The electricity sector in the Gambia is characterized by heavy dependency on fuel imports to meet its electricity demand due to the fact that almost all electricity in the country is produced by fossil fuel oil-based generation technology (LFO (light fuel oil)/HFO (heavy fuel oil) power plants).

In the Great Banjul Area (GBA), the permanent total installed generation capacity is 88 MW based on fossil fuels of which only 62 MW are currently available. Outside the capital of Banjul, NAWEC delivers electricity through two grids (North and South grid) with 10.5 MW of total installed capacity. There is a connection from the North Grid to Senegal, which currently supplies power to the North Grid. These 2 regional grids are the focus of this NAMA Support Project (NSP) “Investing in Grid-connected Solar PV in The Gambia”.

The GHG emission reduction potential of the energy sector is described in the NDC. The potential for GHG emission reductions in renewable energy and energy efficiency is estimated at 56,000 tons in 2020, 122,000 tons in 2025 and 174,000 tons in 2030. Renewable energy is seen as a major contributor to achieving the targets defined in the NDC.

The Gambia Electricity Sector Roadmap is the main policy document for the energy sector. The Roadmap includes three different scenarios with various assumptions. Scenario 2a – the preferred scenario of the Government of The Gambia in the Roadmap - considers the availability of only HFO for the whole study period i.e. it does not consider gas being an option. Solar power is restricted by the scenario definition and hence is set at 30 MW until 2020 and then 60MW until 2025.

With a planned capacity of 10.5 MW to be implemented in Farafenni (6.0 MW) and Basse (4.5 MW), the NSP can provide 33% of the 2020 target (30 MW solar) and contribute to 17% of the 2025 target (60 MW solar).

The proposed NSP will implement a financial support mechanism (IPPs, PPA backed by guarantees) that serves to mobilize capital investments from the private and public sector in low-emission alternatives. The NSP will thereby address country specific challenges such as:

• Low share of renewables and limited availability of electricity
• High cost of diesel in electricity generation, imports of fossil fuels

The NSP will create transformational change by scaling up the (non-) existing generation of grid connected PV based electricity to 10.5 MW during the NSP and catalyzing up to 30 MW additional PV capacity after the NSP.

The implementation of NAMA will lead to three main outcomes, which are:

• Through replacing electricity generated by fossil fuel-based power plants, the NSP will lead to a reduction in GHG emissions of 13,481 tons/annum (taking into account degradation over lifetime of the collectors).
• Socio-economic benefits of various stakeholders benefiting directly from the NAMA Support Project: NAWEC staff will be trained and the capacity to develop and implement PV projects with IPPs will be increased. Consumers in the 2 grids will be gaining improvements in quality of life (e.g. sustainable energy supply to grid connected households).
• The NSP will catalyze impacts beyond the project by long term practical use of financial mechanism for PV installation and operation. NAWEC’s capacity to implement such projects will be strengthened and will lead to a transformation of electricity generation towards renewables.

The UNDP Country Office -The Gambia in collaboration with its national implementing partners (The Ministry of Enviornnment, Climate Change and Natural Resources & The Ministry of Petroleum and Energy) are seeking the services of a Gambian national for the position of project engineer for the NSP to provide support to the Project Manager to achieve specific and overall goal and objective of the project.

Under the direct supervision of the project manager, the project engineer shall carry out the following functions:

1. Participate in annual work plan development of the NAMA Support Project;
2. Carry out annual risk assessments of the project and timely inform the PM about any implementation bottlenecks including delays of deliverables and deviation from standards specified in the log frame of the NAMA Support Project.
3. Carry out periodic field/site visits to gauge and ascertain the progress of work on the ground and report to the PM accordingly.
4. Coordinate closely with UNCDF to monitor the implementation of the PPA between NAWEC and the Independent Power Producer (IPP). S/he should make risk assessment of the PPA implementation and advise the PM accordingly base on the trend of implementation.
5. Prepare the bi-annual NAMA Support Project reports for the Technical Support Unit and work closely with the PM to ensure timely delivery of the NAMA Support Project reports.
6. Prepare a monitoring plan for GHG emission reduction reporting to ensure that the reduction target / commitment in the NAMA Support Project is met.
7. Conduct SDG Impact Assessment with the UNDP Climate Action Impact Tool and generate annual reports to ensure the NAMA Support Project SDG impacts are achieved. By extension S/he should catalyze positive impacts beyond the project by long term practical use of financial mechanism for PV installation and operation.
7. Prepare communication pieces for the NAMA Facility Technical Support Unit and provide inputs for regular progress updates of the NAMA Facility project website in close collaboration with UNDP’s energy communication expert.
8. Carry out any other duty assigned to him/ her by the PM as it relates to the overall goal and objectives of the NSP.