MARKET RESEARCH CONSULTANT TO CONDUCT ASSESSMENT OF ENERGY FINANCING OPTIONS FOR THE BASE OF THE PYRAMID

The UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) has developed a global programme to support 2.5 million poor people to obtain access to reliable and affordable clean energy through microfinance (called CleanStart). To this end, CleanStart will support 18 financial service providers (FSPs) across six countries in Asia and Africa to build their capacity in providing financing for clean energy systems. In parallel, the programme will also strengthen the supply chains of technologies being financed and advocate for policy and business environments that promote the growth of energy markets serving low-income people.   CleanStart (2012-2017, US$26.1) will be delivered through four outputs: 1.        Finance for Clean Energy to strengthen capabilities of 18 FSPs to provide microfinance for clean energy to low-income households and micro-entrepreneurs; 2.        Technical Assistance for Clean Energy to remove barriers to the successful deployment of those technologies and services for which the selected MFIs will provide microfinance; 3.        Global Knowledge and Learning to enhance understanding and awareness globally of the potential for microfinance to scale-up access to clean energy and make available the tools and knowledge needed to scale-up access to clean energy beyond the project; and 4.        Advocacy and Partnerships to create an enabling policy and business environment to expand microfinance for clean energy.   CleanStart finalizes the selection of pilot countries through a two-stage process: 1) assessment and 2) country strategy development. The overall purpose of the assessment is to understand the key drivers of the energy market serving low-income people in the country, the potential for microfinance to dramatically expand the market for modern energy services for poor people and the value-add that CleanStart could provide given the state of the market.

Duties and Responsibilities

Provide insights on history and evolvement of the MFI/energy sectors Provide additional insights and local perspectives of the energy-MFI mapping from previous scoping exercises done Develop case study on each of the top five technologies identified Analyze value chain for three technologies identified with potential to scale through financing Conduct more in depth interviews in areas that have information gaps Provide support in organizing the meetings and workshops

Competencies

Functional competencies: Solid understanding about the microfinance sector and current issues, including key market players, development partners and policy/regulatory environment Established contacts with key market players in the microfinance sector; Established contacts with key market players in the energy sector is a plus; Excellent organizational, inter-personal and communication skills; Good English writing skills Corporate Competencies: Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards; Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP; Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability Treats all people fairly without favoritism; Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Required Skills and Experience

Minimum bachelor’s degree in economics, finance, business, engineering or relevant area Advanced degree in economics, finance, business, engineering or relevant area is a plus Accredited training in relevant areas, including (micro)finance, business development or energy access is a plus  Minimum of 5 years relevant, practical working experience within the financial sector and/or decentralized energy for the base of the pyramid in Tanzania Documented, deep technical knowledge and experience with microfinance Familiarity with clean energy solutions; Consultancy experience with relevant development programmes is a plus;

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