Location : Home-based, with possibility of
travel to capital and other cities in Tanzania and Ethiopia
travel to capital and other cities in Tanzania and Ethiopia
Application
Deadline : 16-Jun-13
Deadline : 16-Jun-13
Type of
Contract : Individual
Contract
Contract : Individual
Contract
Post Level : International Consultant
Languages
Required : English
Required : English
Starting
Date (date when the selected candidate is expected to
start) : 08-Jul-2013
Date (date when the selected candidate is expected to
start) : 08-Jul-2013
Duration of
Initial Contract : 1 year
Initial Contract : 1 year
Background
The UN
Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and the United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP) have developed a global programme to support 2.5 million poor people to
obtain access to reliable and affordable clean energy through microfinance
(called Clean Start). To this end, Clean Start will support 18 financial
service providers (FSPs) across six countries in Asia and Africa to build their
capacity in providing financing for clean energy systems. In parallel, the
programme will also strengthen the supply chains of technologies being financed
and advocate for policy and business environments that promote the growth of
energy markets serving low-income people.
Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and the United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP) have developed a global programme to support 2.5 million poor people to
obtain access to reliable and affordable clean energy through microfinance
(called Clean Start). To this end, Clean Start will support 18 financial
service providers (FSPs) across six countries in Asia and Africa to build their
capacity in providing financing for clean energy systems. In parallel, the
programme will also strengthen the supply chains of technologies being financed
and advocate for policy and business environments that promote the growth of
energy markets serving low-income people.
Clean Start
(2012-2017, US$26.1) will be delivered through four outputs:
(2012-2017, US$26.1) will be delivered through four outputs:
- Finance for Clean Energy to strengthen
capabilities of 18 FSPs to provide microfinance for clean energy to
low-income households and micro-entrepreneurs; - Technical Assistance for Clean Energy to
remove barriers to the successful deployment of those technologies and
services for which the selected MFIs will provide microfinance; - Global Knowledge and Learning, to enhance
understanding and awareness globally of the potential for microfinance to
scale-up access to clean energy and make available the tools and knowledge
needed to scale-up access to clean energy beyond the project; and - Advocacy and Partnerships to create an
enabling policy and business environment to expand microfinance for clean
energy.
Clean Start
finalizes the selection of pilot countries through a two-stage process: 1)
scoping-assessment and 2) business planning process. The overall purpose is to
understand the key drivers of the energy market serving low-income people in
the country, the potential for microfinance to dramatically expand the market
for modern energy services for poor people and the value-add that Clean Start
could provide given the state of the market.
finalizes the selection of pilot countries through a two-stage process: 1)
scoping-assessment and 2) business planning process. The overall purpose is to
understand the key drivers of the energy market serving low-income people in
the country, the potential for microfinance to dramatically expand the market
for modern energy services for poor people and the value-add that Clean Start
could provide given the state of the market.
Tanzania and Ethiopia are potential pilot countries
for Clean Start pre-identified as having relatively mature energy and microfinance
markets. Both countries are also SE4ALL countries. In Tanzania, UNDP has
developed a new project entitled Low Carbon Sustainable Energy Access (LCSEA)
that is focused on promoting energy access in 10 districts and which will be
implemented by the Ministry of Energy and Minerals (MEM) and Rural Energy
Agency (REA). This project has a strong focus on access to finance for clean
energy and could potentially be an entry point for Clean Start. Ethiopia is
committed to achieving low carbon climate-resilient growth through
interventions in a number of sectors including renewable energy. Improving
access to finance, technology and improved practices and enhancing climate and
environmental governance are important focus areas in achieving this goal.
for Clean Start pre-identified as having relatively mature energy and microfinance
markets. Both countries are also SE4ALL countries. In Tanzania, UNDP has
developed a new project entitled Low Carbon Sustainable Energy Access (LCSEA)
that is focused on promoting energy access in 10 districts and which will be
implemented by the Ministry of Energy and Minerals (MEM) and Rural Energy
Agency (REA). This project has a strong focus on access to finance for clean
energy and could potentially be an entry point for Clean Start. Ethiopia is
committed to achieving low carbon climate-resilient growth through
interventions in a number of sectors including renewable energy. Improving
access to finance, technology and improved practices and enhancing climate and
environmental governance are important focus areas in achieving this goal.
Duties and Responsibilities
Objectives
of Assignment:
of Assignment:
The
objective of the scoping-assessment is as follows:
objective of the scoping-assessment is as follows:
- Scope the range of initiatives and
stakeholders actively engaged in delivering clean energy applications and
services to poor people in the country and are involved in providing
micro-finance for clean energy solutions, making initial conclusions on
the technologies most appropriate for the Clean Start business
model; - Highlight key trends and issues that shape the
energy and microfinance market for low-income people in the country and
the implications for Clean Start; - Provide an initial analysis and conclusion on
the level of demand for Clean Start from key actors in the energy and
microfinance sectors and areas where Clean Start could add
value; - Define the scope of the full county business
plan process that will later conduct a detailed analysis of low carbon
energy value chains, and of technologies and opportunities for
microfinance identified in the scoping-assessment. - The technical expert would work with a
national expert to achieve his/her objectives. One of the
responsibilities of the technical expert would be to assist in the
identifying and selecting of that national expert for this assignment both
in Tanzania and Ethiopia.
Scope of
Work:
Work:
The expert
will carry out the assignment in close consultation with UNCDF and UNDP at the
country level. The expert will conduct desk research (including of
existing studies related to energy access under the SE4All initiative and
others) as well as interview key informants of the energy and microfinance
sectors in the country and provide an analysis which is not limited to, but
includes the following:
will carry out the assignment in close consultation with UNCDF and UNDP at the
country level. The expert will conduct desk research (including of
existing studies related to energy access under the SE4All initiative and
others) as well as interview key informants of the energy and microfinance
sectors in the country and provide an analysis which is not limited to, but
includes the following:
- Commonly identified energy needs of poor
households and micro-entrepreneurs in urban and rural areas (secondary
sources of information); - Range of technology options that, with
microfinance and support to strengthen the supply chain, could be deployed
among poor clients fairly quickly (“quick wins”) to those that could have
a market disruptive effect in the medium to long term; - Mapping of key stakeholders and initiatives
actively involved in delivering modern energy services to poor households
and micro-entrepreneurs at the micro, meso and macro-levels (including
SE4All and other relevant initiatives); - Analysis of policy, legal and regulatory
environment for clean energy; - Profiling of energy suppliers and financial
institutions that are currently engaged in or have experience in providing
energy technologies or services based on credit (institutional overview,
business model, product features and outreach); - Analysis of the financial and in particular
the microfinance sector, including the main institutions, characteristics
and trend features over the last five years, areas of operation and target
market, policy & regulatory and legal environment, capacity
building initiatives for microfinance, and main challenges (both internal
and external) faced. - Key challenges and opportunities in expanding
microfinance for modern energy that is unique to the country; - Indication of strategic areas where Clean
Start could add value; - Complementary initiatives or programmes that
could create synergies with Clean Start, for example those of the Pamiga
network; - Explore the possibilities of local government
involvement in clean energy solutions, through public-private
partnerships; - Suggestions on local entities that could
perform the role of ‘central coordinating agency’ for Clean
Start; - Potential for in-country resource mobilization
(both direct funding to the programme and leverage potential from parallel
resources); - Recommendations on the scope of the full
strategy document for each country, including a detailed list and profile
of key informants to interview.
Deliverables:
The
deliverable will be a scoping-assessment report. The report should deliver
on the objectives of the assignment, and contain analysis on items outlined
under the section ‘Scope of Work’.
deliverable will be a scoping-assessment report. The report should deliver
on the objectives of the assignment, and contain analysis on items outlined
under the section ‘Scope of Work’.
Duration of Assignment: Contract duration: 8 July – 31 October,
2013
Number of
person days: 62 person days (maximum)
person days: 62 person days (maximum)
- This is the maximum estimation. The
actual number of days will need to be advised again depending on the
outcomes of the preceding missions under this contract; - Depending on the outcome of the first mission,
the consultant may travel to Tanzania and Ethiopia for a follow-up mission
to further elaborate scoping-assessment findings; - The second mission may involve travel to the
field, in cities outside of the capital.
Competencies
Functional
Competencies:
Competencies:
- Strong proven functional skills in analytical
writing; experienced in producing concise, executive-level reports and
presentations, training modules and materials; - Strong command of Excel and data management;
- Strong programme management skills;
- Excellent organizational, inter-personal and
communication skills.
Corporate
Competencies:
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;
- Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity
and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.
Required
Skills and Experience
Skills and Experience
Education:
- Postgraduate qualification in business,
finance, marketing, economics, accounting and other related fields.
Experience
and skills:
and skills:
- A minimum of 7 years relevant, practical
working experience within the financial sector and/or microfinance
and/or decentralized energy solutions for the base of the pyramid,
preferably in least developed countries (LDCs); - Documented, deep technical knowledge and
experience with microfinance for clean energy solutions; - Strong programme management skills;
- Experienced in carrying out market
assessments, feasibility studies, business planning, institutional
analyses; - Excellent organizational, inter-personal and
communication skills; - Experience in the Ethiopia and Tanzania is an
advantage; - Familiarity with UNDP and UNCDF systems would
be a strong asset.
Language
Requirement:
Requirement:
- Fluency in written and spoken English and
French
UNDP is
committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and
culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with
disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated
with the strictest confidence.
committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and
culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with
disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated
with the strictest confidence.
How to Apply
Interested candidates are required to follow the
link below to apply
link below to apply
Application Deadline: June 16, 2013
