Background

Please provide Offeror’s Letter and proposal together with your CV and cover letter (if applicable) in one single file while submitting application. And please note that the system will not accept the uploading of more than one document so please merge or scan all your documents into one prior to uploading. Below is the download link of Offeror's Letter. 

Offeror's letter download link: 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GYP7hMPX3qJAbiy7KZppiWqR4JdKFYv4/view?usp=sharing

The Energy Efficiency Improvement in Public Sector Buildings in China (PSBEE) is an ongoing UNDP-GEF project implemented by Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development (MOHURD). The objective of the project is to facilitate the energy-conserving and energy-efficient operation of public buildings and building services in the public sector in China. The ultimate goal of the project is the well-managed growth rate of energy consumption and associated greenhouse gas emissions from the public sector in China. The project’s strategy is a barriers removal approach to address the major obstacles for the adoption of energy conservation and energy efficiency (EC&EE) and low-carbon (LC) initiatives. As stated in the PSBEE Project Document (ProDoc), the main barriers to the energy-conserving and energy-efficient operation of public buildings and building services in the public sector in China are:

• Inadequate policy and regulatory frameworks that promote and support EC&EE improvement initiatives in the public sector;
• Absence of an overall evaluation system for reviewing and analyzing the existing energy management procedures and practices in public sector entities and their facilities; 
• Limited market-oriented financing mechanism for funding EC&EE technologies/products in the public sector; and
• Low level of capacity and awareness of public sector technical and management personnel on the application of EC&EE and LC technologies.

The project’s interventions are organized into four components focusing on: (1) public sector EC&EE policy and regulatory frameworks, (2) energy performance monitoring and evaluation system for public sector buildings, (3) EC&EE improvement promotion and demonstration programs for public sector buildings, and (4) public sector EC&EE capacity and awareness enhancement program.

The expected outcomes of the project are as follows:

• Outcome 1. Strict enforcement of approved enhanced policies and rules and regulations on energy efficiency and low-carbon operation and maintenance of public sector buildings;
• Outcome 2. Better control and enhanced management of the energy performance of public sector buildings;
• Outcome 3.1. Increased availability of resources (technical capacity, information, and financing) for EC&EE initiatives in public sector buildings and facilities;
• Outcome 3.2. Increased application of EC&EE technologies in public sector buildings and facilities; and 
• Outcome 4. Enhanced awareness and knowledge of public sector authorities and personnel and the citizenry on the cost-effective application of EC&EE technologies.

The PSBEE Project started in November 2018 and is planned to be completed by end October 2022. The mid-term review (MTR) of the project was conducted and completed within a 6-months period starting in July 2021. The MTR concluded that as of mid-term, the project is on track to produce relevant contributions to removing the barriers for the adoption EC&CC and LC technologies and practices in public buildings. However, delays in the project start and implementation (mainly caused by the Covid-19 pandemic) could limit its true potential, and in view of this, the MTR recommended that a one-year project implementation period extension be requested to accomplish the project’s objective.

Among the findings in the MTR are some shortcomings in the implementation of the demonstration and the financial barrier removal activities of the project that digressed from the designed approach as per the PSBEE ProDoc. In the case of the demonstration activities that were identified, designed and supported with substantial GEF resources, the role of the demonstrations in removing technical barriers became unclear and their contribution to the achievement of the project´s objectives became uncertain. These activities do not meet key characteristics required for demonstrations as defined in the ProDoc (e.g., contribution to incremental GHG emissions reductions, adherence to incremental-cost principles, cost-efficiency, etc.). The project is also supposed to establish a financial support mechanism for EE projects in public buildings, but there was no such financial scheme has been designed and adopted. In this regard, the project’s adopted strategy and progress for removing financial barriers are uncertain and require an adjustment.

While the PMO has demonstrated its capability to manage multiple activities and stakeholders simultaneously, and in resolving emerging issues, it can benefit from the expertise of external international consultants to adequately address issues related to monitoring and reporting, incremental-cost reasoning, and the estimation of GHG emissions reductions. According to the MTR, there are certain project management functions that need to be improved, such as managing project scope, monitoring and reporting, accounting for co-financing contributions, etc. There were significant changes to the project scope that were not adequately approved and documented, including for example the process for the selection and award of grants to demonstration projects, the extension of the project scope to private buildings, and the deviation from the plan for removing financial barriers. Routine monitoring and reporting functions, including the calculation of GHG emissions reductions and the accounting of co-financing contributions, have large gaps that should be addressed before project end. To address these gaps and in accordance with the provisions in the ProDoc, the MTR team recommends recruiting an international CTA to support project management. As per the PSBEE Project design, the staffing of the PMO include a Project Manager, a Chief Technical Advisor (CTA), three component coordinators, and administrative staff.

As mentioned above, necessary actions have to be done in the review of the scope, budget and monitoring procedures of each demonstrations selected under Component 3 of the project. This is a task that can be assigned to the CTA to do and is deemed very necessary to rectify the gaps and shortcomings in the different demonstrations that were selected, financially supported and implemented under the project.

Duties and Responsibilities

The following are the tasks and responsibilities of the International Chief Technology Advisor:

1. Ensure that the planned project strategy is adequately and correctly implemented. . This include the review and subsequent rectification of the implemented activities, particularly those that are currently ongoing such as the demonstrations and financing scheme that is supposed to be designed and implemented under the project.
2. Review, recommend and implement improvements in the following:
   • The way results of activities (baseline, co-financed[1]and incremental) are documented/reported to and vetted and approved by the IP/PMO.
   • The way reported project results are analyzed to determine their respective appropriate contribution to the achievement of project outputs and outcomes and their attribution to the PSBEE;
   • How the realization of the project outcomes (i.e., degree of barrier removal) is evaluated and reported;
   • How the project’s results framework (i.e., project logical framework) is monitored particularly the targets of each stated indicators for the project goal, objective and outcomes; and how the evidentiary documents on the achievement of the indicator targets are produced.
3. Provide the PMO staff strategic guidance and support, and if necessary, capacity building on how to monitor the indicators, control the quality of project outcomes, prepare annual project implementation review (PIR) reports, prepare for the terminal evaluation of the project; and contribute to the definition of the project’s exit strategy (including a potential follow-up project involving international climate finance resources).
4. Specifically, review/evaluate the demonstrations that the PSBEE Project has implemented and come up with recommended corrective actions to address the identified gaps and shortcomings. This refers to the comprehensive review of the scope, budget and monitoring procedures of each demonstrations implemented under Component 3 of the PSBEE Project (Outputs 3.1.5. and 3.2.2). This will involve: 
   1. Comprehensive review of following for each demo:
      • What it is all about, and how does it showcase the cost-effective application of EE building technology(ies) and measure(s)
      • How the demo was selected, and the set of criteria used
      • Baseline activities and baseline cost; and the baseline energy savings and GHG emission reduction.
      • Start date of implementation of baseline activities
      • Incremental features (activities) and incremental cost; and the incremental energy savings and GHG emission reduction
      • Start date of the implementation of the demo (i.e., with the incremental activities)
      • Rationale for the incremental cost
      • Total investment cost (baseline + incremental)
      • Technical viability of the demo
      • Financial viability of the demo (IRR, NPV, Payback Period)
   2. Conduct of a comprehensive evaluation of the following:
      • Monitoring and reporting responsibilities of the demo hosts and the PSBEE PMO; and how monitoring and reporting are carried out.
      • Energy savings and GHG emissions reduction calculations
      • How are energy savings and GHG emissions attributed to the PSBEE Project
      • Accounting of baseline and co-financing contributions to the demo
      • How are evidentiary documents for proof of energy savings and GHG emission reductions are prepared.
   3. Preparation of recommended corrective actions for each demo to make them aligned with the approved design of the demonstration and financial mechanism activities of the project.
   4. Provide technical guidance to the PMO and the demo hosts in the implementation of the recommended corrective actions.
5. Updating of the PSBEE Project Activities Inventory as of end 2nd Quarter and end 4th Quarter 2022; and provision of inputs to the PIR 2022 Report.
6. Other Responsibilities (as the Project Manager deem appropriate)
   • Provide technical expertise and strategic guidance to the planning of the remaining project activities, ensuring quality control of interventions, and support the Project Manager in the execution of the implementation plan and in the coordination for planned activities under the project as stipulated in the project document, and annual work plan;
   • Review and provide inputs to draft Terms of Reference for consultants and sub-contractors that will be necessary for the implementation specific activities/tasks of the project, and assist in the selection and recruitment process; recommend best candidates, and best approaches for evaluating proposals/bids, provide technical peer function to sub-contractors;
   • Provide technical advice to the work carried out by the other technical assistance consultants hired by the project including assisting the PMO in coordinating the work of consultants and sub-contractors, helping to ensure the timely delivery of expected outputs, and effective synergy among the various sub-contracted activities;
   • Provide guidance to the PMO to ensure that technical contracts meet the highest standards;
   • Prepare technical reports on specific outputs of the project that are note promoting (e.g., best practices), including lessons learned from the project for purposes of project promotion and information sharing.
   • Provide guidance and assistance in the monitoring and evaluation of project results (from GEF-funded and co-financed activities), and in the tracking and verification of the levels of achievement of the annual targets for each indicator in the project’s results framework or log frame;
   • Assist the PMO in the review and update of Monitoring and Evaluation Framework and monitoring tools for the project and monitoring the technical quality of project M&E systems (including AWPs, indicators and targets), and in updating the GEF Core Indicators;
   • Assist the PMO in relation to preparation of the Project Implementation Review Report (PIR/APR); and,
   • Provide guidance to PMO in updating of the GEF Core Indicators for this project, particularly the magnitudes of GHG emission reduction and energy saving realized by the project prior to Terminal Evaluation of the project.

[1] Including the actual realization of the committed co-financing (i.e., actual co-financing realized) for the implementation of subsumed baseline and enhanced/modified baseline activities of the PSBEE Project, e.g., support to research on relevant systems and standards, promotion, hosting and application of local/new energy-efficient technologies and products, providing of publicities and trainings for public institutions, promotion of market-based mechanisms and establishment of evaluation mechanisms, and project management, monitoring, evaluation and coordination expenses of the PSBEE project.

Competencies

1. Report on the Comprehensive Review of the PSBEE Project demonstrations and financing barrier removal activities. 50%
2. Report on the completed consultancy work 50%

Required Skills and Experience

Qualifications

1. Advanced degree in engineering, preferably with specialization in energy (energy engineering, energy management, energy economics or energy technology applications)  
2. Familiar and with experience in the design, development or implementation of international climate change mitigation and energy projects funded by the GEF, preferably those with UNDP as GEF Agency.
3. Tracked record of experience with application of incremental-cost principles in GEF-supported investments, energy saving and CO2 emission reduction calculation.
4. Familiarity and experience in the development and implementation of results framework (logical frameworks analysis)
5. Minimum 5 years accumulated and recognized experience on project evaluation.
6. Minimum of ten years accumulated and recognized experience in the fields of building energy efficiency and climate change mitigation.
7. Good understanding of building industry in China.
8. Good understanding of Chinese and Western culture, proficient communication skills, work experience in China. Fluency in the Chinese language is a plus.
9. Proficient English writing and communication skills.

Consultancy Period

From May to 31 December 2022.

Payment Schedule

Please provide Offeror’s Letter and proposal together with your CV and cover letter (if applicable) in one single file while submitting application. And please note that the system will not accept the uploading of more than one document so please merge or scan all your documents into one prior to uploading. Below is the download link of Offeror's Letter. 

Offeror's letter download link: 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GYP7hMPX3qJAbiy7KZppiWqR4JdKFYv4/view?usp=sharing