Designing Efficient Energy Solutions Delivery Model to CGP Beneficiaries consultant, Maseru, Lesotho, (Two and a half months, amounting to 50 days)

Consultant Programme & Policy

Contract

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UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

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For every child, Opportunity

Backround

Poverty in Lesotho is still widespread and manifest itself in various ways including lack of access to clean energy commonly known as ‘energy poverty’. It disproportionately affects certain demographics and households with specific characteristics. Larger households with a higher dependency ratio, those led by individuals with lower educational attainment, female-headed households, households that have experienced the death of a household head, and those reliant on agriculture or without employment are more likely to be living in poverty, including energy poverty. Furthermore, Lesotho is increasingly vulnerable to shocks and emergencies, and the ability of households to cope with these varies according to their level of poverty and vulnerability.

Energy poverty, a critical but often overlooked aspect of poverty in Lesotho, has far-reaching impacts on the well-being of children and their families. It leads to disconnection from other services and broader social and economic opportunities.

Lack of affordable, reliable and safe energy is a symptom of a much broader and more complex set of deprivations, and delivering energy access must be seen about how it can contribute to meeting the broader socioeconomic needs of poor groups (sometimes referred to as the ‘end users’ of the energy service). Poor people often need energy for various functions, and an energy service can act as a bridge that enables household, community, and economic activities. A pro-poor approach to delivering energy services would, therefore, be one where the energy service has a more comprehensive ‘development impact’; that is, it helps to lift people out of poverty by creating new opportunities to improve their well-being in a way that is financially, socially and environmentally sustainable.

Recognising the pervasive poverty and its multi-dimensional nature, UNICEF, in partnership with the Government of Lesotho and the European Union, invested in building a solid social assistance system that seeks to protect people across the life cycle. In 2009, the Child Grant Programme (CGP), an unconditional cash transfer programme, began addressing vulnerable children's challenges. The programme’s primary objective is to improve the living standards of vulnerable children, improve health status, and increase school enrolment. The transfer itself is provided to qualifying households every quarter). The CGP has provided much-needed resources to address the challenges of beneficiary children and households. To address the multifaceted needs of the vulnerable children enrolled in the CGP, UNICEF, together with its partners, is implementing the Ntlafatsa Bana-Improvement for Children project, popularly known as “Cash Plus”, in the following nine community councils located in five districts of Lesotho:

1. Tele and Tosing-Quthing District.

2. Linakeng and Bokong – Thaba Tseka District.

3. Menkhoaneng and Matsoku Leribe District.

4. Qhoasing and Senqunyane – Mohale’s Hoek District

5. Ntsupe – Qacha’s Nek District

One key cash-plus component is delivering energy-efficient solutions to about 1000 CGP households in the mentioned nine community councils. Currently, the preference study is being conducted to (i) map the different renewable energy services available in implementation areas and their suitability for the Cash Plus initiative, (ii) identify beneficiary preferences on the identified renewable energy products and finally, (iii) conduct a pre-vetting exercise of private sector actors based on clearly developed criteria, including availability, type, geographical coverage, and quality of products etc. Therefore, the study will lay a solid foundation for identifying relevant supplies and suppliers. To support CGP families with children under five to access clean and sustainable energy (thermal or electric) solutions, UNICEF and its partners must define a systematic and well-thought-through delivery model

How can you make a difference?

Scope of work

Delivering energy services to the poorest people is a particularly challenging task. It requires understanding the end user’s needs and wants, how these relate to the energy services available, and how they can be delivered by a sustainable supply chain comprising different inputs and different actors performing their activities within the specific local context.

This consultancy is vital in directly supporting and contributing to Key Action 883/001/05 of the Rolling Work Plan (RAWP). This key action aims to provide technical and financial assistance to the Ministry of Gender, Youth and Social Development (MoGYSD). Specifically, it seeks to:

1.Assess the recommended energy-efficient solutions: The Preference Study explores the recommended solutions in greater detail. The assessment should analyse any potential problems or barriers, various types of risks and how they might be addressed, delivery infrastructure, financing approach, and capacity, and finally, suggest the most appropriate delivery model.

2.Design a detailed voluntary participation and selection criteria of beneficiaries from CGP households preferably with under-five children in the selected nine community councils: In consultation with the Ministry of Gender, Youth and Social Development (MoGYSD) and UNICEF, and as guided by the existing social assistance policies, programme documents, required target number, and total CGP population in the targeted councils, design detailed and well-described selection criteria for the programme.

3.Design and define the delivery model fit for the context: In consultation with the MoGYSD and UNICEF, design the delivery model or approach that provides a step-by-step process for preparing, implementing, monitoring and post-distribution interventions.

4. Develop an implementation plan for the delivery of energy-efficient solutions: Develop an implementation plan with specific timelines, inputs, deliverables, and roles and responsibilities assigned to each stakeholder, monitoring and evaluation framework (with outcomes, outputs, activities, and indicators). The monitoring should include the post-distribution activities.

The key activities within this assignment include the following for each goal:

Activity 1: To ensure mutual understanding of the assignment, the consultant will do the following:

1.1 Review the Preference Study final report and field report

1.2 Conduct consultations with pre-vetted companies, MoGYSD and UNICEF to validate whether the recommended energy-efficient solutions meet the needs of the CGP beneficiaries

1.3 Conduct a desk review of the existing CGP design, delivery mechanisms, and efficient energy status documentation

1.4 Prepare an inception report with a desk review and consultations analysis, methodology, assignment approach, framework, and work plan with a timeline.

Activity 2: Design the voluntary participation and selection criteria for CGP households.

1.1 Conduct consultation meetings with the MoGYSD and UNICEF at national and district levels to understand their views on selection criteria.

1.2 Refine the draft of the selection criteria based on the information gathered.

1.3 Conduct a meeting with MoGYSD and UNICEF to validate the selection criteria.

1.4 Define the standard operating producers of the voluntary participation and selection criteria.

Activity 3: Prepare an outline of how the programme will be implemented (delivery model and approach)

1.1 In consultation with MoGYSD and UNICEF, prepare a framework defining how the delivery will be implemented from preparatory activities to post-distribution. Including a sound financing approach.

1.2 In consultation with MoGYSD and UNICEF, develop the implementation plan that defines the preparatory, pilot, roll-out, maintenance and support, monitoring, post-distribution, and closure phases. The plan should have timelines and further define roles and responsibilities.

1.3 The monitoring and evaluation component should define indicators, timelines for collecting the data and how it should be collected.

1.4 Conduct a meeting to validate the implementation outline or the delivery model.

Activity 4: Prepare for assignment closure.

1.1 Suggest and define critical aspects that should go into the Expression of Interest (EOI) to recruit energy-efficient solution suppliers in consultation with UNICEF.

1.2 Prepare the final report to detail the conclusions, recommendations, lessons learnt, identified risks, and mitigation measures. The consultant will liaise closely with the Ministry of Gender, Youth, and Social Development's Planning and Social Assistance Teams and the UNICEF social policy team. The consultant's primary responsibility is to provide technical expertise and guidance for the successful execution of the project(s). All reports must be submitted electronically in English, adhering to defined content and formatting guidelines, and sent to designated recipients. They must be approved before each payment. A detailed structure for each deliverable needs to be agreed upon in advance with the contract manager.

WORK ASSIGNMENT OVERVIEW

Tasks****Deliverable/Output****Timeline/deadline****Estimated budgetTo ensure mutual understanding of the assignment1. Approved inception report detailing assignment approach, methodology, and work plan (of not more than 30 pages)

2. The frequency of the direct interaction with MoGYSD and UNICEF to be included in the approved inception report

10 days15%Design the selection criteria for CGP households.Validated CGP household selection criteria with detailed Standard Operating Procedures10 days25%Prepare an outline of how the programme will be implemented (delivery model and approach)1. Framework that defines the delivery model with alternatives for the financing

2. An implementation plan covering all the phases of implementation, including monitoring and evaluation component

20 days25%Prepare for assignment closure.1. Expression of Interest (EOI) for recruiting the energy-efficient suppliers.

2. Final Report with annexes

10 days35%Total 50 days100%

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• Master’s Degree in environment, climate change, engineering, development studies or any other relevant field *A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.
• Minimum of 10 years of extensive experience in Efficient Energy
• Experience in linking energy and social cash transfers will be an added advantage.
• Experience in designing the delivery models of energy-efficient solutions.
• Strong skills in analysis, critical thinking, problem-solving and reporting
• Ability to work with a team and independently in a multi-cultural environment

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.

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Added 13 hours ago - Updated 4 hours ago - Source: unicef.org