UNDP Jobs - 68729- Sustainble Energy Consultancy

Sustainble Energy Consultancy

Location :

Vienna, AUSTRIA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

24-Oct-2016

Application Deadline :

11-Oct-16 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Up to 220 working days

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

1 year

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

Sustainable energy is an engine for poverty eradication, social progress, gender equality, enhanced resilience, economic growth and environmental sustainability with direct impacts on people, communities and countries. Unsustainable patterns of energy production and consumption threaten not only human health and quality of life but also affect ecosystems and contribute to increased anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions which accelerate climate change.

In September 2015, the United Nations Special Summit on Sustainable Development in New York adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). One of the goals, SDG No. 7, aims to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all by 2030. Thus, the upcoming sustainable development agenda recognizes that energy is a major ingredient of transforming societies and boosting human development. It is clear that without access to sustainable energy services other development goals cannot be achieved. UNDP’s work with countries and partners will be guided by its Sustainable Energy Framework which is strongly aligned to SDG No. 7 through its three thematic areas of energy access, renewable energy and energy efficiency linking to sustainable development, and consistent with the UN SG’s Global Sustainable Energy for All Initiative (SE4ALL).

With a presence in more than 170 countries and territories, and over 20 years of experience in supporting efforts to increase the utilization of sustainable energy, UNDP is uniquely positioned to offer expertise in development thinking and practice.

Within UNDP, the Global Energy Team’s main responsibilities are (1) representing UNDP on a corporate level in global policy dialogues, global events and meetings related to energy; (2) providing advocacy services related to energy to partner organizations and UNDP country offices; (3) developing and disseminating knowledge products on UNDP’s global work on energy; (4) engaging with and establishing partnerships on sustainable energy; and (5) ensuring UNDP’s contribution to achieve SDG No 7 on energy in accordance to UNDP’s Sustainable Energy Framework and UNDP’s Strategic Plan 2014-2017.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Sustainable Energy Consultant will be part of the Global Energy Team within the Climate Change & Disaster Risk Reduction Cluster of UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) in New York, United States. The Sustainable Energy Consultant responsibilities are the following:

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

Task 1: The consultant will develop a detailed work plan outlining all activities and tasks to be completed during the assignment.

OUTPUT 2: Verification, improvement and update of UNDP’s Global Energy Portfolio Database

Task 1: The consultant will be responsible for coordinating and conducting the verification, improvement and maintenance of UNDP’s Global Energy Portfolio Database. Specific topics and tasks will involve the following:

Communicate with UNDP country office globally to verify the data and, if possible, expand it with additional information and data;
Maintain the database and conduct a database update on a half yearly basis;
Other assistance related to the database, as required.

Task 2: The consultant will be responsible for leveraging UNDP’s Global Energy Portfolio Database to produce knowledge and communication products, including infographics, blogs, analyses, factsheets etc. on UNDP’s sustainable energy activities around the world. Specific topics and tasks will involve the following:

Preparing reports and analyses on UNDP’s sustainable energy portfolio and its contribution to achieving SDG 7 as well as other SDGs (such as poverty alleviation, health, employment, climate change and gender);
Preparing a UNDP Sustainable Energy Portfolio (SEP) Infographic Report;
Preparing and executing an advocacy and dissemination plan of the SEP Infographic Report;
Other assistance related to UNDP global energy work, as required.

OUTPUT 3: Support to CDT related work on UNDP’s Derisking Investment in Renewable Energy (DREI) framework

Task 1: In close coordination with the UNDP-GEF team, the consultant will be responsible for supporting the CDT cluster in applying and using UNDP’s DREI framework. Specific task will involve the following:

Ensuring Quality Assurance of UNDP initiatives and materials utilizing the DREI framework;
Coordinate consultants and project teams on in-country applications of the DREI framework;
Explore the development of a sustainable energy derisking (SED) facility;
Contribute to maintaining the DREI website, applications, documents, and tools;
Contribute to the further elaboration of the DREI framework and methodologies into new low-carbon areas, including small-scale renewable energy and energy efficiency;
Other tasks related to DREI, as required.

OUTPUT 4: Support to UNDP’s Global SE4ALL activities and communication

Task 1: The consultant will play a role in assisting UNDP to support UNDP’s SE4ALL activities globally and be UNDP’s lead liaison person for SE4All. Specific tasks will involve, inter alia, the following:

Supporting UNDP Regional Hubs and country offices in drafting and implementing UNDP SE4ALL activities
Support and assistance related to liaising with the SE4ALL initiative;
Assistance with the communication of UNDP’s SE4ALL activities globally;
Other assistance related to UNDP SE4ALL activities, as requested.

Output 5: Support to the Head of Energy and Global Energy Policy Advisor in BPPS New York

Task 1: The consultant will be responsible for supporting the policy advisory and advocacy work of the UNDP Head of Energy and the Global Energy Policy Advisor in BPPS, New York by undertaking appropriate research and analysis on energy. Specific task will also involve, inter alia, the following:

Drafting concept notes and other strategy papers on issues related to sustainable energy programming;
Organizing conferences, workshops, roundtables, trainings etc;
Other tasks related to UNDP’s Global Energy work, as required.

3. Management Arrangements/Payment Modalities

The assignment will be implemented under a one-year Consultancy arrangement with clearly identified work plan, tasks, responsibilities and deliverables. The consultant will work under the guidance and direct supervision of the Head of Energy and Global Energy Policy Advisor in BPPS New York.

S/he will work closely with the Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction Unit. S/he will also liaise with UNDP country office counterparts in partner countries; being based in the SE4ALL office in Vienna, Austria, s/he will also be UNDP’s lead liaison person for SE4All.

The Consultant will be provided with office space. Payments will be made on a monthly basis upon submission of a detailed time sheet and Certification of Payment form approved by the consultant’s supervisor. The payments will be linked to deliverables. The contract price is fixed regardless of changes in the cost of components.

Travel

The consultant will be based in Vienna, Austria. In case of any need to undertake mission travels for the purpose of this assignment, travel would be paid for separately and should not be included in the consultant’s fees.

Competencies

Technical Competencies:

Strong interpersonal skills, communication and diplomatic skills, 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;
Knowledge of MS Word, Excel, PPT and email communication software.

Corporate, Ethics and values:

Integrity and fairness -- embodies UN values and promote the well-being of all individuals regardless of gender, religion, race, nationality, or age.
Cultural sensitivity and adaptability: communicate effectively with and relate to multi-cultural teams with an ability to see issues from different perspectives.
Demonstrate and promote highest standards of integrity, impartiality, fairness and incorruptibility in all matters affecting his/her work and status.
Ensure that programs and projects are consistent with UN/UNDP values.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications/Education:

A Master’s degree in economics, engineering, international relations, environmental science, business administration or a related field.

Experience:

At least 2 years of technical experience related to sustainable energy;
At least 2 years of experience in project portfolio tracking and analyses. Experience in populating and analysing energy related project databases is an advantage;
Experience in sustainable energy development programming;
Hands-on experience with renewable energy finance, and experience in applying UNDP’s DREI framework is an advantage;
Experience in analysing quantitative data and translating it to factsheets, analyses and other information products is an asset;
Work experience in drafting concept notes and other strategy papers on issues related to sustainable energy is an advantage;
Experience in organising conferences, meetings and trainings;
Prior working experience with international organizations (including UNDP) is an advantage.

Language skills:

Excellent writing and communication skills in English.

Documents to be included when submitting the proposals

The application is a two-step process. Failing to comply with the submission process will result in disqualifying the applications.

Step 1: Technical proposal

Interested applicants must include the following documents when submitting the application in the UNDP Jobs website (Please note that only 1 (one) file can be uploaded, therefore please include all required documents in one file):

CV or Personal History Form (P11), indicating all past experience from similar work
and specifying the relevant assignment period (from/to), as well as the contact details
(email and telephone number) of at least three (3) professional references
the template attached in Annex 1 but can also be downloaded from this link: http://europeandcis.undp.org/files/hrforms/P11_modified_for_SCs_and_ICs.doc)

Alternatively, an updated CV indicating past experience from similar work, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references can be submitted however UNDP may later request a P11 form to be completed.

Brief description (cover letter) of why you consider yourself as the most suitable for the assignment.

Step 2: Financial Proposal

Applicants that pass the technical evaluation will be contacted and asked to submit their financial proposals indicating an all-inclusive daily fee in US Dollars for this consultancy.

The financial proposal must be all-inclusive and take into account various expenses that will be incurred during the contract, including: the daily professional fee; cost of travel from the home base to the duty station and vice versa, where required (the prevailing price for an economy class ticket on the most direct routes shall apply, living allowances at the duty station; communications, utilities and consumables; life, health and any other insurance; risks and inconveniences related to work under hardship and hazardous conditions (e.g., personal security needs, etc.), when applicable; and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services under the contract

If the Offeror is employed by an organization/company/institution, and he/she expects his/her employer to charge a management fee in the process of releasing him/her to UNDP under a Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA), the Offeror must indicate this, and ensure that all such costs are duly incorporated in the financial proposal submitted to UNDP.

Evaluation

Applicants are shortlisted based on required experience and qualifications stated in the TOR. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. The technical evaluation will be conducted by a desk review.

Criteria for Selection of the Best Offer:

Candidates will be compared using a combined scoring method with the qualifications weighted at 70% and the price offer weighted at 30%. Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 (70%) points on the technical qualifications part will be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Criteria for evaluation of qualifications (70 points maximum):

Relevance of education to the position (5 points)
Two years of professional experience related to sustainable energy including analyses and tracking of project portfolios and related project databases (10 points)
Proven expertise in sustainable energy development programming (5 points)
Proven expertise with renewable energy finance including applying UNDP’s DREI framework (15 points)
Proven expertise in analysing quantitative data and translating it to factsheets, analyses and other information products (15 points)
Proven expertise in drafting concept notes and other strategy papers on issues related to sustainable energy (5 points)
Proven expertise in organising conferences, meetings and trainings (5 points)
Working experience with international organizations (including UNDP) (10 points)

Criteria for financial evaluation (30 points maximum):

The following formula will be used to evaluate financial proposal: p = y (µ/z),

Where p=points for the financial proposal being evaluated;
y=maximum number of points for the financial proposal
µ=price of the lowest priced proposal
z = price of the proposal being evaluated

Contract Award

The candidate obtaining the highest combined scores in the combined score of Technical and Financial evaluation will be considered technically qualified and will be offered to enter into contract with UNDP.

Notes

Payments will be made only upon confirmation of delivery of 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

Annexes:

Annex 1 - IC Contract Template;
Annex 2 - Individual Consultant General Terms and Conditions;
Annex 3 - UNDP P-11 Form for ICs
Annex 4 - Financial Proposal Template;

These forms and templates can be found on the UNDP Procurement Notice website using the following link: UNDP Procurement notice # 33164.