Project: “Lesotho Renewable Energy Based Rural Electrification” (LREBRE) project

Background

The Project titled “Lesotho Renewable Energy Based Rural Electrification” is funded by the Global Environment Facility through UNDP Lesotho. It is nationally executed by the Ministry of Natural Resources, Department of Energy. UNDP provides specific implementation and execution roles.

The project aim is to reduce Lesotho’s energy related CO₂ emissions by promoting renewable and low Green House Gases (GHG) technologies as a substitute for fossil fuels utilized in rural areas of the country. The activities proposed in the project are designed to remove barriers that hamper the wide-scale implementation of renewable energy technologies.

The project activities and outputs are designed to achieve six outcomes:

1. delivery of renewable energy-based technology packages: To implement different delivery models for renewable energy-based rural electrification targeting different end-user groups and making use of different technology packages
2. awareness raising: To increase awareness among the general public, decision-makers and rural customers on the potential role of renewable energy in meeting basic energy needs in rural areas
3. private and public sector strengthening and training: To strengthen and support the public and private sector working in the renewable energy sector to provide better quality of service to the rural areas
4. policy support and policy framework: To assist the development of policy and institutional arrangements needed for the widespread adoption of renewable energy sources for off-grid electricity services
5. financial mechanisms: To assist with the implementation of a performance grant and a credit guarantee scheme for the larger scale dissemination of renewable energy based technologies to rural customers
6. learning and replication: To disseminate experience and lessons learned in order to promote replication throughout the country of rural electrification based on renewable energy technologies

The objective of the Government of Lesotho (GoL) as stated in the Poverty Reduction Strategy is to increase the electrification targets from the current 8% to at least 35% by 2020, countrywide. Since the geography of Lesotho does not allow extensive extension of the national electricity grid, renewable energy sources are excellent alternatives to reaching this target.

The project is supported  by UNDP- who is responsible for providing policy/technical advisory services, financial and other inputs as well as project monitoring and quality assurance. UNDP also ensures that the project is implemented within corporate policy framework of its own as well as within the UN’s strategic programme direction including the Delivering as One process. In this connection the services of a Project Delivery Specialist are required.   

The Project Delivery Specialist will be based within the UNDP Country Office under the direct supervision of the Senior Sustainable Development Advisor UNDP, and will work in close collaboration with the Project Manager who is a Government Employee and the Project Unit.  He/she will lead, supervise and coordinate the delivery support activities of the project, and provide expertise for its economic and financial aspects, in particular the “Financing Mechanism” component.

The principal responsibilities of the UNDP Project Delivery Specialist are to:

• Provide technical support for project delivery in the Country Office (CO), including procurement, project implementation and project monitoring;

• Lead the development and implementation of a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation plan for the project in the CO;

• Assist in monitoring the financial aspect of the project, including liaising between financial agencies, renewable energy suppliers, and rural customers;

• Provide expertise related to the economic and financial aspect of the project;

• Assist in monitoring and ensure that in implementing the project the CO is compliant with all procurement processes under UNDP regulations, rules, and standard practices;

• Promote and monitor the transparency of the procurement and contractual processes, and the use of international best practices;

• Participate in tender processes for the selection of companies, contractors and others to carry out various tasks under the project ensuring compliance with UNDP procedures;

• Assist the Project Coordinator (PC) with short-listing financial institutions and subsequently work with the PC and the financial institutions to implement their proposals, as well as to incorporate their activities into the overall work of the project;

• Participate in the selection of financial agencies and banks that participate in the Credit Guarantee Scheme according to the terms laid out in the Project Document;

• Assist the Country Office with  management matters under the project;

• Ensure consistent reporting to Country Office Managers and Officials as required;

• Share lessons learned with other UNDP Country Offices managing Global Environmental Facility grants.

Qualifications:

• A University Degree in Environmental Studies, Social Sciences or related field preferably with a concentration in Environmental Economics, micro credit or credit management for small businesses, and/or Environmental Project Management.

Experience:

• A minimum of four years experience in implementation and monitoring of environmental projects, particularly in the fields relevant to this project;

• Experience in dealing with a range of stakeholders, as well as international organizations, development agencies, scientific and technical bodies,  private sector, developing country counterparts, and NGOs would be advantage;

• Basic awareness of global environmental issues, including biodiversity, climate change, international waters, land degradation, the ozone layer, and persistent organic pollutants;

• Demonstrated ability to work with limited supervision, independently adjusting priorities and achieving results with agreed upon objectives, and ability to work collegially in a multicultural team environment in an openly communicative way;

• Previous background in institutional environment of development cooperation (NGOs, UN system, multilateral cooperation, etc.) with preference given to candidates with experience in UNDP field operations;

• Demonstrated experience in the management of projects and financing mechanisms in the renewable energy, environmental sustainability, and/or climate change areas will be an added advantage;

• Experience with financial schemes and private sector development an advantage;

• Previous experience with ERP (People soft) systems would be a bonus.

Competencies:

The candidate must demonstrate the following corporate competencies:

Corporate Responsibility & Direction:

• Serves and promotes the vision, mission, values, and strategic goals of UNDP.

People Skills:

• Recognizes and responds appropriately to the ideas, interests, and concerns of others; gives credit to the contributions of others

Managing for Results:

• Plans and prioritizes work activities to meet organizational goals

Partnering & Networking:

• Builds and sustains relationships with key constituents (internal/external/ bilateral/ multilateral/public/private; civil society)

Innovation & Judgment:

• Conceptualizes and analyzes problems to identify key issues, underlying problems, and how they relate
• Generates creative, practical approaches to overcome challenging situations
• Devises new systems and processes, and modifies existing ones, to support innovative behaviors

Communication:

• Demonstrates excellent and effective written and oral communication skills
• Demonstrates effective communication skills in a multidisciplinary working environment
• Demonstrate respect to knowledge and culture and religion in a multidisciplinary working environment

Job Knowledge & Expertise:

·    Applies the required depth and breadth of knowledge and expertise to meet job demands

·    Uses Information Technology effectively as a tool and resource

Applications with a comprehensive CV, including names and contact details of three referees, should be clearly labeled and sent by Email on or before 13^th August 2010 to registry.ls@undp.org.

Please note that only shortlisted applicants will be responded to. Fee is competitive and negotiable commensurate with experience and qualifications.