Expert Roster - Energy, Infrastructure, Transport and Technology

UNDP
Expert Roster - Energy, Infrastructure, Transport and Technology Request for EOI

Reference:
Beneficiary countries or territories:
Published on: 20-Dec-2011
Deadline on: 15-Jan-2012 00:00 (GMT 5.00)
Description
Background:
UNDP Environment and Energy Group (EEG) is based in UNDP’s Bureau of Development Policy and is responsible for providing leadership and technical support to delivery of the Environment and Sustainable Development pillar of UNDP’s Strategic Plan. The principal areas of work are in environmental mainstreaming, environmental finance, adaptation to climate change, and local governance of resources, including energy. The Regional Service Centre (RSC) for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), located in Panama, is organized into substantive technical teams. The technical team for Energy, Infrastructure, Transport and Technology (EITT) provides high quality technical guidance and support to policy and project development and implementation partners, primarily UNDP country offices (CO) in the LAC region. Specifically, the EITT team attracts and directs public and private investment, towards catalyzing and supporting environmentally sustainable pathways for energy use and supply, climate resilient infrastructure and low carbon transport and mobility. It provides detailed knowledge on related to sources of funds for environment work, and assists partners to obtain, use, and report on, such funding, with the main sources of funds including but not limited to: the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and its Adaptation Funds (LDCF, SCCF); the CDM carbon market; bilateral, multilateral, and sub-national donors; and partners including governments, NGOs, and the private sector.
Description of Responsibilities :
Consultants selected for the roster will be working with the UNDP RSC for LAC and/or COs in the region to develop Energy, Infrastructure, Transport and Technology (EITT) projects under various climate change thematic areas. Based on finally agreed upon technical deliverables, and operational reporting lines, these experts will be utilized for short-term assignments to undertake specific tasks, including but not limited to the following:
- Assist in responding to requests from government counterparts and project proponents to develop Project Identification Forms (PIF), Project Preparation Grant (PPG) requests, and other project documentation for identified EITT priorities under various themes, e.g.
+ Energy Efficiency (e.g. lighting, energy management, materials life-cycle)
+ Renewable Energy (e.g. solar PV, wind, hydro, biomass-based, bioenergy)
+ Technology Transfer (e.g. innovative low-carbon options, sustainable energy)
+ Sustainable Transport (e.g. transit systems, fleet replacements, urban planning)
+ Resilient Infrastructure (e.g. sustainable construction, investments in adaptation)
+ Various Enabling Activities (e.g. TNAs, GHG inventories, and national climate funds)
- Based on the identified long-term solution to be sought by the project, identify the barriers hampering the achievement of this solution, the proposed outcomes and outputs, as well as accompanying impact indicators, identified risks and critical assumptions, including suggested implementation arrangements for successful project delivery;
- Based on desk review and/or mission travel to the LAC region, develop the proposal in collaboration with the relevant government, proponent, and CO per RSC guidance;
- Support the preparatory phase, and work with the RSC, CO, project proponent and relevant stakeholders to develop and review all comments received on the project documentation from countries, GEF Secretariat, STAP and other agencies, and finalize it, including project results framework, the Project Document and Request for CEO Endorsement, for approval;
- Identify potential co-financing contributions from project partners and stakeholders, advise on steps required for securing such co-financing contributions during the project preparation period, and obtain relevant documentation (e.g. co-financing letters);
- Support project inception and implementation phases with organization of workshops, Project Board and Steering Committee meetings, relate reports, and annual Project Implementation Reviews (PIRs), developing and implementing the monitoring plan, including to account for and track greenhouse gases emission reduction impact;
- Assist project teams in designing and implementing knowledge management plans, preparing project-related publications, capturing and analysis of best practices and lessons learnt, substantive contribution to public events and other KM products and activities;

- Undertake mid-term and final independent evaluations of EITT projects in the above areas.

APPLICATION INFORMATION:

- Detailed CV, cover letter and P11 form in English, clearly indicating thematic areas of expertise and daily rate should be sent to e-mail: rc.lac.vacancy@undp.org

- Only selected consultatns will be contacted upon RSC/CO request
Competencies :
Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities, communication and leadership skills;
Experience with GEF project development cycle, formulation of Project Documents;
Strong strategic planning, results-based management and reporting capabilities;
Display cultural, gender, religion, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Familiarity with the Latin America and the Caribbean region preferable;
Excellent team player with good interpersonal skills in multi-cultural environments;
Ability to prepare financial/technical analyses, GHG estimations and logical frameworks;
Ability to manage workload with minimum supervision, under pressure for tight deadlines

Qualifications :
Education:
Advanced university degree in energy, economics, engineering, or related climate change fields.
Experience:
- Minimum 10 years of professional experience in the field of climate change mitigation, i.e. with projects and policies on energy efficiency, renewable energy, technology transfer, sustainable transport and/or climate-resilient infrastructure.
- Proven and recent experience in the last 3-5 years with project design, formulation, development, implementation, monitoring and/or evaluation of international technical assistance projects.
- Knowledge of the latest GEF Focal Area Strategies under Climate Change Mitigation.
Language Requirements:
Fluency in English (written and spoken), with good command of Spanish and/or Portuguese considered an asset