Sunday, October 23, 2011

Consultancy to Develop a Best Practices casebook on Sustainable Urban Energy

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT Issued on: 13 Oct. 11 ORGANIZATIONAL LOCATION: UN-HABITAT DUTY STATION:
FUNCTIONAL TITLE: Consultancy to Develop a Best Practices casebook on Sustainable Urban Energy DURATION: 10 months CLOSING DATE: 25 October 2011

BACKGROUND Under the framework of the agency's Medium-Term Strategic and Institutional Plan, UN-HABITAT has identified entry points that will allow it to help clients and partners cope more effectively with the rapid pace of urbanization and also maximize the benefits that come with it. The overarching goal of the programme is to increase UN-HABITAT's capacity to effectively support member states in achieving sustainable urbanization. This programme focuses on the areas of urban planning; urban mobility; urban energy; urban governance and legislation; and urban economy and finance. The selection of these areas as strategic entry points is based on experiences from UN-HABITAT field projects and results from global research on sustainable urban development. Furthermore, the demand for these areas has been identified in several country and city participatory prioritization activities, including Urban Profiles developed through city and national consultations in more than 60 cities in Africa, the Caribbean, the Pacific, and the Arab states. The same areas have also been prioritized in the Habitat Country Programme Documents, developed jointly by national and local authorities in 32 countries. It is UN-HABITAT’s contention that if the growth of cities is planned at scale, in advance, and in phases to address projected growth over the next 20 to 30 years, fast-growing cities in developing countries will succeed in assuming their role as engines of the national economy – and in the process prevent new slums from being formed. Cities, being home to more than half of the world’s population, consume 60 to 80 percent of the world’s energy resources and produce 70 percent of the world’s anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions. Hence, cities must play a major role in improving energy efficiency, using resources more carefully, transforming urban energy systems, enhancing energy security and national prosperity - while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. A good understanding of current and projected energy consumption patterns in urban areas as well as their renewable energy generation potentials will provide useful information for urban energy planning. Planning 'low-carbon' cities implies using renewable energy options, as well as using non-renewable energy more efficiently. Some cities and urban communities in the north are aiming to be climate stabilising in energy terms by 2050 or even earlier. The cities of both the USA and the European Union have promoted platforms unifying their energy commitments in order to assist in setting and meeting ambitious targets. Most other regions, however, have untapped renewable energy potential (wind, solar, hydro, geothermal, waste, biomass, etc.) as well as large potential for saving energy. While there is no goal specifically on energy, access to energy services is a prerequisite for the achievement of all the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), while a move to sustainable energy practice support virtually all MDGs. Within this programme, the objective of the focus area on urban energy is to promote approaches, methods, and instruments for promoting sustainable urban energy planning, improving energy efficiency, increasing the use of renewable energy technologies, and improving access to clean, reliable, and sustainable energy services in urban areas.

RESPONSIBILITIES  The objective of this consultancy is to develop a Best practices casebook on Sustainable Urban Energy projects. This document will be used by UN-HABITAT and partners to initiate sustainable urban energy planning based on successful practices.  Under the supervision of the Chief of the Urban Energy Section and in consultation with other UN-HABITAT colleagues, the consultant will be responsible for the development of the casebook with urban energy practices from all over the world and with emphasis on developing countries. This will include: • Desktop review of existing practices on urban energy taking into account regional balance and particular attention on developing countries; • Prepare a template for documenting practices with a good analytical structure; • Collect practices and liaise with people involved in the practices to have updated or missing information. • Develop a first draft Casebook for review; • Compile a number of case studies (with a maximum of 10 per thematic areas or type of urban energy technology/services). • The best practices will include: renewable energy technologies, energy efficiency, energy access, energy services, legislation and ordinances on energy use (such as the Solar ordinance in Europe). • Contribute to the organization of an expert group meeting and present the draft casebook for comment and inputs; • Finalize the draft taking into consideration comments/inputs received during the expert group meeting or any other document review. • The consultant will also liaise with other UN-HABITAT departments and section for additional inputs.

COMPETENCIES  Ability to work independently with a high degree of responsibility, in a flexible manner and under pressure.  Strong writing, inter-personal communication and networking skills, as well as research skills.

EDUCATION • Advanced university degree, relevant to sustainable urban energy planning, human settlements planning/design and architecture in developing countries. A post graduate university degree in combination with qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree in a related field. •
WORK EXPERIENCE • Excellent knowledge of principles, concepts, policies and strategic orientations of sustainable urban energy and clean energy. • At least five years of working experience, research and development in the field of renewable energy in urban areas and formulation of energy policies/regulation; • Good understanding of low-carbon cities planning, smart cities and smart grid.

LANGUAGE SKILLS  Fluency in English (written and oral), and knowledge of any other UN will be an asset.

OTHER SKILLS  Computer literacy in standard office applications (MS Works package: MS Word, MS PowerPoint, MS Excel and MS Access) and electronic communications.

REMUNERATION Payments will be based on deliverables over the consultancy period. There are set remuneration rates for consultancies. The rate is determined by functions performed and experience of the consultant. The fees will be paid as per agreement.

Applications should include: • Cover memo (maximum 1 page) • Summary CV (maximum 2 pages), indicating the following information: 1. Educational Background (incl. dates) 2. Professional Experience (assignments, tasks, achievements, duration by years/ months) 3. Other Experience and Expertise (e.g. Internships/ voluntary work, etc.) 4. Expertise and preferences regarding location of potential assignments 5. Expectations regarding remuneration

All applications should be submitted to: Mr. Vincent Kitio UN-HABITAT P.O. Box 30030, 00100 Nairobi, Kenya Email: Vincent.kitio@unhabitat.org, cc: Sebastian.lange@unhabitat.org

Fax: + 254 20 762 4343

Please be advised that since April 15th 2010, applicants for consultancies must be part of the UN-HABITAT e-Roster in order for their application to be considered. You can reach the e-Roster through the following link: http://e-roster.unhabitat.org

Deadline for applications: 25 October 2011

UN-HABITAT does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process. If you have any questions concerning persons or companies claiming to be recruiting on behalf of these offices and requesting the payment of a fee, please contact: recruitment@unon.org

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