Utilization of Green Energy (Solar Panel/Green Energy) at UNDP

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) helps developing countries attract and use aid effectively. In all our activities, we encourage the protection of human rights, capacity development and the empowerment of women.

We are recruiting to fill the following position:

Job Title: Utilization of Green Energy (Solar Panel/Green Energy)

Location: Abuja, NIGERIA
Post Level: National Consultant

Background
Consequent upon the October 2002 International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling on the international boundary dispute between Cameroon and Nigeria, the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission (CNMC) recognized the need for confidence building measures between and among the populations affected by the demarcation (an estimated 170,000 people in Nigeria), in order to secure peace and cooperation between the two States to by reducing the impact of relocation on their livelihood.

The Nigeria United Nations Country Team (UNCT) and United Nations Civilian Observers (UNCO) undertook a Joint Needs Assessment Mission (NAM) with Nigeria specialized agencies in affected communities in seven locations from three States of Adamawa, Akwa Ibom and Cross River State. Key findings of the NAM highlighted serious socio-economic challenges such as poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, poor health conditions, lack of public services such as potable water, energy, health and education facilities, agriculture, fisheries, livestock services. In addition, issues of human security and social protection, including gender based discrimination and violence, rule of law and justice, featured prominently as key priorities.

The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) and its agencies, the host States and local governments have implemented various programmes to assist the returnees to settle down. However, the enormity of needs and priorities to be addressed require more concerted effort by the people and government of Nigeria, as well as the international community. Collaboration between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the UNCT resulted in the articulation of a programme document to serve as the basis for future interventions from the FGN as well as from partners. The intervention, Returnee Community Focused Reintegration (RCFR) programme, is organized according to the four main components viz (i) livelihoods, resettlement and reintegration; (ii) access to basic services; (iii) security and protection of human rights; (iv) Infrastructure.

For each of the above component, priority projects have been determined in the diverse locations assessed, directed at the affected population in the various camps and in their respective host communities. The thrust of this programme is advocacy to the FGN and the States, and implementation of pilot projects, which is expected to be replicated and ultimately lead to bigger projects by the FGN, the States and the LGAs, with other partners.

The specifics of these pilot projects would need to be defined in such a manner that the overall objective of settling returnees and creating conducive living environment in host communities for people affected by the ICJ Judgment is achieved. This would require the services of a consultant to articulate.

Purpose of Consultancy
The overall purpose of the assignment is to engage specialized national consultants to design a fully costed project document with clear action plan(s) based on the Report on Inclusive and Sustainable development for peace and stability along the Nigeria/Cameroon border and other relevant studies in the identified interventions namely:

• Small And Medium Enterprises Development;
• Livelihood and Income Generation;
• Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH);
• Cultural Development;
• Specialized Technical skills for Youth;
• Green Energy/Solar Panel for communities.

Assignment Management and Process
Each consultant will be expected to work independently but collaboratively with other consultants on the assignment with organizational support will be available from the office of the Resident Coordinator and technical support by the respective agency specialists. Under the overall supervision of the RC/UNCT, the RCO with the support of the agency specialists will be primarily responsible for managing the assignment process with the day-to-day technical management support by the RCO for and on behalf of the RC/UNCT. The relevant agencies/RCO will facilitate (where necessary) access of the consultants to key informants, including UN agency heads and staff, development partners, government and other partners; prepare the necessary documentations for the consultants. A detailed work plan will be prepared by the consultants and submitted to the RCO for approval to guide the monitoring of the assignment. Each selected consultant shall be accountable for the deliverables within deadlines agreed upon with UNS in Nigeria.

Time Frame and Remuneration
The consultancy is expected to last 30 working days from December, 20, 2013. Remuneration will be in accordance with the UN Rules and Regulations and will be commensurate with the complexity of the assignment. The UN will in addition to the agreed fee meet the costs for official travel of the consultant and pay the appropriate Daily Subsistence Allowance which should be included in the financial proposal. The Consultancy fee will be paid as a lump sum contract or in line with the following schedule and upon acceptance of key deliverables:

• At the submission of inception report: 20%;
• At the submission of the Final Draft project document. Report: 50%;
• At the submission of Final project document Report 30%.

Consultants’ Composition
There will be a team of six (6) national consultants. Each national consultant should possess relevant qualifications and experience in his/her areas of specialty and should thoroughly review the ToR before submission of application.

Duties and Responsibilities
The national consultant will work with relevant UN agencies, other organizations and the target states to develop the costed project for deployment of solar panels/green energy within the host communities for lighting and also for women to use in cooking and meeting their other energy in the host communities in Adamawa, Akwa-Ibom, Cross River, Borno, Taraba and Benue States. Considering the milieu of available green energy sources, their adaptability, acceptability and potential to be sustainable, the use of solar panels is identified as the choice of green energy technology to be deployed within the target states especially the Bakassi Host communities.

The scope will include but not limited to:

• Review all available documentation, by the UN system, Federal and State Governments, as well as other donor agencies on resettlement of persons affected by the 2002 ICJ judgement;
• Identify existing means of energy use and available alternative energy sources in host communities of the three states;
• Identify sustainable development issues relating to the present forms of energy use, including impacts on men, women, children (disaggregated by gender) and demand and supply dynamics of energy in the host communities;
• Identify enablers and constraints to the adoption of solar panels as an energy source in the host communities;
• Identify requisite quantity of solar panels, batteries – including capacities based on use (lighting and cooking etc) - and related accessories that would need to be deployed to meet the energy demand of host communities.
• Identify capacity building needs on usage, operation and maintenance of solar panels to be deployed to host communities;
• Work closely with other consultants to ensure synergy and avoid overlaps in suggested intervention measures.
• Based on the above, articulate a fully-costed project document, with specific activities, clearly defined roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders etc.

Reporting & Deliverables:
The consultant is expected to achieve the above scope by working closely on technical issues with the relevant government (State and Local authorities, Staff of line ministries and specialized agencies, UN Civilian Observers Team in Nigeria, etc) and UN agencies, as well as the target states.

S/He will be responsible to submit the following reports:

Inception Report:

• Detailing work plan and working strategy submitted not later than 3 days after commencement of the assignment.

A Draft Project Report:

• SMEs Project document including: recommended technical option (with rationale) and mechanisms for implementation and follow up;
• Detailed expected outputs, success indicators and critical assumptions;
• Cost estimate;
• Suggested implementing partners (draft costing and action plans), to be submitted not later than 20 days after commencement of the assignment for review by the relevant UN and Government agencies.

A Final project Report:

• To be submitted at the end of the assignment, not later than 30 days from signing of contract and containing agreed amendments and suggestion to the draft report.

Competencies
Functional Competencies:

• Good communication and interpersonal skills;
• Excellent writing and reporting skills;
• Strong understanding and knowledge of development and participatory approaches is a must;
• Evidence of previous engagement in areas similar to the current assignment;
• Exposure to gender and women empowerment issues will be an asset;
• Strong skills in written communications in English particularly in preparing issue-based papers or reports.

Required Skills and Experience
Education:

• A minimum of first degree in environmental sciences and a Masters degree in any development related field.

Experience:

• Minimum of 10 years progressive work in programme development with special focus on renewable energy utilization;
• At least 5 years cognate working experience on green energy technologies;
• Strong understanding and knowledge of sustainable development, sustainable natural resource management and environmental protection;
• Experience in the targeted states and LGAs preferred.

Language:

• Strong skills in written communications in English particularly in preparing issue-based papers or reports.

Application Closing Date
22nd January, 2014

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply