Study on higher and professional education finance in Southeast Europe

In 2011, KfW commissioned a Pre-Feasibility Study on Higher Education Finance in Southeast Europe andTurkey. The aim of the Pre-Feasibility Study was (i) to gain an overall understanding of existing higher educationstudent finance schemes worldwide (ii) to undertake a first country specific analysis of selected countries inSoutheast Europe (Kosovo*, Serbia, Turkey) and (iii) to develop potential concepts to support higher educationstudent finance in Southeast Europe. In that regard, consultancy services are necessary to prepare a Feasibility study and a pilot project for higherand professional education student finance in Southeast Europe WBIF countries. The consultancy assignmentsubject to this procurement will be implemented in 2 phases: Phase 1 will cover the countries Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Kosovo*, In an optional Phase 2 additional WBIF countries (e.g. former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) could beadded. The objective of the consultancy assignment in Phase 1 is to: Prepare a Feasibility Study and develop a pilot project for a student loan facility in Bosnia and Herzegovina,Croatia and Kosovo*, Design a model for a regional student loan programme in Southeast Europe. Expected outputs of the consultancy assignment are: In-depth country-specific analysis in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Kosovo*; In-depth demand survey among students on student financing and a potential student loan facility in Bosniaand Herzegovina, Croatia and Kosovo*; Assessment of various finance and risk-sharing models for a student loan facility in each country andassessment of the feasibility of a regional facility; Development of a comprehensive project concept (Institutional Design Report) for each country; Preparation of a pilot project with interested financial institutions in each country; Development of possible models for a student finance programme in Southeast Europe; Design, preparation and implementation of appropriate fora for stakeholder consultations at national andregional level (cross-cutting); Development of terms of reference for an implementation consultant. In an optional Phase 2 feasibility studies and pilot projects for additional WBIF countries (e.g. former YugoslavRepublic of Macedonia and other countries still to be determined) will be prepared. Results and lessons-learnedof Phase 1 shall be taken into account in Phase 2 and in case Phase 2 will commence before the termination of Phase 1, preliminary results of Phase 2 shall be considered in Phase 1.