TIF - Solar Energy Field Expert

Background and Context

The USAID-funded Trade and Investment Facilitation (TIF) project purpose is to facilitate export of Lebanese goods and services to generate foreign exchange through investments that simultaneously promote job creation, income generation, and improved livelihoods throughout the country.

TIF has three objectives:

1) increased exports of Lebanese goods and services,

2) investment facilitation leading to increased domestic investment, and

3) improved business and investment enabling environment.

The TIF conducted sector analysis, which resulted into identifying TIF priority sectors and each sector’s main challenges, opportunities and potential areas of interventions related to the growth of each one of them.

In March 2021, TIF launched its Call for Partnership Annual Program Statement (APS), which was broadly published across Lebanon to submit development plans.  Additionally, key stakeholders in each of TIF priority sectors were invited to sector webinars and introducing them to TIF’s APS.

As a next step leading to achieve TIF’s objectives, the workshops and co-creation activities for approved development plans have started, in partnerships with the private sector.

Tasks

The tasks of this assignment are to engage technical experts in the Solar Energy field to support the TIF team in conducting assessments related to the solar energy industry, organizing roundtables and providing in depth analyses of development plans related to renewable energies:

Co-creation activities 

Estimated session time for each co-creation: 2 - 6 days/Development Plan, to be adjusted based on the support required (15 days in total).

The technical expert will be required to:

• Technically assist in the validation of the proposed Development Plans as requested by TIF.
• Provide technical guidance on the implementation and sequence of the Development Plan during the co-creation phase following the methodology devised by the TIF team and taking into consideration TIF objectives.
• Support in identifying and liaising with key stakeholders and key players to improve capacity and collaborations to expand locally, regionally, and internationally.  

 Workshop discussions

Estimated work for each workshop: 4 days (16 days for 4 workshops)

The technical expert will be required to:

• Assist in organizing workshops, finalizing an agenda for each workshop, identifying and selecting stakeholders.
• Provide sector analysis and presentations as required.
• Moderate discussions with the identified key stakeholders to generate a strategic list of prioritized policy reforms that enhance or improve the Business and Enabling Environment of the clean energies sub-sector in order to increase sales, encourage the export of locally manufactured products and create jobs,
• Secure stakeholders’ endorsement and advocacy on each of the prioritized policy reforms as per the above, eventually leading to a potential national strategy and a road map for each of the sectors.
• Write a final report on the process and outcomes of each workshop.

 Location of Assignment

     The location of this assignment is across Lebanon.

Level of Effort and Period of Performance

       Estimated 31 days for one year

Deliverables

Task 1: Co-creation activities

Written recommendations for reviewed development plan.

Task 2: Workshop discussions

A final report per workshop including the process and outcomes.

Task 3: Develop a Sector Strategy if requested by stakeholders

A final sector strategy validated by the key stakeholders

Qualifications:

• A university degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent with 10 years of experience is required. (M./Sc.) in Electrical Engineering or related field is a plus.
• Experience with donors in the field of energy sector is highly desirable.
• Progressive management and technical experience in the design, development, implementation, and procurement of solar systems.
• Experience in business analysis, feasibility studies and resource assessment for solar PV projects is required.
• Experience in international cooperation technical assistance is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated business acumen and strategizing.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills and ability to liaise with diverse stakeholder groups.
• Strong communication skills - both written and oral – in English and Arabic.