UNDP is the UN's global development network, an organization advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life.  UNDP Cambodia Country Office works in partnership with the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC), non-government organizations, civil society organizations, community-based organizations, multilateral aid agencies, bilateral donors and private sector to support the progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To support the implementation of the UNDP country programme 2019-2023, the Policy and Innovation Hub (PIH) plays an important role within the country office to develop high level policy and technical advisory support to the government. PIH work is guided by three set of strategies (1) research, policy and innovation, (2) communication, and (3) programming. Through the policy, research and innovation, communications, and programming, the PIH is expected to deliver the two main outputs (1) Prosperity, and (2) Planet. Climate change, natural resources, circular economy and energy are the focused areas of the Output 2, i.e. Planet.

UNDP has been supporting the RGC in achieving the targets set under Cambodia Sustainable Development Goals (CSDG). Clean and affordable energy access is one of the priorities of RGC and has three key targets under SDG 7 including universal energy access by 2030. Cambodia’s achievements in rural electrification offer a remarkable story from the Asia Pacific. From a 6.6% electrification rate in 2000, the country reached an impressive 97.3% by 2020. Of the 14,168 villages, just 237 villages can’t be electrified as planned by 2020 as they are classified as “difficult to reach”. At the Climate Ambition Summit 2020, Cambodia announced to have at least 25 percent share of renewable energy in the total energy mix by 2030. It was further announced that the RGC will start work on a policy to become carbon neutral starting 2021. In 2017, Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) prepared a draft National Energy Efficiency Policy (NEEP) with the goal to reduce energy demand by 20% by 2035 from buildings, industry, and transport sectors. This draft is being finalized by MME and is expected to be approved sometime early 2021.

In order to provide support and ensure effective policy and quality technical services to the government, PIH in UNDP Cambodia is looking to recruit Consultants who could function as Senior Specialist against the following profiles:

• Energy Access
• Renewable Energy, and
• Energy Efficiency

As part of UNDP’s support to the RGC in its economic growth, as well as in advancing the clean energy agenda, UNDP is seeking applicants who could apply to one or more profiles listed above. Successful applicants will join the UNDP’s roster of experts and be contacted based on arising needs of PIH of UNDP Cambodia including, support drafting of policies and sub-decrees, project identification, programming and implementation.

This solicitation is for Long-Term Agreements (LTA) for one year and renewable up to three years linked to satisfactory performance of the individual consultants. LTA refers to a mutual arrangement whereby the Consultant will provide services as required, over a specific period of time. It specifies the unit price (daily rate), allowing for a framework agreement to be used when the Consultant’s services are needed. The Consultant will be contracted under separate ToRs that will be developed for the specific services needed within the scope of the LTA.

Under the direct supervision of the Technical Advisor on Energy, the Senior Specialist will be responsible for providing high quality technical inputs, based on an in-depth understand of the local context and global experiences, related to renewable energy, energy efficiency, and energy access:

1. secure business opportunities for UNDP Cambodia and supporting resource mobilization;

2. support drafting policies and sub-decrees;

3. support implementation of programmes;

4. support knowledge management and documentation of lessons learned.

Key work areas will include:

1.  Secure business opportunities for UNDP Cambodia and supporting resource mobilization:

1. Analyze developments in the energy sector in Cambodia and in the region as major share of electricity comes in the form of imports from neighboring countries;

2. Collect data on energy use in various sectors of the economy and generation from various sources, including expected growth scenarios for GDP and various economic & end-use sectors;

3. Identify and analyze emerging developments and innovations in the energy sector globally (energy storage, grid integration, etc.) and providing recommendations on potential adaptive strategies to RGC and UNDP in clean energy space;

4. Liaise with local stakeholders to identify opportunities and where UNDP can add value;

5. Analyze market barrier for clean energy in Cambodia and identify efficient ways to address the barriers including conducting interviews and field visits;

6. Identify potential partners for implementation, including potential solution providers;

7. Propose recommendations for course of action with emphasis on activities with highest value added in terms of systemic change and/or quick wins to the context of power shortages and shelving peak power demand;

8. Support proposal preparation (concept notes and full proposals) for resource mobilization;

9. Include approaches in project concepts to encourage innovation by local stakeholders, including processes of incubation and scaling up of successful business models;

10. Identify measures in the energy sector which can reduce GHG emission reductions (including demand and supply side energy efficiency and demand response measures) as well as support grid stability; and

11. Organize peer reviews particularly to seek validation from local stakeholders as required.

2. Support drafting policies and sub-decrees

1. Design a conceptual framework, how the policy, sub-decree, ministerial regulation will work and who are the key stakeholders involved in the implementation of such;

2. Design data collection - interviews, focus group discussions, secondary data from peer reviewed articles including information from relevant institutions, ministries, departments, private sector, development partners and UN agencies relevant to energy policy in Cambodia;

3. Carry out discussions, meetings, and interview with key stakeholders/individuals particularly MME, Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF), Ministry of Environment (MOE), Ministry of Industry Science Technology and Innovation (MISTI), Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction (MLMUPC), National Council for Sustainable Development (NCSD), Electric Authority of Cambodia (EAC), and present results;

4. Draft policies, sub-decree (Anukret) and Ministerial Order/Regulations (Prakas) in close coordination with key stakeholders including mechanism for its implementation based on the key stakeholders’ recommendations from the validation workshops and submit to concerned department for approval of such documents.

3. Support Implementation of programmes:

1. Provide high quality technical inputs to trainings and technical assistance to partners on matters related to renewable energy, energy efficiency and energy access;

2. Conduct review of projects and programmes implementation as required;

3. Conduct energy audits of buildings and factories and provide recommendations for reducing energy consumption;

4. Support the implementation of energy solutions in remote rural areas, including business models for micro and mini grids including applications of renewable energy for irrigation.

4. Support knowledge management and documentation of lessons learned:

1. Document and synthesize key lessons/insights from engaging with various stakeholders throughout lifetime of projects;

2. Refining strategies and approaches for working with local partners, including approaching for identifying barriers, identifying promising innovations and incubation and acceleration support to businesses;

3. Prepare substantive findings and analysis in a usable knowledge product format so they can be used in communication presentations (written/social media and other) and publication, including booklets, leaflets, infographics and audiovisual presentations.

The consultant shall ensure confidentiality of all the information received during the assignment

Technical Compentencies:

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

Functional Compentencies

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards; 

• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;

• Treats all people fairly without favoritism

• Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Education: 

Master’s degree, or equivalent, in engineering, energy, resource management, economics, finance, international affairs, or other energy-related field

Experience

• At least 7 years of experience with energy efficiency and/or renewable energy and/or energy access.
• Very good understanding of the situation in Cambodia. Prior working experience in Cambodia is a must.
• Experience dealing with renewable energy, and/or energy efficiency and/or energy access in developing countries context.
• Experience in energy audits, energy policy drafting, business models for deployment of rural energy projects will be an added advantage.
• Experience in liaising with stakeholders, in particular private sector parties and government.
• Experience with development agencies, such as bilateral agencies, WB and UN.

Language Requirement:

• Fluency in English required.
• Understanding and/or fluency in Khmer is an advantage.

Interested offeror must read the Individual Consultant (IC) Procurement Notice, which can be viewed at  https://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=74172 more detail information about term of references, instructions to offeror, and to download the documents to be submitted in the offer through online.

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 online applications submission will be acknowledged where an email address has been provided. If you do not receive an email 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.

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

1. Proposal:

(i) Letter explaining why they are most suitable for the work

(ii)  Sample of work to prove strong written and presentation skills.

2. Financial proposal (Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP)

3. Personal CV including past experience in similar projects and at least 3 references

Any request for clarification/additional information on this procurement notice shall be communicated in writing to UNDP office or send to email pheara.lek@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).