UNDP Jobs - 55626- Technical Research Consultant for UNDP’s “Kerosene

Technical Research Consultant for UNDP’s “Kerosene Transition” Initiative

Location :

Istanbul, TURKEY

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

30-Apr-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Estimated May 2015 – February 2016

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

Approximately 180 working days

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

Households in developing countries use kerosene widely for lightning and to a lesser degree for cooking. It is estimated that globally between 250 million and 500 million households rely on fuel based lamps which are predominantly powered with kerosene. Due to their significant contribution to the creation of black carbon, poor illumination and efficiency, high costs, and safety concerns, kerosene powered lamps and cook-stoves have far-reaching negative development impacts on their users. In particular, kerosene powered lamps and cook stoves obstruct the human and socio-economic development, cause negative health impacts, contribute to environmental pollution and negatively affect the overall wellbeing of people. For instance, fragile kerosene bottles represent a severe health and safety risk, and, due to their poor efficiency, kerosene-based lamps provide insufficient illumination after daylight for school-going children.

Since there are wide reaching development impacts that are possible when kerosene is eliminated, several policy makers and development actors are tackling aspects of accelerating a transition away from kerosene from different perspectives such as human development, environment, market, consumer or pure economics. However, there is only limited integration of these perspectives in a deliberate and evidence based manner. For this reason, UNDP is proposing a multi-partner advocacy campaign called the Kerosene Transition Initiative which aims for developing, advocating and implementing an integrated programme of accelerating the transition away from kerosene use for lighting and cooking. UNDP’s global positioning as well as its strong country presence, enables it to effectively plan and implement the initiative at both the global and national levels. Thus, this initiative will consist of two components mutually reinforcing towards the goal of transitioning policy, markets and consumers away from kerosene to cleaner energy options. A global campaign will present the “kerosene transition” (KT) opportunity from an integrated perspective, raising awareness and understanding of the negative impacts to human development, health, environment and economic growth and thus position the elimination of kerosene as a global priority. The second component will consist of country-level “KT” programmes, specifically aimed at joint policy and market development interventions that would accelerate a transition away from kerosene to cleaner and more cost effective energy solutions for both lighting and cooking.

The Consultant will be responsible for supporting the initiative through conducting technical research, such as technical (country-based) baseline assessments on kerosene usage, subsidy levels, energy access situations etc. He/she will also support the preparation of an advocacy plan including the preparation of project proposals for partnership consultation and resource mobilization.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Consultant will be part of the UNDP’s Global Energy Policy Team which is based in Istanbul Regional Hub (IRH). The Consultant’s responsibilities include the following:

Output 1: Detailed work plan with all activities of the assignment

Task 1: In close collaboration with the team and the supervisor, the consultant will develop a detailed work plan outlining in detail all activities and tasks to be completed during the assignment.

Ouput 2: Conduct technical research and situation analysis on kerosene usage and its development and environmental impacts

Task 1: The Consultant will be responsible for conducting technical research on kerosene in several regions and country settings. Specific tasks will involve, inter alia, the following:

Conduct a comprehensive analysis of data on kerosene usage in several regions and country settings including the resulting development impacts such impacts on health, environment, economic growth, human development and overall wellbeing;
Other tasks related to technical research on kerosene usage in several regions and country settings, as required.

Task 2: Based on the research above, the Consultant will be responsible for developing profound situation analyses in, at least, two regions and 6 country settings on the usage of kerosene including suggestions for entry points of future programmatic actions. Specific tasks will involve, inter alia, the following:

Conduct kerosene usage situation analyses for several regions and countries based on the data which has been conducted under Task 1;
Based on the situation analyses, suggest specific entry points for future programmatic actions that support the transitions from kerosene as a household fuel to more sustainable and healthy solutions of electricity and energy generation;
Other assistance related to kerosene situation analyses, as requested.

Output 3: Develop an advocacy plan and appropriate project proposals for partnership consultation and assisting the dissemination and advocacy of UNDP’s EnergyPlus Guidelines

Task 1: The consultant will be responsible for developing an advocacy plan and project proposals addressed to key partner(s) of the KT initiative. Among others, the advocacy plan and project proposals should incorporate policy reforms and market development components for replacing products as well as livelihood assessments of displaced workers along the kerosene supply chain. Both sets of documents should form the institutional basis upon which UNDP formally and publically will take on the kerosene transition issue programmatically including the platform through which it steps forward to lead the initiative. Specific tasks will involve, inter alia, the following:

Based on the findings of Output 1, finalize an assessment of focus countries for programme development and identification of countries that have highest levels of kerosene usage and align with existing UNDP energy programmes and expertise and/or UNDP country operations interest;
Definition of the theory of change for programme and impacts such as the percentage of transition, evidence on emissions reduction, subsidy reform models, employment transition strategies, and human development impacts;
Identification of country level collaborations with policy makers, development partners and other stakeholders;
Development of a finalized advocacy plan and project proposal(s) integrating the findings under Outputs 2 & 3 and which form the institutional basis upon which UNDP will formally and publically take on the kerosene transition issue programmatically;
Assist in the communication and dissemination of the plan and the proposals, including preparation of multimedia materials, infographics and presentations and other communication products as well as documenting good practices and lessons learned;

Task 2: Assist in the dissemination and advocacy of UNDP’s EnergyPlus Guidelines. Specific tasks will involve, inter alia, the following:

Assist in the communication and dissemination of UNDP’s EnergyPlus guidelines, including multimedia materials, infographics and presentations and other communication products as well as documenting good practices and lessons learned;
Assist the supervisor in other task related to disseminating and advocating the EnergyPlus guidelines, as required.

Output 4: Support the development of resource mobilization and identify potential funding partners for the initiative

Task 1: The consultant will be responsible for supporting the Global Energy Policy Team including the core team which is involved in setting up UNDP’s KT initiative in identifying and mobilizing funding partners. Specific task will involve, inter alia, the following:

Design of National Mitigation and Adaptation Action plans that structure a transition away from kerosene usage and its subsidization;
Engage on strategies that support a reallocation of resources to positive development and environment impacts;
Develop other resource mobilization documents such as potential funding from the Global Environment Facility or the Green Climate Fund;
Support the supervisor in other related tasks related to resource mobilization and partner/stakeholders liaison, as required.

Travel

Mission travel, if required, will be covered separately.
5-days missions to New Delhi, Jakarta, Abuja and Dakar are planned. Details and exact mission dates will be determined later.

Competencies

Strong interpersonal skills;
Communication skills; and
Ability to work in a team;
Ability to plan and organize his/her work, efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results;
Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback;
Ability to work under pressure and stressful situations;
Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications/Education:

Master’s degree in economics, energy, engineering, international relations, environmental science, pure/social sciences or a related field.

Experience:

At least 3 years of practical and research experience related to energy issues;
Research experience on energy access and kerosene based lightning and cooking will be an advantage;
Strong technical knowledge and experience of kerosene based lightning and cooking, preferably in a development context;
Strong practical and theoretical knowledge and experience with replacing kerosene based energy generation at the household level with more reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy solutions;
Experience with partnerships/resource mobilization in the development sector is an advantage;
Prior experience working with international organizations (including UNDP) is an advantage;
Knowledge of MS Word, Excel and email communication software;

Language skills:

Excellent English writing and communication skills.

Evaluation of Applicants:

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on a cumulative analysis taking into consideration the combination of the applicants’ qualifications and financial proposal.
The award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

Responsive/compliant/acceptable, and
Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

Only the highest ranked candidates who would be found qualified for the job will be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Technical Criteria - 70% of total evaluation – max. 70 points:

Criteria A: At least 3 years of practical and research experience related to energy issues – max points: 20
Criteria B: Technical knowledge and experience of kerosene based lightning and cooking, preferably in a development context – max points: 10
Criteria C: Strong practical and theoretical knowledge and experience with replacing kerosene based energy generation at the household level with more reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy solutions – max points: 15
Criteria D: Experience with partnerships/resource mobilization in the development sector – max points: 15
Criteria E: Prior experience working with international organizations (including UNDP) – max points: 10

Financial Criteria - 30% of total evaluation – max. 30 points

Application procedures:

Qualified candidates are requested to apply online via this website. The application should contain:

Cover letter explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the advertised position, C.V. and a brief methodology on how you will approach and conduct the work. Please paste the letter into the "Resume and Motivation" section of the electronic application.
Filled P11 form including past experience in similar projects and contact details of referees (blank form can be downloaded from http://europeandcis.undp.org/files/hrforms/P11_modified_for_SCs_and_ICs.doc ); please upload the P11 instead of your CV.
Financial Proposal* - specifying a total lump sum amount for the tasks specified in this announcement. The financial proposal shall include the breakdown of this lump sum amount (e.g. daily consultant rate, travel, per diems and any other possible costs).
Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials

*Please note that the financial proposal is all-inclusive and shall take into account various expenses incurred by the consultant/contractor during the contract period (e.g. fee, living in Istanbul, health insurance, vaccination and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services...). All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. This includes all travel to join duty station/repatriation travel. Mission travel, if required, will be covered separately.

Payments will be made only upon confirmation of UNDP on delivering on the contract obligations in a satisfactory manner.

Individual Consultants are responsible for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director. Consultants are also required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under dss.un.org
General Terms and conditions as well as other related documents can be found under: http://on.undp.org/t7fJs

Qualified women and members of minorities are encouraged to apply.
Due to large number of applications we receive, we are able to inform only the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process.