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Background

UNDP’s Strategic Plan 2008-2011 and the 2008 regionalization paper articulate the corporate requirement to bring timely and effective substantive and technical services to the country offices through strengthened practice architecture at the global regional and country level.  The UNDP Practice Architecture serves as a framework for better organizing UNDP to provide consistent policy advisory services, more relevant and substantive policy knowledge, better linking of policy and programming and capacity development.  The value of the practice architecture lies in its comprehensive structure to solidify UNDP and its staff into a global team that ensures coherence, consistency, alignment and quality assurance in the way UNDP delivers service internally and to development partners and programme countries.

Increase access to reliable and affordable energy resources is a critical factor for achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Although there is no specific MDG relating to energy, access to energy services affects all aspects of sustainable development including access to water, agricultural productivity, health care, education, job creation, gender equality and climate change. More than 2 billion people globally suffer from energy constraints that limit their opportunities for economic development and improved standards of living, and 60 million people (10% of the LAC population) has no access to electricity. The poor is often disproportionately affected by lack of access to clean affordable energy services. Therefore, the provision of energy services for the poor is not only a human development imperative, but also will be key in helping them to improve their standard of living, which may increase their capacity to adapt to Climate Change.

In recent years, there has been concern that higher global oil prices will impair the Caribbean economies, as most of them are highly dependent upon oil for the energy needs. In response, the island nations have been discussing ways to promote the use of renewable energy sources and better integrate their energy sectors. Due to the size of their economies and population, the Islands of the English and Dutch Caribbean had and will have minor contributions to climate change; nevertheless they are at high risk of suffering the negative impacts of such phenomenon.

There is also an increasing concern that climate change, including variability, could undermine the achievement of a number of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), most notably in poverty reduction. These concerns are higher in Small Island Development States (SIDS) which are the states that are facing the most dramatic consequences of Climate Change. Consequently, developing countries are increasingly turning their attention to the formulation of comprehensive approaches to address the impacts of climate change, in particular the human development and economic implications, and the investment decisions that need to be made to implement them. Thus It is critical to  provide policy advice and support on energy and climate change to the Caribbean Governments mainly by: fostering the implementation of the UNDP Energy And Environment (E&E) Climate Change Strategy; ensuring the successful implementation of global and regional initiatives with components in the Caribbean; providing  technical support to UNDP-Country Offices (COs), and national decision makers on climate policies issues related to the post-2012 climate regime in order to strengthen UNDP’s support to national governments in the implementation of global/regional projects and corporate activities related to climate policy.
The key challenge for Caribbean countries is to meet their energy needs in a sustainable way by decreasing fuel dependence, diversifying their energy matrix incorporating renewable energy sources, increasing energy efficiency, and taking advantages of carbon market opportunities. In this sense, UNDP seeks to address three major energy challenges: Accessibility; Security and Sustainability. To address these three challenges, UNDP’s energy activities are focused on three key result areas that reflected in the UNDP’s Strategic Plan for 2008-2011:

• Mainstreaming: Integrating energy considerations into national development strategies, including Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs).
• Catalyzing financing: Increasing access to investment financing for sustainable energy from the public and private sectors through the support for market development for sustainable energy technologies, to reduce impacts on climate change.

Service delivery: Developing and building institutional capacities for expanding access to modern energy services for the poor.

Duties and Responsibilities

Functions / Key Results Expected

Working to ensure quality services to UNDP’s clients, the consultant works towards advancing UNDP’s credibility in the Energy and climate change areas, ensuring coherence and quality technical advice in this area with specific emphasis on Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Working under the direct supervision of the Chief of the Regional Centre – Port of Spain Office and the Energy and Environment Practice Team Leader in the LAC RSC in Panama; the incumbent will also work closely with Policy Advisors in the Port of Spain Office and Panama Regional Centre. The consultant will be in charge of

Deliverables:

Provision of advocacy, policy advice, and programming services (60%):

• Support policy dialogue with relevant stakeholders with regard to the catalyzing role of energy services and energy security in development and poverty alleviation and its linkages with Climate Change
• Provide analytical and advisory services support to the design, formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies and programs with focus on energy-climate change poverty; including access to modern energy services, promotion of energy efficiency, renewable energy
• Contribute to developing and strengthening the capacities of regional and national counterparts for the design, implementation of energy policies that incorporate poverty and environmental concerns;
• Contribute to the timely provision of guidance and support to Caribbean COs in their engagement in the climate change policy dialogue at national and regional level, with key partners such as governments, donors, civil society.
• This will include providing, in close coordination with the COs, policy advice to the processes of the National Communications to the UNFCCC;
• Build capacity of the government in programming energy and climate change related resources and provide advice on the effective use and management of different energy - climate financing mechanisms;
• Work with UNDP Country Offices, national and international partners to consolidate project proposals for  resource mobilization in the English and Dutch Speaking Caribbean Countries
• Contribute to the sustainability of the energy projects and programs implemented by Country Offices, ensuring linkages with climate Change;
• Provide substantive technical and intellectual inputs to national low carbon development strategies and plans in close cooperation with COs, ensuring energy access is integrated when possible;
• Provide climate change advisory services to colleagues from all practice teams of the sub-regional centre of T&T and develop CC policy advisory capacities of management and officers in UNDP country officers;
• Ensure the successful implementation of projects and programs related to energy access and climate change in the English and Dutch Speaking Caribbean Countries by:
• Developing annual work plans and budgets and reporting on their implementation status; 
  Preparing Terms of References (TORs) for inputs (individual and institutional consultancy services, organization of training, workshops, etc.) with expert technical support, as required;
• Supervising contracted consultants and institutions, and evaluating their performance in delivering outputs as described in their ToRs, ensuring inputs are processed in a timely and transparent manner;
• Ensuring technical backstopping to national and regional activities is provided in a timely manner and according to appropriate standard.

Develop Research and Content Development (15%):

• Promote and contribute to the analysis of energy - poverty – environmental linkages in energy policies, programs and projects, the economics of climate change and natural disaster impacts
• Monitor trends, good practices and case evidence the energy and climate change policies, and programs in the English and Dutch Speaking Caribbean countries

Support Advocacy (15%)

• Contribute to the development and strengthening of strategic partnerships with governments, other UN agencies and other important actors in Energy Policies and climate change for developing regional analysis of energy policies, and the impacts of climate change in the Caribbean.
• Support the development of a community of practice in Energy and Climate Change ensuring the involvement of private, governmental and academic sector
• Ensure Coordination (10%)
• Work closely with the Environmental-Energy and Poverty Clusters in Panama to develop annual work plans, monitor and report progress in line with strategic goals of the Environmental and Energy Practice.
• Coordinate and manage information flow between COs, RSC & HQ on the regional portfolio and climate change policy related issues;

Competencies

Corporate

• Demonstrates integrity and fairness, by modeling the UN/UNDP´s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of UNDP; and
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Functional

• Minimum 5 years national/international working experience in economic analysis or/and development of energy policies and projects
• A sound understanding of the economic, environmental and development dimensions of climate change and energy use in middle-income countries and SIDS
• Knowledge of broader energy sector issues including drivers and determinants of energy demand and supply from an economic perspective, regulatory
• Proven professional credibility, as well as working experience in a governmental, multilateral or civil society organization, in developing countries
• Ability to work effectively with senior government officials, representatives of international agencies, and the private sector
• Strong team skills, including demonstrated teamwork and experience working with multidisciplinary teams
• Ability to work flexibly on a range of assignments, adjust to and prioritize a variety of complex and evolving tasks and manages complexities

Management and Operational Effectiveness:

• Knowledge and expertise in UNDP´s programming processes
• Demonstrated well developed organizational skills
• Focuses and understand client needs and results
• Promotes knowledge management and learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example
• Provides constructive coaching and feedback

Knowledge Management

• Promotes a knowledge sharing and learning culture

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Academic qualifications of at least the level of a Master’s Degree, in economics, energy, international development or other related field with training that supports technical and economic skills

Experience:

• Familiarity with the MDGs and the linkages between energy and climate change – MDGs;
• At least 5 years of overall relevant professional experience in the area of economic analysis or energy and climate change;
• Experience in working with national governments and agencies on climate change and or wwork experience from a developing country context. Knowledge and experience in Small Island States will be an assess;
• Demonstrated experience in writing effective reports and communicating in public and in network building;
• Excellent knowledge and relevant work experience in project management related topics;
• Knowledge of all thematic areas of the climate change (i.e., the Bali Road Map building blocks;
• Knowledge of energy-climate change development focus of UNDP, UN agencies, and-or multilateral development financial institution;
• Work experience with UNDP. Knowledge of UNDP policies and procedures is desirable;
• Experience in working and collaborating with high-level government officials on climate change.

Language requirements

• Fluency in English (both written and verbal.). Working knowledge of Spanish will be an asset. Knowledge of other UN official language is desirable

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Reporting and Supervision

The selected vendor will report to UNDP Chief of the Regional Centre – Port of Spain Office and the Energy and Environment Practice Team Leader in the LAC RSC in Panama according to the instructions to be provided.

Regime For Payment of Fees

The professionals who submit an expression of interest for this consultancy should set their expectations in a lump sum in dollars of the United States of America.

• The contract signed as special services agreement does not involve any fees in advance at the beginning of the consultancy.
• Qualified candidates who are interested in the above position are invited to submit their application, in English or Spanish, attaching a UN Personal History Form not later than September 9th 2010.
• To: rc.lac.vacancy@undp.org
• Subject: CONSULTANT Energy – Millennium Development Goals
• Please note that applications received after the deadline will not be considered.
• Only short-listed qualified candidates will receive an acknowledgement.

BARBADOS

IMPLEMENTING ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS UNDER THE SUSTAINABLE ENERGY FRAMEWORK FOR BARBADOS

ENERGY

SPECIFIC PROCUREMENT NOTICE

Loan No./Credit No./Fiduciary Fund/ TC No./Grant No.: BA-X1001

Project No.: GRT/FM-12075-BA

Contract/Bid No.: SEF/GEF/001

The Government of Barbados has received financing from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and it intends to apply part of the proceeds to payments under the project Implementing Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Projects under the Sustainable Energy Framework for Barbados, for the purchase of Compact Fluorescent Lamps and power monitors which will be installed in residential homes across the island under a pilot project to determine the potential savings from energy conservation and efficiency.

The Government of Barbados now invites sealed bids from eligible bidders for the supply of the following:

• Compact Fluorescent Lamps (15,000)
• Power Monitors (3,000)

Details of the specifications and place of delivery are provided in the bidding documents.

Bidding will be conducted through international competitive bidding procedures as specified in the Inter-American Development Bank’s Policies for Procurement of Works and Goods financed by the Inter-American Development Bank (current edition), and is open to all eligible bidders as defined in the policies.

Interested eligible bidders may obtain a set of bidding documents upon request. The documents may be obtained from the address (1) below in the following office hours: between 8:30 and 16:30 hours (Barbados time), Monday to Friday, except on Public Holidays.

The Government of Barbados is not responsible for any costs or expenses incurred by bidders in connection with the preparation or delivery of bids.

Bidders interested in any tenders by the Government of Barbados should be aware that the Labour Clauses (Public Contracts) ACT CAP 349 will have to, in so far as is applicable to the tender, apply to any contract made in respect of the tender. Full details of the conditions of the ACT CAP 349 may be obtained from the Chief Labour Officer, Warrens Office Complex, Warrens, St. Michael.

Electronic copies may be obtained from the following website: www.caricomlaw.org-doc-Labour Clauses (Public Contracts) Act Cap 349.

All corporate bidders must include with their bid a copy of the Certificate of Incorporation as evidence of the fact that the company is an existing registered company as at the date of bidding. The certificate must be in the name of the bidder. Where the Certificate of Incorporation has not been submitted at the date of opening, the bidder will be given a maximum of two weeks to meet this obligation. Failure to submit the Certificate of Incorporation within the extended period would render the bid void.

Local bidders are advised that the Certificate of Incorporation referred to in paragraph above means a Certificate of Incorporation issued under the 1985 Companies Act of Barbados or where applicable a Certificate of Amendment. Certificates must be dated after 31 December 1984.

The successful Bidder will be required to enter into a Contract approved by the Solicitor General (SG) or another Legal Officer in the Public Service approved by the SG. A surety for the due performance of the contract will be required by way of one of the following methods listed below:

*By way of a deposit with the Treasury of a sum of money or approved securities to the value of not less than ten percent of the contract price;

*By way of a Bank or an accredited Insurance Company whose liability shall not be less than ten percent of the contract price. The cost of obtaining such a surety shall be the responsibility of the contractor, who need not specifically make arrangements for sureties unless and until his/her tender has been accepted;

*By way of satisfactory personal sureties Two copies of Standard Bidding Document one original and one copy must be prepared in English and submitted in sealed envelopes clearly marked “Tender for the supply of 15,000 Compact Fluorescent Lamps with electronic ballasts and 3,000 Power Monitors” to the address (2) below.

Bids should be placed in the Tenders Box located at the address (2), no later than 16:30 hours, Barbados time on Wednesday, October 13, 2010. Late bids will not be accepted and will be returned unopened to the bidders. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidder’s representatives who choose to attend, at the address, date and time indicated in the bid documents.

The government of Barbados reserves the right to accept or reject any bid received.

Address (1)

THE PROJECT MANAGER, SEFB

SPECIAL PROJECTS UNIT

MINISTRY OF FINANCE, INVESTMENTS, TELECOMMUNICATION AND ENERGY

GROUND FLOOR, ICB BUILDING

ROEBUCK STREET, BRIDGETOWN

BARBADOS

EMAIL: sefbarbados@yahoo.co.uk

Tel: (246) 435-2211

Address (2)

CHAIRMAN SPECIAL TENDERS COMMITTEE

CENTRAL PURCHASING DEPARTMENT

HOLBORNE CIRCLE

FONTABELLE

ST. MICHAEL

BARBADOS

Wigton Windfarm Ltd.,

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (Project Coordinator)

JAMAICA

WIND AND SOLAR DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

RENEWABLE ENERGY

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST PROJECT COORDINATOR

Grant No. GRT/MC-11800-JA

Project No. JA-X1001

Wigton Windfarm Limited has received financing from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and intends to apply part of the proceeds to payments under the project “Wind and Solar Development Program” (WADP) to undertake the following responsibilities.

· Prepare work plans and budgets for the various components of the WADP.

· Prepare status reports and updates as required.

· Manage the project team to ensure effective performance, cost effectiveness and quality deliverables in keeping with project guidelines.

· Evaluate the project’s activities periodically to ensure compliance with project objectives.

· Develop project documentation for commercially viable energy projects.

· Work with all stakeholders to support the agency’s mandate.

Wigton Windfarm Limited now invites eligible candidates to submit their resumes for the position of Project Coordinator. Interested persons must provide information establishing that they are qualified to perform the services, including:

· Description of similar assignments

· Experience in similar conditions

· Availability of appropriate skills and education, etc.

Minimum Training / Qualifications and Experience required include:

· B.Sc in an Engineering, Business Administration or related field

· A minimum of five (5) years experience in project management

· Sound knowledge of Government of Jamaica’s policies & procedures, and experience in procurement with internationally- funded projects (WB, IDB, CIDA, UNDP, etc)

· Be familiar with Jamaica and its institutional arrangement for renewable energy.

· Experience in contract management

· Excellent strategic planning, problem-solving, analytical and time and management skills

· Strong results-based, monitoring and management skills.

· Ability to work with a minimum of supervision, exercise judgement, meet deadlines and work under pressure.

· Experience in renewable energy would be an asset.

Resumes must be delivered via direct mail or email at the address indicated below by 4:30p.m. on 20^th August, 2010.

Wigton Windfarm Limited

Attn: Mr. Earl Barrett, General Manager

36 Trafalgar Road

Kingston 10, Jamaica

Tel: (876) 960-3994/0568

Fax: (876) 960- 3108

Email: info@wwfja.com

Please not those only short-listed applicants will be contacted for interviews.

Project Name: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Sector: Energy

Technical Cooperation/ Grant No.: ATN-OC-11496-RG

Project No. RG-T1639

Contract/Bid No.: COMP4-1

The Caribbean Electric Utility Service Corporation (CARILEC) has received financing from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and intends to apply part of the proceeds to payments under the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy project, for tailored capacity building workshops and conference presentations on wind energy systems, energy audits, carbon markets, waste-to-energy technologies and biofuel technologies.

CARILEC now invites eligible consultants to indicate their interest in providing the services. Interested consultants must provide information establishing that they are qualified to perform the services (brochures, description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, availability of appropriate skills among staff, etc.). Consultants may associate to enhance their qualifications.

Consultants will be selected in accordance with the procedures set out in the Inter-American Development Bank: Policies for the Selection and Contracting of Consultants financed by the Inter-American Development Bank (current edition) and is open to all eligible bidders as defined in the policies.

Interested consultants may obtain further information at the address below during office hours [8:30am to 5:00pm].

Expressions of interest must be delivered via direct mail or e-mail at the address indicated below by 5:00pm on August 6, 2010.

CARILEC

Attn: Duane Rowe, Renewable Energy Advisor

Desir Avenue, Sans Souci

P.O. Box CP 5907

Castries, St. Lucia

Tel: (758) 452-0140/1

Fax: (758) 452-0142

E-mail: drowe@carilec.org 

GreenRg Management Solu-tions, which has partnered with Jamaica-based Wiltech Energy, presented through the Ministry of Energy and Mining, as well as conducted a live demonstration at the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica in Kingston on Friday.

Approximately 50 represen-tatives from the finance ministry, as well as, the Ministry of Energy and Mining, along with Petro-leum Corporation of Jamaica, the Development Bank of Jamaica, the Office of Utilities Regulation, the National Housing Trust and other private stakeholders attended.

According to its website, GreenRg Management Solutions provides cost-effective solutions to energy-related operations that are carried out by municipalities, property owners, management companies, developers and retailers.

“We help people and companies bring down their energy bills substantially,” said Alfred Heyer, managing partner of GreenRg.

Heyer said the company cuts energy costs through installations of “highly efficient solar systems” that reduce energy demands on the electric power grid.

Light-emitting diode (LED) technology, also known as solid state lighting, reduces the wattage that is used.

“If we reduce lighting by 50-to-60 per cent, this means solar capacity can be 60 per cent more efficient and substantiate the investment of installing a solar system.

“LED and solar are tremendous together,” Heyer said, while noting that a 20-watt bulb could provide the same amount of light as a 100-watt bulb because of LED, and last several times longer than traditional bulbs.

Potential for employment

GreenRg’s Heyer also explored the probability of having the lighting sources manufactured in Jamaica, creating the potential for employment.

Solar and LED are two types of energy that the Ministry of Energy and Mining is looking into as part of its national energy policy.

The policy’s framework, which addresses energy conservation and fuel-source diversification, is designed so that research may be done on different sources of renewable energysuch as, but not limited to, solar, hydro and wind.

Dr Audley Darmand, senior advisor to the Ministry of Energy and Mining, describes these as “big-ticket items”.

“We are exploring all forms of energy sources at this time,” he said.

Source: Jamaica Gleaner

 June 27, 2010 -Craig Francis

The Editor, Sir:

The recent furore by the Jamaica Manufacturers’ Association, the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association and the general public about the increase requested by and given to the Jamaica Public Service by the Office of Utility Regulations should bring into sharp focus the need for an alternative and cheaper source of energy. In a country where we have a ubiquitous supply of sun and wind, I have often wondered why we have not invested heavily in solar or wind-energy generation.

The use of the sun to produce energy is not some new technology that we can’t afford, as solar research has been around since the 1830s. This really got developed in the 1950s and is very much advanced technology now. It is beyond my imagination why none of our successive governments has invested in this sort of technology or has sought to implement policies to encourage its use. We would not have to be too concerned about the source, as we have sun for most of the 365 days of the year.

Reduce bill

We can cut our energy bill significantly and also our oil bill if we convert to using solar energy to produce our electricity. Why wouldn’t the Government of Jamaica (GOJ) be interested in weaning our dependence on oil? We have to import oil and it has to be paid for with foreign exchange. These monies that could be saved, we would then use in other areas such as development, both social and infrastructural.

The current government is touting the ‘eat what we grow’ campaign; we should also be touting use what we have for our energy.

If you were to check with customs, you would find high duties on the importation of the equipment used in the production of solar power, things such as solar panels and the batteries used in storing the harnessed power. This policy needs to be revisited by the government to ensure that persons who wish to save money by switching to this form of power can do so, and do so cheaply, and with relative ease.

The implementation of the technology and the equipment to allow for their use will be daunting at first glance. However, if the legislature has the will, they can pass the relevant laws to set the platform for the use of solar power. Then, incentives can be given to companies to invest in said technologies so we can be put on a path of freedom from foreign oil, a path of savings of foreign exchange, and the use of clean renewable energy. This would be a remarkable feat for our small island state.

But until a national policy is established, the GOJ, in the interim, should allow persons to have easier access to import the parts needed to make the solar panels and the panels themselves

Source:Sunday Gleaner