CowaterSogema recruits 01 Generation Planning Expert
CowaterSogema
Lusaka, Zambia
Generation Planning Expert
Job stage: Immediate Opportunity Wage: Commensurate with ExperiencePosition Type: Consultant, Long Term, Part-TimeClosing On: 12/27/2020Country: Home Based & ZambiaCities and Infrastructure for Growth Zambia
Position: Generation Planning ExpertCIGZambia Project: Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) development for the Zambian Ministry of EnergyLocation: Lusaka, Zambia and home-based. Note: This position involves short-term travel to Lusaka,Zambia. Due to Covid-19 pandemic, all travel will be conducted in line with relevant government regulations, Cowater/CIGZambia and Workd Health Organisation (WHO) guidance.Start Date: 1 December 2020Contract Duration: 16 months, Part-Time
About Cities and Infrastructure for Growth Zambia (CIGZambia)CIGZambia is a facility that provides high-quality independent technical advice and assistance to Zambian government bodies and private sector organisations engaged in projects /programmes that help harness the potential of Zambia’s cities and towns to act as drivers for economic growth and job creation. CIGZambia is funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
The overall programme objectives are:increasing urban productivity;
improving inclusive access to urban economic infrastructure services;increasing investment into urban economic infrastructure services;enhancing national and regional integration between cities.The development of an efficient, affordable and reliable energy supply ecosystem to support the development of the economy in Zambia’s cities is considered to be an essential component of achieving these objectives.
About the RoleThe consultant will play a key role in the development of the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) for the Zambian Ministry of Energy. The IRP is a 30-year plan for a sustainable electricity investment in generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure that will ensure universal access to clean, reliable and affordable electricity at the lowest total environmental, social, economic and financial cost consistent with local, national and regional development goals. The IRP will also include implications arising from demand-side management (DSM), financing and pricing, and will assist in creating the optimum balance between on-grid and off-grid investment in power infrastructure to meet the electrification needs of the population.
The IRP will be developed across several project modules which will include: Demand Assessment, Transmission Planning, Distribution Planning, Least Cost Generation Planning, Renewable Resource Planning, Sector Financial Sustainability, Power Procurement Processes, Climate Resilience and Adaption, Gender and Social Inclusion Analysis, Institutional Planning Framework and Demand Side Management and Energy Efficiency.
Part of the role of CIGZambia is to develop capacity within Zambian institutions and individuals to undertake the strategic analysis and operational planning for high profile national projects such as the development of the IRP. The selected individual will be expected to develop and transfer knowledge and skills to assigned individuals within Zambia within the Ministry of Energy (and most likely other Government Departments) to develop the IRP systems, processes and information databases in future.
The consultant will lead a team that will develop and compile the generation options into supply plans that help to meet forecasted national grid-connected electricity demand and plausible regional trading. Specifically, the consultant will:
Phase I – to be completed in by March 2021Review available recent reports / studies on generation resource assessments in Zambia to form a coherent assessment of the current generation resources and their geographical dispersion (including but not limited to hydro, solar, wind, geothermal, bio-energy, coal, and other thermal and nuclear sources);
Review software and diagnostic tools available for least cost generation planning with a view to recommend a cost-effective software package(s) / diagnostic tool(s) for use in the development of the IRP;Provide learning and guidance on how IRP planning has been applied in other countries (particularly developing countries) to develop a robust power procurement strategy, and the processes through which stakeholder engagement and institutional involvement in the process are effectively managed;Develop a capacity building plan for individuals in Zambia who are assigned to direct, manage and operate the IRP process in Zambia going forward;Interface with component leads in other function work streams such as Climate, Financing and Transmission;Articulate a methodology and clear plan with list of activities and timelines to develop a generation plan for the IRP for Zambia.
Part II – up to the end of March 2022Guide implementation of software packages/ diagnostic tools for generation planning;
Undertake capacity building in generation planning methodologies and use of the generation planning software / diagnostic tools. This should include an explanation of the main issues and considerations in generation planning (e.g. data sources and integrity, ensuring broad buy-in by stakeholders, tools trading cost against accuracy and ease of use etc.);Lead development of the generation plan for the IRP;With the lead for the carbon resilience / adaption work stream, facilitate the modelling of the climate impact of different sources of generation;With the lead for the transmission work stream, consider the connection costs and system losses that will arise from different generation source when connected to the national grid;With the lead for the gender and social inclusion work stream, evaluate the impact of different generation sources of job creation and inclusiveness, including women and vulnerable communities;With the lead for the procurement work stream, review methods for procurement of generation and recommend one for application in the implementation of the IRP;Prepare communication materials that will explain the work undertaken and facilitate debate and discussion of different options with key stakeholders in Government and with consumers, investors, financiers and other power sector stakeholders.The consultant will also prepare reports on monthly basis for project implementation, provide update reports and other kind of reports in relation to the project activities as will be assigned to him or her by the CIGZambia Project Preparation and Finance Lead. The consultant will attend meetings, as required to provide update to the CIGZambia management team.
The consultant should possess strong technical skills and in depth understanding in generation planning having worked in a utility company, regulator or Government Ministry responsible for energy and/or resources planning. The consultant will be expected to possess proven project management, communication and leadership skills operating in an engineering consulting environment.
Project ResponsibilitiesThe consultant shall guide development of the proper and timely implementation of the generation planning part of the IRP. The consultant shall report to CIGZambia any delay of the Project implementation as well as any likely delay. In the latter case, the consultant shall also propose measures to overcome or reduce the delay.
The consultant will highlight capacity building, aid coordination, good communication and sound management practices between stakeholders (Ministry of Energy being the main client) so that best practices in community engagement, needs identification, intervention design, project implementation, monitoring and evaluation, transparency and reporting are applied throughout the project cycle.
The consultant will use his/her experience as well as international and local knowledge in the sector to support all the elements of the programme, attending and helping to facilitate some of the workshops and training courses and providing additional support and review as required. He/she will also provide plans for capacity building and technology transfer to the Ministry of Energy by organising workshops and training activities.
Resourcing and ReportingThe resourcing requirement will vary during the contract but will average approximately 3 days per week. The consultant would report to the CIGZambia Projects and Finance Lead.
It is estimated that the full scope of this programme will be delivered over a period of 16 months starting in December 2020 and ending in March 2022.
Key Knowledge, Experience and QualificationsMasters or PhD Degree in Relevant Subject (Electrical Engineering or Renewable Energy) with at least ten (10) years-experience in the power sector at a senior management level;
Experience in a utility firm, regulator or Government Ministry that provides services in the area of generation system modelling and planning, and integration of renewable energy onto the grid;Strong project management skills and leadership capabilities;Disciplined and experienced in programme management using software tools for report writing, monitoring, project management;Experience in facilitating workshops, providing training and providing technical mentorship;Demonstrable skills in written and verbal communication and proven report writing skills to high professional standards.
APPLICATION PROCESSCandidates can submit their application as soon as possible and by Friday 27th November, 2020.
Please send your CV to admin@cigzambia.org. Applications received through the Career Center will no be considered. For CV to be considered, subject line in email must be completed as follows: Generation Planning Expert –Candidate Last Name, First Name.
ABOUT USWith more than 35 years’ experience, Cowater International is Canada’s global leader in management consulting services specializing in international development and has managed the implementation of over 800 projects in more than 80 countries around the globe. We work with governments, partner organizations, communities and civil society to design and implement sustainable solutions that generate lasting social, financial and environmental impacts. Our adaptive approach to management has led to our award-winning work and recognition as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies in 2017 and 2018. Headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, Cowater International also has corporate offices in Montreal, Quebec, Paris, France, Pretoria, South Africa, and London, United Kingdom, Nairobi, Kenya in addition to project offices in a wide variety of other locations across Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia.
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