UNDP Jobs - 50811- International Consultant to Develop Project Identi

International Consultant to Develop Project Identification Form (PIF) for Promoting Solar Application for End Productive Uses in Yemen

Location :

Home-based with one week mission to Sana’a (if security situation), Yemen, YEMEN

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

28-Oct-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

20 days during 2 months

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

Yemen has vast untapped potential of renewable energy sources. Several studies including the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) potential in Yemen have indicated the renewable energy potential particularly related to solar, wind, geothermal, and biomass are encouraging. The four naturally renewable sources exist in abundance in Yemen and can be harnessed and utilized to meet the country mounting demand for energy towards low-emission economic growth. Among the five sources of renewable energy in Yemen, solar has the largest gross technical potential but ranks second after wind in terms of gross practicable potentiality.

Solar technology is evolving rapidly providing various feasible applications. In general, solar water pumping, small agricultural industries (e.g. drying of coffee beans, apricot, dates, fig and Turkish fig, etcetera), water heating, lanterns, public street lightening are among the numerous feasible applications of solar energy with tremendous potential to contribute in addressing key development issues in Yemen. In general, solar water pumping, small agricultural industries (e.g. drying of coffee beans, apricot, dates, fig and Turkish fig, etcetera), water heating, lanterns, public street lightening are among the numerous feasible applications of solar energy with tremendous potential to contribute in addressing key development issues in Yemen. The sustainable growth of solar application in Yemen is constrained by a number of barriers such as lack of supportive policy frameworks, practicable market-based business model compounded by relatively higher upfront capital cost of solar technologies. Moreover, high prevalence of poverty (i.e. weak purchasing power), low-cost low-quality dominated solar market supplies (i.e. plunged in disgruntled customers), and lack of awareness reduce the pace of solar market expansion in Yemen. Similarly, solar productive end-use applications including solar water pumping for irrigation has so far limited market share in terms of market growth rate and commercialization despite the Government growing interest in solar energy.

The project proposal is aiming to support the Government of Yemen preparing for scaling-up solar applications for productive end-uses by building synergies on existing and pipelined initiatives on this regards. In particular, the PIF must demonstrate consistency with the emerging GEF climate mitigation strategy for GEF-6 and with GEF eligibility criteria. The proposed project will also demonstrate that it contributes to the implementation of national priorities in climate mitigation options and related national policy priorities while at the same time ensure synergies between climate change mitigation and adaptation actions.

Duties and Responsibilities

The consultant is assumed to perform following major tasks:

Conduct extensive national consultations with national stakeholders, local donors and potential implementing agencies on national priorities in solar energy;
Review relevant documents (reports, plans, studies/assessments) in Yemen related to renewable energy in general and solar applications in particular;
Identify the key stakeholders to be involved in the formulation and implementation of the project;
Building on this information, develop the baseline situation for the project and identify planned or on-going initiatives that could serve as a baseline project for the GEF investment;
Conduct the development of this project proposal through a consultative process with other regional and international partners;
Work in close cooperation with UNDP CO and other stakeholders in order to define the project budget;
Formulate, in close consultation with all key stakeholders, a draft PIF addressing the following issues;
Development of the problem tree and sketching of the intervention strategy;
Identification of several possible scenarios for intervention and identification of the most cost-effective approach within the GEF strategic objective;
Preliminary identification of key areas for piloting and implementation;
Preparation of the project results framework– including indicative indicators – and GEF tracking tool;
Identification of main risks and associated mitigation measures according to the UNDP typology and approach to risk management;
GHG emissions reduction potential, calculated according to the appropriate GEF methodology;
Identification of co-financiers and indicative amounts of co-financing from potential partners;

Deliverables:

Inception Report for 2 working days -Home based;
Stakeholder consultations for 5 working days -Sana’a;
Draft PIF for 8 working days-Home based;
Draft E&SS screening report for 2 working days -Home based;

Note:

The type of the contract for the position is ( Reimbursable Loan Agreement ), in other words, the contract should be signed through a Consultancy Company.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Excellent inter-personal and team-work skills, with a demonstrated ability and commitment to knowledge sharing, collaborative work, and ability to contribute innovative solutions to achieve common aims;
Ability to work under tight deadlines;
Strong analytical skills;
Good drafting, writing, and communications skills (oral and written), including previous experience in preparing similar assignments;

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.
Ability/disposition to work as part of a team.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Postgraduate or other advanced university degree related to climate mitigation, sustainable energy, environmental management or relevant disciplines.

Experience:

At least (10) years of relevant experience in drafting UNDP/GEF project multi-focal area PIFs and documents;
Proven working experience in the field of climate mitigation and energy in developing countries, and working the region is an asset;
Demonstrated experience in capacity development initiatives, notably at the systemic and institutional levels;
Extensive conceptual and practical knowledge of UNDP/GEF systems and practices;
Demonstrated ability of analytical and report drafting work;
Extensive experience analyzing data and preparing analytical reports.

Language:

Written and spoken proficiency in English.
Arabic language skills are desirable.