IC-2022-006 National Consultant to support the project implementation

Contract

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Background

The following documents in *.pdf format should be attached to your offer and sent to email address [email protected] with reference to IC-2022-006 and name of position in the subject line no later than 17:00 (Nur-Sultan time) on March 01, 2022: • A duly completed and signed Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP (Annex 4). • The Financial proposal must include a fixed total contract value, with a cost breakdown according to the UNDP template (see Annex 5). • If an Offeror is employed by an organization/company/institution, and he/she expects his/her employer to charge a management fee in the process of releasing him/her to UNDP under Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA), the Offeror must indicate at this point, and ensure that all such costs are duly incorporated in the financial proposal submitted to UNDP. • A detailed personal CV, including previous work experience in similar projects, as well as contact details (email and phone number) of the applicant. • Other documents certifying experience, knowledge, and skills (diplomas, certificates of advanced training, certificates of completion of courses, awards, etc.). • Short essay explaining why the applicant considers himself/herself the most suitable candidate for the announced position. Important Note: Technical and Financial Proposals must be submitted in separate *.pdf files (Annexes 4 and 5) There should be max 3 e-mail transmissions. Please indicate IC-2022-006 in the e-mail subject and the e-mail order. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials. Incomplete applications will be excluded from further consideration. Due to large number of applications we receive, we are able to inform only the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process. Late Proposals will not be considered. For any questions please contact Procurement Specialist Gyulnara Karpisheva by e-mail [email protected]

Project information: The long-term economic vision for the Republic of Kazakhstan, as embodied in the Strategy "Kazakhstan-2050" (the message of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan - the leader of the nation N.A. Nazarbayev to the people of Kazakhstan dated December 14, 2012) calls for accelerated transition to a low-carbon economy, i.e. an economy characterized by low fossil fuel consumption and low environmental impact. It is widely understood that an important element of the transition to a low-carbon economy is implementation of the energy efficiency policy and wide application of renewable energy sources (RES).

UNDP has been supporting the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan in designing, developing and implementing an array of GEF and other donor-funded projects in natural resources management and climate change mitigation and adaptation projects.

The UNDP-GEF “Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMA) for Low-Carbon Urban Development” Project (NAMA Project) is a $5.93 million USD project which focuses in making investments in energy efficiency more attractive in Kazakhstan. The NAMA Project is implemented in close cooperation with the Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development of Kazakhstan. The definition of NAMA being used by the Project is about any investment into clean energy that reduces greenhouse gas emissions, regardless of whether it has international support or not.

One of the main outcomes of the NAMA Project is the facilitation of financing for urban NAMAs through the creation and operationalization of a dedicated fund. After two years, the NAMA Project concluded that creating its own financial support mechanism (FSM) was not feasible and instead it was decided to cooperate with an existing FSM, which is implemented by the DAMU (https://www.damu.kz/en/). The UNDP and DAMU cooperation in the provision of financing support to urban NAMA projects is embodied in the new FSM. It was launched in October 2017 and was running now for over three years. Over the period from December 2017 to June 2020, 110 applications for subsidies were received and the results were that 10 of them – rejected as non-eligible, 100 – endorsed. Out of the 100 endorsed projects 37 projects were approved to receive loans by commercial banks and received loan interest payment subsidies. Initial estimates have suggested that that for the 37 projects funded the lifetime emissions reductions are 660,673 t CO2.

Building on the experience of the NAMA Project, the Government of Kazakhstan, and other stakeholders, including financial institutions, such as Astana International Finance Centre and DAMU, were interested to further develop the mechanisms of attracting private investments into energy saving projects.

All additional information with forms to be completed are available via link: https://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=88150

Duties and Responsibilities

Objective:

The main objective of the consultancy is the provision of project implementation support, focusing on the following outputs: • Facilitate and support to the testing of the updated (after FSM review) financial support mechanisms for SMEs through Damu Fund on low-carbon pilot projects and monitoring of pilot low-carbon projects results from a gender perspective. • Facilitate and support to the finalization of the construction and installation works in the multi-apartment residential buildings of the pilot quarter in the city of Nur-Sultan (heating system in two pilot buildings of the quarter), including monitoring the results of this pilot project. • Support and facilitate the Terminal evaluation of the project and conducting the Final Workshop on the FSM.

Scope of work:

The National Consultant will work under the direct supervision of the Head of Energy and Environment Unit / GEF Portfolio Manager, closely cooperate with the International Consultant (CTA) and other UNDP Projects and Experts and will closely coordinate with the Ministry of Industry and Infrastructural Development, partners and other relevant organizations to accomplish the following scope of work:

1. Organize and facilitate the testing of updated (after FSM review) financial support mechanisms for SMEs through Damu Fund on low-carbon pilot projects and monitoring of pilot low-carbon projects results from a gender perspective: 1.1. Presenting the final report of the financial support mechanism (FSM) Review Team to the Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development (MIID) - the Implementing Partner of the NAMA UNDP-GEF project from the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan (MIID); collect and summarize comments on this report from the MIID. 1.2. Organization of consultations with key project partners to discuss planned changes (MIID of the RK, DAMU Fund, Commercial banks, NGOs, others); agreeing the transition to a subsidy of part of the loan principal, as a quickly implemented instrument, due to the limited time remaining for implementation, based on recommendations of the FSM Review. 1.3. Coordination of preparation of the final draft of changes to the support mechanism in accordance with the recommendations of the FSM Review and consultations with the project partners (amendments to the Support Rules and other documents necessary for the operation of the FSM), based on the recommendations of the FSM Review. 1.4. Facilitate the coordination of the proposed changes with the MIID and DAMU, including approval by the Project Board and signing of new agreements by MIID and DAMU. 1.5. Initiation and control of Informing potential applications via the websites of the NAMA project and DAMU that preliminary applications are accepted for the renewed FSM, provided funding is available. 1.6. Organize presentations of the updated FSM to the key partners and to future clients (through regional branches of the DAMU Fund), Akimats of pilot cities, etc.). 1.7. Coordination of preparation and implementation of a schedule of agreed interest rate subsidy payments to earlier 37 supported projects. 1.8. Provide technical support to the UNDP with conclusion of an RPA with the "Electric Power and Energy Saving Development Institute" (EPESDI) to provide support in the procedure of the technical assessment of future applications for support. 1.9. Participate in the identification of urban NAMA projects on a national scale, eligible support under the revised/redesigned FSM to generate a pipeline of eligible urban NAMA projects, based on the experience from mini-webinars that boosted applications flow in 2020. 1.10. Organize trainings (on-line and off-line, if the epidemiological situation allows) on the redesigned FSM and on its implementation to a broader range of stakeholders (SMEs, DAMU and banks regional networks, etc.). 1.11. Organize and facilitate the processing of applications for financial support under the new FSM (technical assessment and approval by the Project Board). 1.12. Facilitate the monitoring of implementation of urban NAMA projects that will have been approved for financial support under the redesigned FSM. 1.13. Coordination of organization of payment of subsidies for completed projects supported through the new/redesigned FSM, and payments for the monitoring of the projects. 1.14. Provide technical support to assessment results of completed projects based on previously developed MRV protocols. 1.15. Provide technical support to assessment of gender results of completed projects.

2. Support the finalization of the construction and installation works in the multi-apartment residential buildings of the pilot quarter in the city of Nur-Sultan (heating system in two pilot buildings of the quarter), including monitoring of the results of this pilot project: 2.1. In cooperation with the Energy Efficiency Project Expert contribute to the ToR and cost estimation for the organization of procurement of civil works for pilot quarter in the city of Nur-Sultan (energy-efficient heating systems for two apartment buildings). 2.2. In cooperation with the Energy Efficiency Project Expert contribute to the ToR for the organization of procurement of Engineering Services on Design/Author supervision for Modernization of heating and Hot Water Supply systems. 2.3. Organize and participate in control over the implementation of civil works in accordance with the UNDP rules. 2.4. Provide technical support to acceptance of completed construction works in accordance with the UNDP rules. 2.5. In cooperation with the Energy Efficiency Project Expert contribute to preparation and publication of the final report on the results of the thermal energy improvements that were carried out in each pilot multi-apartment building.

3. Contribute to and facilitate the Terminal evaluation of the project and organize the Final Workshop on the FSM. 3.1. Provide technical support to the UNDP with conducting the Terminal evaluation of the project in line with the UNDP-GEF rules. 3.2. Organize and participate in the final Workshop on the FSM. 3.3. Provide support to the project budget revisions. 3.4. Contribute to preparation of presentations and publications. In cooperation with the UNDP PR/Communications Specialist contribute to the development of outreach materials. 3.5. Contribute to the experience exchange and knowledge sharing platforms. 3.6. Contribute to compilation of progress and financial reports.

Competencies

• Higher education in one of the following areas: engineering, environmental sciences, social sciences, international relations, business administration or related sciences. • Excellent reporting and presentation skills. • Excellent computer skills and in particular, mastery of all MS Office applications and Internet search. • Fluency in Russian language and working knowledge of English language. Knowledge of Kazakh language is an asset.

All documents in *.pdf format should be sent to email address [email protected] with reference to IC-2022-006 and name of position in the subject line no later than 17:00 (Nur-Sultan time) on March 01, 2022. All additional information with forms to be completed are available via link: https://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=88150

Required Skills and Experience

• At least 5 years of working experience in the field of energy and environment area. • Hands on at least 2 years of experience in implementation of projects in energy efficiency or renewable energy sources. • Experience in working with local authorities and national institutions.

All documents in *.pdf format should be sent to email address [email protected] with reference to IC-2022-006 and name of position in the subject line no later than 17:00 (Nur-Sultan time) on March 01, 2022. All additional information with forms to be completed are available via link: https://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=88150