1. Background

The International Solar Alliance (ISA) supports Solar Technology Application Resource Centres (STAR-Cs) as institutional platforms for strengthening solar skills, technical services, knowledge exchange and local solar ecosystems in Member Countries. Pacific Island countries require locally grounded implementation support that reflects dispersed geographies, small markets, high travel and logistics costs, limited pools of specialised trainers and the need for close coordination among host institutions, governments and regional partners.

ISA therefore intends to engage a Fiji-based professional to provide hands-on implementation and capacity-building support to Pacific STAR Centres. The assignment will focus on translating approved STAR-C work plans into timely activities, strengthening delivery systems, supporting realistic budgeting using Pacific market rates, monitoring progress and maintaining regular coordination with ISA and participating host institutions.

2. Objective of the Assignment

The objective is to provide regional implementation, coordination and capacity-building support for Pacific STAR Centres, with Fiji as the duty station and travel to other participating Pacific countries as required. The specialist will help prepare, update and implement annual work plans aligned with the four STAR-C functional areas, support effective use of ISA-supported funds, and ensure timely reporting of activities, outputs, risks and follow-up actions.

3. Scope of Work and Key Responsibilities

3.1 Work-plan preparation and implementation

·    Lead the preparation, review and periodic updating of country-specific and regional STAR-C work plans in consultation with ISA, host institutions and relevant national stakeholders.

·    Convert approved work plans into practical activity schedules, responsibilities, milestones, budgets, procurement requirements and monitoring indicators.

·    Support implementation of agreed activities and proactively identify delays, dependencies, resource gaps and corrective actions.

·    Ensure that work plans are aligned with the four STAR-C functions: capacity building; testing and quality improvement; innovation and incubation; and knowledge management.

·    Maintain a consolidated implementation tracker for Fiji, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Kiribati and any other Pacific STAR-C assigned by ISA.

3.2 Capacity-building delivery

·    Assess training and institutional capacity needs of STAR-C host institutions and priority stakeholder groups.

·    Prepare annual and activity-level capacity-building plans covering target groups, learning objectives, delivery mode, trainers, materials, logistics, budget and expected outputs.

·    Support the identification and engagement of suitable trainers, subject-matter experts and partner institutions using transparent processes and rates that are reasonable for Pacific markets.

·    Coordinate online, in-person and practical training programmes for technicians, government officials, financial institutions, academic institutions, journalists and other relevant stakeholders, as agreed in approved work plans.

·    Support the preparation or adaptation of training content, participant materials, feedback tools, attendance records and post-training follow-up actions.

·    Promote Training of Trainers approaches and local trainer development to strengthen long-term delivery capacity within Pacific STAR Centres.

3.3 Budgeting and ISA-supported fund implementation

·    Prepare activity budgets and cost estimates based on documented local and regional market rates, including trainer fees, travel, accommodation, venues, logistics, materials and related implementation costs.

·    Support host institutions in preparing fund-utilisation plans linked to approved activities, milestones and deliverables.

·    Monitor expenditure progress against approved budgets and flag variances, underspending, unsupported costs or emerging funding requirements to ISA.

·    Compile supporting implementation and expenditure information required for programme review, while respecting ISA and host-institution financial and procurement procedures.

·    Support value-for-money assessment and practical cost optimisation without reducing the quality or accessibility of capacity-building activities.

3.4 Monitoring, reporting and documentation

·    Prepare concise monthly progress reports covering activities completed, outputs achieved, participant data, budget status, implementation issues, risks, decisions required and next-month priorities.

·    Maintain evidence of delivery, including approved agendas, attendance sheets, photographs where consent is available, training materials, feedback summaries and completion records.

·    Track agreed indicators and targets under each STAR-C function and maintain country-wise action and risk logs.

·    Prepare mission notes, activity completion reports, quarterly summaries and other brief programme updates requested by ISA.

·    Document good practices, lessons learned, reusable training resources and regional opportunities for knowledge exchange.

3.5 Regional coordination and travel support

·    Serve as the day-to-day coordination interface among ISA, STAR-C host institutions, national focal points, trainers, technical partners and relevant government agencies.

·    Undertake official missions from Fiji to Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Kiribati and other assigned Pacific locations for planning, training, monitoring and stakeholder engagement.

·    Prepare mission plans, stakeholder schedules, briefing notes and follow-up matrices for regional visits.

·    Provide coordination support to ISA on an as-needed basis for Pacific capacity-building activities, consultations, events, technical missions and programme reviews.

·    Facilitate regional peer learning and sharing of trainers, materials, tools and practical experience across Pacific STAR Centres.

3.6 Support across the four STAR-C functions

4. Key Deliverables

5. Qualifications and Experience

·    Advanced university degree in renewable energy, engineering, education and training, development studies, public policy, project management or a related field.

·    Relevant professional experience in capacity building, technical training, renewable energy programmes, institutional development or international development projects.

·    Demonstrated experience in preparing and implementing work plans, budgets, progress reports and multi-stakeholder activities.

·    Experience engaging in government agencies, technical and vocational institutions, universities, development partners, private-sector actors and training providers.

·    Knowledge of solar energy, energy access, workforce development or quality-assurance ecosystems is desirable.

·    Experience working in Pacific Island countries, including familiarity with regional logistics, costs and institutional contexts, is strongly desirable.

·    Ability to work independently from Fiji and undertake regular travel across the Pacific region.

6. Required Competencies

·    Strong programme implementation, coordination and follow-up skills.

·    Ability to translate strategic objectives into practical country work plans and measurable activities.

·    Sound budgeting, cost-review and value-for-money judgement.

·    Excellent written reporting, documentation and presentation skills.

·    Ability to engage effectively in multicultural and geographically dispersed settings.

·    Strong organisation, problem-solving and risk-management capability.

·    Professional fluency in English; knowledge of Pacific languages is an advantage.

·    High standards of integrity, accountability and respect for local institutions and communities.

7. Performance Indicators

·    Approved work plans are prepared or updated on time and are practical, costed and aligned with STAR-C functions.

·    Monthly reports are complete, accurate, evidence-based and submitted within the agreed reporting cycle.

·    Capacity-building activities are delivered against approved schedules, budgets and quality requirements.

·    Participant, activity and expenditure records are maintained and readily available for review.

·    Implementation risks and delays are identified early, escalated appropriately and followed through to closure.

·    Coordination among ISA, host institutions and regional stakeholders is timely and action oriented.

·    Local trainers, institutions and reusable resources are progressively strengthened across Pacific STAR Centres.

8. Duty Station, Travel, Working Arrangements and Duration

The specialist will be based in Fiji. The assignment requires regular coordination with ISA and Pacific STAR-C host institutions and travel to Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Kiribati and other assigned Pacific locations. Travel will be undertaken only for approved programme of activities and in accordance with the applicable contractual and travel arrangements. The specialist may be required to work across time zones and provide remote coordination between missions. This would be a fixed term contract of 12 months, extendable by another 12 months.

9. Institutional Coordination

The specialist will work under the guidance of the designated ISA programme focal point and in close coordination with STAR-C host institutions, national focal points and relevant country stakeholders. Major work plans, budgets, missions, training engagements and deliverables will be subject to review and approval through the applicable ISA programme and administrative processes.

10. Application Requirements

·    Curriculum vitae highlights relevant Pacific, capacity-building and renewable-energy experience.

·    Brief technical approach describing how the candidate would support multi-country STAR-C implementation from Fiji.

·    Examples of relevant work plans, training programmes, implementation reports or similar assignments, where available.

·    Financial proposal consistent with the requested contract format.

·    Availability to be based in Fiji and travel within the Pacific region.