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International Consultant to support the Government of Moldova in transposition of the Balancing Network Code (emergency support).

Vacancy Number: Pr22/02606

Location:	Chisinau, Moldova
Application Deadline:	03 Nov 2022, 16:30 (GMT+3:00)
Application Extended deadline:	10 Nov 2022, 16:30 (GMT+3:00)
Application Extended deadline:	17 Nov 2022, 16:30 (GMT+3:00)
Application Extended deadline:	24 Nov 2022, 16:30 (GMT+3:00)
Type of Contract:	Individual Contract
Starting date:	01 Dec 2022
Reference to the project:	Energy Security/FPI
Expected Duration of Assignment:	63 working days during December 2022 – June 2023
Submission Instructions: Proposals should be submitted online by pressing the "Apply Online" button,no later than 3 November 16:30 (Moldova local time). Requests for clarification only must be sent by standard electronic communication to the following e-mail: veronica.lopotenco@undp.org. UNDP will respond by standard electronic mail and will send written copies of the response, including an explanation of the query without identifying the source of inquiry, to all applicants.
Supporting Documents: Terms of Reference Procurement Notice OFFEROR’S LETTER TO UNDP CONFIRMING INTEREST AND AVAILABILITY FOR THE INDIVIDUAL CONTRACTOR (IC) ASSIGNMENT UNDP General Conditions of Individual Contract

Ms. Veronica Lopotenco.

Background

Moldova is part of the EU’s European Neighborhood Policy (ENP) and in the Eastern Partnership framework, which aims at strengthening individual and regional relationships between the EU and countries in its neighborhood. Moldova is also part of the Energy Community Treaty since 2010 and has signed the Association Agreement with EU in June 2014, including the DCFTA which entered into force in 2016. As a follow-up, Moldova is required to ensure transposition of the EU acquis Communautaire, which underpins the EU energy legislation on electricity, gas, oil, renewables, efficacity and environment. The country is planning to fully synchronize its electricity network with the ENTSO-E to connect to European electricity market.

The energy sector is one of the top priorities for the Government and it is addressed in Government’s Plans and several policy documents, laws, and regulations. The most important are the following: the draft National Development Strategy 2030, the National Energy Strategy 2030, Law on energy, Law on electricity, Law on promoting use of energy from renewable sources, Law on natural gas, Law on energy efficiency, Law on the energy performance of buildings, Law on the labelling of products with energy impact, Law on eco-design requirements for energy-related products, etc., as well as a list of secondary legislation, meant necessary to ensure for the implementation of the primary legislation.

In accordance with the existing strategic planning documents, one of main priorities of the Government is to diversify the energy mix with more renewable energy, which is also fully in line with commitments under the EU Clean Energy for all Europeans packages. Achieving this goal will require significant investment in the medium and long term, but also the country’s ability to attract and absorb the funds. The development of renewables, such as wind and solar, will also depend on improving the balancing capabilities of the Moldovan power system and its integration with neighboring countries.

Starting with October 2021, Moldova faced significant crisis in the gas sector, which outlined the need to undertake more actions towards improving energy security of the Republic of Moldova, both in the natural gas and electricity sectors.

To enhance security of gas supply, Moldovan authorities are seeking various ways to diversify gas and electricity supply, to strengthen its energy security and enabling a transparent, fully open, and well-functioning energy market.

The acute gas supply crisis in Moldova has also been subject of discussions within the Moldova-EU Association Council meeting on October 28, 2021. The EU and Moldova stressed the importance of resilience against any potential efforts by third parties to use energy as a geopolitical lever. The Association Council recalled the importance of continued energy market reform to strengthen competition and transparency in this sector. The EU has urged Moldova to ensure that the energy sector reform demonstrates full respect of the Energy Community acquis and is in line with the EU Third Energy Package. The EU side confirmed its support to the objective of Moldova to synchronize its electricity network with the Continental European Network (CEN), an important step towards the integration into the EU energy system and market.

Under these circumstances, the Government of Moldova will be assisted to tackle the current energy crisis and energy poverty and addressing prioritized systemic elements in the energy sector to cope with potential future energy crisis. In partnership with EU, UNDP Moldova will therefore, support the Government of Moldova: 

• To tackle the current energy crisis and energy poverty and addressing prioritized systemic elements in the energy sector to cope with potential future energy crisis.
• To support the Government of Moldova in building its capacities towards strengthening the national energy security, as well as in improving the legal and regulatory framework and operationalizing specific rapid large-scale interventions to tackle energy poverty and support most vulnerable and affected groups of population and businesses.

The Programme duration is envisaged between 2022- 2023 with support from Foreign Policy Instrument (herewith FPI) of EU.

The Project Concept has been approved by FPI of the EU in February 2022, paving the way for development of the full project proposal.

In this context, UNDP Moldova is seeking to recruit one International Consultant for development the training program for trainers (ToT) in the field of industrial energy audit and piloting the program.  

Scope of work

The general objective of the assignment is to support TSO and National Agency for Energy Regulation to transpose into the national regulation framework the Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/2195 of 23 November 2017 establishing a guideline on electricity balancing.

Being supervised by Programme Manager and/or Team Leader for Component 1, and in close cooperation with the national consultant, and the relevant staff of the National Agency for Energy Regulation and TSO, the international consultant is expected to perform the following tasks:

1. To develop the draft act that transpose into national legislation Regulation no.217/2195 on establishing a guideline on electricity balancing as adapted and adopted by the Energy Community, without prejudice if the transposition act will be an amendment of a set of primary and secondary acts or a new act on itself.
2. To provide capacity building to the TSO and ANRE in understanding the requirements and EU practice.
3. To draft the internal TSOs’ operational procedures as preparation for operation.
4. To draft the list of actions needed and requirements for integration into the EU balancing platforms.
5. To conduct consultation of all developed acts with relevant stakeholders (EnCS, NARE, TSO other).
6. Final version of the draft acts developed.

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

Requirements for experience

1. Education:

University degree in economics, electrical engineering or law or other related areas is required.

2. Experience:

• At least 6 years of professional experience in energy market (experience with TSO, market participant or energy regulatory authority);
• At least 5 years of international working experience in institutional consultancy.  
• Proven professional record of involvement in Moldova’s electricity-related tasks will be a strong asset.

3. Competencies:

• Excellent knowledge of the Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/2195 of 23 November 2017 establishing a guideline on electricity balancing;
• Familiarity with Moldova TSO responsibilities and activity with regards to network balancing
• Familiarity with the RM-EU Association Agreement, Energy Community Treaty, and other international and regional commitments of Moldova;
• Strong analytical and report-writing skills demonstrated by previous assignments;
• Strong interpersonal and  communication  skills, ability to work with Government representatives, demonstrated by previous assignments;
• Proficiency in Knowledge of Romanian and Russian will be an asset.

The UNDP Moldova is committed to the workforce diversity. Women, persons with disabilities, Roma and other ethnic or religious minorities, persons living with HIV, as well as refugees and other non-citizens legally entitled to work in the Republic of Moldova, are particularly encouraged to apply.

Documents to be included

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

1. Proposal, explaining why he/she is most suitable for the work, including experience in similar assignments, providing brief information on the above qualifications and methodology on how he/she will approach and conduct the work (if applicable).

2. OFFEROR’S LETTER TO UNDP CONFIRMING INTEREST AND AVAILABILITY FOR THE INDIVIDUAL CONTRACTOR (IC) ASSIGNMENT.
3. CV with at least three names for a reference check.

Important notice: The applicants who have the statute of Government Official / Public Servant prior to appointment will be asked to submit the following documentation:

• a no-objection letter in respect of the applicant received from the Government, and;
• the applicant is certified in writing by the Government to be on official leave without pay for the entire duration of the Individual

Financial proposal

The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e. whether payments fall in installments or upon completion of the entire contract). Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR. In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount (including fees, taxes, travel costs, accommodation costs, communication, and number of anticipated working days).