UNDP Jobs - 71949- International Consultant for a Derisking Renewable

International Consultant for a Derisking Renewable Energy Investment (“DREI”) Analysis and Report for Solar PV in Cambodia

Location :

Phnom Penh, CAMBODIA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

12-May-2017

Application Deadline :

01-May-17 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

30 days over the period of 14 weeks (from 12 May to 31 August 2017)

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

30 days over the period of 14 weeks (from 12 May to 31 August 2017)

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

Expanding access to electricity through solar energy will have positive impact to the country’s economic growth as well as provide other co-benefits such as reduction in emission form fossil fuel, creating jobs in the rural areas, improving health condition through provision of clean technology, etc. Although solar PV technologies present promising opportunity for Cambodia, several issues remains berries in up-scaling the technologies. First, the solar market in Cambodia small and fragmented. There are many small companies selling solar products and only a few are supplying certified quality products. Another factor hampers adoption of solar technologies is accessible to affordable financing by the solar companies to expand their business models. Some policy makers are still reluctant to promote solar energy vis-à-vis coal based power generation and hydropower. There is also a lack of clarity on the government grid expansion, which does not encourage large investment on solar sector as a whole. There is an inadequate legal framework to regulate safety standard of solar PV products and incentive for excess solar electricity generation.

As part of the support to the Royal Government of Cambodia on promoting solar policy and the Green Climate Fund formulation, an analysis will be performed of the solar PV technologies (solar PV pumping, solar home systems, solar PV rooftop and solar at utility scale) in Cambodia using the Derisking Renewable Energy Investment (‘DREI’) methodology. DREI is an innovative approach to assisting policymakers in developing countries to cost-effectively promote investment in renewable energy.

The DREI methodology systematically identifies the barriers and associated risks which can hold back private sector investment in renewable energy. It then assists policymakers to put in place packages of targeted public interventions to address these risks. Each public intervention acts in one of three ways: either reducing, transferring or compensating for risk. The overall aim is to cost-effectively achieve a risk-return profile that catalyses private sector investment at scale. The end objective is reliable and affordable renewable energy solutions in developing countries.

More information on DREI, as well as a number of associated financial tools and guidance materials, can be found at www.undp.org/DREI. A detailed overview of the DREI methodology is found in the original DREI report (2013). The objective of the financial tools has been to automate the various calculations behind DREI to a high degree, thereby making the application of the DREI methodology as efficient as possible.

Duties and Responsibilities

The scope of the consultancy is to undertake a number of activities related to performing a DREI analysis and preparing a DREI report for solar PV technologies (solar PV pumping, solar home systems, solar PV rooftop and solar at utility scale) in Cambodia. The final output of the consultancy will be a finalized DREI report, together with completed financial tools. The consultancy will be structured under two activities: (1) a DREI analysis and (2) a DREI report.

Activity 1: DREI Analysis for Solar PV technologies in Cambodia [Estimated: approx. 20 days]

Stage 1: Risk environment [Estimated: approx. 10 days]

Gather market information on solar PV technologies (solar PV pumping, solar home systems, solar PV rooftop and solar at utility scale) in Cambodia, including existing/planned investments, market barriers and relevant stakeholders. Using the template barrier and risk table, prepare a barrier and risk table tailored to solar PV technologies (solar PV pumping, solar home systems, solar PV rooftop and solar at utility scale) in Cambodia.
Using the template DREI interview materials, prepare tailored interview materials for solar PV technologies (solar PV pumping, solar home systems, solar PV rooftop and solar at utility scale) in Cambodia.
Arrange and perform a minimum of [10] structured interviews with private sector developer and/or investors in solar PV technologies (solar PV pumping, solar home systems, solar PV rooftop and solar at utility scale) in Cambodia. These interviews can be performed remotely via telephone. Record both quantitative and qualitative findings. Treat all findings with full confidentiality.
Arrange and perform 1 to 2 best-in-class country structured interviews with private sector developers/investors in the best-in-class country.
Using the DREI financing cost waterfall tool (Excel), generate financing cost waterfalls which identify how risks contribute to higher financing costs.

Stage 2: Public instrument selection [Estimated: approx. 4 days]

Perform an analysis of the baseline public instruments being implemented by the national government or other development actors.
Based on the interview data, select a package of public instruments to be used in the DREI analysis.
Using the DREI public instrument costing tool (Excel), model the anticipated cost of the selected package of public instruments. Determine reasonable underlying assumptions for the modelling, based on benchmarks in Cambodia. Document the rationale and sources of assumptions.
Based on the interview data, determine the quantitative effectiveness of each selected public instrument in mitigating its targeted risk category.

Stage 3: LCOE modelling [Estimated: approx. 4 days]

Determine a suitable investment target (target installed capacity, target year) for the solar PV technologies (solar PV pumping, solar home systems, solar PV rooftop and solar at utility scale) in Cambodia for the modelling analysis.
Determine a suitable approach to identifying the baseline technology.
Using the DREI LCOE tool (Excel), perform modelling analyses of the solar PV technologies (solar PV pumping, solar home systems, solar PV rooftop and solar at utility scale) in a pre-derisking and post-derisking scenario, and in comparison to the baseline technology.
Determine reasonable data and assumptions (capacity factors, investment costs, operational costs, etc.) for solar PV technologies (solar PV pumping, solar home systems, solar PV rooftop and solar at utility scale) and the baseline technology to be used in the modelling analyses. Document the rationale and sources of assumptions.

Stage 4: Evaluation [Estimated: approx. 2 days]

Perform sensitivity analyses on different packages of instruments to identify the most cost effective combination.
Perform sensitivity analysis on key assumptions (for example: fuel cost, capacity factors, investment costs, balancing costs).
Provide feedback and suggestions to UNDP regarding the methodology and functionality of the DREI tools, including any recommendations regarding their improvement

Final Outputs:

Completed DREI financing cost tool, including interview data (quantitative and qualitative)
Completed DREI LCOE tool
Completed DREI public instrument costing tool
Document summarizing rationale and sources for data and assumptions

Draft versions of the findings from the DREI analysis will be shared with UNDP and third-party peer reviewers for the comments and inputs.

Activity 2: Preparation of a DREI Report for Solar PV technologies in Cambodia [Estimated: approx. 10 days]

Draft a report in Microsoft Word setting out the quantitative and qualitative findings of the DREI analysis for solar PV technologies (solar PV pumping, solar home systems, solar PV rooftop and solar at utility scale) in Cambodia. The report can replicate the basic structure of the DREI Tunisia report (2014), with the following sections: foreword; key points for decision makers; executive summary; introduction; overview of the DREI methodology; current status of solar PV technologies (solar PV pumping, solar home systems, solar PV rooftop and solar at utility scale) in Cambodia, modelling results; conclusions and next steps; methodology annex; references annex. Prepare figures in Excel or Powerpoint for use in the report. Make any changes as necessary to the report based on feedback from UNDP and third-party reviewers.
Review and oversee the work of a third-party designer (to be arranged by UNDP) who will create electronic versions of a finished, high-end report which can be submitted to printers. The report will come in (i) a full report version and (ii) an executive summary only version. Review the designer’s work (graphics, text, figures) for typos and errors.
Once published, share findings of the report with key stakeholders and bring stakeholders on board as champions for the report, building national buy-in for the report.

Final Outputs:

Report in Microsoft Word
Review of designer’s report both English to be submitted to printers

Interested Offerors must visit this link http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=37198 to download Individual Consultant Procurement Notice, Terms of Reference, and Document Templates to be included when submitting this online application.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Strong analytical skills and exceptional ability in communication and networking, negotiations and writing;
Flexibility and ability to operate in different cultural settings and with a variety of stakeholders; culturally and gender sensitive.

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.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in energy, engineering, finance, economics, international affairs, or other related field. Personnel with Master’s or equivalent degrees will be at an advantage.

Experience:

At least 10 years of experience with renewable energy investment. Experience around public instruments to promote investment will be an advantage;
Excellent, research based financial modelling skills, including LCOE modelling;
Strong writing and drafting skills;
Experience working in developing country contexts preferred. Experience working in the region is a further advantage;
Experience with UNDP and/or UN agencies will be an advantage.

Language Requirement:

Fluency in English required.

UNDP reserves right to reject any applications that is incomplete.

Please be informed that we don’t accept application submitted via email.

Interested Offerors are required to submit application via UNDP jobsite system as the application screening and evaluation will be done through UNDP jobsite system. Please note that UNDP jobsite system allows only one uploading of application document, so please make sure that you merge all your documents into a single file. Your on-line applications submission will be acknowledged where an email address has been provided. If you do not receive an e-mail acknowledgement within 24 hours of submission, your application may not have been received. In such cases, please resubmit the application, if necessary. Please combine all your documents into one (1) single PDF document as the system only allows to upload maximum one document.

Any request for clarification/additional information on this procurement notice shall be communicated in writing to UNDP office or send to email dalis.heng@undp.org and cc procurement.kh@undp.org. While the Procurement Unit would endeavor to provide information expeditiously, only requests receiving at least 5 working days prior to the submission deadline will be entertained. Any delay in providing such information will not be considered as a reason for extending the submission deadline. The UNDP's response (including an explanation of the query but without identifying the source of inquiry) will be posted in Individual Consultant (IC) Procurement Notice page as provided above. Therefore, all prospective Offerors are advised to visit the page regularly to make obtain update related to this Individual Consultant (IC) Procurement Notice.