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Introduction

1. BACKGROUND

 The Africa Minigrids Program (AMP)

The Africa Minigrids Program’s (AMP or ‘the Program’) is a country-led regional technical assistance program for minigrids, active in an initial 21 African countries. It is led by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with funding primarily from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented together with Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) and the African Development Bank (AfDB), linking up with a wide array of minigrid stakeholders in Africa and beyond.

AMP’s overall objective is to increase access to electricity by improving the financial viability and promoting scaled-up commercial investment in renewable energy minigrids (‘minigrids’). AMP will focus on cost reduction - across hardware, soft and financing costs - and innovative business models for minigrids. With lower costs, minigrids will be more financially viable, commercial capital flows will increase, and end-users will benefit from lower tariffs and expanded service. 

The program is comprised of two main elements: 

1.        An initial 21 national projects, each with a common architecture consisting of five components: (i) policy and regulations, (ii) business model innovation with private sector, (iii) innovative finance for minigrids scale-up, and (iv) digital, knowledge management, and (v) M&E. 

2.       A regional project acting as the knowledge, advocacy and coordinating platform for AMP. This will be achieved through a suite of knowledge tools, technical and operational expertise and support, communities of practice, and promoting innovative digital approaches for minigrid cost reduction.  

 

At the program level, AMP has identified three key areas of opportunities which constitute important levers for cost-reduction in the sector, and represent areas where UNDP and its partners can bring particular value-add: national dialogues on minigrid delivery models, productive use of electricity and data and digitalization

In 2024, an additional USD 1.7 million was secured for the AMP regional project through a Funding Window allocation provided by Denmark and Luxembourg. This funding will enhance the project’s capacity to support national initiatives by deploying international experts to assist with minigrid delivery models, tender design, and stakeholder capacity-building activities. With this additional financial support and insights from early national project implementation, the regional project will also centralize the procurement of digital platforms to monitor pilot minigrids at both national and regional levels. This approach will ensure economies of scale, greater harmonization, and improved compatibility across the program. Additionally, the project will develop a guidance note on financing facilities and facilitate a regional dialogue to explore new partnerships and funding opportunities, ultimately helping to expand the minigrid pipeline and scale up AMP.

The AMP National Project in Sudan

The Sudan National Child Project under the GEF Africa Minigrid Programme (AMP) aims to enhance access to clean energy by improving the financial viability and promoting scaled-up commercial investment in low-carbon minigrids. The project’s overarching goal is to develop solar PV minigrids as a key solution for rural electrification, particularly in underserved and off-grid areas of Sudan where private sector involvement has historically been limited.

The project is designed around four key components: (1) Policy and Regulation to advance stakeholder ownership and develop enabling frameworks for minigrid investments; (2) Business Model Innovation with Private Sector to implement solar PV-battery hybrid minigrid pilots via BOOT (Build, Own, Operate, Transfer) models; (3) Innovative Financing mechanisms to incentivize minigrid investments; and (4) Digitalization, Knowledge Management, and Monitoring & Evaluation to mainstream digital tools, enhance sector data collection, and ensure robust project performance tracking.

Pilot projects will retrofit existing diesel-based minigrids with solar PV power plants in selected locations in the Red Sea and Kassala states, targeting approximately 144,002 beneficiaries. These pilots will demonstrate innovative cost-reduction strategies, foster private sector engagement, and support Sudan's national goal of achieving 80% electrification by 2030.

The project will also support policy dialogue, capacity building for government and private stakeholders, and the deployment of a digital platform to manage minigrid tenders and performance monitoring. It aligns closely with Sudan’s energy transition agenda and contributes to SDGs 7, 13, and 5 by promoting sustainable energy, mitigating climate change, and empowering women through vocational training and inclusion in energy sector roles.

2.       SCOPE OF WORK, RESPONSIBILITIES AND DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED WORK

 2.1.  Task 1: Technical advisory, oversight, and private sector engagement for the design and implementation of the AMP Sudan minigrid pilots.

The Senior Energy Minigrid Expert will coordinate and support all technical aspects of the design and implementation of the minigrid pilots under the AMP national project, Component 2. This includes providing strategic guidance, technical oversight, and operational support to the Implementing Partner and other stakeholders, while ensuring strong engagement with the private sector and alignment with AMP’s cost-reduction and sustainability objectives.

2.2.  Task 2: Technical review and quality assurance of deliverables under Components 1, 3, and 4.

 The Senior Energy Minigrid Expert will provide technical review and quality assurance of key deliverables produced by other consultancies under Components 1 (Policy and Regulation), 3 (Innovative Financing), and 4 (Digitalization and Knowledge Management) of the AMP national project. The expert will ensure that outputs are technically sound, context-appropriate, and aligned with AMP objectives and regional guidance.

2.3.  Task 3: Support for monitoring and evaluation (M&E) and coordination with the AMP regional project and peer countries.

 The Senior Energy Minigrid Expert will support the implementation of monitoring and evaluation activities under the AMP national project and facilitate coordination with the AMP regional project and other participating countries. This includes contributing to the development and use of M&E tools, supporting data collection and reporting, and ensuring that lessons learned and technical insights from the national project are shared across the AMP network.

3.  QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE 

I. Academic Qualifications:

·       Master’s Degree or higher in a relevant field, such as Energy, Engineering, Renewable Energy, Environmental Sciences, or a related discipline.

 

II. Years of experience:

·       Minimum 12 years of demonstrable experience in the area of climate change mitigation, renewable energy, or a closely related area, with specific and demonstrable experience in decentralized renewable energy applications such as minigrids. 

·       Demonstrable experience in provision of technical advice to donors, international entities, NGOs, foundations or minigrid operators in Africa in renewable energy minigrid policy, strategy, regulatory framework development and pilot design.

·       Minimum work experience of 5 years in African countries. Experience in Sudan would be an asset.

·       Previous working experience with GEF project agencies active in climate change mitigation initiatives in Africa (such as UNDP, UNIDO, the World Bank and/or the African Development Bank) and familiarity with GEF policies, procedures and practices are assets.

·       Demonstrated leadership, facilitation and coordination skills, with ability to engage with technical teams, engage with stakeholders, design participatory processes and form strategic partnerships and alliances.

·       Demonstrated ability to work independently and deliver high quality outputs in a timely manner.

 III. Language:

·       Fluent English language (both oral and written). Working knowledge of Arabic will be an asset.

 

IV. Competencies:

·       Integrity and professionalism: demonstrated expertise in area of specialty and ability to apply good judgment; high degree of autonomy and ability to take ownership; willingness to accept responsibilities and ability to work independently; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; work in responsive and client-oriented manner.

·       Accountability: ability to operate in compliance with organizational rules and regulations.

·       Planning, effective organizational and problem-solving skills: ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work.

·       Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

·   Communication: excellent oral and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; ability to maintain composure and remain helpful towards colleagues, but objective, without showing personal interest.

Period of assignment/services: 180 person-days spread over 24 months. 

Proposal should be submitted directly in the portal no later than indicated deadline. Any request for clarification must be sent in writing via messaging functionality in the portal. UNDP will respond in writing including an explanation of the query without identifying the source of inquiry.

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