Renewable Energy Consultant

Result of Service The Consultant will submit a final report which contains a comprehensive documentation of engagement with T/PCCs, a brief description of each renewable energy project developed during the mandate and other outputs listed below. The Consultant will present the final output to relevant internal and external stakeholders.

Work Location Home-Based

Expected duration 01 September 2022 – 31 August 2023

Duties and Responsibilities Background:

Peacekeeping operations are located in fragile, conflict-affected countries. In many of these countries, key energy infrastructure was underdeveloped prior to conflict, and in most, it has been further degraded by the impact of war. Lack of host state energy infrastructure, fast deployment requirements and operational flexibility combined with tight budgets have led to the predominant use of diesel generators to produce energy for operational needs. This is particularly the case for the peacekeeping military units deployed by troop and police contributing countries (T/PCCs), which rely on their own diesel generators, brought from their home countries, which are reimbursed by the UN.

Under the six-year (2017-2023) Environment Strategy for Peace Operations, peacekeeping missions have been exploring ways to gradually transition to renewable energy, mainly through solar photovoltaic solutions. This effort has recently extended to the T/PCCs military units, who are also currently exploring options to integrate solar photovoltaic solutions into their diesel generator grids to reduce their environmental footprint.

In addition to reducing the carbon footprint of T/PCCs and the UN as a whole, renewable energy solutions can bring other practical benefits to field operations including: increased self-sustainment capacity, reduced need for fuel supply convoys (relieving the burden on escorts and convoy protection, especially in areas with asymmetric attacks), increased capacity to perform substantive tasks, increased safety, security and health of the contingents, with reduced fire hazards as well as noise, air and soil pollution. Moreover, deployment of renewable energy solutions by T/PCCs, can reduce the energy costs of the missions, reducing the amount of fuel the UN needs to supply to T/PCCs.

However, there are some challenges to the deployment of renewable energy solutions by T/PCCs, including:

• Lack of engineering design, procurement, installation, operation and maintenance competencies on renewable energy
• Mobility requirement of units
• Lack of sufficient budget for some T/PCCs to be able to sustain the upfront cost investment of renewable energy systems

Functional Responsibilities:

Under the direct supervision of the Chief Environment Section, and in line with the established United Nations Rules and Procedures, the Renewable Energy Consultant is responsible for supporting T/PCCs in their efforts to deploy renewable energy solutions to peacekeeping missions and to improve their energy generation efficiency in general, including through proactive assessments of opportunities where such improvements can be made.

Moreover, the incumbent will also contribute to wider T/PCC and non-T/PCC related Energy Pillar activities of the Environment Strategy for Peace Operations. In fulfilling some of the duties and responsibilities, the incumbent will be required to travel frequently to remote locations in field missions for site assessments and for installation of monitoring equipment including energy meters.

Within delegated authority, the Renewable Energy Consultant will be responsible for the following duties:

Stakeholder engagement:

• Lead engagement with T/PCC technical counterparts both remotely and during on-site visits
• Articulate in both written and verbal form, key findings, issues and opportunities with peacekeeping and T/PCC counterparts and contribute to the technical solutions to reach mutually satisfactory approaches to problems
• Provide technical assistance to DOS in the consultations with relevant T/PCCs and Member States to evaluate potential renewable energy projects in T/PCC sites and to support implementation of planned project

Planning and design:

• Compile a portfolio of most promising renewable energy projects for T/PCC sites using available data and considering a range of parameters and determine the renewable energy transition potential of T/PCCs based on the portfolio developed
• Install energy meters in selected T/PCC sites and retrieve data to support development of engineering designs
• Develop renewable energy engineering designs for at least six/eight projects in T/PCC sites
• Develop project proposals for at least two/three pilot projects for train and equip (including bills of quantity, procurement documents, business cases) that could be funded by bi-lateral donors through the Triangular Partnership
• Provide technical assistance to DOS in the development of contractual agreements between the T/PCCs and the UN for said projects

Project implementation:

• Monitor the activities concerning planning and scheduling of renewable energy projects in T/PCC sites including site preparation, installation, commissioning, and associated works (e.g. groundworks, distribution networks).
• Coordinate the development of a small pilot project involving donation of solar powered equipment to local communities through Quick Impact Projects (QIP) including the development of a vocational training programme.
• Present a comprehensive lessons learned study, with results from the pilot project
• Prepare Checkpoint Reports and Progress Reports to be shared with relevant internal and external stakeholders as required.

Training:

• Establish a “training of trainers” program on renewable energy systems with T/PCCs who are conducting/planning renewable energy projects in their own sites

• Work with T/PCCs and other member states who may have capacity to roll-out renewable energy training programmes on the development of training materials and on the organisation of specific trainings

  Qualifications/special skills Academic Qualifications: - Advanced university degree (master or equivalent) degree in Electrical Engineering or other relevant discipline is required.

• A first level university degree (bachelor or equivalent) with two (2) additional years of professional experience will be accepted in lieu of a Master’s degree.
• Project Management certification such as Prince2, or equivalent is desirable. Experience: - A minimum of five (5) years of experience working on engineering design for the development of renewable energy off-grid projects is essential
• A minimum of one year working experience in energy infrastructure planning and support is essential.
• A minimum of one year experience working on energy projects with military and police formed units is desirable.
• Experience in using methodologies for project planning, execution, and evaluation of energy standards and proven ability in analytical work is desirable.
• Experience in the management of a portfolio of energy projects involving strong coordination skills are desirable.

• Experience in using Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Power Point) and MS Project is required Language: Fluency in English is essential. Working knowledge of other UN Languages is an asset.

  Additional Information Outputs/Work Assignment:

• Prepare an engagement plan with T/PCCs

• Compile a portfolio of most promising renewable energy projects for T/PCCs
• Prepare preliminary engineering design for up to 8 renewable energy projects in T/PCC camps
• Prepare up to 3 proposals for pilot projects for train and equip
• Prepare one pilot project proposal involving the donation of solar powered equipment to local communities through Quick Impact Projects (QIP)
• Provide ad hoc technical support to T/PCC planning to deploy renewable energy systems in the field
• Monitor progress on renewable energy projects including site preparation, installation, commissioning, and associated works
• Prepare a comprehensive lessons learned study from the pilot project
• Prepare progress reports and briefing materials for internal and external stakeholders
• Carry-out other tasks related to the transition of T/PCC to renewable energy

Contract type: Individual Contractor Agreement (ICA) Contract level: ICS-10 (P3 equivalent; IICA-2 equivalent; LICA-10 equivalent)

No Fee THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.