Energy Specialist- IPSA 10

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work carried out at HQ, Regional, and Country Office levels forms a contiguous spectrum of deep local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in the Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the Strategic Plan.

Energy is one of UNDP’s six signature solutions – alongside poverty and inequality, governance, resilience, environment, and gender equality – to support countries towards three directions of change: structural transformation, leaving no one behind and resilience. 

As per UNDP’s new Strategic Plan 2022-2025, the first objective of UNDP is increasing energy access for those furthest behind. By speeding up investment in distributed renewable energy solutions, especially for those hardest to reach and in crisis contexts, it aims to increase access to clean and affordable energy for 500 million people. The Africa Minigrids Programme, for example, is improving the financial viability of renewable energy mini-grids in 18 countries, encouraging private investment, lower tariffs and expanded service.

Second, UNDP will work to accelerate the transition to renewable energy through systems changes that support inclusive, green economies, particularly in countries with low levels of renewable energy generation or poor energy-efficiency improvement rates. This work will capitalize on technological gains, clean energy innovations and new business models in the energy sector.

The UNDP Rome Centre – Italy-UNDP Energy Partnership

In 2022, UNDP and the Italian Ministry of Environment and Energy Security initiated collaboration on “youth-led climate action” and “energy transition” through the Youth4Climate Initiative and the Italy-UNDP Energy Partnership. The Rome Centre acts as the operational platform for these initiatives and furthers the strategic partnership between UNDP and the Italian Ministry of Environment and Energy Security. The Italy-UNDP Energy Partnership was designed to contribute to the achievement of SDG 7 and to assist countries unlock finance to scale up the diffusion of off-grid energy solutions and other effective clean and sustainable solutions to boost energy transition. Its goal is to identify country-level investment opportunities that can help reduce the current energy access gap and boost the energy transition in an initial group of 8 African countries, namely Algeria, Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda, Mozambique, Zambia, Eswatini and Comoros. Recognizing that change will be disruptive, UNDP will work to ensure that such transitions are just, and that their impact on vulnerable people is understood and duly mitigated. 

Nigeria has been making efforts to reform its electricity sector over the years to address various challenges such as inadequate generation capacity, poor infrastructure, and inefficient distribution. Amongst this effort is “The Electricity Act, 2023” (the “Act”) which was signed into law on the 8th day of June 2023 by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. A core objective of the Act is to provide a holistic integrated policy plan that recognizes all sources for the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity, including the integration of renewable energy into Nigeria’s energy mix. The Act is also designed to offer guidance during the post-privatization phase of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry, while also fostering increased private sector investments within the sector. 

The ES will support the on-ground initiatives of the Rome Centre, specifically in providing support to the development of country-specific investment plans to scale sustainable energy access using innovative financial mechanisms, instruments, and new business models; preparing project proposals for funding clean energy initiatives and participating in the coordination of stakeholder meetings and events related to the Italy-UNDP Energy Partnership. The ES will work closely with the EIS to advance the work of the Energy Partnership in Nigeria and to bring the Centre closer to its goals of accelerating SDG 7 in the country. Thus, this work requires a collaborative approach, engaging a spectrum of stakeholders across short, medium, and long-term horizons. Programming approaches, and actions to enhance private sector investments towards new programmes and initiatives will also be explored with tangible follow up actions that need to be implemented to drive investment towards closing the energy access gap and accelerating the energy transition. This will guide joint programming efforts and inform additional resource mobilization needs to maximize rapid and sustainable results.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Under the supervision of the Team Lead of UNDP Nigeria Environment and Energy Unit and Italy-UNDP Energy Partnership Country Coordinator, the ES will support UNDP’s on the ground efforts to enable progress on SDG 7, including ongoing country activities to:

• Undertake assessments to identify country-level action investment opportunities in the field of energy access and transition. 
• Advise and support the preparation of country specific investment plans for scaling sustainable energy access and other effective clean and sustainable solutions by using innovative development financial mechanisms and instruments and new business energy delivery models. 
• Guide the preparation of project proposals for submission to financiers to secure funding for clean energy development.
• Participate and support in the organization of stakeholder’s meetings and related events to area of work of the Italy-UNDP Energy Partnership. Organize workshops and events, including drafting agendas and finalizing participant lists, as needed by the team.
• Prepare technical advisory work, policy and communication materials related to the activities of the Italy-UNDP Energy Partnership and in relations with the strategic partnership of UNDP with key actors managed by the Rome Centre
• Ensure the timely publication and dissemination of the reports identified as project outputs.
•  Analyze investment and action opportunities in neighboring countries to develop synergy solutions at regional level.
• Work with key partners in the Government, civil society, and the private sector to identify country-level action investment opportunities in the field of energy access and transition that require further technical assistance intervention support to reach bankability.
• Work closely with the UNDP Country Office Team and external stakeholders to support the preparation and submission of applications to the Platform for Investment Support and Technical Assistance (PISTA) for technical assistance intervention support for all relevant projects in the areas of clean energy and other relevant sectors.
• Advise and support the PISTA team with activities in relation to the implementation of the intervention support provided to selected projects in Nigeria including monitoring, impact documentation, etc.
• Support the energy team in other countries of the EP and PISTA to identify, finance and implement country-level actions aimed at advancing clean energy development.
• The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Institutional Arrangement

• The ES will work from the UNDP Nigeria country office.
• The ES will report to the Coordinator of the Italy-UNDP Energy Partnership and the Team Lead of UNDP Nigeria Environment and Energy.
• The ES will have access to relevant information necessary for task execution.
• The ES is expected to travel to other States in Nigeria as needed.