International Consultant – Roster Call for Senior Experts – Energy sector economics and climate resilience (SSAs)

Background:

DISCLAIMER: Please note that this is a roster call for consultancy assignments of a temporary nature, with an expected duration of up to 180 working days within one calendar year, exact duration depending on specific project/activity.

The OSCE has a comprehensive approach to security that encompasses politico-military, economic and environmental, human aspects. It therefore addresses a wide range of security-related concerns, including arms control, confidence and security-building measures, human rights, national minorities, democratization, policing strategies, counterterrorism and economic and environmental activities. All 57 participating States enjoy equal status, and decisions are taken by consensus on a politically, but not legally binding basis.

The OSCE Secretariat in Vienna assists the Chairpersonship in its activities and provides operational and administrative support to the field operations, and, as appropriate, to other institutions.

The Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) deals with economic and environmental issues, operating under the premise that promoting economic prosperity and co-operation on environmental concerns can contribute to peace, security and stability. The OCEEA’s role is twofold: a) to monitor economic and environmental developments among participating States, and alert them to any threat of conflict, and b) to facilitate the formulation of economic and environmental policies and initiatives among participating States, to promote peace and security.
The increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events, such as droughts and floods, coupled with slow-onset events, such as sea level rise and extreme temperatures, pose risks to the energy sector. Climate change impacts the resilience of critical energy infrastructure, causes structural damage, disrupts energy supply and demand, and undermines energy transition planning. The lack of downscaled climate data and their translation into energy engineering tools is preventing pro-active planning to protect critical energy infrastructure from disruptions, leaving energy network operators to respond to climate events with little or no advanced warning. Responding to these challenges, in 2023, the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA), launched an extra-budgetary project “Mitigating Climate Change Threats to the Energy Sector”, implemented in partnership with Argonne National Laboratory.

The main project components are:

• Risk Assessment: mapping the scope of risks posed by climate change to energy systems in the different OSCE sub-regions;
• Access to Climate Data: fostering access to actionable and localized climate projections that meet the needs of the energy sector;
• Capacity Building: enhancing capabilities to read, interpret and use downscaled climate data to prepare energy systems for future climate realities;
• Regional Co-operation: increase co-operation and information exchange among relevant national, regional and international climate and energy stakeholders

The project target regions are: Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan), Eastern Europe (Ukraine, Moldova), South-Eastern Europe (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia), and the Mediterranean (Algeria, Jordan). 

The project Implementing Partner is Argonne National Laboratory. 

Objective of Assignment: 

In order to support the OSCE in the project implementation in the different target regions, the OSCE plans to solicit expressions of interest from senior experts for contractual engagement and inclusion on the roster. 

Duration of Assignment:

The duration of the consultancies will depend on specific activity.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

The consultant(s) would be expected to provide scientific, engineering, analytical, and policy support in the following intersecting domains:  

1. Conducting analysis to identify policy gaps in adapting the energy sector to climate change (e.g., National Energy and Climate Plans);
2. Conducting economic analyses and cost-benefit analyses of energy sector resilience measures, or lack thereof, under changing long-term climate conditions;
3. Communicating complex climate-energy nexus issues, resilience measures, and economic costs to policymakers, investors etc.;
4. Delivering trainings and conducting workshops in the areas above;
5. Familiarity with climate modelling using statistical and dynamic downscaling techniques and high-performance computing;
6. Analyzing downscaled climate models to identify energy risks (e.g., assets exposure, impacts on generation and transmission, changes in operation);
7. Applying climate science to engineering practices for energy systems resilience (e.g., guide planning, design standards)

Deliverables:

For more detailed information on the structure and work of the Secretariat, please see: http://www.osce.org/secretariat

Necessary Qualifications:

• Second-level degree in climate science, energy, economics, environmental science, power engineering, renewable energy, sustainability, climate finance or other relevant fields;
• Minimum 7 years of relevant public and private sector, or academic experience in one or more of the abovementioned areas of expertise, including with international organizations and multilateral financial institutions;
• Experience and political understanding of energy related challenges in at least one of the target regions (Central Asia, Eastern Europe, South-Eastern Europe, Mediterranean);
• Professional fluency in the English language, including excellent communication and drafting skills; professional fluency in the Russian langauge would be an asset (for Central Asia);
• Excellent analytical, mathematical, and writing skills;
• Literacy in energy modelling, data analysis tools and ability to write code for performing analysis would be an asset;
• Demonstrated gender awareness and sensitivity, and an ability to integrate a gender perspective into tasks and activities;
• Ability and willingness to work as a member of team, with people of different cultural, and religious backgrounds, different gender, and diverse political views, while maintaining impartiality and objectivity;
• Computer literate with practical experience using Microsoft Office applications.

Remuneration Package:

Remuneration will be based on the selected consultant’s/expert’s qualifications, experience, the tasks and deliverables for this position and in accordance with the OSCE established rates.

If you wish to apply for this position, please use the OSCE’s online application link found under https://vacancies.osce.org/.

The OSCE retains the discretion to re-advertise/re-post the vacancy, to cancel the recruitment or to offer an appointment with a modified job description or for a different duration.

Only those candidates who are selected to participate in the subsequent stages of recruitment will be contacted.

The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all religious, ethnic and social backgrounds to apply to become a part of the Organization. 

Candidates should be aware that OSCE officials shall conduct themselves at all times in a manner befitting the status of an international civil servant. This includes avoiding any action which may adversely reflect on the integrity, independence and impartiality of their position and function as officials of the OSCE. The OSCE is committed to applying the highest ethical standards in carrying out its mandate. For more information on the values set out in OSCE Competency Model, please see https://jobs.osce.org/resources/document/our-competency-model.

Please be aware that the OSCE does not request payment at any stage of the application and review process.