Background

NOTE: Signed Offeror’s Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability - http://www.ba.undp.org/content/dam/bosnia_and_herzegovina/docs/Operations/Jobs/Offerors%20Letter%20to%20UNDP%20Confirming%20Interest%20and%20Availability.docx Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability.docx - to be sent to e-mail ba.shared.hr@undp.org with Subject: Job ID 89768.

Due to a long period of neglect and under-investment, urban infrastructure in BiH, public and residential buildings, energy systems and utilities, waste management, and transport, are now in need of expansion and modernization. From a global environmental standpoint, this situation contributes to a steady increase in greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions, primarily associated with energy use in public facilities. Public facilities are also the largest energy users and GHG emission sources in municipalities in BiH. Modernization, upgrade and expansion of municipal buildings, infrastructure, and services in BiH will improve the quality of urban life and achieve a range of important local and global environmental and sustainable development benefits.

To achieve abovementioned, the “Catalyzing environmental finance for low-carbon urban development” Project (UrbanLED) strives to leverage investment for transformational shift towards low-carbon urban development (LCUD) in Bosnia and Herzegovina thereby promoting safer, cleaner, and healthier cities and reducing urban GHG emissions. To enable this transformational shift, the Project provide technical support towards the implementation of technically and economically feasible low-carbon solutions in key urban sectors and promotes their wider uptake by municipalities and private sector via dedicated financial mechanisms. The Project has been financed by Global Environment Facility (GEF) and is directly implemented by UNDP Bosnia and Herzegovina Country Office.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, energy efficiency projects have already demonstrated the potential for high financial returns but have not yet reached a stage where these projects are treated equally with other investment projects.

Among the various barriers that energy efficiency projects face, a lack of appropriate financing mechanisms represents an important barrier. Commercial banks in Bosnia and Herzegovina are unfamiliar with the energy efficiency projects and, in most of the cases, reluctant to fund them. Still, large-scale energy efficiency gains for public sector buildings are possible only if sustainable financing mechanisms for energy efficiency are devised.

To achieve sustainable financing, the implementation of the LCUD concept requires the adoption and implementation of certain economic instruments, based on creation of adequate business models. Such business models need to be founded within appropriate public-private partnership arrangements. These arrangements ensure the involvement of responsible public authorities from all governmental levels as well as the private sector (through energy efficiency related SMEs). Market development through active involvement of government as a customer, information provider and policy maker are required for proper introduction and promotion of a concept of energy service companies (ESCOs) in BiH.

This all resulted with the fact that ESCO is still a new concept in Bosnia and Herzegovina which is not properly introduced.

The UrbanLED project provides the support to Republika Srpska for development of ESCO financial mechanism. The local consultants will be responsible for providing technical assistance to the Ministry of spatial planning, civil engineering and ecology of RS and RS Fund for environmental protection and energy efficiency regarding analysis of relevant RS strategic, planning and legislative frameworks and detail development of contracts and agreements needed for introduction of tailored-made ESCO financial mechanism in Republika Srpska. 

Duties and Responsibilities

The Consultants will conduct detailed analysis of relevant RS strategic, planning and legislative frameworks in relation to introduction of ESCO financial mechanism in Republika Srpska. The findings of these analysis, together with the inputs of other national consultants, will be used as starting point for development of conceptual model of ESCO financial mechanism which will be tested on concrete set of public buildings and minutely developed.

The National consultant will implement these activities under direct supervision of the RS Ministry of spatial planning, civil engineering and ecology, RS Fund for environmental protection and energy efficiency and in close cooperation with other national consultants engaged for the development of ESCO financial mechanism in RS (economists and engineer). To achieve mutual understanding and coordination of activities on development of ESCO financial mechanism in RS, RS Ministry of spatial planning, civil engineering and ecology of RS will establish the Working group on development of ESCO financial mechanism and financing modalities for energy efficiency projects in RS (hereinafter Working group). Engaged national consultant will be members of this working group. International Consultant for the Development of the Financial mechanism and development of regulations on polluter pays will act as a supervisor of overall process and provide inputs to the Working group members stemming from knowledge and experience on general understanding and characteristics of modalities of ESCO financial mechanism.

The Consultant will be responsible for the following:

• Conduct an analysis of current strategic and planning documents in field of energy efficiency in Republika Srpska;
• Conduct an analysis of legislative framework for implementation of EPCs and ESCs;
• Conduct an analysis of legislative framework for implementation of forfeiting and factoring;
• Development of energy service contracts;
• Development of agreements for collection of savings and implementation of Public-Private Partnership concept for ESCO projects;
• Conduct a sustainability analysis of proposed ESCO financial mechanism with focus on comparation with relevant plans and development programs, legal and institutional framework and comparison of Public-Private partnership concept with budget financing of ESCO projects.

Based on the tasks given above, the Consultant will support the development of tailored-made ESCO financial mechanism for enabling significantly scaling-up of sustainable finance of LCUD investment projects in RS. This should be a consultative process from start to end; with representatives of responsible institutions in RS. The conducted analysis will serve as the basis for creation of relevant legislative and institutional setup needed for proper introduction of ESCO financial mechanism in RS.

National Consultants will work under direct supervision of the Environmental Development Project Manager and under coordination of the representatives of the RS Ministry of spatial planning, civil engineering and ecology, RS Fund for environmental protection and energy efficiency (who will approve and confirm the quality of outputs) to complete all activities specified in this Terms of Reference.

It is envisaged that the level of effort for these tasks will not exceed 65 expert days including potential field visits to relevant institutions across RS, as needed. The assignment will not require presence in the UNDP premises. The assignment will include regular consultation/clarification meetings with the members of the Working group on development of ESCO financial mechanism and financing modalities for energy efficiency projects in RS.

Deliverables/outputs

Competencies

Corporate competencies:

• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
• Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment;

Functional competencies:

• Strong interpersonal skills, communication and diplomatic skills, ability to work in a team;
• Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback;
• Ability to work under pressure and stressful situations;
• Strong analytical, reporting and ability to conceptualize and write concisely and clearly;
• Excellent public speaking, presentation and moderation skills;

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications/Education:

• B.Sc. degree in Law;
• Bar exam and/or Attorney at Law would be considered as an asset.

Experience:

• Minimum 7 years of professional experience in development of legal and policy documents in field of energy or finance;
• Proven knowledge of the environmental and energy efficiency issues in BiH, as well as knowledge of finance sector, energy industry and general business sectors in BiH;
• Proven local experience in the relevant area of expertise (e.g. participation in policy, legislative or regulatory implementation;
• Proven experience in policy formulation; and experience working in a regulatory agency or agencies;  
• Experience working with multilateral organizations and the UN system preferred.

Languages Requirements:

• Knowledge of local languages and English (excellent writing, editing and communication skills) demonstrated in submitted one-page local and English segment of any relevant study/publication/written document compiled in order to assess language skills.

Longlisting/Shortlisting Criteria

Qualifications as stated in the ToR

Technical Evaluation Criteria

Evaluation

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology:

Cumulative analysis

When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract should 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 a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

• * Technical Criteria weight-70%
• * Financial Criteria weight- 30%

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

• Personal CV including past experience in similar projects and at least 3 references;
• Proposal:
  • Provide a brief methodology on how they will approach and conduct the work; or sample of previous document/strategy/paper done by the consultant;
  •  Explaining why they are the most suitable for the work;

Please scan all above mentioned documents and upload as one attachment only online through this website.

Note:

• For an assignment requiring travel, consultants of 65 years or more require full medical examination and statement of fitness to work to engage in the consultancy.
• Due to large number of potential applicants, only competitively selected candidates will be contacted for remaining steps of the service procurement process.