Solar Energy Consultant

Position Title: Consultant (Solar Energy)

Duty Station: IOM Philippines Country Office (Cotabato City)

Classification: Consultant

Type of Appointment: Consultancy, nine months

Estimated Start Date: 1st week of May 2024

Closing Date: 03 April 2024

Established in 1951, IOM is a Related Organization of the United Nations, and as the leading UN agency in the field of migration, works closely with governmental, intergovernmental, and non-governmental partners. IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to governments and migrants.

Context:

The purpose of the consultancy is to provide technical assistance to the project, Enhancing and Sustaining Peace and Security Mechanisms in Mindanao. The solar energy consultant will lead the on-site data collection and profiling of energy loads required for the installation of solar equipment as integral part of rehabilitation component for the Joint Peace and Security Team (JPST) stations.

Nature of Consultancy: The Joint Peace and Security Teams (JPSTs) were established to ensure stability in specific areas, involving members from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). Operating since 2019, these teams assist their communities in efforts to sustain peace, manage conflicts and foster resolution, especially for those impacted by both horizontal and vertical conflicts.

Although the JPSTs play a crucial role in promoting peace and peacebuilding efforts in Mindanao, they are encountering challenges in delivering effective services that meet the needs of the community. These challenges arise from their limitations in community-oriented safeguarding, communications, logistics, and operational infrastructure. Recent disasters, notably floods and heavy rainfall in Maguindanao, have caused significant devastation across the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) region. By July 2023, these disasters displaced over 87,000 households and damaging at least 10 JPST stations.1 These disasters have further strained the JPSTs’ capacity, especially as they contend with increased climate-related incidents and a rise in clan feuds and politically motivated violence.

Within the given context, there is an immediate need to provide assistance to the JPSTs in order to enhance their resilience and effectiveness as catalyst for peace. The objective of the project is to support the JPSTs recover from recent climate and security setbacks, by enhancing their physical, social, and economic capacities, and reinforcing their ability to address both conflicts and disasters within their communities. IOM will seek to build peaceful communities in BARMM through direct capacity support to the JPSC/JPST during the critical last phases of BARMM’s transition period through:

• Capacity building support to JPSTs on protection, community engagement and community-oriented safeguarding
• Rehabilitation of JPST operational hubs including instalment of solar equipment
• Facilitating access of vulnerable communities and at-risk groups to sustainable and inclusive livelihoods

IOM Project to which the Consultancy is contributing: Peace, Transition and Recovery Unit in IOM Cotabato Sub-Office.

Category B Consultants: Tangible and measurable outputs of the work assignment.

a) Development of localized tools and conduct of technical evaluation for reparation/installation of solar equipment needs of prioritized JPST stations.

b) On-site data collection of relevant energy data in identified JPST stations including preparation of energy load profiles for key equipment at each site.

c) Lead the preparation of solar equipment specification and budgetary requirement in consultation with IOM project’s team and JPSC’s technical focal point.

d) Identify and map out potential vendors/service providers for the installation of solar equipment and services for operations and maintenance.

e) Ensure successful reparation/installation of solar equipment system in at least four prioritized JPST stations.

f) Design and lead the capacity building support to JPST members on operations and maintenance(O&M) of the solar equipment for sustainability.

These services shall be provided by the consultant during a period of six (6) months, starting from May 01, 2024, to October 31, 2024. All outputs are expected to consider appropriate incorporation of measures to disaster risk reduction, climate adaptation and mitigation, and environmental protection, and ensure compliance with local legislation such as the National Building Code, Green Building Code and Electrical Code. Activities will be conducted in-person and/or on hybrid modality depending on the workable arrangement with partners, government counterparts and stakeholders. All activities are understood to be subject to observance of applicable health and security protocols and to any movement restrictions that may be imposed by the Philippine government.

Deliverables are to be performed in accordance with the following indicative schedule and may adjust upon further deliberation:

I. May 2024 – Submission of inception report including the proposed tools be utilized on data collection and documentation of energy load profiles needed per station.

II. May 2024 – Field inspection/ technical evaluation of damaged solar power system in selected four JPST stations.

III. June 2024 – Develop design and cost estimate for solar equipment repair/ installation.

IV. June: 2024 – Assist procurement for solar power system contracting including mapping of potential contractors, vendors or suppliers for repair/installation of solar power system/equipment.

V. July- August 2024 – Monitoring including providing strategic supervision and recommendations to contractors/service providers with regard to reparation and installation activities.

VI. September 2024 – Completion of the reparation/installation of solar equipment system in at least four prioritized JPST stations.

VI. October 2024 – Lead final inspection for testing and commissioning.

VIII. October 2024 – Conduct capacity building sessions on operations and maintenance (O&M) to JPST members

IX. October 2024 – Submission of final report, tools, photo documentation and data sets to IOM’s Peace, Transition and Recovery Unit and/or National Project Engineering Officer

X. October 2024 – End of contract

The Consultant may be required to attend online or in-person meetings with the IOM project team and Joint Peace and Security Committee (JPSC) Secretariat or focal point on an ad hoc basis, to provide updates on deliverables and to ensure alignment with other project components. The Consultant may also need to travel to BARMM areas to support the conduct of some project activities related to solarization of JPST stations.

Performance indicators for evaluation results

• Quality and timeliness of the expected deliverables (value of services rendered in relation to their cost)
• Effective adaptation of thematic resources and information into materials and key messaging that are relevant to the target audience.
• Application of a results-based approach to the consultancy – i.e., deliverables are aligned with project objectives and contribute concretely to the overall impact of the project.
• Efficient coordination with the project team and all necessary stakeholders
• Strict adherence to ethical standards, including confidentiality and data protection.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Master’s degree or at least University degree in the field of energy development, renewable energy, electrical engineering, or related area with at least three years of professional experience.
• Excellent communication, writing, and analytical skills required.
• Ability to engage with a wide range of stakeholders, from grassroots level to provincial or regional policymakers.
• Understanding and experience working in the sphere of peacebuilding and peace security is a strong advantage.
• Experience/familiarity with policies and practices of intergovernmental organizations or international NGOs is preferred.
• For this position, fluency in English and Filipino is required. Knowledge of another BARMM local language is desirable.

Languages

For this position, fluency in English and Filipino is required.

Note

The consultant must adhere to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Data Protection Principles (IN/138) and maintain confidentiality.

The consultant will be responsible to follow IOM writing guidelines and latest glossaries in all given assignments for accurate translation.

IOM is an intergovernmental organization, and as such is exempted from all taxes in the Philippines. Therefore, it is not obligated to retain any taxes that should be owed to the Government of the Philippines as part of the execution of this contract. It is the sole responsibility of the contractor to comply with any fiscal obligations that might be applicable.

Copyright

The ownership of intellectual products developed during this project will be shared with the government entities partaking in its creation, as well as IOM’s regional office. Government agencies and the cooperating agency must be warranted visibility and recognition, through the use of their logos in every document and any other material that might be a result of these intellectual production. Applications received later or that do not specify the name of the call will not be considered.

Required Competencies

Values

• Inclusion and respect for diversity: respects and promotes individual and cultural differences; encourages diversity and inclusion wherever possible.
• Integrity and transparency: maintains high ethical standards and acts in a manner consistent with organizational principles/rules and standards of conduct.
• Professionalism: demonstrates ability to work in a composed, competent and committed manner and exercises careful judgment in meeting day-to-day challenges.
• **Courage:**demonstrates willingness to take a stand on issues of importance.
• Empathy: shows compassion for others, makes people feel safe, respected and fairly treated.

Core Competencies – behavioural indicators level 1

• Teamwork: develops and promotes effective collaboration within and across units to achieve shared goals and optimize results.
• Delivering results: produces and delivers quality results in a service-oriented and timely manner; is action oriented and committed to achieving agreed outcomes.
• Managing and sharing knowledge: continuously seeks to learn, share knowledge and innovate.
• Accountability: takes ownership for achieving the Organization’s priorities and assumes responsibility for own action and delegated work.
• Communication: encourages and contributes to clear and open communication; explains complex matters in an informative, inspiring and motivational way.

IOM’s competency framework can be found at this link.

Competencies will be assessed during a competency-based interview.

Other:

The appointment is subject to funding confirmation.

Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.