TOR: Powering Africa: The role of Civil Society Organizations in achieving Energy targets in AfDB Africa Strategy (2024-2033)

CONTEXT

Energy access in Africa remains a significant challenge despite the continent's rich natural resources, including hydropower, solar energy, and wind power. According to the SDG 7 progress report, about 43% of Africans still lack electricity access, and more than 600 million Africans may continue to face harmful cooking conditions until 2150 if current trends persist. Insufficient access to clean and affordable energy affects various sectors like education, healthcare, agriculture, and economic growth, as communities struggle to meet their basic energy needs.

Given the difficulties of extending centralized grid infrastructure to remote and underserved areas, decentralized renewable energy systems have proven effective in providing reliable electricity to communities unlikely to connect to the main grid soon. If rapidly scaled up, distributed renewable energy systems can address multiple needs, such as ensuring energy access for all Africans and supporting healthier energy systems without exacerbating economic dependencies or debt issues. It is crucial that energy connections for African development do not worsen the existing debt crisis. The associated costs of the AfDB strategy must ensure access to affordable and reliable energy sources while also expanding essential public social services like healthcare and education.

To address the energy access gap and other challenges in Africa, the AfDB launched its 10-year strategy for 2024-2033, aiming for a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and integrated Africa. This vision is underpinned by two key objectives: (a) accelerating inclusive green growth and (b) fostering prosperous and resilient economies. To achieve these goals, the Bank has committed to scaling up and accelerating the High 5s initiatives, which include: (a) Light Up & Power Africa, (b) Feed Africa, (c) Industrialize Africa, (d) Integrate Africa, and (e) Improve the Quality of Life for Africans. Through the Light Up and Power Africa Program, the Bank aims to:

1. Ensure that by 2033, all African firms and households have access to affordable, reliable, and sustainable modern energy.
2. Provide over 1 billion people with clean cooking solutions and technology.
3. Connect 90 million people through off-grid solutions.
4. Double the current rate of investment to around USD 190 billion per year until 2030.

Christian Aid, supported by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, has collaborated with AFRODAD and Recourse to conduct a detailed review of the 'Light Up and Power Africa Program' within the AfDB Africa Strategy 2024-2033. The goal is to develop CSO recommendations for the AfDB on implementing the energy targets effectively and to provide guidance for CSOs to engage effectively in this implementation.

BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE

Meaningful participation of civil society is essential for achieving the energy targets in the AfDB Africa Strategy 2024-2033. CSOs serve as intermediaries between government, MDBs, the private sector, and energy users due to their expertise in providing energy services, especially for vulnerable groups. As AfDB begins implementing the strategy, there is a need to assess CSOs' engagement opportunities and develop recommendations to guide AfDB. This review will also offer recommendations for CSOs' capacity strengthening, improve coordination mechanisms, provide detailed recommendations for AfDB, and suggest best practices and innovative approaches for effective implementation of the strategy.

OVERALL OBJECTIVE

The assignment aims to create a Policy report with key findings and recommendations to guide the AfDB in implementing the 'Light up and Power Africa Program' within the wider AfDB Africa Strategy. The policy report will also offer a roadmap for CSOs to effectively influence the program's implementation.

SCOPE AND TASKS

The consultant will need to undertake the following tasks:

• Analyze the program on ‘Light up and Power Africa’ under the AfDB Strategy 2023-2033 and develop recommendations to accelerate achievement of the targets. This will include and not be limited to: (a) assessing the extent to which DRE systems are prioritized in the program; (b) The short-term and medium-term plan of action to accelerate achievement of the targets; (c) identifying factors that will lead to the success or failure to achieve the energy targets; (d) The financing mechanisms effective to deliver the targets; (e) analyzing the opportunities, advocacy strategies for CSOs to influence achievement of the set targets as well as gaps that would hinder effective CSOs engagement.
• Engage various CSOs working on renewable energy and energy access in Africa to identify capacity needs and develop CSOs recommendations to AfDB on the implementation of Light up and Power Africa Program.
• Prepare a policy report that does not exceed 12 pages.
• Present the findings of the assessment to CSOs in a virtual webinar

METHODOLOGY

The research will follow a qualitative and collaborative methodology and will be undertaken in different phases as follows:

Phase 1- Inception March 2025

Phase 2: Literature review and data collection -March-April 2025

Phase 3: Validation and producing briefing report -April 2025

DELIVERABLES

Upon contracting, the consultant will be required to deliver the following outputs:

• An inception report outlining the methodology and work plan.
• A Policy report highlighting key findings and recommendations to guide the AfDB in implementing the 'Light up and Power Africa Program' within the wider AfDB Africa Strategy. The policy report will also offer a roadmap for CSOs to effectively influence the program's implementation.
• A PowerPoint presentation of the findings for a virtual dissemination webinar.

CONSULTANT PROFILE

• An undergraduate and/or higher degree in Energy, Finance, Development, Governance and/or Public Policy from a recognized institution of higher learning
• Demonstrable experience engaging multi-lateral development Banks on energy governance and policy in Africa
• Demonstrable experience in developing policy briefs and analytical reports/briefs,
• Demonstrable research experience, including research design, data collection through interviews and desk-based literature reviews.
• Excellent writing skills.

Interested consultants are requested to submit the following documents:

1. Technical proposal (max. 10 pages) outlining:
   • Understanding of the assignment
   • Proposed methodology and work plan
   • Team composition and qualifications (if applicable)
2. Financial proposal detailing all costs associated with the assignment
3. CVs of all team members highlighting relevant experience
4. Contact details of three professional references

Applications should be submitted electronically to nairobirecruitment@christian-aid.org by 17th March 2025.