ENERGY SPECIALIST at The International Finance Corporation

TITLE: ENERGY SPECIALIST

JOB STREAM: ENERGY AND MINING

LOCATION: DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA

CLOSING DATE: 07/19/2016

BACKGROUND / GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. Working with 2,000 businesses worldwide, we use our six decades of experience to create opportunity where it’s needed most. In FY15, our long-term investments in developing countries rose to nearly $18 billion, leveraging our capital, expertise and influence to help the private sector end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.

As part of the IFC’s Cross Cutting Advisory Solutions department, the Energy & Resource Efficiency (E&RE) group works to develop clean energy opportunities and improved resource use in emerging markets. The central aim is to increase energy access and optimize the use of resources to transform markets and improve people's lives. IFC’s E&RE works with a range of industrial sectors including agribusiness, infrastructure, financial institutions, services, manufacturing, among others. 

Access to modern energy services is vital to agricultural productivity, income generation, and the provision of critical social services, notably health and education. Electricity access in Tanzania is estimated at 18 percent nationally, and only 7 percent in rural areas. Women, who shoulder a disproportionate responsibility for household fuel and water collection, food preparation, and agricultural activities, are especially affected by poor energy supply. 

The vastness of Tanzania, coupled with relatively low population densities, make grid extension a challenging and expensive way to electrify many of the countries rural and remote areas. This context presents a significant potential for off-grid energy access solutions. E&RE currently focuses on two commercially-oriented, off-grid projects in Tanzania: supporting the roll-out of a range of mini-grid technologies, and increasing access to modern lighting solutions, across the country.

The Scaling-Up Renewable Energy Program (SREP) Tanzania Investment Plan was prepared under the leadership of the Government of Tanzania, through a National Task Force led by the Ministry of Energy and Minerals (MEM) with support from the Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), including the IFC. The broader SREP program in Tanzania seeks to catalyze large-scale deployment of renewable energy and transform the country's energy sector from one that is increasingly dependent on fossil fuels to one that is more balanced and diversified, with a greater share of renewable energy sources, including a specific component on mini-grids. 

The mini-grid component is to be managed by IFC, though as part of the overall SREP-Tanzania program. The goal of the mini-grids component is to increase access to affordable modern off-grid energy services for households, commercial and institutional users in rural Tanzania through the development and establishment of a market for commercial mini-grids using renewable energy. This will be achieved through developing and promoting commercially viable mini-grid business models that can leverage private sector resources, including support to financial institutions to extend long-term financing to mini-grid developers. The target is to extend electricity service generated from renewable energy to areas that are without access. 

A key program of E&RE is Lighting Africa (www.lightingafrica.org), which works to reduce market barriers for the private sector to reach and provide modern lighting to 250 million people in Africa without electricity by 2030. This is in support of achieving the energy access Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) with an emphasis on clean energy solutions. The Lighting Africa program works with lighting product manufacturers, distributors, consumers, financial institutions, development partners, and governments to help build a market for reliable lighting products. Lighting Africa intends to launch a Lighting Tanzania program by early 2016.

IFC is recruiting an Energy Specialist, E&RE. This is a key position to provide support to both the mini-grids program in Tanzania and the Lighting Tanzania program, focusing specifically on addressing financing issues related to the off-grid sector. The position is to be based in Dar es Salaam. 

The Energy Specialist will report to the E&REF regional lead based in South Africa. In addition, s/he will also coordinate with the Lighting Africa program manager in Kenya and will work closely with the Program Manager for the mini-grids and Lighting programs in Tanzania.

Note: If the selected candidate is a current Bank Group staff member with a Regular or Open-Ended appointment, s/he will retain his/her Regular or Open-Ended appointment. All others will be offered a 2 year term appointment.

DUTIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES:

The Energy Specialist will support the implementation of IFC energy access initiatives including the mini-grids and Lighting Tanzania programs, working in close coordination with the Program Manager.

For Lighting Tanzania, this will include support to clients and work with financial institutions in order to increase access to finance for companies and customers, including managing the implementation of activities with clients. Similarly for the mini-grids program in Tanzania, the Energy Specialist will provide support across the different activities, with an emphasis on strengthening linkages to the financial sector and debottlenecking financing challenges facing both individual companies and the sector more broadly. 

The specific responsibilities of this position include: 

Advisory services to clients 

The Energy Specialist will provide advisory services aimed at developing and catalyzing commercial markets for clean energy products and services in Tanzania. S/he will work with a small team of IFC staff and/or external consultants to support equipment manufacturers, distribution companies and financial institutions on building replicable business models for the sale of lighting products and/or provision of lighting services to households in off-grid markets in Tanzania. 

Work with financing entities

The Energy Specialist will interact with financial entities (investors, lenders, etc.) interested in the energy access space in Tanzania, leveraging IFC colleagues who have client relationships with these stakeholders. This will include working closely with local commercial banks, foundations, regional and international private equity funds, and insurance/guarantee providers, among others, to identify and address gaps in financing of the sector. 

Measurement, Reporting & Evaluation 

• Support the monitoring and tracking of program performance in line with the log-frame;

• Manage individual programs to ensure timely execution and completion of Management Information System reporting requirements; and

• The Energy Specialist will have volume and development impact targets defined by the E&RE Regional Lead.

Other Responsibilities

• Provide support to market intelligence related activities; 

• Promote IFC’s missions and goals as well as raise awareness on the Lighting Tanzania and Mini-grids Programs;

• Coordinate with internal (World Bank Group) and external entities promoting renewable energy and energy access; 

• Potentially support to other energy access programs and activities in SSA; and

• Additional tasks will be added, as needed.

SELECTION CRITERIA:

• Masters level education in business, engineering, finance, economics, or related subject;

• At least seven (7) years of experience in finance with a preference for work experience with SMEs, and strong demonstrated financial skills;

• Demonstrated experience in structuring financial products; candidates having experience with clean energy technologies and markets have a competitive advantage;

• Familiarity with the energy sector, particularly energy access, ideally from a business development perspective;

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; must be a strong team player;

• Capacity to operate successfully in a high pressure, fast-paced, and multicultural environment; 

• Positive, go-getter attitude, willing to continuously learn, share experiences and knowledge, and encourage innovation;

• Good knowledge of the Tanzanian market is essential; knowledge of other markets in SSA desired;

• Solid English communication skills; Kiswahili is important and desired.

The contract for this position has an initial duration of two years, with a one-year probation period. World Bank Group staff on regular or open-ended appointments will also be considered, and if selected, will transfer at their current appointment status.

Applications should be sent in English and must be submitted through World Bank Group website. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered. Cover letter should clearly describe the relevant results the candidate has delivered in prior positions, rather than simply listing responsibilities. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. 

The World Bank Group is committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, nationality, culture and educational background. Citizens of African countries, as well as women and other minorities, are strongly encouraged to apply.

How to Apply:

APPLY ONLINE 
Daily News 11 July 2016