UNDP Jobs - 62873- Consultant - Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) Met

Consultant - Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) Methodology

Location :

Home Base and Damascus, SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

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

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

6 months (home-based with in- country missions to Syria)

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

6 months (home-based with in- country missions to Syria)

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

Unrest in the Syrian Arab Republic has been on-going since March 2011 and has deteriorated ever since. The situation has recently worsened as the number of people in need of humanitarian assistance has increased many folds since March 2011 and is now estimated at over 9.3 million people (SRP, 2015). Sixty-five per cent of the population or 13.9 million persons are living now in poverty, with 7.9 million people becoming poor since the beginning of the crisis, of which 4.4 million living in extreme poverty as households spent their savings and exhausted their coping strategies (SCPR, 2014). Among the affected people, the number of IDPs has grown significantly and is now estimated at 6.5 million. Many families had to leave their homes and seek refuge in schools, public gardens, and relatives’ houses or in surrounding countries because of violence but also scarcity of livelihoods, access to basic services and community infrastructure in their home towns and villages.

Electricity production and distribution was heavily affected by on-going hostilities (destruction, looting, sabotage, etc.). The reliable and sustainable electricity supply is essential to respond to the immediate humanitarian needs of crisis affected communities, namely for the operation of essential humanitarian services such as water supply, hospitals, schools, sewerage treatment plants and other community services. A progressive need to support electricity sector in Syria and a lack of experienced personnel occurred in energy sector, has emerged. Thus, the need for targeted electricity rehabilitation programmes.

As part of its mandate on Early Recovery and Livelihoods, UNDP will support the urgent rehabilitation of electricity infrastructure with the aim of ensuring the most efficient use of the national resources by shifting towards a competitive electricity market structure, with a greater role for the private sector participation in generating electricity from renewable energy, due to the lack of fuel needed for existing power plants, and in distribution of electricity in order to decrease losses on the electrical distributing grids which reached more than 35% of the consumed electricity in Syria. That will certainly lead to reducing instability and insufficiency of electricity supply which causes significant impacts on the health sector, water and sanitation, and livelihoods opportunities in general in affected communities.

Due to the essential need to increase private sector participation in renewable energy production and distribution of electricity, a consultancy is needed to conduct Needs Assessment and Capacity Building of Syrian Government Officials on Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) procurement methodology, and the provision of PPP Toolkit. The consultant requires setting up institutional capacity in order to prepare, implement and regulate PPP projects within a policy and legal framework suitable for PPP arrangements.

Duties and Responsibilities

With support of the project manager and Infrastructure Team Leader, the consultant is required to work on developing the capacity of the targeted Syrian counterpart through the provision of the needed training and the basic tools to enable them to meet procurement standards in dealing with Public Private Partnerships.

With regards to the overall assignment, In particular the PPP consultant will:

Task 1: Assess the current capacity needs of the national counterpart in order to advocate a capacity building program enabling effective management of the PPP project from inception till operation:

Provide technical support in identification of capacity gaps;
Policy advice and support through technical assistance to the national counterparts;
Specify the necessary unit needs to be established to manage the sectorial PPP projects;
Determine the formation, functions, responsibilities and structure of the PPP authority;
Training and capacity development program for government officials and members of the PPP Unit and staff which should include bidding methodology, managing contracts.

Task 2: Develop and provide the Ministry of Electricity with a toolkit which is intended to be a key reference guide for public authorities for the development of the PPP program:

Presents the principal characteristics of PPP projects and describes the process of tailoring the PPP project to its environment;
Presents tools required to meet international procurement standards in dealing with Public Private Partnerships;
Assess all the factors and risks that may impact the Project’s abilities and ensure that risks are adequately mitigated;
Describes the public sector functions under PPP in order to ensure protection of the public interest;
Assess the need to modify the existing regulatory framework; and
Conduct a high-level assessment of legislative matters that may be of concern to potential investors;
project basic design with performance specifications and project boundaries;
Define and standardize the different phases of the procurement process.

Task 3: Provides a comprehensive approach to implementing PPP at the project level through a description of the key stages for development of a specific PPP project from project identification, preparation, tendering and contract monitoring and negotiation:

With cooperation with the affiliated authority, Identification, Prioritization and Selection of a pilot PPP in the electricity sector;
Feasibility Studies to ensure the selected project is well designed and can be successfully tendered and implemented;
Provide hands-on support to the concerned authority to develop and establish a Term of Reference for the selected project;
Allocate the risks of the venture fairly between the private and public sector, based on each entity's abilities to manage these risks;
Ensure the proper preparation, structuring, negotiation, financing and implementing of the PPP;
Prequalification of bidders, bidding and bid evaluation process and gives advice on dealing with the preferred bidder(s).

Competencies

Management and Leadership:

Focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
Leads teams effectively and shows conflict resolution skills;
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills;
Builds strong relationships with clients and external actors;
Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure;
Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced University Degree (Masters or equivalent) with 7 years of relevant experience in management/procurement.

Experience:

At least 7 years of professional experience in conducting Capacity Building, of which at least 3 years are at international level;
Extensive and demonstrated experience on PPP procurement of infrastructures and services and a record of two similar projects successfully completed;
Extensive experience in the region as a Consultant;
Extensive experience of international procurement;
Have delivered at least 4 training courses on PPP;
Knowledge and understanding of energy and electricity issues in the region;
Experience of working and collaborating with governments is an advantage.

Languages:

Excellent communication skills in written and spoken English.