Solar Market Assessment Consultant

Terms of Reference

Solar Energy Market Assessment Consultant

Under the Project LEBB02_ R10315

“Strengthening protection, resilience and self-reliance of the most vulnerable crisis-affected population in particular women and youth, in the Baalbek district, Lebanon and Rural Damascus, Syria”

Oxfam Lebanon Programme

Background:

Oxfam is a global movement of people, working together to end the injustice of poverty. Oxfam has been working in Lebanon since 1993. We provide humanitarian assistance to vulnerable people affected by conflict, and we promote economic justice and good governance, and women’s rights. Oxfam also works with local partners to contribute to the protection and empowerment of marginalized women and men.

In responding to the Syrian Refugee Crisis, Oxfam addresses the emergency water needs through WaSH service provision to populations residing in informal settlements; and to those of the Lebanese host communities through efforts to improve water infrastructure and management systems.

Oxfam Under the DANIDA fund in the Bekaa, is planning to train Youth men and women on solar technology through theoretical as well as practical modalities. Thus, Oxfam is planning to conduct a Market Assessment with stakeholders of the solar market. The objective of the market assessment is to assess the supply and demand of solar systems to tailor the training based on the market needs and to link the trained youth to the market.

Activity:

OXFAM is seeking a firm, consultant, or a consortium of consultants to undertake a comprehensive detailed assessment and validation study of required labor skills in renewable and solar energy construction, installation, operations, and maintenance. The target area for this study is Bekaa.

Study Objectives

The objective of the study is to identify skills needs/gaps, required training courses and curricula, subsequent upgrades to existing curricula, technical and non-technical skills and occupations, relevant soft skills, trainer/instructors’ qualifications and skills, VTE programs infrastructure and equipment, demands by the job market, and employer perceptions of skills.

The study will consolidate quantitative and qualitative data on current and available research on the Bekaa labor needs and gaps, labor market dynamics and specific private sector employment opportunities in the field of renewable solar energy. Once needs and gaps are identified, the study will then undertake focused labor market analysis to fill in missing information specific to those gaps.

The study will map and assess the range, quality, infrastructure, and asset availability of current training programs offered by VTE schools, INGOs and relevant programs, to identify the best positioned TVETs and VTE programs to meet private sector needs in the renewable energy sector.

The study will use key informant interviews and focus group discussions to investigate and identify the needs of lead private sector firms.

Content of Works and Output of the market Assessment

The Market Assessment will cover the solar energy sector in Bekaa region, focusing on the demand/supply gaps in the market and needed skills

The assessment shall include the below tasks:

• Market Demand Overview.
• Meeting with the Chamber of commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Zahle and Bekaa (CCIAZ).
• Expected market growth and market supply overview.
• Market Mapping: Map the landscape of private companies, distributors, construction firms, and government entities working in the renewable energy/solar sector and identify what skills/gaps of technical and non-technical occupations they need and what challenges they face.
• Technical Mapping: Map the landscape of Technical and Vocational Education and training “TVETs”, vocational programs, and NGOs that offer renewable energy/solar courses to assess the range and quality of training programs currently offered, including infrastructure/asset availability.

Identify needed vocational curricula, courses, as well as required updates to available vocational curricula and courses in renewable energy/solar, along with required equipment if needed, and related qualification requirements and standards.

Identify supplementary education and training that that might target: New graduates, People with relevant skills from other sectors, recommend continuing education and training initiatives to keep skills and knowledge up to date

• Employment Opportunities in the Solar Energy Sector

The market assessment will be divided into three phases.

Phase 1 - Consolidate and review all labor market assessment/workforce related to solar energy research to identify promising areas of intervention and gaps for further field research.

In this phase, the consultant will develop the research tools and questionnaires and finalize the research methodology. The consultant is expected to review and analyze the available research on renewable energy related workforce development in Bekaa (compile a comprehensive database of reports, data, interviews, and analysis of existing activities in the sector).

The Consultant shall deliver an inception report within one week of starting the consultancy.

Phase 2 – Targeted labor market Assessment

Within 3 weeks, the researcher will validate the findings with in-depth key informant interviews (KII), focus group discussions (FGD), and/or surveys with renewable energy actors.

This phase shall include the profiling of the solar energy sector with a focus on labor market demand and supply, specific occupation vacancies, soft skills, and technical/vocational training gaps.

The offeror will map and profile the existing solar/renewable energy programming landscape to identify potential for the training of Youth.

A draft report of the should be submitted to OXFAM team for review and approval.

Phase 3 – Recommendations regarding development of a Training for the Youth

Based on the findings, the offeror will propose a training for Youth (i.e., content, duration, trainer’s experience, list of experts who might be contracted to develop the curricula, etc.) and needed Tools that can be supplied to the attendee.

Selection criteria:

• At least 2 years’ experience in the domain of research and analysis activity related to the market Assessment.
• Previous experience working in the renewable/solar energy sector preferred.
• Previous experience working on INGO assessments or programs preferred.
• List of similar past relevant market assessment in the previous years. (Name, Brief Description of the services performed) with Recommendation Letters.

Required documents:

• Profile of the consultant including the business Registration & organization chart.
• CV’s of key staff
• Clear Schedule of the specific content of the market assessment (timeline, methodology)
• Proposed methodology for completing the assignment.
• Proposed tools for completing the assignment. Draft examples are advantageous.
• Detailed budget in USD.

General Conditions:

• The consultant must take into consideration COVID-19 precaution measures during the Workshop.
• The period of execution of the market assessment shall be up to one month from the date of signing the contract.
• Oxfam Team or his/her representative is responsible to monitor and provide regular feedback on the multiple drafts that will be produced.
• Ensure safety and security/prevention

Closing Date: Offers to be submitted before Friday 28 October at 3:00 pm.

Submission should be by email to lebanonprocurement@oxfam.org.uk with subject “Solar Market Assessment Consultant”.