UNDP Jobs - 48468- International Consultant to Conduct Training Cours

International Consultant to Conduct Training Course on Cost-Effectiveness of Energy Efficiency Projects

Location :

Amman, JORDAN

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

01-Oct-2014

Application Deadline :

01-Aug-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Estimated to be 10 working days during the period ( October) of which 5 working days in Jordan

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

Estimated to be 10 working days during the period ( October) of which 5 working days in Jordan

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

The Energy Efficiency Labelling and Standards Project in Jordan is funded by The Global Environmental Facility (GEF), executed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and implemented by The National Centre for Research and Development / National Energy Research Centre (NERC).
The projects’ objective is removing barriers that are currently present in Jordan for the rapid and widespread usage of energy efficient appliances in the domestic sector.
The project aims at reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions resulting from the energy consumption of electrical appliances in Jordan by achieving a market transformation towards high-efficiency products through the introduction of energy labels and Minimum Energy Performance Standards.
The project includes four components designed to overcome the barriers for an energy efficient appliances market transformation. These components are the following:
Component 1: Capacity enhancement in Government and energy agency units for appliance EE policy development, implementation and market surveillance.
Component 2: Structuring of verification & enforcement of appliance EE labels and standards
Component 3: Consumers’ and retailers’ awareness-raising and improved marketing of appliance EE standards and labels.
Component 4: Improvement of manufacturers’ capacity to produce and market EE appliances
This assignment falls under Outcome 1, Output 1.5 “Enhanced data collection on appliance sales and stock and a structured monitoring system”, Activity “Carry out cost effectiveness analyses to screen the new products to be included in the programme and establish an order of priority”
The requirement exists to enhance the technical capability of professionals in the public sector in assessing the impacts of energy projects, with a particular focus on energy efficiency. This is forms part of the project’s objective to provide technical assistance to these entities in the area of cost-benefit analysis as well as providing a larger window through which to view the benefits of energy efficiency projects or measures. The aim of this activity is to enable these professionals to perform detailed analyses of potential projects or measures which will receive monetary allocation from public or donor funds.
The requirement now therefore exists for UNDP is seeking to contract a competent service provider to present a training course for the “Five Cost Effectiveness Tests for Energy Efficiency Programs” for 10-15 participants to be selected by the project.

Duties and Responsibilities

Aim of Training Course:

The expected outcome of this training is that participants will be adequately trained in assessing energy efficiency projects and programs, depending on five major elements; economic feasibility/cost benefit analysis, supply-demand side impact analysis and national impact analysis. The training shall take into consideration national related laws and regulations, in addition to available locally applicable energy-efficiency related development schemes e.g. incentives and funding etc. CO2 emissions, environmental and social impacts shall be also considered.

The training should include at least the following topics:

Introduction to the cost effectiveness tests;
Assumptions when primary data is unavailable;
Interpreting the numbers;
The importance of none-energy benefits;
Integration of the tests into policy.

Scope of the Services:

Course preparation, outline and planning

The course should cover main cost-benefit financial analysis in light of different available/projected incentives and funding schemes, social and environmental cost association should be tackled. Different national energy efficiency plans and strategy should be also integrated in line with course design.

The course should be presented by technical expert(s) and be interactive and practical, including actual and training exercises, in order to enable participants to learn how to calculate and analyse financial data for different projects, analyse and calculate environmental and social costs, and to be able to provide full reporting for projects cost effectiveness analysis and evaluation.
The course will provide the proper methodologies to be used when analyzing the financial and socio-economic impacts and feasibility of projects.. This should be done through “case studies” presentations and, as much as possible, through interactions and practical exercises. The course should effectively enable participants to understand and make use of the proper procedures for creating plausible and accurate scenarios using available data. It is preferable to use local examples with local energy prices.
Economic evaluation including; cash flow analysis, Calculation of rate of return, Calculation of payback period. In addition to discounting methods; Net Present Value (NPV) method; Internal Rate of Return (IRR) method and Payback method.

Risk analysis for different projects should be also included, the risk analysis should include but not limited to; risk identification, risk mitigation and confidence limits. In addition sensitivity analysis shall be tackled.

The course should reflect the practical experiences of the trainers/presenters, gained by their own experience and all preparation, including the training outlines and course materials, should be completed prior to the delivery of the training course. The course should provide delegates with a detailed understanding and interpretation of economic analysis for energy efficiency projects.

Participants must be also offered, during courses attendance, the opportunity to gain a thorough understanding of the problems they are likely to encounter during their future field activities. The subcontractor must therefore take in consideration the need to include exercises involving collective work and group discussions and demonstration of methods and tools for effective learning.

Course Evaluation and Report

At the end of the course, the compilation of course evaluation sheets should be done by the participants and all summary sheets as well as daily attendance records will have to be handed over to UNDP as an annex to the final report. The final report is to be prepared by the service provider and presented to UNDP following the completion of the course presentation.

Deliverables

Training agenda and handout material;
Training of 10-15 participants;

One additional complete set of the course documents have to be provided to UNDP jointly with the following:

Lessons Learned
Certificates (either successful completion or of attendance) to all participants;
Course evaluation sheets completed by all participants

Daily attendance rosters signed by participants.

A final report (in English) should be submitted no later than 15 days after the completion of the course to UNDP.

General Time Schedule and Requirements

The duration of the training course should be 5 working days (one week period) and should be concluded not later than 25 October, 2014;
A number of 10-15 participants will be trained.;
The exact date for the delivery of the course must be finalized in close consultation with NERC and UNDP Jordan.
The course must be presented in English.
UNDP is responsible for arrangements concerning participants attending the course.

Competencies

Outstanding analytical and quantitative capabilities, including economic theory, mathematics and statistics, and quantitative methods to measure economic benefits and costs of projects and policies;
Demonstrated expertise in economic valuation techniques, valuation of coral reef ecosystem services, Cost-benefit analyses,scenario testing;
A good understanding of the challenges related to Energy efficiency in Jordan and MENA region.
Excellent oral and written communication skills, with an ability to communicate with a wide range of audiences;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Highest standards of integrity, discretion and loyalty.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

An advanced degree (M.Sc or Ph.D) in the field of Natural Resource Economics, Environmental Economics or equivalent.

Experience:

Expertise in economic valuation studies of energy projects;
Minimum 10 years of experience in related training issues out of them 3 years training in cost-effectiveness.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in spoken and written English.;
Knowledge of Arabic is a plus.

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

Proposal:

Explaining why they are the most suitable for the work
Provide a brief methodology on how they will approach and conduct the work.

Financial proposal .

Personal CV including past experience in similar projects and at least 3 references .

Financial proposal:

The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount including fees, travel cost, DSA and transportations. Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR. In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount.