UNDP Jobs - 74379- Refrigeration and Air Conditioning HFC Phase out I

Refrigeration and Air Conditioning HFC Phase out International Consultant

Location :

Port Louis, MAURITIUS

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

19-Sep-2017

Application Deadline :

17-Sep-17 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

22 days spread over 8 months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

22 days spread over 8 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

Project Title

UNDP GEF Realising energy savings and climate benefits of implementing mandatory energy auditing in coordination with HCFC phase-out and HFC avoidance’ in the Republic of Mauritius.

Project Description

Context and Objectives of Project

Mauritius is heavily reliant on fossil fuels to power its economy. Even relatively modest measures to reduce fossil fuel imports therefore have the potential to significantly enhance Mauritius’s energy independence and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This fact is recognised in the Government’s Long-Term Energy Strategy 2009-2025, which explicitly recognises energy efficiency and energy conservation as priority strategies to deal with the country’s energy and environmental challenges, particularly as the country’s major source of renewable energy, bagasse (which accounts for 20% of Mauritian electricity generation and 89% of renewable electricity generation), is intrinsically unscalable due to land constraints and seasonal availability. The Strategy contains a target of improving overall energy efficiency by 6% by 2020 relative to a 2008 baseline. To do so, the Strategy envisages creating “a pool of qualified and certified energy auditors and an appropriate energy auditor certification scheme”.

The rationale of the GEF project is to assist EEMO to operationalise the mandatory energy audit scheme for large energy consumers by addressing and removing technical, institutional and financial barriers to the adoption of energy efficiency measures and, at the same time, capitalise on the synergies in the RAC sector around ODS emissions reductions and HFC avoidance. The components of the project are therefore aligned with barriers, and are designed to inter-lock in a coordinated manner.

Component 1 seeks to support the operationalization of the national EE audit programme, specifically by developing an implementation roadmap agreed to by all stakeholders, and by linking the EE programme to the Government’s parallel efforts under the HPMP. The concept of the roadmap has been welcomed by the private sector ans is seen as a key engagement tool.
Component 2 strengthens the EE programme’s engagement with RAC and steam systems due to their central importance in EE efforts and the relatively complex nature of these systems.
Component 3 addresses the financing barrier confronting the EE programme by developing a dedicated credit line for firms that are willing to invest in EE equipment and systems given the appropriate incentives and facilities.
Component 4 establishes the quality standards (ISO 50001 and related ISO standards) that will underlie the EE programme, as well as the ability of national stakeholders to apply and certify these standards.
Component 5 seeks to diffuse the benefits from the EE programme more broadly across the manufacturing sector, giving smaller companies access to information and technical know-how in areas that are relevant to them albeit on a smaller scale.

The Project Identification Form (PIF) for the project was approved under the Climate Change Mitigation GEF Trust Fund allocation on 28 April 2017. In order to reach the stage of UNDP Project Document completion and CEO endorsement, project development includes a preparatory phase, which foresees the collection of information and gathering of useful data for project design, the validation of the indicative outcomes and outputs contained in the PIF, the development of a full M&E plan including appropriate indicators and baseline, a participatory plan to involve communities as well as the identification of implementing partners and negotiation pertaining to implementation arrangements and co-financing.

The Project Preparation Grant (PPG) was approved by the GEF Secretariat to prepare a Full-Size Project Document (FSP) for submission under the GEF-6 STAR. In this context, a Refrigeration and Air Conditioning HFC Phase out International Consultant is required to assist in the preparation of the FSP, focusing on all components proposed in the PIF, and expected outcomes to be achieved, as outlined in the approved Project Identification Form (PIF). The Request for GEF CEO Endorsement and the UNDP Project Document plus ancillary documentation must therefore be nationally validated and finalized for internal UNDP clearance no later than 31 March 2018. It is very important to respect the deadline, because the period for UNDP internal review and clearances may take up to 4 weeks.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work

The consultants’ team is expected to produce, in a timely manner and in full compliance with the set deadlines, all relevant documents and forms completed to a high quality level for submission to the Project Quality Assurance team of the UNDP as well as the normal UNDP-GEF channels. The documentation to be submitted for technical and financial clearance will include:

GEF CEO Endorsement;
UNDP project document;
Set of co-financing letters;
UNDP’s Social and Environmental Screening;
CCM focal area Tracking Tools;
Budget sheet in Excel.

The RAC expert will provide inputs to the above and thus contribute to the work of the lead expert. Technical guidance and support pertaining to the GEF modality (project scoping and budgeting, best practices, knowledge management, partnerships etc.) will be provided by the UNDP-GEF Regional Technical Advisor overseeing the project, by the UNDP-GEF Environment Programme Manager, and by the UNDP Office in Mauritius, which will in addition provide operational support for a fast and effective PPG implementation.

In conducting the consultancy, the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning HFC Phase out International Consultant will be recruited to ensure delivery of the required project documentation as defined in this TOR, results and plans, in close coordination with the lead IC expert, National Project Coordinator and Project Steering Committee. The RAC expert shall be responsible to contribute relevant write ups/designs of RAC related sections. The deadline for delivery of these tasks and outputs is 31 March 2018.

Key responsibilities:

Undertake a full assessment of ongoing measures concerned with HCFC phase-out and HFC avoidance, and set the future project design to avoid any potential overlap in funding mandates between the GEF and the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol (MLF) especially in relation to the newly adopted Kigali Amendment on HFCs controls.
Carry out all relevant consultations with the Government, industry and society, participate in workshops, meetings etc.
Undertake initial investigation into feasibility of different innovative market-based and fiscal mechanisms and incentives to support implementation of energy audits in industry as wel as move away from HCFC and HFC avoidance.
Identification of possible primer projects in consultation with all relevant stakeholders, including Business Mauritius, the Agence Francaise de Developpement, private sector.
Specifically engage consultations with the Agence Francaise de Developpement to address concerns regarding the SUNREF facility.
Identification of baseline projects in the sector (what resources already exist) and gaps that can be addressed with GEF support for the primer projects.
Identification of the technologies to be selected and how to remain technology neutral (consider HFOs, natural refrigerant solutions as recommendations for new technological developments) in such selection.
Develop EE related equipment measurement systems/approaches to be piloted by the project in existing RAC installations and preventive maintenance aspects, and ensure coordination of the project with parallel HCFC phase-out initiatives funded by MLF and associated Implementing Agencies.
Define the commonalities and differentiated approaches to boiler versus RAC systems to ensure integration of EE work in different sectors in focus.
Specification of financing mechanisms to be deployed by the UNDP-GEF project, addressing the Interaction between the grant facility offered by the project and the SUNREF credit line of the Agence Francaise de Developpement.
Detailed specification of the GHG estimation and MRV systems to be applied by the project, in accordance with GEF GHG methodologies.
Define the results framework and Theory of Change (ToC) with appropriate objective-level and outcome-level quantitative and qualitative SMART indicators, and end-of-project targets. Special attention will be made to include socio-economic and sex-disaggregated indicators.
Produce a technical report identifying the possible primer projects, as well as needs in terms of economic and financial analyses required to proceed with the projects.
Contribute to development of appropriate sections of the project document such as situation analysis, theory of change, logical framework, results framework, sustainability plan, SESP/EMP (on alternative refrigeration and AC technologies which could include flammables, HFOs etc) as needed.

The following section provides the description of processes/information needed.

Expected Outputs and Deliverables

The consultant shall be responsible for the following, in collaboration with the consultants’ team and stakeholders, noting the previously outlined context in the Key Deliverables:

Component A: Technical review

Baseline studies: this will include a desktop review of all relevant documents, actual and previous studies in Energy Efficiency and Refrigeration and Air Conditioning in Mauritius. Particular focus will be paid on the current regulatory and legal frameworks for energy efficiency, Energy Auditing, the refrigeration and air conditioning sector as well as and how they can best be harmonised.
Identification of possible primer projects in consultation with all relevant stakeholders, including Business Mauritius, the Agence Francaise de Developpement, private sector.
Identification of baseline projects in the sector (what resources already exist) and gaps that can be addressed with GEF support for the primer projects.
The investment and technical needs associated with the implementation of energy efficiency measures, and how the UNDP-GEF project can coordinate, build on and support these plants/facilities.
Identification of the technologies to be selected and how to remain technology neutral in such selection. Define the balance between boiler versus RAC systems.
Assess the eligibility of proposed investments under grant funding from the GEF as regards RAC systems following the Kigali Agreement and need for HFC avoidance.
Specification of financing mechanisms to be deployed by the UNDP-GEF project, addressing the Interaction between the grant facility offered by the project and the SUNREF credit line of the Agence Francaise de Developpement. Under this activity, the governance mechanism for the use of non-grant assistance should be reviewed.
Detailed specification of the GHG estimation and MRV systems to be applied by the project, in accordance with GEF GHG methodologies.
Identification of any opportunities/risks identified during an environmental and social screening of the project proposal. Update the Social and Environmental Screening procedure taking into account any comments from the Independent Evaluation Office.
Carry out a gender analysis so as to incorporate the corporate UNDP and GEF requirements in terms of gender balance in the execution of the project.
Completion of GEF CC-Mitigation Tracking Tool.

Component B: Institutional arrangements, monitoring and evaluation

The outputs of Component A will be used as technical input to Component B for the formulation of the UNDP-GEF project document.

Develop a Theory of Change for the project detailing all underlying assumptions and expected impacts of the project as well as how the proposed interventions will lead to the expected transformational change.
Describe in detail the Governance mechanism for the project and ensure that the National Energy Efficiency Programme Steering Committee is adequately represented and coordinated with the Steering Committee of the proposed project.
Finalization of project results framework: Further define the results framework with appropriate objective-level and outcome-level quantitative and qualitative SMART indicators, and end-of-project targets. Special attention will be made to include socio-economic and sex-disaggregated indicators.
Definition of monitoring and evaluation (M&E): A detailed M&E work plan will be developed, including clear identification of responsibilities and accountabilities, as well as an appropriate M&E budget. The plan will be based on the standard template provided in the UNDP-GEF project document template that reflects the mandatory requirements of the GEF M&E Policy.
Define sustainability plan: The sustainability plan will outline the principles and guidelines for ensuring the long-term sustainability of project achievements. It will also outline an exit strategy, seeking the continuation of key activities/achievements without the need of long-term international financing.
Definition of management arrangements: The organisational structure governing the project will be decided. This will include identification of the project steering committee.
Stakeholder consultations during Component B: Involve key actors in the development of the project strategy to ensure a strong national ownership – notably Ministry of Energy and Public Utilities, Energy Efficiency Management Office, Ministry of Social Security, National Solidarity, Environment and Sustainable Development, Business Mauritius, the Mauritius Export Association as well as the Agence Francaise de Developpement. In close collaboration with key government representatives and other stakeholders, ensure full participation in the development of the project results framework and ensure agreement on the project objectives and outcomes. Undertake consultations to secure agreement(s) on project implementation arrangements, including roles, responsibilities, and accountabilities of lead and partner agencies. Document these consultations.

Component C: Financial planning and co-financing investments:

Prepare a detailed multi-year budget following the standard template provided in the UNDP-GEF project document template that reflects the mandatory requirements of the GEF M&E Policy.
Explore multilateral and bilateral co-financing opportunities and undertake a series of consultations with partners to ensure a coherent and sustainable financing package for the project, including post-GEF grant phase. Obtain signed co-financing letters as detailed in the PIF.
Stakeholder consultations during Component C: Energy Efficiency Management Office, Ministry of Energy and Public Utilities, Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, Agence Francaise de Developpement and all the stakeholders that will provide co-finance contributions.

Component D: Validation workshop

A validation workshop will gather representatives from all relevant stakeholders to present, discuss and validate the final draft project document.

Following this workshop, the PPG consultants will move as quickly as possible to finalize the complete package of documentation for clearance internally by UNDP for submission to the GEF Secretariat. Once GEF Secretariat comments have been received, the consultants will prepare a ‘UNDP Response to GEF Secretariat Comments’ and then make changes to the text of the UNDP project document and GEF Request for CEO Endorsement with the ultimate objective of obtaining GEF approval of the full project.

The complete documentation package shall include the following documents:

Finalized UNDP Project Document;
Finalized GEF Request for CEO Endorsement;
Finalized SESP (Social & Environmental Standards);
GEF climate change mitigation Tracking Tool;
All co-financing letters .

The Consultant shall be remunerated in accordance with the following time schedule and deliverables:

Deliverables/ Outputs: Upon Submission of workplan;
Tentative Dates: 20 September 2017;
Fee (%): 10%;
Review and Approvals Required: UNDP Country Office.

Deliverables/ Outputs: Inception report based on inception workshop;
Tentative Dates: 20 October 2017;
Fee (%): 15%;
Review and Approvals Required: UNDP country office & Steering Committee.

Deliverables/ Outputs: Technical Report on Primer Projects;
Tentative Dates: 30 November 2017;
Fee (%): 15%;
Review and Approvals Required: UNDP country office & Steering Committee.

Deliverables/ Outputs: Draft project document and Request for CEO Endorsement based on
comments by all stakeholders, as required;
Tentative Dates: 30 January 2018;
Fee (%): 20%;
Review and Approvals Required: UNDP country office & Steering Committee.

Deliverables/ Outputs: Final project document and Request for CEO Endorsement, based on comments of GEF as required;
Tentative Dates: 30 March 2018;
Fee (%): 25%;
Review and Approvals Required: UNDP country office & Steering Committee.

Deliverables/ Outputs: Completion of assignment i.e. approval by the GEF;
Tentative Dates: June 2018;
Fee (%): 15%;
Review and Approvals Required: UNDP country office & Steering Committee.

Institutional Arrangement

The Consultant shall perform a liaison role with government, UNDP, and all stakeholders involved with the project, and work under the guidance of the Team Leader in a collaborative attitude. The Consultant shall work under the supervision of the Steering Committee and shall report to it for the fulfillment of its duties. The Steering Committee (SC) will be composed of high level representatives of the key ministries related to the project. It will provide high-level policy guidance and orientation to the project. The representative of the Energy Efficiency Management Office will chair the Steering Committee, along with the Representative of the UNDP.

The principal tasks of the SC are the following:

Provide high level orientation and guidance for the project.
Ensure that the project develops in accordance with national development objectives, goals and polices.
Pay special attention to the assumptions and risks identified in the logframe, and seek measures to minimize these threats to project success.
Ensure collaboration between institutions and free access on the part of project actors to key documents, land information systems, remote sensing imagery, etc.
Pay special attention to the post-project sustainability of activities developed by the project.
Ensure the integration and coordination of project activities with other related government and donor-funded initiatives.

Duration of the Work

22 days spread over 8 months starting September 2017

Duty Station

Home Based, with travel to Mauritius.

Competencies

Ability to conduct research and analysis and strong synthesis skills;
Builds strong relationships with national consultants, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to critical feedback; consensus-oriented;
Highly developed inter-personal, negotiation and teamwork skills, networking aptitude;
Regional and national knowledge is highly desirable;
Excellent English drafting and communication skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education

Masters degree in a relevant field such as Refrigeration and AC sciences, Thermodynamics, Electrical Engineering, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, Energy Economics, or related field.

Experience

At least 15 years post Masters degree of overall professional experience, with incremental responsibilities, preferably with some experience in the UN system;
Experience in the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Sector, especially HCFC phase-out and HFC avoidance’ will be an advantage;
Involvement in projects affected by the Kigali Agreement will be an advantage;
At least 7 years of experience and in-depth knowledge of Energy Efficiency in the context of project design, management or oversight at the international level, especially in the industrial context;
Experience in Energy Audits, with reference to ISO 50001 will be an advantage;
Proven and extensive international experience in Energy Efficiency projects;
Proven extensive experience in UNDP/GEF project formulation/design;
At least 7 years of experience designing and/or implementing project in developing countries;
Experience on institutional capacity assessment or institutional analysis would be an advantage.

Language

Excellent written and oral communication in English.

Scope of Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments:

The financial offer should be quoted as a lump sum amount, all-inclusive (professional fee, insurance). Fees will not include duty related travel outside of Mauritius which will be borne by the project.

The contract price is fixed regardless of changes in the cost components. Payments will be effected based on deliverables as per section D above.