GENERAL INFORMATION
| Title of the mission | Prefeasibility mission supporting project design on cross-border electricity transmission in Southern Asia |
| Beneficiary(ies) | Expertise France |
| Countries | Home Based, India, Bangladesh and Nepal |
| Total duration of planned days | 30 expert/days |
| Desired start day | 22 April 2024 |
| Desired end date of service | 22 October 2024 |
CONTEXT:
Presentation of Expertise France
Expertise France is the French agency for international technical cooperation and part of the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) Group. Expertise France designs and implements projects that sustainably strengthen public policies in developing and emerging countries. It operates in key development areas such as governance, health, education and environment and works alongside its partners to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Expertise France’s job is to support, advise and train national and local authorities in the definition and implementation of quality public policies adapted to the needs of the population. Focusing on the transfer of dialogue between peers, our interventions aim to strengthen the capacities of partner countries. We contribute to the emergence of innovative solutions adapted to the local context by bringing together the best know-how.
Expertise France advises and supports partner institutions – central administrations, regional organisations, local authorities, civil society organisations, etc. – from the definition of their needs to the final evaluation of activities carried out.
Context and background of the project (based on EU Action Document)
The South Asian region, specifically comprising of India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Sri Lanka, faces significant challenges, hindering the development of a regional energy market. South Asia’s contribution to global emissions is rapidly increasing, moreover the region is highly vulnerable to climate change. Countries in the region are increasingly aware of the importance to engage in climate change mitigation action and transition to renewable energy including from an energy security and competitiveness perspective. South Asia’s energy sector mix varied from country to country but is largely dominated by fossil fuels. There is significant potential for renewable energy development, but the lack of investment funds, market integration or policy frameworks prevents the energy transition at scale.
Cross-border electricity trade will improve energy security, increased access to clean and affordable electricity, increased economic growth and cooperation in the region, and unlock the region’s full renewable energy potential and promote a fair and inclusive green energy transition.
Expertise France (EF), is considering the implementation of the project and wants to assess beneficiaries and potential partners’ needs and capacities, in order to prepare adequate design options with the project. This mission is crucial to analyse gaps and design the project.
OBJECTIVES AND EXPECTED RESULTS OF THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE (TA):
General objective of the TA
The International Energy Expert will support and provide advice to EF as regards the content and objective of the actions to be developed and the elaboration of the project description.
Specific objectives of the TA
Provide regional (Southern Asia) context analysis (national energy infrastructures and regulation, regional challenges and opportunities)
- Analyse risks and political issues in the region
- Present EU experience and expertise in the field of national and regional market design and management
- Make a gap analysis: map of actors and potential partners, strength and weaknesses of projects and initiatives already implemented in the area and on the subject
- Identify and assess possible activities and joint implementation setups
- Support the design and drafting of project proposal, adding technical inputs
DESCRIPTION OF THE MISSION:
ACTIVITIES
The consultant will have to accompany Expertise France in the conduct of the following activities:
Mission planning session and reading some key documents, before the mission on May:
- Identify key documents and project ‘baseline’ state and key issues to be discussed and with whom during mission
- Joint exchange with EF/ EUD to demonstrate understanding and stakes of project design, and AFD (field and Paris offices) and to clarify knowledge of technical and regional issues and partners
- Propose key questions and methodology (institutional presentation of project by EF and technical pitch by consultant) for interviews
Conduct a 13 days’ mission in New Delhi, Dhaka and Kathmandu with Expertise France (specific logistical details tbc):
- Accompany EF during all meetings
- Collecting data and information, and share EF/EU experiences with other donors, cooperation agencies and key actors on the field
- Listing of key actors and mapping of similar existing projects to identify what results/partners/regional or international events the project can/should capitalize on and what gaps/niches can/should be addressed by EF directly in terms of contents and types of activities
- Specify the operational issues and identify operational risks and issues related to the project and the intervention context
- Understand the different technical needs of each country involved in the project.
Support Expertise France in writing a project description in partnership with the Project Manager, responsible for the technical support part and advising on team composition and methodology. This work will include:
- Context and sector analysis: description of the framework at the national level, organisation of the sector and institutional analysis of stakeholders, actions of donors and main actors
- Identify and consult with key partners and stakeholders (authorities, civil society private sector, technical and financial partners, etc.) on electric transmission
- Identify and analyse past, ongoing and planned initiatives in the area on the thematic
- Identification of the main issues and development levers of the project and intervention methodology
- Draft description of possible activities to be discussed with the EU and beneficiaries, including the justification for each proposed activity in terms of achieving the logical framework, added technical value (for individual – or group of – beneficiary countries or regionally), feasibility, the objectives and results to be achieved, the methods and expertise required for its implementation and its indicative duration
- Support to the drafting of project document: Context and justification of the action, description of operational risks and possible solutions to solve them, technical and logistical resources to be mobilised, a theory of change and comments/proposed adjustments logical framework, gender issues will be integrated, overall planning, advice on budget, institutional and contractual set-up (calls for tenders, direct subsidies, calls for projects, technical assistance, etc), sizing of the teams (dimension the human resources needs, long term and short term expertise).
The expert will ensure cross-cutting attention to:
- The integration of the risks related to the institutional context (current political, economic and social situation) in the development of the technical proposal
- The promotion synergies between other interventions
- Underlining the value-added of the EU’s regional intervention
All the documents must take into account the possible revisions of the stakeholders and donors and are an integral part of the expert’s mission.
EXPECTED DELIVERABLES AND PLANNING:
The expected timeline of the expert’s activities is as follows:
| Delivrables | H.J | Where | Period |
| Activity 1 – Preparation of the field mission (methodology, interview preparation) with Expertise France (headquarters / or telephone meeting) | 4 | Home based | April/May |
| Mission | 13 | India, Bangladesh, Nepal | May/June |
| Activity 2 – Mission report with a mapping of other interventions and stakeholders, key challenges, opportunities and implementation issues to be discussed with EF/EU/partners | 3 | Home based | July |
| Activity 3 – Support drafting EF proposal for the EU with: – Context and sector analysis – Description of operational risks and possible solutions to solve them – Technical and logistical resources to be mobilized – Theory of change – Logical framework matrix – Overall planning – Detailed budget of activities – Institutional and contractual set-up – Team composition and organisation
| 10 | Home based | Jul |
| Total | 30 Expert/days | ||
| Deliverables | Timing (indicative) |
| 1. Mission report with a map of other interventions and stakeholders | 10 days after the mission (1 July) |
| 2. Contributions to EF proposal for the EU | 30 days after the mission (30 July) |
| 3. Adjustments to proposal | 90 days after the mission (30 Sept) |
The templates provided by Expertise France can be used to develop all these documents.
A kick-off meeting will be held after the notification of the contract.
Expériences / Formation
The International Energy Expert will be an energy expert with a large experience and proven track record in transmission of energy sector in transition countries (previous experience in countries of the project is preferable). She/he will also need to evidence an in-depth experience in renewable energy, energy efficiency, consumer protection, climate change and electricity market.
Expertise France will evaluate candidates according to the following criteria:
Education / qualification :
- University degree (BA or MA or equivalent) in energy/electricity or related fields
- Good communication and reporting skills
- Teamwork and interpersonal skills
- Synthesis and writing skills
- Fluent in spoken and written English and French, Hindu, Bengali and Nepali would be an asset
Professional experience :
- A minimum of 10 years of working experience in the energy field, on electric transmission issues preferably
- Experience working on inter-agency/administration cooperation will be a strong asset
- Experience of international cooperation and regional international Technical Assistance projects
- Experience in EU financed projects
- Experience working in the region (India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka) will be an asset
Additional specific requirements:
- Excellent understanding of cross-border electricity transmission market
- Strong capacities in devising effective implementation modalities and impactful activities
- Strong ability to understand energy related policies
- Ability to adjust attention and level of technicality to different types of audience
Salaire
- Beginning of the contract: April 2024
- Expected Implementation period: until mid-October 2024
- Budget: based on the candidate profile
- Working conditions: The expert will be home based with 13 days of travel to Dacca, New Delhi and Kathmandu with EF (TBC).
Comment postuler
Applications (technical and financial offers) should include the following documents and information:
– CV with references;
– Cover letter;
– Examples of deliverables and achievements produced on the same area of intervention;
– Daily rate.