Background

1. BACKGROUND

UNDP-Azerbaijan with the Support from the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources has applied and received approval from GEF for the $5.06 mln “Scaling up investment in energy efficiency in buildings through enhanced energy management information system (EMIS) and green social housing” Project.

As an initial step, the Project Preparation Grant has been provided by GEF to elaborate on the Project’s details and prepare the Project Document for the Full-size Project.

The objective of the GEF PPG/Initiation Plan is to develop the project concept into a full project: “Scaling up investment in energy efficiency in buildings through enhanced energy management information system (EMIS) and green social housing”. As described in the project concept (PIF), this project aims to promote energy efficiency in buildings which includes implementing an intelligent Energy Management Information System (EMIS) and greening MIDA Social Housing Programme.

In this regard UNDP-Azerbaijan is interested in hiring an International Specialist on Energy Efficiency, EMIS Design, and Financial Support Mechanisms/Project Development (Team Leader) whose role, responsibilities, deliverables and required qualifications and skills are described below.

Duties and Responsibilities

2. SCOPE OF WORK, RESPONSIBILITIES AND DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED WORK

Scope and Timing

The assignment is expected to take place over a 10 months period from 1st March 2020 to 31st December 2020 with a goal to have the complete documentation package to be submitted to the GEF Secretariat by the end of November 2020. 

Role

International Specialist on Energy Efficiency, EMIS Design, and Financial Support Mechanisms/ Project Development (Team Leader) will be the GEF PPG Team Leader and will be responsible for quality assurance and timely preparation of all reports and documentation, including the finalized UNDP Project Document (ProDoc) and CEO Endorsement Request, with all mandatory and project specific Annexes and supporting documentation. S/he will be responsible for managing all consultants on the GEF PPG Team and coordinating the Team’s work. S/he will also be responsible for developing the design of Energy Management Information System (EMIS) and Financial Support Mechanism.

It is envisaged that the international specialist on energy efficiency (Team Leader) will travel on two missions to Azerbaijan throughout the duration of the assignment. The first mission is envisaged to be for  7 working days (not including weekend) and the second mission is envisaged to be for 5 working days for a total of 12 working days (not including travel days) to be spent in country on mission throughout the duration of the assignment. The first mission should take place within two months of the start of the assignment and the second mission should take place within six months of the start of the assignment.

Duties, Responsibilities and Deliverables

1. Management of the GEF PPG Team – (5 days – 10%) – Prior to Mission #1

   1. Define and submit a detailed methodology and work plan in consultation with the other consultants with clear delegation of responsibilities for the International Consultants (ICs) and National Consultants (NCs);

   2. Ensure that project development is participatory, gender-responsive and based on extensive stakeholder engagements; and

   3. Verify and ensure that all project components are technically sound and cost effective.

       

2. Preparatory Technical Studies and Reviews (Component A): (10 days – 20 %) – Immediately after Mission #1 - With inputs from the other national and international consultants, as detailed in their respective TORs, which includes participation in a working days mission #1 to Azerbaijan:

   1. Compile baseline/situational analysis for the full-size project (FSP). This will include a precise definition of baseline projects, activities, budgets, goals and co-financial links to GEF outcomes; definition of GEF incremental value per outcome and output; and presentation of results of the incremental cost-analysis in matrices as appropriate;

   2. Oversee the stakeholder analysis and consultations and ensure that they are complete and comprehensive;

   3. Ensure the preparation of the gender analysis and ensure its findings are meaningfully integrated into the project’s strategy, theory of change and results framework;

   4. Ensure action points, including risk assessments, from the UNDP Social and Environmental Screening Procedure (SESP) at the PIF stage (“pre-screening”) are fully implemented during the PPG, and update that screening in an iterative fashion throughout the PPG, as appropriate;

   5. Conduct/oversee the identification of the project sites, with documentation of selection criteria;

   6. Oversee the consultations with partners regarding financial planning; and

   7. Ensure completion of any additional studies that are determined to be needed for the preparation of the ProDoc and all other final outputs.

   8. Review the PIF together with National Specialist on Energy Sector and EMIS and agree on the outline of design of EMIS and Financial Support Mechanism with the UNDP Country Office and UNDP-GEF Regional Technical Adviser;

   9. Develop technical studies on EMIS and Financial Support Mechanism (to be included as an Annex to the project document);

   10. Complete the design of EMIS and Financial Support Mechanism (to be included as an Annex to the project document);

        

3. Formulation of the ProDoc, CEO Endorsement Request and Mandatory and Project Specific Annexes (Component B): (15 days – 30%) – Following Mission #1 - With inputs from the other national and international consultants, as detailed in their respective TORs, and based on international best practice:

   1. Develop, present and articulate the project’s theory of change;

   2. Develop the Results Framework in line with UNDP-GEF policy;

   3. Develop a detailed Monitoring and Evaluation Plan and Budget;

   4. Oversee and ensure the preparation of a Stakeholder Engagement Plan;

   5. Oversee and ensure the preparation of a Gender Action Plan and Budget;

   6. Update the SESP based on assessments undertaken during Component A, and ensure the development of required environmental and/or social management plan(s);

   7. Prepare the required GEF Core Indicators;

   8. Secure and present agreements on project management arrangements;

   9. Ensure the completion of the required official endorsement letters; and

   10. Synthesize all analyses, studies, etc. that are prepared under Components A and B to produce the draft UNDP-GEF ProDoc, GEF CEO Endorsement, and all mandatory and project specific Annexes, using the required templates.[1]

        

4. Validation Workshop (Component C): (10 days – 20%) – Following Mission #2

   1. Participate in a 5 working days mission #2 and lead the validation workshop to present, discuss and validate the final draft ProDoc and mandatory and project specific annexes, with a special focus on the SESP and any management plans; and

   2. Oversee all necessary revisions to the complete documentation package that arise during the workshop.

   3. Ensure completion of Validation Workshop Report.

       

5. Final Deliverables: (10 days – 20%) – Following mission #2

   1. Consolidation of all technical and consultation inputs including from national stakeholders, UNDP, GEF Secretariat, STAP and GEF Council, into a well written and concise UNDP ProDoc with all required sections and Annexes, in line with the standard UNDP-GEF ProDoc template and annotated guidance;

   2. Completion of the GEF CEO Endorsement Request;

   3. Consolidation of all technical inputs related to EMIS and financial support mechanism including from national consultants;

   4. Completion of related parts to EMIS and Financial Support Mechanism in Project Document, the GEF CEO Endorsement Request and other final outputs in line with developed design;

   5. All documentation from GEF PPG (including technical reports, etc.); and

   6. Validation Workshop Report.

3. EXPECTED DELIVERABLES AND TIMETABLE

Language: The reports and all final documentsshould be submitted to UNDP in English. If the reports are to be translated into Azerbaijani, then they will need to be done at the cost of the UNDP Country Office of through other lines in the PPG budjet.

Location: The assignment is home based (38 working days, including travel days) and mission based (i.e – the consultant should be in Azerbaijan) (12 working days, not including travel days)

Travels: The assignment will be conducted through two missions to Baku, with a total duration of 12 working days to be spent in Azerbaijan, and through provision of report preparation work, guidance and backstopping remotely through various electornic means (e.g. e-mail and skype). It is envisaged that the total number of consultancy days will be 50. Daily DSA rate for Baku is 129 USD according to the latest UN’s DSA circular report. No travel/field trips are expected outside the capital area under this contract. If such a travel becomes necessary, they will be covered separately. If a third mission to Azerbaijan is required, an amendment to the contract will be made to include additional days, as required, and the cost of the additional days and the additional trip will be covered by UNDP seperately.

Reporting:

The selected candidate will be reporting to UNDP Senior Programme Advisor/Programme Analyst, as well as work closely with the UNDP Istanbul Regional Technical Advisor at the UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub. The international consultant  must ensure timely fulfillment of his/her assisting and support actions, including reporting, thus making timely and sufficient contribution to the timely preparation and submission of the assignment reports, and  finally, the comlete documentation package.

Competencies

• Master’s degree or higher in a relevant field, such as Energy, Engineering, Economy, Finance, Business or relevant related fields;

• Minimum 10 years of demonstrable experience in the technical area of energy efficiency;

• Proven experience developing energy efficiency development related projects and models for the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and with UNDP or with another GEF accredited agency;

• Experience in working on climate change mitigation projects, particularly on designing the technical components of projects related to energy efficiency, renewable energy, green cities, etc.;

• Sound technical knowledge of GHG emission accounting and monitoring, reporting and verification schemes in energy efficiency;

• Proven experience designing EMIS and Financial Support Mechanisms;

• Sound technical knowledge of EMIS and Financial Support Mechanisms in energy efficiency sector;

• Preparation of at least one successful design of EMIS and Financial Support Mechanism;

• Knowledge with GEF policies, templates and requirements;

• Preparation of at least one successful proposal for GEF (Request for CEO Endorsement/Approval document and the relevant Project Document);

• Excellent English writing skills are essential;

• Working experience in Europe and CIS countries and particular experience in Central Asia, and especially in Azerbaijan in energy efficiency is an advantage;

• Previous experience with UNDP is an asset.

Required Skills and Experience

5. DOCUMENTS TO BE INCLUDED WHEN SUBMITTING THE PROPOSALS.

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

• Offeror’s letter to UNDP conforming interest and availability for the Individual Contractor (IC) Assignment, including the Breakdown of Costs Supporting the Final All-Inclusive Price as per Template;
• CV or duly filled out and signed P11 Form;
• Description of Approach to Work.

If any of the above-mentioned documents is missing UNDP holds the right to reject the respective proposal altogether.

6. FINANCIAL PROPOSAL

7. EVALUATION

8. MONITORING

The monitoring of fulfillment of the assignment by the international consultant will be conducted by the UNDP Senior Programme Advisor/Programme Analyst.

9. ATTACHMENTS:

• Project Document/Initiation Plan for the PPG

• UNDP General Conditions of Contracts for the services of individual contractors

• Template for confirmation of interest

  Please, download the Initiation Plan for the PPG from the following link:
  https://www.az.undp.org/content/dam/azerbaijan/docs/Procurement%20Notice/gunay/6479%20UNDP%20GEF%20Initiation%20Plan.docx

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

• Offeror’s letter to UNDP conforming interest and availability for the Individual Contractor (IC) Assignment, including the Breakdown of Costs Supporting the Final All-Inclusive Price as per Template.
• CV or duly filled out and signed P11 Form. The applicants may download the above forms from the following link:  https://www.az.undp.org/content/azerbaijan/en/home/procurement.html
• Description of Approach to Work

As the system accepts only one attachment, the applicants are required upload all the 3 documents above to the system as a one pdf file attachment.

If any of the above-mentioned documents is missing UNDP holds the right to reject the respective proposal altogether.