Result of Service

The consultancy will aim to achieve the following objectives: • Support the identification of policy coverage expansion of the Renewable Energy Guide jointly with UNEP-CCC, with a possibility of selecting up to two additional RE policies (also referred as “new policies”), for methodology development for assessing the greenhouse gas impacts of the policies. • Review and provide feedback on the structure and proposal of the guides (updated Renewable Energy Guide and the Introductory Guide). • Develop assessment methodology for one of the two new RE policies, including its cost of implementation, reference to relevant tools for assessment, case studies, capacity building module slides, and outreach material for the selected policy. • Provide inputs and feedback on various UNEP-CCC project documents related to development of assessment methodology for the second new RE Policy and on the Introductory Guide at different stages of the project

Work Location

Remote

Expected duration

13,5 months

Duties and Responsibilities

The Initiative for Climate Action Transparency (ICAT), established in 2015 after the adoption of the Paris Agreement, aids over 50 developing countries in implementing the Agreement's Enhanced Transparency Framework. ICAT tailors support and provides tools for building robust transparency frameworks essential for effective climate action aligned with national development priorities. It assists in various areas such as mitigation, adaptation monitoring, tracking progress on nationally determined contributions, assessing climate policy impacts, and tracking climate finance. ICAT offers a suite of open-source tools and methodologies, including a series of 10 assessment guides, facilitating the estimation of greenhouse gas (GHG) impacts, sustainable development, and transformational impacts of countries’ climate policies and actions. The guides cover policy assessment for various sectors including agriculture, renewable energy, transport, forestry, and building, and assessment guides on cross-cutting themes like sustainable development, transformational change and stakeholder participation. The guides can help countries assess policies and their GHG, sustainable development, and transformational impacts as well as in reporting. Since their launch in 2019, they've been applied globally and are continuously updated. Acknowledging the pivotal role of the energy sector in mitigating climate change, ICAT Renewable Energy guide focuses on assessing the impacts of renewable energy policies. The Renewable Energy Guide, a part of ICAT's toolkit, offers methodological guidance for evaluating GHG impacts of renewable energy policies. As the renewable energy landscape evolves, ICAT seeks to enhance the guide's coverage and usability to ensure effective mitigation practices and technology adoption. In response to these evolving needs, ICAT plans to develop a new comprehensive Introductory Guide and update the Renewable Energy Guide to encompass additional policy areas. This approach aims to strengthen the assessment and communication of policy impacts, facilitating countries in meeting their climate targets and commitments effectively. The project has three major components as follows: Component 1: Development of a new comprehensive Introductory Guide to replace the existing one. The aim is for this guide is to follow the structure of the updated Agriculture Policy Assessment Guide's (also referred to as Agriculture Guide) introductory sections, which briefly describe the purpose, intended users, and scope of the guide, followed by an overview of guide structure (covered in three parts), with graphical coverage of each part. This provides an overview, and the user can navigate to the part they want to use easily. Informational graphics have been added and are important guide components. The idea is to create a modular system where the Introductory Guide covers a detailed explanation of shared elements among policy assessment guides, allowing these elements to be omitted from the individual guides. Component 2: The plan involves revamping the Renewable Energy methodology Guide (also referred to as Renewable Guide) to broaden its policy scope (which currently covers three policies; Feed-in-Tariff, Auction, and Incentives). The updated content may look into providing the additional policy options from the following. (i) Market-based approaches besides policies like feed-in-tariff that are already covered in RE guidance; market-based renewable energy policies provide market signals through economic mechanisms, pricing structures etc. These, for example, could include Renewable Energy Credits (RECs), Net Metering etc. (ii) Technological advancements; as new technologies emerge or existing ones evolve, policies may need updates to accommodate these changes. For instance, the introduction of more efficient solar panels or the development of better energy storage systems might require policy adjustments to optimize their integration into the energy grid, and, (iii) Market developments such as rising gas prices that can impact the cost competitiveness of renewable energy sources. As renewables become more cost-competitive, it can attract more investments (addressing a major financial barrier) and can increase market share, especially when traditional energy prices rise. In addition, the guide needs to provide a methodology to estimate the expenses associated with policy implementation. Estimating the price of implementing a renewable energy policy involves evaluating technology and infrastructure costs, financial incentives, regulatory compliance expenses, and the long-term benefits and market impacts. Finally, since the guide is targeted to support developing countries, it will include necessary templates, case studies, capacity-building modules, and instructional videos to make it user-friendly. Component 3: Similar to Component 1, it consists of restructuring the Renewable Energy Guide to enhance user-friendliness through a modular design, aligning its structure with the updated Agriculture Policy Assessment Guide and the newly developed Introductory Guide. This restructuring aims to assist users in efficiently navigating and selecting specific sections from the guide relevant for them to assess the policy selected by them. The project will be implemented by the UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre (UNEP-CCC). The Centre is a part of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Formerly known as UNEP DTU Partnership (UDP), UNEP-CCC has a unique scientific and operational knowledge base and a global institutional network, employing more than 60 technical staff of different nationalities with a broad range of sectoral expertise, in particular in energy, transport, waste, and AFOLU sectors. UNEP-CCC is also widely recognized as a leading institution in the assessment of policies as well as in the development of policies, measures, business plans, and roadmaps related to mitigation, adaptation, and sustainable development. UNEP-CCC also has expertise in the transformational change area, including the assessment of transformational change impacts in the context of mitigation and adaptation policies.

Qualifications/special skills

A master´s degree or equivalent in engineering, economics, energy and environment studies, business management, or another relevant field is required. Advance degrees (PhD) are desirable. - Minimum seven (7) years of work experience in the field of renewable energy. The consultant should have in-depth knowledge of energy economics and expertise in renewable energy technologies, policies, and practices. This includes a strong understanding of various renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, hydro, and biomass, as well as their implications for emissions reduction and climate change mitigation. - Minimum seven (7) years of work experience in renewable energy policies and methodologies related to estimating emissions pathways and emissions reductions resulting from the implementation of policies in the energy sector is essential. This includes familiarity with established methodologies for assessing the impact of renewable energy policies and interventions, such as feed-in tariffs, auctions, and tax incentives. - Demonstrated experience in policy analysis and evaluation, particularly in the context of renewable energy and climate change mitigation is required. The consultant should have a track record of assessing the effectiveness and feasibility of policy interventions aimed at promoting renewable energy adoption and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. - Strong research skills are required, including the ability to conduct comprehensive literature reviews and synthesize information from diverse sources. The consultant should be adept at analyzing academic papers, reports, and policy documents related to renewable energy policies, emissions estimation methodologies, and climate policy design. - Experience working on international projects or with global organizations involved in renewable energy and climate change mitigation is beneficial. Familiarity with international guidelines and best practices in renewable energy policy assessment and emissions estimation is highly desirable. - Excellent written and verbal communication skills are necessary for preparing reports, proposals, and presentations, as well as for engaging with stakeholders and presenting complex information in a clear and understandable manner. - Experience in stakeholder engagement and consultation is necessary. The consultant should have the ability to effectively communicate with diverse stakeholders, including government agencies, international organizations, NGOs, and academic institutions, to gather feedback and incorporate diverse perspectives into the project. - Proven project management skills are essential. The consultant should be capable of managing timelines, and stakeholder relationships to ensure the successful completion of project deliverables. Overall, the consultant should possess a combination of technical expertise, analytical skills, stakeholder engagement abilities, report writing abilities and project management experience relevant to the indicated work in order to effectively support the project's objectives.

Languages

Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Knowledge of other UN languages is an asset.

Additional Information

Performance Indicators Quality of Scoping Report: Evaluation of the scoping report based on the depth of literature review, stakeholder engagement, and clarity of insights provided. Alignment with Best Practices: Assessment of the proposed structure and content of the guides against international best practices in renewable energy policy assessment and emissions estimation. Feedback Incorporation: Timely and effective incorporation of review comments into draft guides and capacity-building modules, demonstrating responsiveness to stakeholder feedback. User-Friendly Guides: Evaluation of the guides' clarity, coherence, and user-friendliness, based on feedback from target users and stakeholders. Adherence to Deadlines: Meeting deadlines for the submission of deliverables as outlined in the project timeline, demonstrating reliability and project management skills.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.