Background

UNDP Afghanistan Mission Statement

UNDP supports stabilization, state-building, governance and development priorities in Afghanistan. UNDP support, in partnership with the Government, the United Nations system, the donor community and other development stakeholders, has contributed to institutional development efforts leading to positive impact on the lives of Afghan citizens. Over the years UNDP support has spanned such milestone efforts as the adoption of the Constitution; Presidential, Parliamentary and Provincial Council elections; institutional development through capacity-building to the legislative, the judicial and executive arms of the state, and key ministries, Government agencies and commissions at the national and subnational levels.

Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD)

The Mission of the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD) is to ensure the social, economic, and political welfare of rural society, especially poor and vulnerable people, through the provision of basic services, strengthening local governance, and promoting sustainable livelihoods. MRRD accomplishes this mission through donor funded national programs in the areas of governance, infrastructure and economic growth.

Since 2003, MRRD and its programmes have electrified 8005 village communities providing electricity to an estimated 30% of the rural population of Afghanistan. At the current electrification rate, it is projected that all rural villages in Afghanistan will be electrified by 2042, missing the universal electrification goal by 2030 under the Sustainable Energy for All (SE4All) initiative by 12 years.

Afghanistan Sustainable Energy for Rural Development (ASERD)

The Afghanistan Sustainable Energy for Rural Development (ASERD) programme developed by MRRD and UNDP is contributing since 2016 to increasing the access to thermal energy and electricity through a technology neutral approach, in rural communities in Afghanistan. By the end of the project in 2021, it is expected this will result in increasing the access to electricity, clean cooking and heating options and will contribute to rural economic development and a tangible reduction in the pre-mature deaths of women and children due to indoor air pollution. The project will pilot seven innovative financing models which once successful will be mainstreamed. The project will also establish conducive policy and regulatory frameworks and capacity development of key stakeholders. It is envisaged that the project will establish a sustainable rural energy supply approach which can be scaled up beyond the project period.

The programme focuses on the following areas:

Output 1: Rural Energy Services increased in targeted areas: This output will seek to provide rural energy services – both electrical and thermal energy to rural village communities/Community Development Council. The output involves providing electricity using mini and micro-grids with a clear preference for larger mini-grids and will provide thermal energy services through renewable energy and energy efficient systems and devices through a finance-service arrangement.

Output 2: Rural energy policy and regulations developed: This output will create a favorable policy environment for rural energy efforts. The output will support the development of technical and environmental protection standards and a quality assurance framework for rural energy equipment, specific legal and policy instruments to implement and enforce the Rural Renewable Energy Policy; regulations for governing interface between mini-grids and the national grid and creating a fiscal and financial incentive framework.

Output 3: Innovative approaches to delivering rural energy piloted in target areas: This output will involve the piloting of seven pilot rural energy service delivery models such as a 5P model, a rural economic zone, a private investment de-risking mechanism, migrant remittances linked rural energy service model, women’s thermal energy service linked to carbon finance, Kuchi women’s portable energy pilot and a mobile telephony linked rural energy service model.

Output 4: Capacity of rural communities and relevant institutions developed: This output will support the institutional capacity development of Rural Energy and Enterprise Directorate, MRRD, training and capacity building of banks/Financial Institutions; build capabilities of research, education and training institutions; carry out generic promotion and outreach; establishment and maintenance of a website; establish an MIS for the programme; carry out analytical and policy research and publication of key reports.

Against Work Plan (5 marks) – The Applicant should propose the main activities of the assignment, their content and duration, phasing and interrelations, milestones (including interim approvals by the Client), and delivery dates. The proposed work plan should be consistent with the technical approach and methodology, showing understanding of the TOR and ability to translate them into a feasible working plan

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work and Deliverables

Under the supervision of Section Head of Livelihood and Resilience (L&R) Unit; in close coordination with the relevant Programme Officer, Project Manager and project staff, the Consultant will perform the following duties:

  • Develop and finalize the Afghanistan Rural Renewable Energy Strategy (ARRES) 2017-2027 Action Plan and acceptance by UNDP and MRRD management;

ASERD developed and finalized the Afghanistan Rural Renewable Energy Strategy (ARRES) in 2017 and has been approved by the MRRD.  It has been published and distributed among stakeholders. The Consultant will develop an action plan for this strategy that will translate the objectives and goals of the strategy into specific, assessable, concrete, measurable and time bound results. The action plan will propose distinct steps and timelines to implement the activities.  The action plan will clarify the roles, responsibilities and coordination arrangements of the various agencies concerned. The consultant will:

  • In close coordination with the project management team, prepare an action plan in line with the strategic documents of the ministry of MRRD and also with consultation with Ministry of Energy and Water;

  • Ensure that the proposed action plan will be aligned with the ARRES strategy action point listed in the strategy;

  • Provide technical advice to the project and to MRRD;

  • Coordinate the process of development

Develop and finalize the management and environmental protection guideline for rural renewable energy projects, based on the current national legal framework and acceptance by UNDP and MRRD management

The consultant will:

  • In-coordination with NEPA, develop the management and the environmental protection guidelines based on related laws and Afghanistan Rural Renewable Energy Strategy (ARRES).

  • Provide strategic information and oversee the collection, analysis, dissemination and use of such information to MRRD and policy development department of MEW.

Expected Outputs and Deliverables; Estimated duration to complete and Payment percentage:

  • Action plan for the Afghanistan Rural Renewable Energy Strategy developed:

    24 working days, 40%

  • Management guidelines and environmental protection guideline for rural renewable energy projects developed and approved:

    26 working days, 60 %

Payment Modality:

Payments under the contract for remuneration/fee will be linked to deliverables and will be made on certification of completion of deliverables indicated above.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

  • Demonstrates integrity by modeling 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.

Functional Competencies:

  • Skilled with energy sector policy, regulation, economics and engineering with experience assessing and incorporating international best practices to a local context;

  • Demonstrated expertise in renewable energy strategy development and quality assurance framework development;

  • Analytic capacity and demonstrated ability to process, analyse and synthesise complex, technical financial information;

  • Proven experience in the developing country context and working in different cultural settings.

  • Good knowledge and awareness of gender issues and how they impact upon men and women’s roles especially in community development

  • Excellent interpersonal and facilitation skills

Management and Leadership:

  • Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;

  • Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;

  • Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;

  • Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills;

  • Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications:

A Master’s degree in Renewable Energy/Climate Change adaptation and/or mitigation or in a related field of study or other closely related field such as Power System Engineering, Environmental Studies and etc.

Experience:

Required:

  • 5 years of professional experience which includes demonstrated expertise in climate change policy development, environmental policy development and policy assessments specifically in the renewable energy sector;

  • Experience with renewable energy security, policy support in energy supply and delivery;

  • Experience of working with Government departments/ministries, public sector institutions;

  • Previous working experience in the energy sector policy development in Afghanistan will be an asset.

Desirable:

Previous working experience in transition countries.

Language:

  • Excellent written and oral English skills

Working Arrangements

Institutional Arrangement

  • The International Consultant will work under the overall guidance and supervision of the Section Chief of the Livelihoods and Resilience Unit at UNDP County Office and the ASERD Project Manager, in close collaboration with the project team at MRRD.

Duration of the Work

  • The performance under the contract shall take place over total contract duration of 3 months with maximum 50 working days. The target date for the start of work will be 01 November 2019, also depending on the availability of the selected consultant.

Duty Station

  • The duty station for the candidate is home based (estimated 50% - 25 working days) and in Kabul, Afghanistan (estimated 50% - 25 working days). The contractor will mainly work at the project office at MRRD. The contractor will follow the working hours and weekends as applicable to UNDP CO staff. Contractor’s movement for meetings and consultations shall be coordinated by the L&R Unit and ASERD project. The contractor is at all times required to observe UNDP security rules and regulations.

Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments:

The contractor shall submit a price proposal as below:

  • Daily Fee – The Consultant shall propose a daily fee which should be inclusive of his/her professional fee, local communication cost, insurance (inclusive of medical health and medical evacuation etc.), equipment, and other costs required for performance of the contract but excluding travel, visa and DSA. The number of working days for which the daily fee shall be payable under the contract is 50 working days over a contract duration of 3 months.

  • DSA – The Consultant shall be separately paid the DSA as per applicable UNDP rate for stay in Kabul and travel to other locations as per actual number of nights spent in Kabul or other locations. Deductions from DSA shall be made as per applicable UNDP policy when accommodation and other facilities are provided by UNDP. An estimated provision in this regard shall be included in the contract. The consultant need not quote for DSA in Financial Proposal.

  • Accommodation in Kabul - The Consultants are NOT allowed to stay in a place of their choice other than the UNDSS approved places in Kabul, Afghanistan. UNDP will provide accommodation to the Consultant for the duration of the stay in Afghanistan in UNDSS approved places. Deductions in this regard shall be made from DSA payment as per applicable UNDP Policy.

  • Travel – The Consultant shall include lumpsum cost of travel per trip for Home-Kabul-Home (estimated 1 trip) in the Financial Proposal. Any other travel for work, originating from Kabul shall be payable by UNDP separately as per applicable Policy.

  • Visa – UNDP shall facilitate visa requirements and reimburse the visa cost, if any.

  • Payment schedule - Payments towards remuneration/fee shall be linked to deliverables and shall be made on certification of completion of deliverables and submission of certified timesheet. Payment towards travel shall be made on an instance of actual travel and shall be cost-reimbursable limited to the amount quoted in Financial Proposal. Payments towards DSA, Visa, etc. shall be cost-reimbursable, as specified above.

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:

  • Responsive/compliant/acceptable, and;

  • Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

* Technical Criteria weight 70%

* Financial Criteria weight 30%

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

Technical Proposal (20 marks)

  • Technical Approach & Methodology (15 marks) – This explain the understanding of the objectives of the assignment, approach to the services, methodology for carrying out the activities and obtaining the expected output/s, and the degree of detail of such output/s. The Applicant should also explain the methodologies proposed to adopt and highlight the compatibility of those methodologies with the proposed approach;
  • Work Plan (5 marks) – The Applicant should propose the main activities of the assignment, their content and duration, phasing and interrelations, milestones (including interim approvals by the Client), and delivery dates. The proposed work plan should be consistent with the technical approach and methodology, showing understanding of the TOR and ability to translate them into a feasible working plan.

Interview (20 marks)

Qualification and Experience (30 marks) [evaluation of CVs for shortlisting]

  • General Qualification (10 marks);

  • Experience relevant to the assignment (20 marks).

Documents to be included when submitting the proposals:

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications in one single PDF document:

  • Duly accomplished Confirmation of Interest and Submission of Financial Proposal Template using the template provided by UNDP (Annex II);
  • Personal CV, indicating all experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references.
  • Technical proposal: A methodology, on how they will approach and complete the assignment and work plan as indicated above.
  • Brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment.

Annexes (click on the hyperlink to access the documents):