Consultancy for Renewable Energy Strategy, Samburu, Kenya

Consultancy for Renewable Energy Strategy, Samburu, Kenya

AWF seeks to engage a consultant to develop an advisory document that will provide guidance to the team developing the organization's strategic approach to renewable and clean energy initiatives.The consultant will seek to understand AWF's strategic objectives, areas of geographic focus, and current program implementation portfolio, in order to provide insight into current renewable industry trends, technologies, and partners that would help the organization achieve its mission and program objectives.

Objective

The consultant will produce an advisory document that provides guidance to AWF's technical directors in their development of a renewable or clean energy strategy for the organization, based on:

• a clear understanding of AWF's organizational priorities and strategy, geographic priorities, and past implementation programs relating to renewable/clean/sustainable energy; and
• an analysis of the current and emerging technologies and companies within the renewable energy sector that would be applicable to the African context.
• The consultant will identify the various technologies that have the most promising outlook for impact, cost efficiency, replicability and those technologies that would be less viable. Technologies reviewed would include (but should not be limited to): solar energy, wind energy, biogas digestion, geothermal, micro-grid, 'mobile energy', pica hydro technologies. Benefits and challenges of each technology should be detailed, as well as cost implications and applicability to both rural and urban contexts.
• Similarly, the consultancy will identify those emerging or existing companies that could be promising partners in the respective field. AWF's expectation would be to support business opportunities to provide access to renewable or sustainable energy as viable replacement to non-renewable sources (i.e. charcoal). In this context, the business case to the various technologies and partnerships would be critical.
• The assessment should be focused within a conservation context, and environmental impacts of potential interventions should underpin the entire assessment. A focus on approaches and partners applicable to AWF's current and future priority landscapes will be critical
• The advisory document would produce a clear set of recommendations for organizational implementation.

Scope of Work

• Meet with relevant AWF Technical Directors at start of engagement to fully understand AWF's organizational objectives, geographic priorities, objectives within those geographies, and organizational mission;
• Review AWF documents to understand AWF's mission, focus and objectives; area of work; approach, and past programs on renewable energy;
• Review the existing technologies, approaches and thinking on renewable/sustainable energy, and the applicability to various contexts in the sub-Saharan Africa context;
• Develop a matrix of technologies and attributes, and prioritize the technologies by ability to achieve AWF objectives, looking at cost, shelf-life, accessibility, and environmental impact;
• Conduct a market assessment of the key players in each technology space (both local and international companies) and develop a list of recommended partners;
• Detail the business case of recommended technologies and partners, linking the sustainability, viability, conservation impact, and implementation cost;
• Develop a proposed program intervention strategy and recommended nest steps; and
• Work with both the AWF Enterprise and Climate Change teams to ensure alignment with other key AWF initiatives.

Expected Outputs and Deliverables

• A detailed advisory document, including an in-depth analysis the various technologies, private sector initiatives/partners, and business case for recommended approaches.
• Assessment of potential partners for implementation.
• Findings from any stakeholder consultations/private sector discussions and a list with contact information of individuals or organizations consulte

Required Qualifications and Experiences

• A Masters level degree qualification in economic development, business management, renewable energy management, or related relevant field(s) with at least 5 years' working experience in the economic development sector.
• Considerable work experience in the renewable energy sector
• Considerable experience in Africa; specific experience in the rural African context, and understanding of rural community dynamics preferred.
• Knowledge and/or awareness of conservation and its relation to energy usage and economic development
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Excellent communication and writing skills, including business writing skills in English

Consultants are invited to submit a proposal outlining the approach to be used in carrying out the assignment and quote for fees for the entire consultancy. Proposals should be submitted electronically to: Brian McBrearity

Director, Conservation Enterprise

African Wildlife Foundation

Email: bmcbrearity@awf.org

CLOSING DATE : September 5, 2014

AWF reserves the right to award contract at any time if a suitable consultant is identified.