Background

UNDP supports the government of Azerbaijan in achieving SDG goals, including but not limited to its goal #13 on Climate Change. Initial investigations have shown that in Azerbaijan due to the relatively high cost of alternative sources of energy, much bigger potential lies in energy efficiency measures.

Baku is the biggest city located on the Caspian Sea, and the 4th biggest city in the former Soviet Union. Due to the abundant oil reserves and extraction during the Soviet period, energy efficiency has been neglected. During the first years of independence, again, despite hardships and social problems, the high oil prices allowed the government to use windfall oil revenues to subsidize energy consumption.  A similar situation applies to other cities in the country.

However, a sharp decline in the oil prices during the last two years induced the Government to think about energy efficiency in order to save oil and gas for export needs. At the same time, the country has taken obligation under the Paris Climate Change Agreement to reduce its GHG emissions by 35% in comparison with the base year of 1990.

So, currently there is both the need and the opportunity to implement energy efficiency activities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to lower energy costs. There is a big energy efficiency potential in 

buildings in both the public and private sectors. However, taking into account the relatively long period of return on investments in energy efficient measures and UNDP’s extensive experience in working with energy-efficiency in public buildings, pilot activities in the public sector are more feasible at the moment.

UNDP plans to offer to the government a broad program of energy efficient measures in the public building sector and support it with the introduction of a nation-wide energy management information system.  However, so far there were very limited researches done on the energy saving potential in public buildings in Baku or other cities. Therefore, it has been difficult to convince the government of the benefits of those measures without reliable data. 

Duties and Responsibilities

  • Developing the scope of work and planning activities under the assignment;
  • Reviewing available respective government and donor reports on energy efficiency in buildings in Azerbaijan;
  • Reviewing energy audit reports produced by UNDP-Azerbaijan NAMA project;
  • Planning and scheduling one 5 days long fact-finding mission to Baku;
  • Prior to mission, in consultation with UNDP CO preparing a preliminary list of people/positions necessary to meet and scheduling meetings;
  • Undertaking one 5 days long fact-finding mission to Baku;
  • Collecting data and information on the ground for the comprehensive feasibility study and concept note preparations;
  • Identifying legal and institutional barriers for conducting energy efficient measures in public buildings in Baku;
  • Conducting capacity needs assessments and advising on necessary capacity-building activities for public officials, government institutions and non-government organizations to conduct energy efficiency activities in Azerbaijan; 
  • Preparing recommendations on the pieces of legislation which need to be updated and/or drafted for the successful implementation of energy efficient measures;
  • Preparing and proposing recommendations and/or methodology to analyze the situation with the energy efficient measures in Baku;
  • Conducting assessment of local sectors, like, health, education, city administration for their suitability for pilot activities; identifying potential opportunities and gaps for implementing pilot activities;
  • Conducting cost-benefit analysis of energy-efficiency measures in selected public sector in Baku;
  •  Preparing a Concept Note on energy efficiency in public buildings to be presented for joint financing by the Green Climate Change Fund, the Government and international financial institutions/banks;
  • Presenting findings and reports to UNDP CO;
  • Assist and provide guidance to UNDP CO on any other technical issues arising during the assignment as needed.

Competencies

  • Demonstrated commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values;
  • Sensitivity and adaptability to cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age;
  • Highest standards of integrity, discretion and loyalty;
  • Advanced computer skills including Microsoft Office;
  • Proven ability to deliver quality output working under tight deadlines;
  • Excellent communication and facilitation skills;
  • Ability to work in a complex environment with different national and international experts;
  • Planning, organizing;
  • Analytical thinking;
  • Respond positively to feedback and differing points of view.

Required Skills and Experience

  • Master’s degree in climate change, energy efficiency or equivalent 
  • Minimum of 7 years of practical work in energy efficiency in buildings out of which at least 5 in the Czech Republic 
  • Proven record of data collection and analysis, feasibility studies, report writing and concept note preparation on energy efficient measures; experience in assisting countries in implementation of their climate change agenda would be an advantage 
  • Demonstrable experience in assessing capacity needs and designing respective programs in energy efficiency for different stakeholders 
  • Prior UNDP/GEF/GCF project experience and knowledge of UNDP, GEF and GCF procedures and guidelines is an advantage
  • Merits of the proposed methodology and work approach 
  • Fluency in written and spoken English; knowledge of Russian or Turkish will be an advantage 

One 5 days long travel mission to Baku is envisaged at this point, with 2 days allocated for the travel, and 13 days of home work. During the mission UNDP-Azerbaijan will be responsible for the local transportation and translation services, when necessary

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodologies:

  1. Cumulative evaluation that takes into account both financial offer and the technical expertise of the potential candidates

A two-stage procedure will be utilized in evaluating the proposals, with evaluation of the technical component being completed prior to any price component being reviewed and compared.  The Price Component will be reviewed only for those individuals whose Technical Component meets the requirements for the assignment.  The total number of points which individual may obtain for both components is 100.

The technical component, which has a total possible value of 70 points, will be evaluated using the following criteria:

  • Master’s degree in climate change, energy efficiency or equivalent – 10 points;
  • Minimum of 7 years of practical work in energy efficiency in buildings out of which at least 5 in the Czech Republic – 20 points;

Proven record of data collection and analysis, feasibility studies, report writing and concept note preparation on energy efficient measures; experience in assisting countries in implementation of 

  • their climate change agenda would be an advantage – 10 points
  • Demonstrable experience in assessing capacity needs and designing respective programs in energy efficiency for different stakeholders – 10 points;
  • Prior UNDP/GEF/GCF project experience and knowledge of UNDP, GEF and GCF procedures and guidelines is an advantage – 5 points;
  • Merits of the proposed methodology and work approach – 10 points;
  • Fluency in written and spoken English – 5 points;

 

If the substantive presentation of a technical proposal achieves the minimum of 49 points, the competitiveness of the offered consultancy expenses will be taken into account in the following manner:               

The total amount of points for the fees component is 30. The maximum number of points shall be allotted to the lowest fees proposed that is compared among those invited individuals which obtain the threshold points in the evaluation of the technical proposal. All other proposals shall receive points in inverse proportion to the lowest fees; e.g;

                [30 Points] x [US$ lowest]/[US$ other] = points for other proposer’s fees

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

  • Offeror's letter to UNDP conforming interest and availability for the Individual Contractor (IC) Assignment (Template is attached)
  • Breakdown of Costs Supporting the Final All-Inclusive Prices per Template
  • Duly filled out and signed Personal History Form (P11) and CV
  • Interested candidates will also be required to submit a technical proposal, broadly describing their approach to the work.

Both technical and financial offers must be subbmited. 

As the system accepts only one attachement, please send all the documents in one attached file. 

One 5 days long travel mission to Baku is envisaged at this point, with 2 days allocated for the travel, and 13 days of home work. During the mission UNDP-Azerbaijan will be responsible for the local transportation and translation services, when necessary.