Integrated Energy Systems Consultant

The result of services is to support UNEP Buildings and Cooling Unit to lead an effort to develop a global program and partnership on Local Energy System Integration for an Affordable & Resilient Energy Transition that will bring together workstreams on cooling, buildings, district energy, transport, renewables and energy transition, and provide technical assistance to countries on integrated and decentralized energy system planning and implementation, with focus on the role of city and regional integrated energy planning. This will include research and development of a draft global publication, knowledge products and case studies, preparing partnership engagement recommendations, preparing training materials, providing technical materials for selected global events, providing training and technical guidance to countries and cities, and preparing fundraising proposals. The consultant will design program activities and provide technical expertise to an implementation project in Ukraine and provide technical inputs and partnership support to other ongoing and planned projects in other geographies.

Remote

3 months

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the international environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is implementing the project “Decentralised Energy Systems to Accelerate the Energy Transition”, which supports developing countries and selected cities in accelerating the shift to low-carbon, climate-resilient energy systems through modern decentralised energy solutions. Rising electricity demand, rapid urbanisation, cooling needs, industrial growth, transport electrification, and higher shares of variable renewable energy are placing growing pressure on power systems, particularly at the distribution level. In many developing contexts, limited data, planning capacity, and utility finances constrain the ability of networks to integrate rooftop solar, EV charging, cooling loads, and other distributed resources while maintaining reliability and affordability. Cities are central to this challenge and opportunity, accounting for over 70 percent of global energy consumption and 40–50 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, with around half of urban energy use linked to heating and cooling. Sustainable cooling and modern district energy systems can reduce emissions, improve resilience to extreme heat, and support electricity-system reliability. When combined with digitalisation, local controls, thermal storage, load shifting, and integration with renewables and storage, these systems can turn demand into a flexible resource, helping defer grid upgrades and reduce costs. The project advances SDG 7 and SE4All objectives on renewable energy and energy efficiency by raising awareness of district energy benefits, strengthening the capacity of city planners and policymakers, fostering enabling environments for investment, and promoting city-to-city exchange on innovation and best practices. Building on UNEP’s technical, financial, and policy expertise, the project aims to close the implementation gap by providing tools, sharing global best practices, and accelerating the transition to modern district energy and sustainable cooling systems, while increasingly integrating demand-side flexibility, grid constraints, and reliability considerations.

A minimum of four years in a relevant field of work, preferably with a focus on urban energy, energy planning, district cooling/heating, smart grids, building energy efficiency, and/or energy policy. Excellent written and oral communications skills on energy, urban and environmental related topics and excellent mastery of Microsoft Office. Thorough familiarity with project management best practices. Practical experience in energy policy analysis in developing countries is essential. Qualifying years of experience are calculated following the receipt of the first level university degree recognized by the United Nations

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in written and oral English is required. Knowledge of another UN language would be an advantage.

Not available.

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.