Renewable Energy Consultant (International)

Malawi acquired a grant from Gavi intended to strengthen the health system for immunization services for five years. Using part of this grant, UNICEF will, among others, support EPI in improvement of cold chain managment through installation of solar energy at health faclitites and staff houses, and procurement of some immunization cold chain equipment including introduction of a web-based remote temperature monitoring system for fridges in health centres. However, the capacity gap for quality cold chain management including use of photovoltatic panels for solar direct drive refrigerators at EPI Unit remains a challenge. This therefore poses a challenge as without impartation of skills to the existing EPI staff on cold chain management and reliable power source to maintain quality cold chain system, reliance on partners’ support would ultimately impact immunization coverage and quality. The purpose of this assignment is provision of technical support to the Ministry of Health in developing a costed investment proposal on use of renewable energy for cold chain management at national and sub-national level.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, health

UNICEF Malawi will adopt a sustainable renewable energy strategy in the pillars and programs of the Malawi Country Program of Cooperation (2019-2023) that contributes to a better life and addresses the impact of climate change of every child in Malawi. Within this framework, a feasibility and costing analysis to assure a reliable and sustainable energy supply at national and sub national cold stores for immunization program will contribute to UNICEF Malawi Country Program Goals through the promotion of a sustainable renewable energy strategy to safely and reliably store vaccines at key storage locations in Malawi. This is guided by the UNICEF Executive directive “Addressing the Impact of Climate Change on Children” of March 2016 instructing all UNICEF Country Offices (COs) to incorporate climate change and related issues in their Country Programmes.

The results of this feasbility study and costing analysis, with a costed action plan for installation of photovoltatic panels (PV) for immunization cold chain will guide MOH/UNICEF to adopt a sustainable energy strategy at sub-national level and national vaccine stores as planned in Gavi HSIS-III plan. It will contribute to the UNICEF renewable energy strategy proposed for Malawi being developed in close collaboration with the Malawi Donor Coordination Group on Energy and the Malawi Renewable Energy Donor Coordination Group under formation.

This feasibility and costing analysis with detailed costed investment proposal will provide guidance to establish the use of renewable energy to run national and sub-national cold rooms/ cold chain system for health sector, and to plan for resource allcoation under Gavi Health System for Immunization Services (HSIS) grant. This proposed consultancy assignemnt is funded under Gavi HSIS-III tripartite agreement (MOH/Gavi/UNICEF) 2018-2019.

The purpose of this assignment is provision of technical support to the Ministry of Health in developing a costed investment proposal on use of renewable energy for cold chain management at national and sub-national level.

How can you make a difference?

In close collaboration with the Ministry of Health (EPI and Community Health units), Ministry of Energy and UNICEF (Health section and Innovation team) the consultant will carry out feasibility and costing analysis, and develop a detail costed investment proposal (including technical specifications for engeneering and construction) to establish the use of renewable energy in national and sub-national level cold rooms to improve the quality of cold chain management.

The feasibility study should also take into consideration the joint UNICEF collaboration with UNDP to conceptualize and implement a Maintenance and Service Delivery System for photovoltatic panel  installations in the primary health, education and community water sectors leveraging on opportunities such as the Malawi Innovation Challenge Fund (MICF) supported by UNDP and UNICEF innovations programs and the weak solar entrepreneurial capacity in Malawi. Contributions to the National Climate Change Policy supported by UNDP such as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) and National Adaptation Plan (NAP) should also be taken into consideration.

The specific tasks are outlined below:

1. Assess the present energy supply and operational constraints relating to energy supply and reliable and sustainable operation of the national and sub national vaccine cold stores.
2. Assess the present and projected energy needs of the national and sub national vaccine cold stores.
3. Review the emerging policy, regulatory, grid expansion plans in Malawi
4. Review the national capacity (MoH and private sector) to manage and implement innovations which assures sustainable energy supply and the transitional situation as policies and the national grid capacities develop.
5. Explore innovative management and operational strategies inclusive of buy, own and transfer (BOT), Captive generation through Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) and leasing mechanisms.
6. Conduct feasibility and costing study to establish the use of renewable energy to run national and sub-national cold rooms/ manage cold chain system
7. Develop a detail costed investment proposal with scenarios for sustainable (solar) energy and energy storage[1] solutions and investment models which can used to solicit funding.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have

Desired competencies, technical background and experience

• Advanced university degree from a recognized academic institution in any of the following areas is required: Engineering, Renewable Energy, Public Health Economics or relevant field.
• A Minimum of 8 years of progressively responsible professional work experience at the national and international levels in energy management solutions : energy efficiency and renewable energy planning,  renewable energy technologies (engineering, construction and performance monitoring), and management of renewable energy in social sector.
• Proven experience in energy efficiency assessments, feasibility and cost-benefit analysis on energy need, identifying technology solutions, risk analysis, renewable energy planning with detailed technical specifications and engineering design, and management of renewable energy in social sector (preferably in health facility settings and for immunization cold chain management)
• Demonstrated evidence to design business models for sustainable operation of renewable energy management systems and costed investment proposal on renewable energy for social sector (preferably in health facility settings and for immunization cold chain management).
• Have good analytical and communication skill to carry out technical feasibility analysis and develop costed investment proposal on use of renewable energy in social sectors (health, education, WASH)

Administrative issues

The assignment requires the consultant to be in Malawi that requires engaging with partners as well as the focal person in Ministry of Health, Department of Energy, UNICEF and UNDP. The writing up and analysis can be done out of Malawi, if preferred. The consultant will however need to present the draft documents as well as the final report to UNICEF and stakeholders in workshops and meetings. At the beginning of the assignment, the consultant is expected to produce and agree with UNICEF on work plan schedules that include onsite and remote support.

The Consultant will work closely with the UNICEF Health Program Specialist and UNICEF Innovation Specialist to assist Ministry of Health and Department of Energy for feasibility and costing analysis on use of renewable energy for health sector. The Consultant is expected to work closely with the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) Unit, Planning Unit, Physical Asset Management (PAM) and Community Health Services (CHS) unit of the Ministry of Health, relevant departments of the Ministry of Energy and UNDP to develop the costed investment proposal including implementation plan and technical specifications. The broader group of stakeholders shall be up-dated and continue to be engaged throughout the process.

The assignment will be undertaken with frequent visits to the Ministry of Health (EPI Unit, Planning Unit, CHSS Unit, and Vaccine Stores) and Department of Energy. As indicated in “Expected Deliverables” in the table above, the total work period under this technical assistance is 2.5 months.

Reporting

The consultant will report to the Chief of Health, UNICEF Malawi and work closely with the Health Specialists of Health Section, Innovation Specialist and ESM consultant with regular up-dates to Government stakeholders.

It is expected that the consultant prepares implemenattion plan with timeline of the assignment, outlining planned tasks and concrete steps to be undertaken to acomplished the tasks within the scheduled plan. Regular discussions will be held whilst in office, while out in the field, the consultant is expected to stay in touch via telephone, e-mails and other means such as Skype.

Conditions

• Transport will be provided to the consultant during Field travel.
• No contract may commence unless the contract is signed by both UNICEF and the consultant.
• No travel should take place without an email travel authorization from section prior to the commencement of the journey from the duty station.
• Standard UNICEF procedures will apply for invoicing and all other financial management requirements set out in the contract. Standard penalty clauses will also apply for late and poor-quality deliverables. The study Technical Committee will provide the consultant with the criteria for the evaluation of the quality of each deliverable.
• Additional details of UNICEF rules, regulations and conditions will be attached to the contract.
• The assignment is an on-site support.

How to Apply

Candidates are requested to submit the following documents together with their application:

• UN P11 Form (download here) and Curriculum Vitae
• Three examples of related works
• References and/or Reference Letters
• Candidates should indicate their all-inclusive fees (including subsistence costs, as applicable, together with the cost of services to be provided).

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.