International Consultant in distributed energy systems (energy cooperatives).

Vacancy Number: Pr19/01904

Location:Chisinau, Moldova
Application Deadline: 25 Oct 2019, 11:59 (GMT+2:00)
Application Extended deadline:
01 Nov 2019, 11:59 (GMT+2:00)
Type of Contract:Individual Contract
Starting date: 11 Nov 2019
Reference to the project: United Nations Development Programme Moldova
Expected Duration of Assignment:up to 64 wds
Supporting Documents:
Terms of Reference
Individual Consultant Procurement Notice
Personal History Form (P11)
OFFEROR’S LETTER TO UNDP CONFIRMING INTEREST AND AVAILABILITY FOR THE INDIVIDUAL CONTRACTOR (IC) ASSIGNMENT
UNDP General Conditions of Individual Contract

Contacts:

Ms. Silvia Pana-Carp.

silvia.pana-carp@undp.org


Background

The dramatic decrease of specific technologies such as wind and solar power in past 8 years and similar plummeting in costs for storage technologies, EU started to rethink its energy and climate change goals by focusing more on decentralized energy systems, small scale local production and consumption, digitalization of energy services, decarbonized energy mix and citizenship empowerment with the benefits of the transition to a cleaner energy future.  The EU document that encapsulates all these changes and will determine the EU energy strategic directions by 2030 is called “EU Clean Energy Package” and is expected to enter in force by 2020. Win-win situations could be identified for Moldova to profit from these changes.

The Republic of Moldova is poorly endowed with conventional energy resources, and highly dependent on imported energy. 

Renewable energy could be one solution to tackle the energy challenges of Moldova. In this regard, Moldova committed to reach a binding target of 17% of energy from renewable sources in gross final energy consumption by 2020. By 2018 this target has been already achieved. The main source of energy that allowed Moldova to achieve its commitments relates to biomass. A significant contribution in this regard was brought by the project of UNDP “Energy and biomass” and financed by EU between the years of 2011 – 2018. This suggests that Moldova could start thinking, planning and committing to more ambitious goals by 2030.

In this respect, energy cooperatives could have a transformative impact on the whole Moldovan power sector. The main implications in the case of an energy cooperative would be to create a source of local development, energy self-sufficiency, potentially smaller energy bills. The impact would be less energy imports, less debts and more local production, transparency, and control over energy resources.

For detailed information, please refer to Annex 1 – Terms of Reference.

Scope of work

The overall scope of the assignment is to investigate the best practices of innovative business models focused on distributed energy systems in Czechia and West European countries and test the best ways to replicate them in Moldova.

The specific objective of the assignment is to investigate the energy policy, regulatory and energy market landscape in Moldova in order to pilot and harness the benefits of energy cooperatives in the country.

The international consultant could be supported by a national consultant that will assist him during field visits in Moldova, collection and analysis of information, interaction with national institutions and local communities, meetings with energy market participants and other donors active in the energy sector of Moldova.

For detailed information, please refer to Annex 1 – Terms of Reference.

Requirements for experience

Academic qualifications:

  • At least a master’s degree in power engineering, energy systems, energy economics, energy management or other related fields.

Experience:

  • At least seven (7) years of professional experience in the energy industry, consulting services, research, design of decentralized or distributed energy systems and/or other related fields;
  • At list three (3) years of experience in the international state-of-the-art approaches and best practices in distributed energy systems, modelling, policy design.
  • Previous working experience from the Czechia and /or EU in terms of a specific track record of cooperation with institutions and bodies responsible for public policies in the field of energy.
  • Demonstrated experience and success in the engagement of and working with the private sector and local communities on tasks related to distributed energy systems.
  • Good analytical and problem-solving skills and the related ability for adaptive management with prompt action on the conclusion and recommendations coming out from the assignment;
  • Ability and demonstrated success to work in a team, to effectively organize it, and to motivate its members and other project counterparts to effectively work towards the project’s objective and expected outcomes;
  • Proven experience in cooperation with international organizations or other bodies responsible for formulating smart urban development, at least three (3) similar assignments; previous working experience with UNDP or other international agencies will be an asset;
  • Experience with Eastern European countries will be an asset;
  • Excellent communication, analytical, facilitation and presentation skills;
  • Excellent computer literacy (Word, Excel, Internet, Power Point).

 

Language skills

  • Proficiency (verbal and written) in English; working level of Romanian and/or Russian will be an asset.

Documents to be included

  1. Proposal: Brief proposal explaining why you are the most suitable for this consultancy including confirmation on availability to take up an assignment for the whole period.
  2. CV, including information about past experience in similar assignments and contact details for at least 3 referees;
  3. Financial proposal (in USD, specifying the total lump sum amount as well as the requested amount of the fee per day).
  4. Offeror's Letter confirming Interest and Availability.

Financial proposal

The financial proposal will specify the daily fee, travel expenses and per diems quoted in separate line items, and payments are made to the Individual Consultant based on the number of days worked.

Travel

All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. This includes all travel to join duty station/repatriation travel. In general, UNDP should not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources.

In the case of unforeseeable travel, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the relevant business unit and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed.