International Consultant for Increasing Access to Clean Affordable Energy Services Lilongwe Consultancy

To increase access, effort is needed to develop power plants and mini-grids close to the end users in the rural areas and since financial resources are scarce, investments for new generation can only be leveraged by involving the private sector and social enterprises.

This project addresses rural electrification barriers in rural Malawi where 96% of people do not have electricity access.

In accordance with UNDP and GEF M&E policies and procedures, all full and medium-sized UNDP support GEF financed projects are required to undergo a terminal evaluation upon completion of implementation. These terms of reference (TOR) set out the expectations for a Terminal Evaluation (TE) of the Increasing Access to Clean and Affordable Decentralised Energy Services in Selected Vulnerable Areas of Malawi (PIMS #5270).

The project is implemented by the Government of Malawi, through the Ministry of Natural Resources Energy and Mining with support from Global Environment Facility (GEF) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The project started May 2015 and is in its final year of implementation.

• Outcome 1: Expansion of the Mulanje Electricity Generation Agency (MEGA) Micro-Hydro Power Plant.
• Outcome 1.1 Increasing the installed capacity of the Mulanje Electricity Generation Agency’s (MEGA) MHPP scheme.
• Outcome 1.2 Achieving MEGA’s business plan target of increasing the aggregate household energy savings among its customer base.
• Outcome 2: Replication of MEGA model via piloting of new clean energy mini-grid schemes in other areas of Malawi.
• Outcome 2.1 Investment in installed capacity of clean energy mini-grid schemes established, replicating the MEGA model and using a Build-Own-Operate (BOO) Public Private Partnership (PPP) model.
• Outcome 2.2 Increased the aggregate household energy savings among the customer base.
• Outcome 3:  Institutional strengthening and capacity building for promotion of decentralized clean energy mini-grid applications across the country.
• Outcome 3.1 Increased capacity of key stakeholders, especially at the sub-national levels to effectively plan and implement clean energy mini-grids.
• Outcome 3.2 Increased awareness about relevant business models, policy and regulatory issues, and financing of mini-grids in the Malawian context.
• Outcome 3.3 Improved policy and regulatory environment to facilitate the sustainable development of mini-grids in Malawi.

The UNDP-GEF project was developed soon after the start of implementation of the UNDP-supported project on Sustainable Energy Management (SEM), which was concluded in December 2016. The SEM project provided advisory support; assisted in updating policies; developed standards; and established coordination mechanisms and implementation arrangements.

The TE will be conducted according to the guidance, rules and procedures established by UNDP and GEF as reflected in the UNDP Evaluation Guidance for GEF Financed Projects.

The objectives of the evaluation are to assess the achievement of project results, and to draw lessons that can both improve the sustainability of benefits from this project, and aid in the overall enhancement of UNDP programming.

• Excellent analytical, writing, advocacy, presentation, and communications skills;
• Demonstrated ability to work in multi-cultural and inter-disciplinary environments;
• Demonstrated ability to work in an independent manner;
• Excellent proficiency in English language
• Openness to receive feedback and change;
• Demonstration of integrity and ethical standards;
• Positive and constructive attitude to work;
• Sensitivity to different culture, gender, religion, race, nationality and age.

Under this assignment, there will be two evaluators: an International Consultant will work closely with the National Consultant. The consultant shall have prior experience in evaluating similar projects. Experience with GEF financed projects is an advantage. The International Consultant will have the overall responsibility for the conduct of the evaluation exercise as well as quality and timely submission of reports (inception, draft, final etc). The International Consultant will be accountable to UNDP for the delivery results on this assignment. The evaluator selected should not have participated in the project preparation and/or implementation and should not have conflict of interest with project related activities.

Academic Qualifications:

• Minimum postgraduate degree in Engineering, Sciences, Renewable Energy, Economics and/or related subjects (5 points).

Experience:

• Minimum ten (10) years of relevant professional experience in conducting evaluations of development programmes and projects supported by the UN or other similar international organizations (10 points)
• Proven experience in leading an evaluation mission as a team leader (15 points);
• Experience working in Malawi or other African countries with similar context (10 points);
• Demonstrated understanding and work experience in designing and/or implementing renewable energy and/or climate mitigation activities in developing countries (15 points).
• Proven and extensive international experience in renewable energy projects, particularly decentralized energy platforms and mini-grids (10 points).
• Ability to conduct detailed quantitative GHG emission reduction calculations (direct and indirect) according to GEF policies and procedures (5 points).

Language:

• English.

Evaluation Approach and Method:
An overall approach and method for conducting project terminal evaluations of UNDP supported GEF financed projects has developed over time. The evaluator is expected to frame the evaluation effort using the criteria of relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability, and impact, as defined and explained in the UNDP Guidance for Conducting Terminal Evaluations of UNDP-supported, GEF-financed Projects. A  set of questions covering each of these criteria have been drafted and are included with this TOR (Annex C) The evaluator is expected to amend, complete and submit this matrix as part of  an evaluation inception report, and shall include it as an annex to the final report.

The evaluation must provide evidence-based information that is credible, reliable and useful. The evaluator is expected to follow a participatory and consultative approach ensuring close engagement with government counterparts, in particular the GEF operational focal point, UNDP Country Office, project team, UNDP GEF Technical Advisor and key stakeholders. The evaluator is expected to conduct a field mission to Mulanje, Nkhata-Bay and Mchinji district councils. Interviews will be held with stakeholders including organizations and individuals.

The evaluator will review all relevant sources of information, such as the project document, project reports – including Annual APR/PIR, reports, project budget revisions, midterm review, quarterly progress reports, GEF focal area tracking tools, project files, national strategic and legal documents, technical studies and any other materials that the evaluator considers useful for this evidence-based assessment. A list of documents that the project team will provide to the evaluator for review is included in Annex B of this Terms of Reference.

Evaluation Criteria & Ratings:

An assessment of project performance will be carried out, based against expectations set out in the Project Logical Framework/Results Framework (see Annex A), which provides performance and impact indicators for project implementation along with their corresponding means of verification. The evaluation will at a minimum cover the criteria of: relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability and impact. Ratings must be provided on the following performance criteria. The completed table must be included in the evaluation executive summary. The obligatory rating scales are included in Annex D.

Project Finance/Cofinance:

The Evaluation will assess the key financial aspects of the project, including the extent of co-financing planned and realized. Project cost and funding data will be required, including annual expenditures.  Variances between planned and actual expenditures will need to be assessed and explained.  Results from recent financial audits, as available, should be taken into consideration. The evaluator(s) will receive assistance from the Country Office (CO) and Project Team to obtain financial data in order to complete the co-financing table below, which will be included in the terminal evaluation report.

Mainstreaming:

UNDP supported GEF financed projects are key components in UNDP country programming, as well as regional and global programmes. The evaluation will assess the extent to which the project was successfully mainstreamed with other UNDP priorities, including poverty alleviation, improved governance, the prevention and recovery from natural disasters, and gender. In addition, the evaluation will be included in the country office evaluation plan.

Impact:

The evaluators will assess the extent to which the project is achieving impacts or progressing towards the achievement of impacts. Key findings that should be brought out in the evaluations include whether the project has demonstrated: a) verifiable improvements in ecological status, b) verifiable reductions in stress on ecological systems, and/or c) demonstrated progress towards these impact achievements.

Conclusions, Recommendations & Lessons:

The evaluation report must include a chapter providing a set of conclusions, recommendations and lessons.

Evaluation Deliverables:

The International Consultant is expected to deliver the following:

• Inception Report: No later than 2 weeks before the evaluation mission, International Consultant should provide clarifications on timing and method. International Consultant will consolidate the draft prepared by National Consultant, finalize and submit the final Inception Report to UNDP CO.
• Presentation: At the end of evaluation mission, International Consultant should submit Initial Findings from the field evaluation mission to project management, UNDP CO.
• Draft Final Report: Within 3 weeks of the evaluation mission, International Consultant will consolidate, finalise Draft Final Report in full report (per annexed template) with annexes and send to CO to be reviewed by RTA, PCU, GEF OFPs.
• Final Report: Within 1 week of receiving UNDP comments on draft, International Consultant will consolidate, finalise and send the revised report to CO for uploading to UNDP ERC.

*When submitting the final evaluation report, the evaluator is required also to provide an ‘audit trail’, detailing how all received comments have (and have not) been addressed in the final evaluation report.

Implementation Arrangement:

The principal responsibility for managing this evaluation resides with the UNDP CO in Malawi. The UNDP CO will contract the evaluators and ensure the timely provision of per diems and travel arrangements within the country for the evaluation team. The Project Team will be responsible for liaising with the Evaluators team to set up stakeholder interviews, arrange field visits, coordinate with the Government etc.

Evaluation Timeframe:

The total duration of the assignment for International Consultant will be 16 days according to the following plan:

• Starting date: 9th September 2019
• Preparation: 3 working days (completion date: 12th September 2019)
• Evaluation Mission: 10 working days (completion date: 27th September 2019)
• Draft Evaluation Report: 7 working days (completion date: 4th October 2019)
• Final Report: 2 working days (completion date: 18th October 2019)

Evaluator Ethics:

Evaluation consultants will be held to the highest ethical standards and are required to sign a Code of Conduct (Annex E) upon acceptance of the assignment. UNDP evaluations are conducted in accordance with the principles outlined in the UNEG ‘Ethical Guidelines for Evaluations’

Documents to be Included When Submitting the Proposals:

• Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP;
• CV including at least 3 references and a Personal History Form (P11 form);
• Brief description of approach to work/technical proposal of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment, and a proposed methodology on how they will approach and complete the assignment; (max 1 page);
• Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price and all other travel related costs (such as flight ticket, per diem, etc), supported by a breakdown of costs, as per template attached to the Letter of Confirmation of Interest template.

Travel:

All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. UNDP does not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the International Consultant wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources. In the case of unforeseeable travel, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses will be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed.

If an applicant is employed by an organization/company/institution, and he/she expects his/her employer to charge a management fee in the process of releasing him/her to UNDP under Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA), the applicant must indicate at this point, and ensure that all such costs are duly incorporated in the financial proposal submitted to UNDP.

All application materials should be submitted by email to [email protected] or in sealed envelopes clearly marked the assignment subject matter with the following address:
UNDP Malawi P.O. Box 30135, Lilongwe 3, Malawi.
Attention: The Deputy Resident Representative (Operations).
by 7th August 2019.
Please include “Increasing Energy Access-GEF Terminal Evaluation 2019” in the subject line of the email.

Payment Schedule:

• 1st payment: 10% Upon approval of the final TE Inception Report
• 2nd payment: 40% Following submission and approval of the 1st draft terminal evaluation report
• 3rd payment: 50% Following submission and approval (UNDP-CO and UNDP RTA) of the final terminal evaluation report

Evaluation:

Only those applications which are responsive and compliant will be evaluated.  Offers will be evaluated according to the Combined Scoring method – where the qualifications and methodology will be weighted at 70% and the price proposal will weigh as 30% of the total scoring.  The applicant receiving the Highest Combined Score that has also accepted UNDP’s General Terms and Conditions will be awarded the contract.

UNDP applies a fair and transparent selection process that will take into account the competencies/ skills of the applicants as well as their financial proposals. Qualified women and members of social minorities are encouraged to apply.

Qualifications and Methodology 70%

• Qualifications (see Requirements above): 70 points
• Technical proposal/approach to work: 15 points
• Interview: 15 points

Financial Proposal 30%

For detailed information in the ToR please log in the link below:

http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=57855