International consultant for energy sector assessment and design of energy program framework

Background

UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet. UNDP has been working in Afghanistan for more than 50 years on climate change and resilience, gender, governance, health, livelihoods, and rule of law. Under the broader framework of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and in close coordination with other UN agencies, UNDP is supporting Afghan people’s aspiration for peace, prosperity, and sustainability. UNDP is currently implementing its flagship crisis response Programme, ABADEI (Area Based Approach to Development Emergency Initiatives), as part of the ongoing UN-led response to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe and the breakdown of Afghanistan’s economy following the August 2021 shift in power.

UNDP is partnering with Asian Development Bank (ADB) through the recently launched USD 405 million grant for the “Sustaining Essential Services Delivery Project (Support for Afghan People) to alleviate the adverse effect of the crisis. The objective of the intervention is to sustain delivery of essential public services and food security to ease the adverse impact of economic disruptions on the welfare and livelihoods of the most vulnerable population groups in Afghanistan. The ADB grant will be implemented through separate projects delivered by UNDP, UNICEF, WFP, and FAO as executing agencies. The allocation to UNDP will focus on monitoring the overall support for Afghan people and conducting socio-economic assessments and on-demand research to support the possible Phase 2.

Energy Context:

Energy access gap has been significant and widening in Afghanistan for both clean cooking and electricity. Only a third of the population is connected to the grid and more than two -third rely on solid fuels for cooking. Approx. 80% of the current supply to meet the average demand of power at 864 MW is from imports from neighboring Iran, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. If suppressed demand is included, then the power demand would double. This poses significant energy security as well as risks to the intensification of extreme poverty, migratory crises, and conflict outbreaks.

Closing the gap in supply and demand for Afghan power sector is of utmost significance. However, the sector faces many challenges due to delayed infrastructure development, including major grid rehabilitation and expansion, limited development in new generation projects due to unattractive conditions for private investors, high perceived risk, and limited government resources for investment among many other factors. There is no clear framework for cooking energy sources.

The situation, post 15th August 2021, prima facie, indicates, further deterioration impacting the basic services in health, education, and livelihoods sectors that are better served with energy access and reliability. A more sustainable solution to the above can be found in renewable energy. Afghanistan’s total renewable energy (solar, wind, biomass and geothermal) potential is estimated at 319.5 GW. There is an urgent need to capitalize renewable energy resources with a view to both increasing the delivery of electricity and energy services (including cooking energy source) to the population and developing domestic business opportunities both directly linked to RE technology and linked to improved access to reasonably priced electricity. This would enable effective and efficient humanitarian assistance and support sustainable development. It will further contribute towards achieving SDG7 goal: to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all. Achieving other SDGs also hinges on energy.

The proposed study is aligned towards preparation of an energy Programme framework for Afghanistan for potential assistance from ADB in subsequent phases in partnership with other donors and stakeholders.

Duties and Responsibilities

Objective of the assignment

The objective of this assessment is to support efforts in generation of evidence for actions to transform energy sector of Afghanistan for its sustainable development. The study would gain insights into factors influencing energy sector development of Afghanistan, post 15th August 2021 for enabling community resilience with basic needs fueled by energy access. It will identify appropriate solutions - technologies and delivery modalities to provide and invest in energy services using a community driven area-based development approach.

Key Tasks: (indicative)

1. Analysis and review of energizing options as measured against social, environmental, technical, financial, economic, and operational factors. The assessment will derive these insights based on evidence and ongoing efforts by the international community in similar or other contexts and include micro-hydro power (MHP), stand-alone solar, renewable energy mini-grids, and on-grid sub-projects and clean cooking technologies and options. The assessment should also include an analysis of the situation with the generation,transmissionand distribution projects, implementation of which has been suspended after 15 August 2021.

2. Develop framework for providing guidance on making energy services delivery choices; a) Economic cost- efficiency in delivering electricity and clean cooking options using various technologies through area based approach;b) Financial viability and long term sustainability;and c) Other attributes that affect sustainability of the energy interventions including, functionality and reliability, effectiveness in providing management and operations and maintenance (O&M), cost recovery, environmental (local and global) impacts, and social acceptance, among others.

3. Characterize risk sbasedon risk analysis of community-based projects(forexample,technical and behavioural aspects affecting load management and cost recovery,etc.); and value chain o fmanufacturers and businesses in the Afghan market, including fuel supply chains to support energy interventions.

4.  Identify community modalities necessary for electricity and clean cooking fuel supply, including understanding the effectiveness and sustainability of using a community-led implementation. modality, alternative financing structures, exploring community buy-in for large scale infrastructure investments particularly pertaining to renewable energy options.

5. Evolve a programme concept for potential investments for transformation of energy sector of Afghanistan based on barriers analysis to expanding energy access enabling job creation and supporting livelihoods and sustainability and increasing thrust on decentralized and distributed renewable energy solutions.

6. Propose strategies to devise partnerships with international community, private sector and others for improved project development and delivery of energy services to critical infrastructure investments such as health, education, agriculture and irrigation, water supply, SMEs, industries, and others (public safety,

7. Develop the implementation road map for the above programme including financial mechanisms such as guarantees for private sector participation, and approaches to reduce time-to-delivery, to tap potential opportunities for innovations and community engagement and costs with infrastructure investments.

8. Identify financing modalities and mechanisms for the recommended programme along with the associated risks, opportunities and challenges.

9. Developing a roadmap on promoting clean alternatives for cooking in domestic households for enhanced penetration of energy efficient and renewable energy-based applications. The roadmap provides an implementation framework to address both demand and supply side interventions for cooking through an enabling environment for private sector engagement and feasibility.

10. Recommend actionable investment planning processes, project execution practices andoversight to improve schedule, cost, and quality performance.

11. Stakeholder’s conference and finalise resource mobilization for UNDP supported.

The consultant will be responsible for data collation, review, and analysis in line with the Transitional engagement Framework adopted by UN. Apart from collation of secondary data, the Consultant will undertake field visits and gather information from actual sites as necessary. Learning from the field visits are to be captured as best practice case studies. A national consultant will be recruited to support the international consultant

Deliverables:

	Key Deliverable	Suggested Schedule (from commencement of assignment)	Work location
	Inception Report highlighting Approach and methodology for the assessment. Detailed assessment framework	4 weeks	Home-based
	Baseline study report Assessment of current situation of renewable energy in Afghanistan. Assessment of the existing energy sector support projects funding by ADB. Assessment of energy sector post 15 August 2021.	6 weeks	Kabul, Afghanistan
	Development of energy programme conceptual framework Recommendations for potential interventions in the energy sector to be funded by UNDP, ABD or any other stakeholders.	9 weeks	Home – based and Kabul, Afghanistan

	Stakeholder workshop Report capturing the summary of discussions held with different stakeholders working in the energy sector	12 weeks	Kabul, Afghanistan
	Final Report Different scenarios for potential energy program in the future Findings of stakeholder’s workshops. Specific recommendations for future interventions in the energy sector.	15 weeks	Home – based.

 

Payment Modality:

Payments under the contract shall be delivery-based and the payment will be upon receipt, acceptance, and approval of deliverables as per ToR’s specific milestones indicated above and shall be deemed delivered upon the approval of the NFM Project Manager.

Wroking arrangement:

Institutional Arrangements:

The international thematic consultant (energy) will work under the overall supervision of the Senior Deputy Resident Representative, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Afghanistan, under the direct supervision of the NFM Project Manager, and under the technical guidance of Portfolio Specialist, Sustainability.

Duration of the Work:

The expected duration of the work is up to 70 working days (spread over 4 months).

Duty Station

The consultancy will be Home based with travel to Afghanistan and target provinces (40 working days home – based and 30 working days in Afghanistan).

• This is amixed assignment home-basedandin-country(Kabul,

• Part of this assignment required the individual to travel to Kabul,Afghanistan(3visits,10day

• Any change to the preliminary travel plan/schedule above, in such cases, UNDP will cover travel costs in accordance with corporate regulations and rules.

• If unforeseen travel outside the consultant defined city or home-based is being requested by UNDP and not required by theTerms of References(ToR),such travels hall becovered by UNDP in line with applicable rules and regulations and upon prior written agreement. In such cases, the consultant shall receive living allowances not exceeding the United Nations (UN) Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) rate for such other

Note: A written approval from UNDP and relevant authorities will be required to facilitate the consultant's travel to other locations than Riyadh on official missions where necessary.

CONFIDENTIALITY AND PROPRIETARY INTERESTS:

The Individual Consultant shall not either during the term or after termination of the assignment, disclose any proprietary or confidential information related to the consultancy service without prior written consent. Proprietary interests on all materials and documents prepared by the consultants under the assignment shall become and remain properties of the concerned Bureaus and UNDP.

• All materials developed will remain the copyright of UNDP Afghanistan. UNDP Afghanistan will be free to adapt and modify them in the future.

Competencies

Core competencies:

• Builds staff competence and creates an environment of creativity and innovation.

• Builds and promotes effective teams.

• Creates and promotes environment for open communications.

• Leverages conflict in the interest of UNDP and sets standards.

• Shares knowledge across the organization and builds a culture of knowledge sharing and learning.

 

Required Skills and Experience

The international Thematic consultant should have:

• Master’s degree in energy,engineering,or other related

  Required experience:

  The international Thematic consultant should have:

• At least 10 years relevant professional experience in the energy sector.

• Experience in energy sector and deep knowledge and understanding of energy sector in Afghanistan.

• Proven expertise in the field of energy strategy design and implementation at senior level in complex settings is essential;

• Experience of working in a post-conflict context such as Afghanistan is highly desirable.

  Language:

  Excellent written and verbal English skills is a necessary requirement.

PRICE PROPOSAL AND SCHEDULE OF PAYMENTS

 The individual consultant shall submit a price proposal as below:

• Daily Fee. The consultant shall propose a daily fee which should be inclusive of his/her professional fee, local communication cost, insurance (inclusive of medical health and medical evacuation), The number of working days for which the daily fee shall be payable under the contract 70 working days.

• DSA/Living Allowance-The consultant shall be separately paid the DSA as per applicable UNDP rate,if required. The consultant need not quote for DSA in Financial Proposal. The consultant is expected to conduct 3 visits to Afghanistan each visit for 10 days.

• Travel and Visa. The consultant shall include lumpsum cost of travel and visa expenses for Kabul, within the Financial Proposal. The consultant is expected to conduct 3 visits to Afghanistan each visit for 10 days.

• Payment. The total professional fee shall be converted into a lump sum contract and payments under the contract shall be made on submission and acceptance of deliverable sunder the contract in accordance with the above-mentioned schedule of payment.

Payment shall be made as a deliverables-based lump sum payment, to be paid in the following instalments. The schedule of payment will be distributed upon satisfactory submission of the deliverables listed in the table hereunder:

Payment	Deliverables	Payment Percentage
1st Payment	Upon submission of Inception Report highlighting Approach and methodology for the assessment. Detailed assessment framework	10%
2nd Payment	Upon submission of Baseline study report Assessment of current situation of renewable energy in Afghanistan. Assessment of the existing energy sector support projects funding by ADB. Assessment of energy sector post 15 August 2021.	10%
3rd Payment	Upon development of energy programme conceptual framework Recommendations for potential interventions in the energy sector to be funded by UNDP, ABD or any other stakeholders.	20%
4th Payment	Upon conducting Stakeholder workshop Report capturing the summary of discussions held with different stakeholders working in the energy sector	15%
Final Payment	Upon submission of the final assignment report including: Different scenarios for potential energy program in the future Findings of stakeholder’s workshops. Specific recommendations for future interventions in the energy sector.	45%

For each payment a certification of payment shall be signed and approved by the designated supervisor/ Programme Manager attached to it explaining the accomplishment of the deliverables corresponding to the respective quarterly progress report.

Evaluation Method and Criteria:

The individual consultant will be evaluated based on the following methodology:

The award of the contract shall be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

• Responsive/compliant/acceptable, and

• Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

* Technical Criteria weight 70%

* Financial Criteria weight 30%

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points (70% of the total technical points) would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

1. Criteria 1: Minimum of 10 years of experience in the energy sector and strong knowledge of Afghanistan’s energy sector– 20 points

2. Criteria 2: Experience working with the UN and with multi-stakeholders: governments, NGOs, ADB, the UN/ multilateral/bilateral institutions and donor entities; - 15 points

3. Education qualification: Minimum Master’s degree in energy, engineering, or other related fields- 10 point

4. Criteria 3:Interview 25 points.

Financial Evaluation (30%):

The following formula will be used to evaluate financial proposal:

p = y (µ/z), where

p = points for the financial proposal being evaluated

y = maximum number of points for the financial proposal

µ = price of the lowest priced proposal

z = price of the proposal being evaluated

PRICE PROPOSAL AND SCHEDULE OF PAYMENTS

The consultant shall submit a price proposal as below:

The consultant will be required to submit a Financial Proposal on the prescribed form as attached with the TOR as Annex-2 

• Daily Fee: The consultant shall propose a daily fee which should be inclusive of his/her professional fee, local communication cost, insurance (inclusive of medical health and medical evacuation), The number of working days for which the daily fee shall be payable under the contract 70 working days.

• DSA/Living Allowance-The consultant shall be separately paid the DSA as per applicable UNDP rate, if required. The consultant need not quote for DSA in Financial Proposal. The consultant is expected to conduct 3 visits to Afghanistan each visit for 10 days.

• Travel and Visa. The consultant shall include lumpsum cost of travel and visa expenses for Kabul, within the Financial Proposal. The consultant is expected to conduct 3 visits to Afghanistan each visit for 10 days.

• Payment. The total professional fee shall be converted into a lump sum contract and payments under the contract shall be made on submission and acceptance of deliverables under the contractin accordance with the above-mentioned schedule of payment.

Note: The consultant needs to arrange his/her own laptop through the entire duration of assignment. 

Documents to be included when submitting the proposals:

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications merged into one single PDF document:

1. Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references.

• Annex 2 -  Financial Proposal Template using the template provided by UNDP (to be completed at later stage upon request by UNDP);

Annexes (click on the hyperlink to access the documents):

All materials developed will remain the copyright of UNDP Afghanistan.  UNDP Afghanistan will be free to adapt and modify them in the future.

Annexes (click on the hyperlink to access the documents):

• Annex 1 - IC Contract Template (for information);
• Annex 2 -  Financial Proposal Template using the template provided by UNDP (to be completed at later stage upon request by UNDP);
• Annex 3 – IC General Terms and Conditions (for information);
• Annex 4 – RLA Template (if consultant wishes to be recruited through an employer) - (for information).