Mercy Corps recherche un Consultant – Soutien aux initiatives d’accès renforcé à l’énergie dans les situations de déplacement (SUSTAINED), Kampala, Ouganda
Background:
Energy drives development. Access to clean and sustainable energy can transform lives and entire communities, whilst also contributing to self-reliance and social cohesion. Millions of lives are transformed when women can venture out in the evenings without fear, when children can study or read after nightfall, when health centres are better equipped to save lives, and when families have access to income-generating activities and information from radio, television and the internet.
To speed up the energy transition in developing countries and fight climate change and poverty, more than 25 organisations in the Netherlands have teamed up. Participants of the NL Energy Compact include companies, financiers, knowledge institutes, development and humanitarian organisations, and government organisations. The Compact aims to tackle SDG7 challenges by bringing together the expertise, innovation, networks, investment and implementing power of stakeholders from the Netherlands. Together and individually, we will support a just and inclusive energy transition that is gender sensitive, locally led and globally connected.
SUSTAINED
With one of the lowest per capita electricity consumption rates in the world and over 90% of households relying on charcoal for cooking, Uganda has an acute need for improved energy access – particularly in displacement contexts. Currently, Uganda hosts more than 1 million refugees, mostly from South Sudan and the DRC. Approximately 97% of displaced populations in Uganda burn biomass for cooking, which has broad repercussions for individuals (e.g. health and safety) and the environment at large.
As part of the NL Energy Compact, CARE Nederland, Mercy Corps Netherlands and Oxfam Novib want to collectively bridge the gap where business traditionally stops and humanitarian aid begins by increasing access to, and use of, quality, reliable, affordable and clean energy sources. Building upon extensive knowledge on, and experience in, working in displacement settings, conflict-sensitivity, community engagement and advocacy, CARE Nederland, Mercy Corps Netherlands and Oxfam Novib are working on a joint program (SUSTAINED) focusing on refugee settlements in Uganda, but designed with scale in mind, potentially to be replicated in other similar contexts outside of Uganda.
SUSTAINED focuses on facilitating safe entry of quality private sector actors in displacement settings to create viable energy markets for access to clean cooking and electricity, whilst providing quality control functions to ensure vulnerable populations can equitably and informed access quality products and services, built on reliable and sustainable infrastructure. See more detailed 3-pager here.
Purpose / Project Description:
In collaboration with the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), CARE Nederland, Mercy Corps Netherlands and Oxfam Novib are looking to contract a business consultant to support the country teams to conduct some landscaping analysis and in-depth research and information gathering. This will help to further define the strategic direction and support strategies development to take SUSTAINED to the next level. The work will have overall oversight and management by CARE Nederland, Mercy Corps Netherlands and Oxfam Novib country teams in Uganda, and Netherlands-based teams. The key focal point will be Mercy Corps/E4I representative. The consultant will refine the research questions and approach in collaboration with the entire team and will actively support areas led by these team members.
Consultant Objectives:
The consultant will work with the CARE Nederland, Mercy Corps Netherlands and Oxfam Novib and country teams to:
- Review extensive literature, available resources / data / information amongst SUSTAINED and Energy Compact members as well as other on-going interventions in Uganda refugee setting;
- Develop a stakeholder mapping (including governmental actors, private sector companies, national and international NGOs, civil society organizations, financial institutions, investors, UN agencies, and other humanitarian actors) and an analysis of related roles in SUSTAINED, including NL Energy Compact members;
- Develop an in-depth understanding of the energy needs and related market in refugee settings in Uganda for households and businesses and the role of the NL Energy Compact to contribute to this goal;
- Develop a roadmap of needed interventions (including customer sensitization) towards a sustainable market development for clean cooking and electricity in Ugandan refugee settings;
- Identify the gaps to address during a 12-18 month program start-up phase to follow after the initiation phase.
- Develop a list of potential donors and partners for future funding opportunities
- Engage in 2 in-person or remote workshop (1 in Uganda and 1 in the Netherlands) to summarize and present findings and/or to assist in the development of materials to be used during this workshop
- Refine a viable vision for the full 7 to 10 years SUSTAINED program based on the findings, with sustainable business models (including for households, SME’s) at its core, and the priority partnerships which will elevate business development opportunities.
- Based on the above mentioned fundings, develop the full proposal for SUSTAINED program start-up phase for submission in line with donor priorities and existing funding opportunities. Full proposal to include key risks and mitigation and project implementation timeline.
- Develop the budget for SUSTAINED program start-up phase.
Consultant Deliverables:
The Consultant will deliver:
- Overall summary highlighting findings from the points mentioned above (max 10 pages).
- Annotated stakeholders mapping including governmental actors, private sector companies, national and international NGOs, civil society organizations, financial institutions, investors, UN agencies, and other humanitarian actors) and an analysis of related roles in SUSTAINED, including NL Energy Compact members.
- Full proposal for SUSTAINED program start-up phase, including detailed budget.
- Annotated list of potential donors and partners for future funding opportunities.
- PowerPoint summary deck.
Timeframe / Schedule:
The total LoE is estimated in max 50 days
The Consultant will report to: Energy TSU – MCNL
The Consultant will work closely with: CARE Nederland, Mercy Corps Netherlands and Oxfam Novib country teams in Uganda, and Netherlands-based teams.
Required Experience & Skills:
- 5-10 years relevant knowledge and prior experience working on improving access to clean energy in fragile/humanitarian settings via a market based approach;
- Demonstrated experience in business development with a multi-stakeholder approach;
- Demonstrated experience in co-creation with diverse stakeholders, including with CSOs and communities in fragile/humanitarian settings. A team-player;
- In-depth understanding and appreciation of how markets function for bottom of the pyramid consumers, and the rights-based approach; cultural and gender sensitivity;
- Demonstrated experience with holistic ecosystems analysis to prevent unintended side effects on other sectors;
- Knowledge of relevant country and regional agenda’s;
- Proficiency in English (preferably including local languages) and the ability to produce good quality written documents in English;
- Prior knowledge of the NL Energy Compact is beneficial, but not required.
Application requirements and deadline
Interested candidates are expected to provide their expression of interest by November 17, 2022, including the following documentation:
- CV including a minimum of 2 recent and relevant references
- Technical proposal with a response to the TOR including a detailed budget, specifying the daily rate (max. 2 pages in total).
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.
We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.
Equal Employment Opportunity
We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.
Safeguarding & Ethics
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our stakeholders and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC’s policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.