Background

UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work is carried out through a network of advisors and specialists located at HQ, Regional, and Country Office levels to ensure that local knowledge and context-specific expertise is linked to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP provides its policy advisory and programme support functions through the Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains, in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the 2018-2021 Strategic Plan. Within the GPN, the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) has the responsibility for developing all relevant policy and guidance to support the results of UNDP’s Strategic Plan and works closely with the Crisis Bureau (CB) that has the responsibility to guide and implement UNDP’s corporate crisis-related strategies and vision for crisis prevention, response and recovery.

Based in BPPS’ Natural Capital and Environment Cluster, the UNDP-Global Environmental Finance Unit (UNDP – GEF Unit) has the objective to help countries achieve the simultaneous eradication of poverty and significant reduction of inequalities and exclusion by assisting UNDP’s Country Offices in accessing environmental finance for sustainable development.

UNDP’s approach to energy aligns with the SDG 7 targets (renewable energy, energy efficiency and energy access), and is formulated around a signature solution on energy as set out in UNDP’s Strategic Plan. This signature solution has three main areas of focus: in low-income countries, on energy access (electrification, clean cooking), with a UNDP commitment to electrify 100 million individuals by 2030; in middle-income countries, helping achieve transformational change and accelerate a just energy transition, including a focus on smart cities (energy efficiency, e-mobility, rooftop PV, battery storage); and in crisis settings, providing sustainable energy solutions in situations of displacement, around energy as a means to build resilience.

UNDP has developed a clear, market transformation-based theory of change on energy. UNDP assists governments to systematically identify the barriers and risks which can hold back private sector investment, and then supports 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 end objective is to cost-effectively achieve a risk-return profile for investments that can attract large quantities of low-cost commercial financing at scale. UNDP’s comparative advantage lies with reducing risk, through well-designed policies and regulations, and working with its partners on integrated solutions across policies and finance. For more information please visit www.undp.org/DREI

In this regards, UNDP-GEF is seeking to engage an Energy Finance Consultant to work in the global UNDP-GEF energy team, reporting to the Senior/Principal Technical Advisor, CCM and Energy based in New York.

Duties and Responsibilities

SPECIFIC TASKS:

The scope of work will vary depending on the specific assignment, including one or various of the below tasks:

Strategy and business development intelligence

• Provide strategic insights on latest developments in energy and finance, covering private sector and financial actors, and innovations in business models and financial products;
• Contribute to strategic UNDP policy position papers, communication products and internal briefing notes.

Energy programming and projects

• Support UNDP’s energy projects, at design and/or implementation, on issues related to energy and finance.  This can include, but is not limited to: financial viability and structuring of energy investments, and financial instrument design.

New initiatives and partnerships

• Identify and support new and existing programming and partnership opportunities in energy and finance. Existing initiatives can include, but are not limited to: SDG Impact, the Climate Aggregation Platform, and UNDP-UNCDF collaborations on financial instruments. Partners can include, but are not limited to: multilateral development banks, vertical funds (GEF, GCF), and the private sector (corporates, investors).

Derisking Renewable Energy Investment (DREI) framework

• Provide strategic insights and guidance on the ongoing development and direction of the DREI framework, including ongoing partner outreach, e.g., ETH Zurich;
• Support UNDP’s in-country applications (apps) of the DREI framework, typically working with UNDP country offices, national partners and third-party consultants. This can include a roster of third party DREI apps consultants;
• Maintain and keep up to date: (i) the DREI website, with support from UNDP’s IT department, and (ii) the suite of DREI tools (e.g., financial models, derisking tables). If applicable, engage in further methodology development;
• Assist in awareness-reaching activities around the DREI framework, e.g., as applicable, contributing to webinars and blogs.

INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS:

• The overall objective of this Framework Agreement is to facilitate and expedite the process by which UNDP-GEF can engage the services of an Energy Finance Consultant once there are specific assignments over the next 3 years;

• The estimated level of effort is approximately 150 days per year, spread across various intermittent assignments. Maximum working days over the 3-year period would be 450;
• UNDP does not warrant that any quantity of services will be purchased during the term of the Framework Agreement, as this will depend on forthcoming needs;
• IC as a Framework agreement is non-exclusive (i.e. it does not prohibit UNDP from entering into another such framework agreement with another individuals or entities);
• The Framework Agreement will be for a fixed all-inclusive daily fee;
• Once the Framework Agreement is signed, if there is a specific assignment, the focal person(s) at UNDP-GEF would contact the consultant, by email, informing of specific deliverables and timeline;
• The consultant must advise within 48 hours whether s/he is available to deliver the requested service;
• Thereafter a Purchase Order will be raised. Financial commitments will only be established each time the services are requested within the scope of the Framework Agreement through the transmitted email and purchase order;
• The consultant will work from home, with mission travel as need;
• The consultant will report to, and be directly supervised by the Senior/Principal Technical Advisor for CCM and Energy, based in New York;
• The Consultant will be given access to relevant information necessary for execution of the tasks under this assignment;
• Given the global consultations to be undertaken during this assignment, the consultant is expected to be reasonably flexible with his/her availability for such consultations taking into consideration different time zones where applicable;
• The Consultant will be responsible for providing her/his own work station (i.e. laptop, internet, phone, scanner/printer, etc.) and must have access to reliable internet connection;
• Payments will be made upon submission of a detailed time sheet and certification of payment form, and acceptance and confirmation by the Supervisor on days worked (with a “day” calculated as 8 hours of work) and outputs delivered. If the quality does not meet standards or requirements, the consultant will be asked to rewrite or revise (as necessary) the document before proceeding to payment.

TRAVEL:

• International travel may be required.  An estimated 2-3 missions during the first year (destinations to be identified) with expected total travel duration of approximately 3-5 days per mission.  Expected mission travel will be disclosed before commencement of each specific assignment;

• Any necessary mission travel must be approved in writing and advance by the Senior/Principal Technical Advisor;
• BSAFE course must be successfully completed prior to commencement of travel;
• Consultants are responsible for obtaining any visas needed in connection with travel with the necessary support from UNDP;
• Individual Consultants are responsible for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director;
• Consultants are required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under  https://dss.un.org/dssweb/;
• The consultant will be responsible for making his/her own mission travel arrangements in line with UNDP travel policies;  
• All related travel expenses will be reimbursed as per UNDP rules and regulations upon submission of an F-10 claim form and supporting documents.  Costs for mission travel (including air tickets, living allowances, etc.) should not be included in the financial proposal. 

Competencies

Corporate

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling 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.

Functional

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively as part of a collaborative team and process;
• Ability to work with multiple stakeholders across a wide range of disciplines;
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing to in a simple and concise manner;
• Able to work independently and remotely with minimal supervision;
• Ability to work under pressure and time constraints.

Technical

• Knowledge of environmental finance – whether public, private, or innovative finance – including key trends (e.g., impact investment), institutions (including IFIs, funds), financial models and products, and commercial actors.
• Knowledge of low-carbon energy solutions (e.g., renewable energy (rooftop PV, electricity access) and energy efficiency), including key trends, and innovative business and finance models

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Master’s or equivalent degree in finance, international affairs, energy and environment, or other closely related field.  (Max 10 pts);

Experience:

• At least 5 years or more professional experience in the area of energy and/or finance. Candidates with experience at an investment bank or commercial bank will be at an advantage. Candidates with experience in the public promotion of clean energy investment will be at an additional advantage (Max 40 pts);
• Experience in data driven studies/research and financial modeling for low-carbon energy. Candidates with experience with the DREI methodology will be at an advantage. (Max 30 pts);
• Experience working with developing country contexts preferred (Max 10pts);
• Experience working with multilateral organizations and the UN system preferred (Max 10pts).

Languages:

• Written and oral proficiency in English required (Pass/Fail).

EVALUATION METHOD:

• Only those applications which are responsive and compliant will be evaluated.  Incomplete applications will not be considered;
• Offers will be evaluated according to the Combined Scoring method – where the technical criteria will be weighted at 70% and the financial offer will be weighted at 30%;
• The technical criteria (education, experience, languages [max. 100 points] and interview [max. 20 points]) will be based on a maximum 120 points;
• Only the top 3 candidates obtaining 70 points or more of the review of education, experience, languages will be considered for the interview;
• Candidates obtaining 14 points or higher in the interview will deemed technically qualified and considered for financial evaluation;
• Financial score (max 100 points) shall be computed as a ratio of the proposal being evaluated and the lowest priced proposal of those technically qualified;
• The financial proposal shall specify an all-inclusive daily fee. In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal must additionally include a breakdown of this daily fee (including all foreseeable expenses to carry out the assignment);
• The applicant receiving the Highest Combined Score and who has accepted UNDP’s General Terms and Conditions will be awarded the contract.

Documentation to be submitted:

• Applicants must submit a CV, indicating all past experience, Education/Qualifications, professional certifications and/or a duly completed and signed UNDP Personal History form (P11) to be downloaded from the link below;  
• Applicants must reply to the mandatory questions asked by the system when submitting the application.
• Applicants must submit a duly completed and signed Annex II Offeror´s letter to UNDP confirming interest and availability for the Individual Contractor (IC) assignment to be downloaded from the UNDP procurement site.

Kindly note you can upload only one document to this application (scan all documents in one single PDF file to attach).

UNDP Personal History form (P11) required of all applicants:

http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/library/corporate/Careers/P11_Personal_history_form.doc.

General Conditions of Contract for the ICs:

http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/documents/procurement/documents/IC%20-%20General%20Conditions.pdf.

Annex II Offeror´s letter to UNDP confirming interest and availability for the Individual Contractor (IC) assignment:

http://procurement-notices-admin.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=57648