Mozambique: Senior Consultant, Solar-Powered Irrigation

Objectives/Purpose of the Assignment

The consultant will be responsible for assisting in the stakeholder engagement process, both at institutional (central) and at provincial levels, as well as for the screening and selection of at least 70 potential farms suitable for solar-powered irrigation systems in Zambezia province and preparation of detailed feasibility studies for fifteen (15) solar-powered irrigation farms with high economic potential. The main purpose of the feasibility study is to provide GGGI with analyses and recommendations that will support FUNAE and Enabel in their decision-making with regard to the implementation of solar photovoltaics installation for irrigation farms. 

The stakeholder consultation will consist of:

• Engaging with relevant institutional partners at central and provincial levels;
• Organizing/delivering a workshop (virtual or physical) to sensitize partners regarding the project during the first month of performance of the assignment.

This feasibility study for each of the farms will entail:

• Assessment of identified sites: review of the proposed project sites selected by GGGI, FUNAE and the respective ministries, and assess the community capability and investment contribution to the proposed project activity.
• Socio-economic impact: forecast the impact of the proposed project activity on agriculture yield, farms’ revenue, gender equality and food security.
• System Capacity: assess the energy demand and water requirements of each of the project sites.
• Applicable Technology: review the available technology in the market and recommend the best technology for the project and fix the efficiency level of the equipment.
• Cost Estimation: review all aspects of the project component and prepare a detailed breakdown of cost estimate of each component of each of the project sites.
• Revenue potential: review and validate assumptions related to revenue generation potential of the solar -powered irrigation farms.

Scope of Work

The consultant will be expected to undertake the following tasks:

Pre-Visit:

• Assist GGGI by engaging with relevant government stakeholders (ministries, FUNAE, Enabel and other development partners, irrigation institution, regional directorate) to obtain a longlist of priority sites/areas for intervention.
• Engage with regional/subnational actors to identify and filter farmers in the prioritized areas.
• Participate in briefing and consultative meetings on the assignment in Maputo and in the field with GGGI and government officials.
• Familiarize with the local energy context, the energy policies and national irrigation plans.
• Organize/deliver a workshop (virtual or physical) to sensitize partners regarding the project during the inception period.
• Determine, in consultation with the GGGI project team, the most appropriate methods for conducting the feasibility study and preparatory work needed.
• Prepare plan for approval by GGGI and FUNAE incorporating: data collection methods, data collection instruments, resources required and plans to ensure ethical data collection.
• Design and deliver comprehensive information for GGGI project staff (and partners) on key aspects of the feasibility study including how data will be collected (process, methods, and tools), analyzed, interpreted, and reported.

Visit:

• Conduct project site visits and agreed methodology with the GGGI project team, beneficiaries and stakeholders;
• Data collection at the field level from target beneficiaries
• Provide feedback to GGGI throughout visit and share summary of the study, observations, and recommendations

Post-Visit:

• System design and recommendations based on the data collected.
• Debrief project management and the respective Ministries on the process and preliminary findings of the technical assessment
• Prepare a draft report of the feasibility study report and share it with the GGGI project team and team. The draft report will be subject to discussion by relevant program staff.
• Prepare and submit comprehensive, well-structured report of the feasibility study.
• Support GGGI project team with the preparation and submission of the determined pipeline, inclusive of completed technical and financial feasibility studies, to FUNAE.

Output/Reporting Requirements/Deliverables

The consultant is expected to come up with a report with chapters/sections for each of the proposed project sites in Mozambique, as well as recommendations on their feasibility. The expected outputs of the Consultant/Service Provider are as follows (however, the Consultant/Service Provider may be required to produce additional output(s) as deemed reasonably necessary by GGGI): 

a) Stakeholder consultation

1. Engaging with relevant institutional partners at central and provincial levels;
2. Organizing/delivering a workshop (virtual or physical) to sensitize partners regarding the project during the first month of performance of the assignment.

b) Site Identification and Assessment including:

1. Design of selection questionnaire for proposed sites/farms;
2. Prioritization matrix for the shortlisting of suitable sites/farms from the list provided by GGGI, FUNAE and Enabel;
3. Identification of optimum sites/farms: minimum 5 hectares with an overall extension of 100 hectares;
4. Site visits and gathering of relevant data and information

c) Interim Report for the feasibility study of each of the selected farms

    Draft Report for the study to include, among other chapters:

1. Methodology of the feasibility assessment
2. Project Technical assessment, including detailed engineering drawings for the PV and irrigation systems
3. Project Social and Environmental assessment
4. Project Socio-economic impact
5. Project Bill of Quantities and specifications
6. Project Risks and mitigation strategy

The draft report will be reviewed by GGGI project team, Enabel, FUNAE and relevant ministries prior to compilation of the final report. 

d) Final Report of the feasibility studies integrating the above listed information, and all comments from the review sessions. Presentation material, including 2-page project summaries and PowerPoint presentations for each of the farms.

All reports and outputs must be in English, in accordance with GGGI’s formatting requirements, and submitted in hard copy and electronic formats along with complete sets of raw data, research materials, and interview notes. It may occur that the Consultant will be asked to prepare summaries and or brief PowerPoint presentations in Portuguese. Any cost of official translation of extended documents shall be borne by GGGI through the project.

The project is expected to start on the 1^st of October 2020 and be completed by the 28^th of February 2021 with a payment schedule and tentative timetable as follow:

Qualifications/Experience/Expertise 

• 10-15 years of relevant experience in water engineering, hydrology, soil assessment, renewable energy system design and design of irrigation facilities in Mozambique or countries with similar socio-economic context;
• Master’s degree in engineering or equivalent combination of relevant education and experience;
• Knowledge of Zambezia province, Mozambique, as well as ability to travel to remote locations .
• Ability to participate in multi-disciplinary teams and to work independently.
• Strong knowledge of key stakeholders in Mozambique energy and agriculture sector;
• The Consultant should be locally based or have the ability to enter and work in Mozambique without the restrictions currently imposed on international travelers.
• Fluency in English and Portuguese.

Additional Information 

• Contract duration: October 2020 - February 2021 
• Contract value: up to USD 35,000 (dependent on candidate's credentials)
• Project Timetable: see attached

Date to close is Korean Standard Time (KST). Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered. Applications and CVs must be sent in English.   

Child protection – GGGI is committed to child protection, irrespective of whether any specific area of work involves direct contact with children. GGGI’s Child Protection Policy is written in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child.