Lead Expert on Low-Carbon Rural Housing Project Design

Uzbekistan is the most populous and fastest growing country in Central Asia. It is also the most carbon intensive economy in the world. Uzbekistan’s NDC established a target to reduce GDP carbon intensity by 10% by 2030.

In Uzbekistan, buildings (mainly residential) consume the largest amount of energy and are responsible for half of all energy-related GHG emissions. With anticipated steady population increase accompanied by growth of new construction, residential energy consumption and consequently GHG emissions are projected to rise by 20% by 2050. Rural housing plays a significant role in the overall housing sector both because of its growth and because it consists largely of individual family houses, which are less energy-efficient than multi-unit dwellings. Due to high energy losses, these houses consume an average of 320-390 kWh/m2, compared to 150 kWh/m2 in Europe for similar housing units.

At the same time, the building sector offers the largest potential for energy saving and GHG emission reduction, but it is also the most difficult one to address. Furthermore, improving efficiency of energy use and deploying renewable energy sources in buildings can bring a wider range of sustainable development benefits, in particular for Uzbekistan’s growing but predominantly poor rural population. Therefore, improving access to and scaling-up investment in affordable low-carbon rural housing in Uzbekistan has been prioritized by the Government to request external financial support from the Green Climate Fund (GCF).

FUNCTIONS/ SCOPE OF WORK:

Activity 1: - 3 working days

• Based on the provided Concept Note (GCF template), develop detailed workplan, which sets out the exact timeline;

Activity 2: - 7 working days (including one mission of 5 working days to Uzbekistan)

• Conduct the first (5 days) in-country mission;
• Visit massive of affordable rural houses constructed in regions;
• Work with national consultant(s) and partners to obtain baseline information and prepare background analysis;
• Undertake discussion with potential co-financing partners on their possible role in supporting the implementation of the project;
• Produce mission report

Activity 3: - 22 working days

• In consultations with UNDP, relevant partners and international and local financial institutions, formulate the project strategy and prepare the Funding Proposal in line with the GCF template and respective guidance;
• Prepare draft co-financing letters for potential co-financing partners;
• Make sure that all Annexes are included with the Funding Proposal, including, inter alia, (i) feasibility study; (ii) cost estimates of designs of affordable low-carbon houses reworked from the existing standard affordable rural houses; (iii) draft term sheet, (iv) timetable of project implementation; (v) implementation of financial incentives scheme, (vi) environment plan and social screening and management plan, (vii) gender plan, (viii) procurement plan, and (ix) financial/economic modeling (an gender expert will be engaged to draft the gender plan).

Activity 4: - 7 working days (including one mission of 5 working days to Uzbekistan)

• Conduct the second (5 days) in-country mission;
• Work with national consultant(s) and partners to update/tune the information and data obtained;
• Undertake discussion with potential co-financing partners to confirm their possible role in supporting the implementation of the project;
• Produce mission report

Activity 5: - 5 working days

• Finalize Funding Proposal based on the findings of the second in-country mission

Activity 6: -3 working days

• Address comments from the Fund and finalize the funding proposal, and prepare a response matrix addressing GCF comments;
• Prepare a revised Funding Proposal, which addresses all comments

Activity 7: - 3 working days

• Based on completed Funding Proposal, prepare the UNDP project document, including all annexes in line with respective UNDP requirements and guidelines (UNDP Project Document);

Revise and finalize the Project Document based on all inputs, feedback and fund comments with the ultimate goal of securing the approval of GCF of the project.

• Demonstrates integrity and fairness by modelling UN values and ethical standards;
• Display cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Knowledge on Uzbekistan’s gender equality mainstreaming institutions, regulations and mechanisms;
• Excellent Communication skills
• Excellent analytical skills;
• Strong oral and writing skills;
• Extensive knowledge of PC applications;
• Focuses on result for client and responds positively to feedback;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Remains calm, in control and good humoured even under pressure; Ability to work independently as well as part of a fairly big team;

Ability to operate under strict time limits.

Education:
University degree (at minimum, a Master’s degree or equivalent) in economics, finance, energy and/or buildings science, or a related discipline

Experience:

• At least ten (10) years of working experience in the field of energy efficiency and renewable energy use, preferably in the buildings sector;
• Proven experience with designing investment and technical assistance projects and programmes in the area of energy efficiency/use of renewable energy in the buildings sector for international development agencies and/or IFIs;
• Good technical knowledge of energy efficiency in buildings, in particular experience with design of financial mechanisms and schemes for investment in energy efficient/low-carbon housing;
• Good technical knowledge of GHG emission accounting and monitoring, reporting and verification schemes in buildings sector;
• Proven experience in CIS and particular experience in Central Asia region involving energy efficient and low-carbon buildings;
• Experience with development of full funding proposal endorsed by GCF.

Language Requirements:

Proficiency in written and spoken English and Russian.

Interested candidates need to apply online and upload requested documents in Part 5. no later than end of August 30, 2018 (New York time).  Please combine all your documents into one (1) single PDF document as the system only allows to upload maximum one document. Your on-line applications submission will be acknowledged to your email address provided in application. If you do not receive an e-mail acknowledgement within 24 hours of submission, your application may not have been received. In such cases, please resubmit the application, if necessary.

Application submitted via email, incomplete applications or received after the closing date (August 22, 2018) will not be given consideration. Please be informed that we don’t accept application submitted via email.

For more detailed information about UNDP Uzbekistan please visit our website at www.uz.undp.org UNDP is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified female candidates, people with disabilities, and minorities are highly encouraged to apply. UNDP Balance in Manage Policy promotes achievement of gender balance among its staff at all levels.

Requests for clarification must be sent in writing to pu.uz@undp.org, ensuring that the reference number above is included in the subject line. UNDP shall endeavor to provide such responses to clarifications in an expeditious manner, but any delay in such response shall not cause an obligation on the part of UNDP to extend the submission date of the Proposals, unless UNDP deems that such an extension is justified and necessary.

Detailed Procurement Notice, Terms of Reference and Templates can be found at: http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=49082.