International Individual Consultant - International Expert - Private Sector Engagement for Renewable Energy (PPP)

1. Facility for Economic Reform (FFEER)

Facility for Economic Reform (FFER) is a programme of support financed by the USAID and implemented by the UNDP to support the Government of Iraq (Federal) and the Kurdistan region in carrying out their economic reform agenda. Given the high importance of Climate Change, Environment and Energy issues to the reforms, based upon request of the GoI, the USAID and UNDP have agreed to provide advisory support on a number of aspects of the climate change adaptation and mitigation, especially with regards to formulation of policies and strategies.

2. Assignment Context:

Iraq is recognized as one of the most affected countries by the harmful effects of climate change. The average temperature is expected to rise by two Celsius degrees and the rainfall is expected to fall by 9% by 2050 due to climate change. Iraq ratified the UNFCCC in the end of 2009 to start its paradigm shift plan to develop non-fossil fuel – dependent industries and develop renewable energy plans and strategies as well as design its national adaptation plan to tackle climate change.

Iraq Vision 2030 is in alignment with the environmental goal to create a clean, safe and sustainable environment for the current and future generations.  Iraq ratified the Paris Agreement on January 14, 2021. President Saleh said at the United Nations Climate Ambition Summit; “This move marks the Iraqi government’s intention to shift from relying heavily on oil to more renewable energy sources.”

Iraq has approved its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), which define Iraq’s strategic objectives and commitments towards climate change adaptation and mitigation. Iraq plans for transition towards green economy. More than ever before, it recognizes that a healthy and sustainable economy is that the diversified and green one, this includes renewable energy and environmentally-sound technologies and enhance the resilience of communities most vulnerable to climate change.

According to the NDC, Iraq aims to achieve reduction between 1% and 2% of its total emissions between 2021 to 2030 through the national effort and 15% subject to the international financial and technical support. Iraq aims to develop its National Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) with priority to the electricity sector by investing in renewable energies of up to 12 GW based on the Cabinet's economic decisions for 2021.

To support the GoI with implementing its NDC and NAMA, UNDP FFER-Federal is seeking an international expert with following scope of work and qualifications.

3. Scope of Work

The overall objective of this assignment is to support the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Electricity and other line ministries of the Federal government in developing a coherent framework for effective engagement of private sector in boosting renewable energy in Iraq.

The work under this consultancy will help to review existing private sector engagement process related to renewable energy investments and identify the gaps and opportunities for effective engagement and implementation of PPP model.

For the duration of this post, the expert will be working under the overall guidance and supervision of the special advisor to the Minister of Environment/Ministry of Electricity, as well as in coordination with the Portfolio Manager of the UNDP EECC pillar and Project Manager of the FFER-Federal Project.

Key duties and responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

1. Conduct desktop review of existing PPP policies that relates to use of available feasible Renewable Energy Resources in Iraq at both national and provisional levels, and identify policy types and levels of its application of policy in Iraq.
2. Conduct consultation process with stakeholders including private sector investor in renewable energy any relevant government authorities. The purpose of the consultation is to identify gaps and opportunities for effective private sector engagement in boosting renewable energy in Iraq;
3. Analyse market barrier for renewable energy in Iraq and identify incentives that enable renewable energy boost
4. Provide input to the legal team to reflect on private sector perspectives in new legislations and incentives 
5. Develop and provide the Ministry of Electricity with a toolkit which is intended to be a key reference guide for public authorities for the development of the PPP program in renewable energy, these include
   • Principal characteristics of PPP projects and describes the process of tailoring the PPP project to its environment;
   • Presents tools required to meet international procurement standards in dealing with Public Private Partnerships;
   • Assess all the factors and risks that may impact the Project’s abilities and ensure that risks are adequately mitigated;
   • Describes the public sector functions under PPP in order to ensure protection of the public interest;
   • Define project basic design with performance specifications and project boundaries;
   • Define and standardize the different phases of the procurement process.
6. Provides a comprehensive approach to implementing renewable energy PPP at the project level through a description of the key stages for development of a specific PPP project from project identification, preparation, tendering and contract monitoring and negotiation. This include:
   • With cooperation with the affiliated authority, Identification, Prioritization and Selection of a pilot PPP in the electricity sector;
   • Feasibility Studies to ensure the selected project is well designed and can be successfully tendered and implemented;
   • Provide hands-on support to the concerned authority to develop and establish a Term of Reference for the selected project;
   • Allocate the risks of the venture fairly between the private and public sector, based on each entity's abilities to manage these risks;
   • Ensure the proper preparation, structuring, negotiation, financing and implementing of the PPP;
   • Prequalification of bidders, bidding and bid evaluation process and gives advice on dealing with the preferred bidder(s).

4. KEY DELIVERABLES EXPECTED:

The consultant is expected to prepare a detailed work plan in coordination with the Government counterparts (Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Electricity and others as needed) and the Portfolio Manager of EECC, UNDP. It should be noted that the following list of deliverables might be subject to review and revision by UNDP in discussion with the consultant in the event of unexpected changes to the context or request from the Government of Iraq during the consultancy period. Payments will be made on deliverable basis upon acceptance and approval by UNDP of the planned deliverables. In case the quality of deliverables is not satisfactory to the UNDP or the GoI, the payments may not be processed until the satisfactory completion of works. 

The expenditures for mission travel will be paid separately upon submission of the relevant documents and receipts duly approved by the Supervisor.