Advisor Renewable Energy & Inclusive Business, Arusha, Tanzania

EMPLOYEMENT OPPORTUNITY

Are you interested in joining an international organisation with a long term commitment to fighting poverty? Would you like to work in a challenging environment and develop a career focused on demonstrating shared core values that achieve results?

SNV Tanzania is looking for a:

Advisor Renewable Energy & Inclusive Business development

Report to Sector Leader Renewable Energy.

Based in Arusha, Tanzania

(Local contract)

SNV is a Netherlands based international development organisation, with local presence in 36 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. SNV delivers capacity development services to local public and private organisations increasing access to basic services, income and employment. SNV works in 3 sectors: Agriculture, Renewable Energy (RE) and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH). SNV is present in Tanzania since 1971.

Purpose

The overall goal of SNV Tanzania Renewable Energy sector is to contribute to improve the livelihoods of rural and peri-urban people in Tanzania by accelerating the dissemination and use of renewable energy products and services. SNV Tanzania is involved in three sub-sectors: Domestic Biogas, Biomass Cooking Energy, and Solar PV. Throughout these sub-sectors, SNV looks for market-based solutions to spur access to lighting and cooking energy at domestic level and for productive use. The RE advisory team currently comprises 6 staff spread over three locations: Arusha, Mwanza and Dar.

SNV Tanzania is now looking for an advisor to further strengthen the team, to be based in Arusha. The main activities of the advisor will be within the context of the Integrated Renewable Energy Services (IRES) project as hosted under the solar programme, though she/he will be expected to contribute to other projects as well.

The 2-year IRES+ project (2014-2015) in Tanzania aims to design, develop and validate innovative solar PV business models and distribution channels taking the Market Intelligence approach as a starting point. The project will include Inclusive Business development with major companies and seeking articulation with agriculture value chains for last-mile distribution of solar PV products, aimed at tangible impact at scale. The project forms part of a larger SNV program with interventions in Rwanda, Uganda and Ethiopia, while connecting with similar projects being implemented by SNV in Kenya, Zimbabwe, Benin and Burkina Faso, allowing for cross-country learning, knowledge sharing, product development and profiling. At the same time, the project is complementary to other projects in Tanzania such as the Results Based Financing project for pico-solar PV appliances, as financed through EnDev with implementation starting in 2014.

Main Responsibilities

A. Advisory Services

• Lead the development of Market Intelligence studies for prioritized districts/regions, analysing demand (consumer assessment), supply (private sector) and enabling environment (including public sector) for a specified set of cooking and lighting products/technologies. Facilitate stakeholder meetings to share and discuss results.
• Facilitate linkages between providers of renewable energy technologies (RET), retailers and last-mile stakeholders to develop and validate innovative distribution models for solar PV products. This includes advisory services for Inclusive Business development with major agricultural companies to set-up RET distribution channels with their associated farmers.
• In coordination with other SNV advisors and local service providers in capacity building (LCBs), provide advisory services to increase technical and business skills of small and medium RE enterprises, including business planning, book keeping, marketing and product diversification. Establish partnerships and facilitate the establishment of microfinance mechanisms with MFIs/SACCOs to provide access to credit at consumer level or with SMEs.
• Organizational capacity building of national and local renewable energy stakeholder platforms, including Tanzania Renewable Energy Association (TAREA) and regional branches, for increased sector coordination, knowledge exchange, advocacy and influencing policy formulation and decision making.
• Provide on-the-job technical assistance, advisory and coaching to partners, local service providers (LCBs, consultants) and clients in the project as well as other RE programmes especially in the area of market based approaches for scaling up technologies, results-based financing schemes for RET distribution, youth skills development and entrepreneurship development.
• Participate in Monitoring and Evaluation of project activities, while being actively engaged in day-to-day management of the project.

B. Knowledge Development / Brokering

• Participate in multi-country start-up meeting and annual team meetings (with participants from different countries) to share knowledge and exchange experiences in RE sector development and setting up business models for last-mile distribution of RETs.
• Lead the elaboration of two (02) publications on the results of Market Intelligence and lessons learned in solar PV distribution channels in Tanzania.
• Participate in the development of a multi-country publication on innovative approaches in setting up RET business models and distribution channels, including case studies from the different countries, building on successful experiences of ICS and solar PV projects in the region.
• Delivery of quality information briefs in communication, advocacy and dialogue with public-private RE stakeholders, and PR and resource mobilization efforts with (inter)national donor/partners. Knowledge brokering and sharing of (inter)national best practices in RE with clients, partners and SNV team.
• Participate and contribute to sector events (workshops, training, learning events, etc) that initiate constructive means and channels for on-going advocacy and dialogue with relevant public-private agencies (TaREA, MEM, REA, MNRT, PMO)
• Develop, expand and maintain effective and efficient networks with relevant sector stakeholders at local and national levels and identify potential partners in the sector.
• Ensure up to date contextual analysis within the renewable energy sector in Tanzania and beyond, identifying and interpreting emerging opportunities, barriers and threats to the SNV strategy and services.

C: Strategic Positioning and Resources Mobilisation

• Contribute to strategic renewable energy sector positioning, improving relevance, efficiency and effectiveness of current and new SNV interventions in the RE sector.
• Contribute to increased funding opportunities for SNV interventions in the RE sector in general. Actively supports proposal development beyond the current projects.

1. 1. Actively supports mainstreaming of accountability, gender equity and social inclusion in RE interventions

Candidate profile

• Master's degree in relevant area (Business Administration, Economics of Sustainable Development, Renewable Energy, Agro-economy, Rural development, etc.).
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant working experience in Inclusive Business development, preferably in setting up last-mile distribution models in the (renewable) energy sector, agricultural sector or other relevant programme in- or outside Tanzania.
• Work experience in private sector business and entrepreneurship development, value chain development, and finance/investments for renewable energy.
• Proven track record in project management, project design, and resource mobilisation.
• Proven track record in capacity development, process facilitation, coaching, change

Processes, product development and team building with local stakeholders.

• Proven track record in pro-poor growth approaches taking into consideration social inclusion, accountability, gender and sustainability.
• Strong external network in the private sector (RE, agriculture and/or other relevant sub-sectors) in Tanzania and beyond.

Desired Skills and Attitude

• Innovative, entrepreneurial, business oriented.
• Leadership, coaching and self-reflection skills.
• Very good analytical skills combined with a practical and pragmatic approach oriented towards lasting results.
• Good team player, pragmatic, hands-on, negotiator with solution orientated approach.
• Readiness to work and travel in rural districts with minimal amenities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills (in Kiswahili and English).

Contract Duration: 2 years renewable

Desired start date: January 1st, 2014

How to apply?

Please send your application letter and CV to TanzaniaHR@snvworld.org OR Submit hardcopies at our Offices to the attention;

Job title

Country Human Resources Manager

P.O.Box 3941

Dar es Salaam,

Tanzania, by 30th November 2013

For more information, please refer to our website: www.snvworld.org