Historique

Sri Lanka is currently facing an economic crisis of unprecedented proportions. The crisis was caused due to acute fiscal, and balance of payment imbalances caused by weak macro management policies and made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine. The economic crisis has undermined Sri Lanka’s considerable socioeconomic and human development achievements over the past several decades. Poverty and inequality are expected to have widened considerably with a particular impact on the highly vulnerable, women and youth. The crisis has exposed the people of Sri Lanka to four principal security concerns: energy security, food security, social security, and financial security. Among them, energy security is currently the most acute, impacted by both availability and affordability concerns. There are widespread shortages of essential fuel items – gasoline, diesel, kerosene, and LP gas. The country has also been enduring regular power cuts. The lack of foreign exchange for imports of fossil fuels has been the main reason for the crisis. Long queues for fuel are experienced in almost all parts of the country with frequent violence in filling stations. The government has also raised fuel prices considerably. The energy crisis has had ripple effects on all sectors of the economy whilst also undermining essential social services such as health and education.

In this backdrop, UNDP Sri Lanka seeks to complement the Government of Sri Lanka’s (GOSL) relief efforts, within which, the conditions for achieving and sustaining the country’s longer-term development needs will be set. The inability of the country to meet the demand for energy creates a host of interlinked challenges within Sri Lanka’s current socioeconomic context. Lack of energy has become a bottleneck for revenue generation, crippling production systems, livelihoods and value chains, and supply systems. UNDP Sri Lanka’s proposed strategy for interventions in the broader energy sector, including transportation, seeks to address the country’s immediate energy security concerns and pave the way for long-term sustainable economic growth, and also provide a greener, cleaner transition to renewable energy by reducing the dependency on imported fossil fuels in an equitable manner.

Under the overall guidance of the Policy Specialist and Team Leader – Climate and Environment Team, and under the direct supervision of the Programme Coordinator – Climate and Environment Team, the Consultant will work on development a concept note, and a pre-feasibility study to be submitted to the Green Climate Fund (GCF) on modernization of the bus sector while contributing to economic recovery

through green development, enhancing the resilience of those worst-affected by the socioeconomic crisis, and advancing the energy security of the country.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the assignment is to support the DFCC to develop a concept note on the Modernisation of the Bus Sector by introducing Electric busses (E-Buses). The concept note will be submitted to GCF through DFCC bank which will also fulfil the bank’s obligation final leg in accreditation with GCF. To this end, UNDP has recruited an international consultant to prepare the concept note and pre feasibility studies on E-Buses aligned with GCF requirements.

The consultant will work closely with DFCC bank and the international consultant to develop the project concept and pre feasibility studies for E-Buses.

Devoirs et responsabilités

Scope of Work

The consultant will report to the Programme Coordinator of the Climate and Environment Team, for contractual purposes in carrying out the key responsibilities of the assignment.

• Develop a concept note together with a pre feasibility study, to be submitted to the Green Climate Fund (GCF) on the modernization of the bus sector through E-Buses
• Study the GCF requirements for submission of proposals for accreditation
• The consultant can build on the concept note developed by UNDP for the transition for modernization of the bus sector
• Develop an initial financial model for E-Buses for review and clearance from UNDP regional team and GCF and complete concept note based on their recommendations
• Liaise with the International consultant to formulate and finalise the concept note and pre feasibility studies with the guidance of Regional Technical Specialists
• Assist the DFCC bank to consult the relevant stakeholders in order to obtain the necessary inputs to formulate the project
• Liaise with the relevant local stakeholders to facilitate the necessary consultations with the DFCC bank
• Liaise with Country Office team and Bangkok Regional Hub technical experts for guidance and technical inputs
• Review the latest national priorities and existing plans of the government toward a sustainable transport sector in the Country
• Conduct a brainstorming session among identified key stakeholders and validate those prioritized national concepts/actions towards a sustainable transport sector considering the local context.
• Carry out an assessment of the potential for carbon credits for the proposed technical proposal
• Analyze existing regulatory and policy aspects and identify the gaps/ new policy or regulatory support system for the proposed concepts in the proposals.
• Compare government priorities against the donor priorities and develop a technically and financially feasible project concept, elaborating on E-Buses and other infrastructure required for modernization of the bus sector.

• Analyse and study the waste generated from E-Buses and including batteries, motors etc and recommend sustainable solutions
• Study the effect of the electrification of buses on the grid and analyse suitable renewable energy technology options and business models for charging of buses
• Assess the need for institutional strengthening and capacity building to support the scale-up of electric buses
• Analyse and study other infrastructure required for modernization of buses including IOT to facilitate E-buses and attract users of personal transport

Expected Outputs and Deliverables

Duration of the Work

• The envisaged duration of the consultancy is for a period of 20 days and shall commence from October 2022, and shall expire on satisfactory completion of the consultancy, but not later than 31st of December 2022.

Compétences

• Strong analytical, reporting, and writing abilities skills;
• Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback;
• Ability to plan, organize, implement and report on work;
• Ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines;
• Proficiency in the use of office IT applications and the internet in conducting research;
• Outstanding communication, project management, and organizational skills;
• Excellent presentation and facilitation skills.
• Demonstrates integrity and ethical standards;
• Positive, constructive attitude to work;

Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality, and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Qualifications et expériences requises

Educational Qualifications

At least a Masters’s Degree in Energy, Engineering, or any other related fields

Experience

• At least 10 years of relevant professional experience in similar assignments at the national or international level
• Strong expertise in financial strategies, schemes, and evaluation as applied to RE/EE technology applications and EVs
• Familiarity with the UNDP project management requirements and procedures
• Experience in coordinating projects with government counterparts
• Ability to pick up new terminology and concepts easily
• Familiarity with UNDP policies, templates, and requirements
• Experience in providing technology development support to government and private sector counterparts
• Previous experience in working with international organizations and ideally on development projects/programs
• Excellent analytical skills; very good interpersonal skills and ability to work with a multitude of stakeholder environments

Language requirements

• Fluency of the English language is required

Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments

Consultant must send a financial proposal based on…

Lump Sum Amount. The total amount quoted shall be all-inclusive and include all costs components required to perform the deliverables identified in the TOR, including professional fee, travel costs, living allowance (if any work is to be done outside the IC´s duty station) and any other applicable cost to be incurred by the IC in completing the assignment. The contract price will be a fixed output-based price regardless of the extension of the herein specified duration. Payments will be done upon completion of the deliverables/outputs and as per the below percentages:

• Deliverable 1 - Initial draft financial model submitted to UNDP RO/GCF for initial review : 20% of the total contract amount

• Deliverable 2 - National Situational Analysis to develop the concept note on E-Buses to be submitted to GCF: 40% of the total contract amount
• Deliverable 3- Financial, economic and social evaluation for pre feasibility study on E-Buses for GCF submission: 40 % of the total contract amount

In the event of unforeseeable travel not anticipated in this TOR, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging, and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and the Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed.

Evaluation Method and Criteria

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology…

Cumulative Analysis

The award of the contract shall be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as a) responsive/compliant/acceptable; and b) having received the highest score out of the set of weighted technical criteria (70%) and financial criteria (30%). The financial score shall be computed as a ratio of the proposal being evaluated and the lowest priced proposal received by UNDP for the assignment.

Technical Criteria for Evaluation (Maximum 70 points)

• Criteria 1 - At least a Master’s Degree in Energy, Engineering, or any other related fields – 8 points
• Criteria 2 - At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in similar assignments at the national or international level – 10 Points
• Criteria 3 - Previous experience in working with international organizations and ideally on development projects/programs – 10 points
• Criteria 4 - Familiarity with UNDP policies, templates, and requirements – 10 points
• Criteria 5 - Excellent analytical skills; very good interpersonal skills and ability to work with a multitude of stakeholder environments – 10 points
• Criteria 6 - Assessment of approach/methodology to assignment (if applicable) – 15 points
• Criteria 7 - Experience in providing technology development support to government and private sector counterparts – 7 points

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points (70% of the total technical points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

HOW TO APPLY

By accessing UNDP Jobs site: http://jobs.undp.org 

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications. Please group them into one (1) single PDF document as the application only allows to upload a maximum of one document:

1. Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided in Annex II.
2. Personal CV, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references.
3. Technical proposal, including a) a brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment; and b) a methodology, on how they will approach and complete the assignment.

4. Please send the Financial Proposal separately to the following e-mail address: consultants.lk@undp.org stating the vacancy number/position in the subject line using the annex II given below.

Incomplete proposals may not be considered.

Annexes

• Annex I - Individual IC General Terms and Conditions
• Annex II – Offeror’s Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability for the Individual IC, including Financial Proposal Template

For any clarification regarding this assignment please write to awandi.kohilawatta@undp.org

UNDP is committed to achieving diversity within its workplace and encourages all qualified applicants, irrespective of gender, nationality, disabilities, sexual orientation, culture, religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.