International Consultant for the Mid-Term Review (MTR)

Contract

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Background

The territory of Tajikistan is 142 thousand km2, out of which 93% is mountainous. The population of country is approximately 9.5 million, of which over 72% live in rural areas. The GDP per capita in Tajikistan was only USD 827 in 2018 and USD 3,314 using Purchasing Power Parity (PPP). Despite the robust GDP growth (5.4.6% in 2017 and 4.7% in 2017), still there are high rates of poverty (27.4% in 2018).

Power generation capacity of Tajikistan equals to 6,577 MW, including 5,858 MW of hydropower capacity, and 719 MW of coal-fired combined heat and power (CHP) plants. One of the features of the power sector of Tajikistan is that the electricity is being used for space heating especially in urban areas and forestless rural areas. Hydropower generation capacity is highly seasonal and in wintertime is insufficient to meet an estimated peak load of 3,500 MW because of low river flows during the period of peak demand. Therefore, lack of access to: (i) electricity, especially in winter; and (ii) finance, remain among the major barriers for private sector and rural development in Tajikistan.

Market development for alternative Green Energy solutions, the use of renewable energy (RE) sources for energy production (heat and electricity), as well as energy efficiency (EE) measures on the demand side, is urgently needed in Tajikistan to help improve security, access, affordability and environmental sustainability of rural energy use.

The objective of the project “Green Energy Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Development Project” (hereafter referred to as “GE project”) is to facilitate the transformation of Tajikistan’s energy sector, in particular the emergence of independent energy entrepreneurs, which can offer affordable and sustainable energy products and services to the rural population. The GE project is designed to scale up private investments in RE resources, with focus on solar energy. This objective is planned to be achieved through the implementation of four components of the GE project:

Component 1: Creation of Enabling policy and regulatory framework and capacity development for GE SMEs - to address policy and technology risks faced by GE SMEs in Tajikistan. The GE project will strengthen the policy and regulatory framework for the sustainable energy products and services market.

Component 2: Providing Access to finance for GE SMEs and/or energy service users – to facilitate access to affordable finance for households, SMEs and other end-users wishing to invest in EE/RE products and/or services. TA will be provided to partner Micro-finance Institutes (MFIs) and other local finance organizations to develop and promote standard loan products. GEF investment support will be provided in the form of an interest rate subsidy.

Component 3: Development of business models for GE SMEs consists. This component focuses on the supply chain to develop and improve GE products and services, and bring them to the market, including through the provision of targeted investment support to innovative and scalable business models for GE products/service delivery. It consists of two sub-components:

• Sub-Component 3A: Promoting solar energy development for off-grid communities, the cost of grid expansion to which is prohibitively expensive.
• Sub-Component 3B: Facilitating investment in solar water heating (SWH) by tourism facilities and other SMEs.

Component 4: Knowledge Management and Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) - will include collection, analysis and sharing information about GE costs and benefits, as well as by monitoring and evaluating project results (including GHG emission reductions), documenting and disseminating best practices and lessons learnt.

Country assessment on GE and SME Development) has been conducted, main findings of which were used for the development of the detailed work plan under Component 2. Within the scope of the assessment: (i) policy and regulatory frameworks were analyzed and recommendations for their improvements provided; (ii) market demand in GE products assessed; (iii) Database on service users and service providers of GE technologies: solar collectors; solar PV panels; invertors; EE pumps; EE solid fuel boilers; LED (light-emitting diode), created.

One of the priorities of the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources (MoEWR) of Tajikistan, the main Partner of the GE project, is to provide electricity supply to the off-grid settlements in Murghab district of the autonomous province of Gorno-Badakhshan (abbreviated as GBAO), which is one of the most difficult living areas in the country. Due to strategic importance of this area, the government has to create comfortable living conditions for the people there. Therefore, the MoEWR asked UNDP to implement solar PV projects in Murghab, GBAO with a total capacity of 300 kW. Upon UNDP approval, this project became the main activity under the Component 3A. As a first step, Feasibility study for the Alichur (a village in the Murghab district) solar project has been carried out.

Component 3b considers engagement of MFIs for financing of GE projects. UNDP has conducted the capacity needs assessment of MFIs and developed and based on its findings developed a ToR for participating MFIs.

Duties and Responsibilities

The MTR team will assess the following four categories of project progress. See the Guidance For Conducting Midterm Reviews of UNDP-Supported, GEF-Financed Projects for extended descriptions.

i. Project Strategy

Project design:

• Review the problem addressed by the project and the underlying assumptions. Review the effect of any incorrect assumptions or changes to the context to achieving the project results as outlined in the Project Document.
• Review the relevance of the project strategy and assess whether it provides the most effective route towards expected/intended results. Were lessons from other relevant projects properly incorporated into the project design?
• Review how the project addresses country priorities. Review country ownership. Was the project concept in line with the national sector development priorities and plans of the country (or of participating countries in the case of multi-country projects)?
• Review decision-making processes: were perspectives of those who would be affected by project decisions, those who could affect the outcomes, and those who could contribute information or other resources to the process, taken into account during project design processes?
• Review the extent to which relevant gender issues were raised in the project design. See Annex 9 of Guidance For Conducting Midterm Reviews of UNDP-Supported, GEF-Financed Projects for further guidelines.
  • Were relevant gender issues (e.g. the impact of the project on gender equality in the programme country, involvement of women’s groups, engaging women in project activities) raised in the Project Document?
• If there are major areas of concern, recommend areas for improvement.

Results Framework/Logframe:

• Undertake a critical analysis of the project’s logframe indicators and targets, assess how “SMART” the midterm and end-of-project targets are (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-bound), and suggest specific amendments/revisions to the targets and indicators as necessary.
• Are the project’s objectives and outcomes or components clear, practical, and feasible within its time frame?
• Examine if progress so far has led to, or could in the future catalyse beneficial development effects (i.e. income generation, gender equality and women’s empowerment, improved governance etc...) that should be included in the project results framework and monitored on an annual basis.
• Ensure broader development and gender aspects of the project are being monitored effectively. Develop and recommend SMART ‘development’ indicators, including sex-disaggregated indicators and indicators that capture development benefits

For more detailed description please refer to the TOR

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favouritism;
• Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Required Skills and Experience

I. Academic Qualifications:

• A Master’s degree in engineering, energy, environment, economics, law, business administration or other closely related field

II. Years of experience:

• At least 10-years work experience and proven track record with policy advice and/or project development/implementation in green energy (renewable energy and/or energy efficiency) in transition economies;
• Practical experience (within last five years) in mid-term or final performance evaluation of at least one international and/or regional projects funded by multilateral agencies including experience with SMART indicators; Experience in performance evaluation of such projects within United Nations system will be considered as an asset; Evaluation in CIS countries will be considered as an asset;
• Competence in working with projects that have financial mechanisms;
• Demonstrated understanding of issues related to gender; experience in gender sensitive evaluation and analysis;
• Familiarity with relevant Tajikistan’s policy and regulations and standards is an asset but not required;
• Demonstrable analytical skills.

III. Competencies:

• Fluency in written and spoken English;
• Working knowledge of written and spoken Russian will be considered as an asset but not required.

Application Procedure:

Please follow the link to download Individual Consultant Procurement Notice and follow the application procedures indicated in the downloaded ICPN:

http://www.undp.tj/va/upload/va/ICPN_MTR_TOR_international.pdf

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.