standing presence in Serbia, our strong and stable network of associates, and our capacity to make use of the support and skills of PwC’s global network of firms, our team of specialists can quickly draw support from experts in various fields.

Sectors

Modernization of Public Administration

We are aware of the efforts and challenges in the implementation of Public Administration reform, which is one of the prerequisites for joining the European Union, and of the endeavours being made to tailor the Public Administration to the needs of citizens, businesses, and public servants - efforts aimed at the Public Administration becoming professional, efficient and effective, bringing accountability and transparency to citizens and businesses in providing easily accessible quality customer services.

Our dedicated team members have the expertise and experience in:

  • Designing public policies for different environments, guided by numerous examples of good practice available within the PwC Network

  • Developing and drafting strategic planning documents, and monitoring their implementation 

  • Analysing the current state, the desired results and risks, and other requirements to achieve the goals and objectives

  • Optimising public administration processes and procedures, developing institutional and individual goals and key performance indicators (KPIs) to support better governance

  • Developing and establishing a Register of Administrative Procedures, together with processes for their mapping, simplification, optimisation, and digitalisation 

  • E-government

  • Client-centric business approach

  • One-stop-shop concept (broad service offering)

  • Public procurement

  • Other services

Modernisation of public services

Our team has assisted the Public Policy Secretariat of the Republic of Serbia in establishing a Register of Administrative Procedures, and in easing up the administrative burden felt by businesses operating in four economic sectors (tax, energy, internal market and competitiveness, and the financial sector) by simplifying and optimising administrative procedures. Over and above that, our team is currently supporting the ongoing Public Administration reform addressed under the EU Sector Reform Contract by providing advisory and technical support to shape public policies and build a strategic framework, to strengthen institutional capacities and the capacity building in human resource development, and to establish effective public policy tools.

Public financial management 

Good public financial management has a central role in the implementation of national development and poverty alleviation policies.  For an effective public financial management, the following factors are essential: budget reliability, transparency of public finances, policy-based fiscal strategy and budgeting, control in budget execution, accounting and reporting, external scrutiny and audit, and management of assets and liabilities.

financial management

Our dedicated team members have the expertise and experience in providing a range of services encompassing:

  • Assurance Services, Accounting Advisory Services - inclusive of International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) Advisory Services, and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Advisory Services

  • Search for potential investors /Identifying funding sources

  • Program budgeting

  • Managing, monitoring, and evaluating performance

  • Advising on government funds and state aid

  • Advising on asset management

  • Other 

Our previous experiences include: Assisting the Ministry of Finance in resolving non-performing loans and, with the help of the World Bank, providing technical support for Corporate Financial Reporting Reform by organising events and delivering training sessions on the adoption of International Financial Reporting standards (IFRS), IFRS for Small and Medium Sized Entities (IFRS for SMEs), and International Accounting Standards (IAS); Building capacity in the State Audit Institution for performance audits and for drafting an IT audit methodology.

Accountability and Transparency of Public Institutions

The Public Administration is undergoing modernisation and change to achieve improvements in quality of service delivery. Furthermore, the process of EU accession is underway, which involves harmonising national legislation with the EU legislation and implementing EU laws in practice. Along with this, democratic pressure is growing for more transparency and accountability of public institutions, for the rule of law, and for fighting corruption. This makes it all the more important in situations such as COVID-19 pandemic, which has led to a global crisis. In these circumstances, public expectations from the Government include ensuring the normal functioning of institutions, giving reasons for administrative decisions, exposing decisions to public scrutiny, and answering to any questions the citizens may have. Our experts have many years of experience in strengthening the key elements required to build transparency and accountability of public institutions, such as: control of the executive branch, prevention and the fight against corruption, open government, fundamental rights, security, rule of law, law enforcement, judicature, and other elements.

Our dedicated team members provide expertise and support in the following areas:

  • Developing and drafting strategic planning documents, and monitoring their implementation 

  • Current state analysis, and effects analysis

  • Advisory services with regard to drafting and amending laws and regulations

  • Building and strengthening institutional capacities

  • Developing tools for institutional strengthening 

  • Developing and running training programs, and designing interactive e-learning platforms

  • Aligning national laws with the EU acquis Chapters 23 and 24 (Cluster 1)

  • Other

Our previous experiences include: Supporting the Ministry of Justice and the Public Prosecutor's Office to build capacities for preventing and fighting corruption in the Republic of Serbia; Improving the efficiency and functioning of the Administrative Court of the Republic of Serbia; Strengthening and promoting ethics, integrity, transparency, and accountability of the Public Administration of North Macedonia. 

Sustainable Development

In 2020, the whole world faced a daunting array of challenges. The impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on economy, education and security have been felt worldwide. Climate change awareness has become more important than ever as a record number of reported natural disasters such as wildfires, hurricanes, and drafts has been linked to climate change. Measures taken to recover national economies are increasingly linked to the goals of sustainable development, to reducing carbon footprint and switching to renewable energy, to reducing inequalities, to achieving greater equality for women and vulnerable groups. 

At the European Union-Western Balkans Summit recently held in Slovenia, heads of state and government of the Western Balkans agreed with the European Union to implement the Green Agenda Action Plan, which opens the way for the Economic and Investment Plan for the Region worth EUR 30 billion. They have committed to putting sustainable development, resource efficiency, nature protection and climate action in the centre of all economic activities, and to align with the EU’s objectives. 

The concept of sustainable development, which aims at improving the quality of life by integrating the protection of environment, economic growth, social responsibility, has been given the highest priority at the global level. From early stages of sustainable development goals setting, which started at the UN Conference in 2012, up to the time when PwC committed to reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions, our team has been aware of the burning political, economic, and environmental challenges the Public Administration was facing to achieve the goals of sustainable development.

Sustainable development

Our dedicated team members provide expertise and support in the following areas:

  • Developing and drafting strategic planning documents, and monitoring their implementation 

  • Current state analysis, and environmental impact assessments

  • Building and strengthening institutional capacities

  • Developing and running training programs

  • Other 

Our previous experiences include: Supporting the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality in strengthening human rights and countering discrimination of vulnerable groups through the implementation of anti-discrimination legal framework, and in strengthening the capacities of Serbian institutions and organisations for ensuring appropriate implementation of human rights and anti-discrimination laws and regulations; Developing eLearning courses on the enforcement of the Law on Prevention of Domestic Violence for the Judicial Academy and the Ministry of Interior; Conducting a feasibility study for the Serbian Energy Sector; Supporting the Ministry of Mining and Energy and the Serbian Electric Power Industry in strengthening internal capacities by delivering a set of training sessions focussing on raising awareness of and learning about  the requirements of the Agreement concluded with the Energy Community, about the EU state aid framework, financing options, project selection and planning; and other topics.

Infrastructure

Approximately 60% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions come from current infrastructure industries however, it is estimated that future infrastructure will generate the largest share in GHG emissions. The outbreak of COVID-19 has reinforced the importance of investing in sustainable infrastructure in order to balance economic growth and environmental protection. There is a lot of dynamics at play in current infrastructure operations as a large number of new sustainability solutions are being implemented. It is important to launch projects aimed at decarbonising infrastructure, focusing on energy, transport, and digital systems. Large numbers of people still live in areas with poor infrastructure, and for that every investment in safe and affordable drinking water, housing, heating, lighting, wastewater treatment solutions, transportation and communications has an impact on the17 sustainable development goals (SDGs). 

Around the world, we help our clients plan, finance, manage and deliver large scale capital projects, and infrastructure and transport projects. Integrated multidisciplinary approach and excellence in delivering professional services are the key elements characterising our experts - combining engineering, technology, sector and finance expertise, our teams work with companies throughout the full lifecycle of a capital project.

Our dedicated team members provide expertise and support in the following areas:

  • Developing and drafting strategic planning documents, and monitoring their implementation 

  • Current state analysis, and effects analysis

  • Financial forecasts 

  • Advisory services with regard to the sources of financing the business

  • Public – Private Partnership (PPP)

  • Search for potential investors /Identification of funding opportunities

  • Other 

Our previous experiences include: Current state analysis for e-mobility in Serbia and identifying a set of recommendations on policies and measures to promote e-mobility and decarbonisation, as well as recommendations for implementing e-mobility in the city of Belgrade; Designing a transportation strategy for Bosnia and Herzegovina; and other experiences.

Training of Civil Servants

Training of Civil Servant

The Fourth Industrial Revolution, characterised by digitalisation, requires the Public Administration to undertake training and development of civil servants, so that civil servants may meet the needs and expectations of society. Only by undergoing training and development will public servants be able to use new technologies (AI, blockchain, autonomous vehicles, et al.), manage innovation in the public sector, interact with citizens and create better public policies, enter into cooperation with other public-private organizations to develop innovative solutions. The new solutions will be data-based and will require learning new skills to better handle data. Additionally, it is essential that public servants improve their communication, negotiation, leadership, and conflict management skills for the Public Administration to continue contributing to social development and networking.

Our team of experts, together with PwC’s Academy, have recognised the need for civil servants’ professional development as one of the key steps in public sector modernisation and service quality improvement. Our experts have extensive experience in assessing employee training needs, using digital tools and platforms to assess skill deficiencies of the labour force, developing innovative training solutions, and in designing and implementing tailor made training programs through a diversity of forms and methods of work - from presentations, games, exercises through to using technologies such as learning hubs, skills (self) assessment tools, eLearning courses, and webinars.

Our offerings include a wide variety of employee training programs:

  • Technical skills development training 

  • Coaching and mentoring training programs

  • Personal effectiveness skills training

  • International professional qualifications

  • Designing eLearning training programs 

  • Mini MBA training program

  • Other training programs.

Our previous experiences include: Designing eLearning courses on the implementation of the Law on Prevention of Domestic Violence for the Judicial Academy and the Ministry of Interior, as well as  on the concept of Design Thinking in Public Administration; Supporting the Serbian Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government to implement a government strategy for Public Administration reform and its Action Plan for the period 2015-2017 by assisting with the setting up of a new modern public servants training and development system; Supporting the National Academy of Public Administration to implement a new approach toward professional development and new training programs for civil servants, and at the same time to ensure capacity building; Enhancing personal, business and organizational skills of selected top-level managers employed with the Serbian state administration; other experiences.

Contact us

Biljana Bogovac

Biljana Bogovac

Country Managing Partner, PwC Serbia

Albena Markova

Albena Markova

Partner, Advisory services, PwC Serbia

Emmanuel Koenig

Emmanuel Koenig

G&PS Leader, PwC CEE, PwC Serbia

Marijana  Trifunovic-Stefanovic

Marijana Trifunovic-Stefanovic

Director, Public Sector, PwC Serbia

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