UNDP Jobs - 62785- Consultancy Services for Improving the Performance

Consultancy Services for Improving the Performance & Reliability of Revewable Energy Power Systems in Samoa (Impress) Project

Location :

Apia, SAMOA

Type of Contract :

Other

Starting Date :

14-Feb-2016

Application Deadline :

29-Jan-16 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

Other

Duration of Initial Contract :

116 working days

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

11 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

Improving the Performance and Reliability of Renewable Energy Power Systems in Samoa (IMPRESS) is a planned joint Government of Samoa, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Global Environment Facility (GEF) national renewable energy climate change mitigation project. The Project Identification Form (PIF) for an indicative amount of US$6,075,828.00 from GEF for a Full Size Project (FSP) was approved for funding by the GEF Secretariat in September 2015. UNDP is the GEF Agency for the project and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE), Government of Samoa is the proposed Executing Partner.

The objective of the planned project is to improve sustainable and cost-effective utilization of indigenous renewable energy (RE) resources for energy production in Samoa. The planned project will cover CC1 – Promote Innovation, Technology Transfer and Supportive Policies and Strategies as part of GEF-6, specifically Program 1: Promote timely development, demonstration and financing of low-carbon technologies and mitigation options. The preliminary IMPRESS project design consists of five main components: 1) Enhancement of Renewable Energy Policy Formulation and Implementation; 2) RE-based Power System Improvements; 3) Financing of Initiatives for Electricity Saving, Productive and Social Uses of RE Electricity, and Electricity System Performance Improvement; 4) Productive & Social Uses of RE Electricity; and 5) Enhancement of Awareness on the Applications and Benefits of Renewable Energy Technologies (RETs).

This preparatory phase consultancy will consist of several components including: 1) gathering of needed background information including to verify the initially identified baseline projects on, and barriers to, the improved sustainable and cost-effective utilization of indigenous renewable energy resources for energy production in Samoa; 2) identification, assessment, recommendation and detailing of the demonstrations that will be included in the IMPRESS project; 3) undertaking a logical framework analysis (LFA) mainly to verify and detail the preliminary project planning/results framework matrix in the GEF-approved project concept (i.e., PIF); 4) detailed design of the project components and activities including basic design of the demonstrations that will be implemented, estimation of potential energy savings and CO2 emission reduction, project activities budgeting, etc. while addressing the comments/recommendations raised by the GEF Secretariat, GEF Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel (STAP) and GEF Council on the PIF, etc.); and 5) preparation of the UNDP-GEF Project Document (ProDoc) and GEF CEO Endorsement Request (CER) Document based on the GEF-approved PIF.

Duties and Responsibilities

Objectives

The main objective of the assignment is collectively the design, development and preparation of the required documents of the IMPRESS Project. To realise the objective, the following are the required tasks:

Gathering of relevant energy sector background information;
Identification, assessment, and detailed design of the recommended demonstrations that will be included in the IMPRESS project;
Organization, conduct and facilitation of a Logical Framework Analysis (LFA) workshop for key stakeholders to come up with a final and detailed project planning matrix (PPM)/results framework (log frame);
Design of the project components and activities based in the agreed PPM/log frame;
Preparation of the UNDP-GEF Project Document, and all other required documents for GEF CEO Endorsement;
Facilitation of a validation workshop for key stakeholders to present, discuss and validate a final draft version of the UNDP-GEF IMPRESS Project Document;
Finalization of the UNDP-GEF Project Document, CEO Endorsement Request (CER) document, and Tracking Tool incorporating all comments/recommendations of the GEF Secretariat and the GEF Council Members (if any).

Outputs:

Inception Report for the PPG Exercise;
De-briefing Notes (e.g., mission reports, PPG activity reports, and consultancy assignment summary report);
Comprehensive energy sector background report;
Report on the design of demonstrations that will be included in the IMPRESS project;
Report on the Logical Framework Analysis (LFA) workshop including a detailed project planning matrix (PPM) or project log frame;
UNDP-GEF Project Document; GEF CEO Endorsement Request (CER) Document and Tracking Tool
Report on the validation workshop proceedings; and
Finalized UNDP-GEF Project Document, CER Document, and Tracking Tool.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by complying with 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.

Functional Competencies:

Members of the team should possess proven and strong analytical and communication skills, including the ability to produce high quality reports.

Project & Resource Management

Team leader should have strong organizational skills;
Members of the team should be able to work independently and collectively to produce individual high quality inputs and collectively high quality and TOR-compliant outputs;
Team leader and members possess sound judgment, strategic thinking and the ability to manage competing priorities.

Team Work:

Demonstrated ability of the team to work in a multi-cultural environment.

Communications and Advocacy:

The team members (including the leader) have strong ability to write clearly and convincingly, adapting style and content to different audiences and speak clearly and convincingly;
Collectively, the team has strong presentation skills in meetings with the ability to adapt for different audiences;
Collectively, the team possesses proven strong analytical, research and writing skills with demonstrated ability to think strategically.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced university degree (i.e., postgraduate) in relevant engineering and applied science fields.

Experience:

Proven familiarity and at least seven years of work experience in the fields of energy efficiency and renewable energy, particularly on RE-based power engineering;
Technical knowledge on climate change mitigation, energy efficiency and renewable energy, including CDM (existing standards, rules and guidelines as well as emerging related schemes);
Experience in designing and developing energy efficiency and RE-based energy system studies/analysis/reports;
Excellent understanding of climate change mitigation project design, planning, engineering and financing;
Proven familiarity with mobilizing energy efficiency and/or renewable energy project financing;
Experience in working with a variety of stakeholders in Pacific Island Countries, including government agencies, NGOs, Civil Society, communities

Language:

Fluency in English (oral and written) is a requirement