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The Pacific Islands Renewable Energy Project (PIREP) - Expression of Interest

As the executing agency for the PIREP, the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) is now identifying a GEF expert who will assist the Chief Technical Advisor of the PIREP in the design of a comprehensive regional initiative [next Phase of the PIREP] to removing barriers to the development and commercialisation of Renewable Energy in the PICs that influences country efforts to reduce the long-term growth of greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel uses, especially diesel. The comprehensive regional initiative will be a Full GEF Project.

1.            PIREP Description

The Pacific Islands Renewable Energy Project [PIREP] is a GEF/UNDP-funded regional climate change mitigation project participated in by 14 1 Pacific Island Countries [PICs] that have ratified the UNFCCC, and Tokelau. PIREP is an 18 months project, which commenced implementation in May 2003.

The development goal of the PIREP is the preparation of a regional approach to removing barriers to the development and commercialization of renewable energy [RE] systems in the PICs that influences country efforts to reduce the long-term growth of greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions from fossil fuel uses, especially diesel. The purpose of the project is the “acceleration of the adoption and commercialization of feasible and applicable renewable energy technologies [RETs].”

Studies under the current phase of the PIREP will come up with suggested regional and national interventions that will remove the identified barriers to RE development that are common to most of the PICs, and to level the playing field for RE development in the light of the substantial contribution of fossil fuels in the region’s energy mix. These are the much-needed groundwork for a more comprehensive regional initiative that will contribute in countering the heavy reliance on fossil fuels through the promotion and facilitation of the widespread use of RE. Such a comprehensive regional initiative is expected to contribute to the region’s effort to mitigate climate change brought by greenhouse gases [GHGs], as well as to achieving the PICs sustainable development efforts.

2.            Tasks

The principal task of the GEF Expert will be to design the FGP in close consultation with the CTA. This will largely be based, but not exclusively, on a review of the studies conducted under the PIREP and other materials that will be provided [see Materials Available in # 3 below], a MSP Results Workshop and national and regional level consultations. These are covered in more details below:

Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue,

Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Island, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

A.   Evaluation of Results of National and Regional Assessments and other PIREP studies

• Review and make preliminary assessment of ongoing and planned RE initiatives in the PIREP national and regional assessment reports and inputs from the PIREP consultants, as to the financing, socio-economic benefits and sustainability of such initiatives
• In consultation with the CTA, carry out an evaluation of the various RE initiatives that the FGP can build on, can complement to, and can collaborate with
• Determine and verify the potential economic/financial risks and problems that have been encountered in RE mitigation initiatives that were employed
• Come up with possible options of consolidating various national and regional renewable energy initiatives [ongoing and planned] into a big regional umbrella programme on climate change mitigation focusing on RE development and application.

B.   Identification of Key Players

This will be partly based on the national and regional assessment reports, report on financing mechanisms for RE and inputs from the CTA regarding stakeholders in the field of RE in the Pacific, in general, and in the various PICs, in particular. Among others:

• Evaluate the present and possible future roles of the stakeholders/key players in the region’s financial sector who could provide support in matters/issues concerning the development of “win-win” measures/interventions for both financiers/funders and prospective users of RE technologies
• Evaluate the present and possible future roles of the stakeholders/key players who are responsible for policy formulation and enforcement of all aspects of climate change mitigation as well as RE development
• Identify and evaluate potential co-funders of the envisioned FGP [e.g., banks, financial institutions]
• Analyze and highlight the potential impact of the FGP in dealing with the issue of market penetration of RE systems in the PICs
• Establish close links with the various institutions [national, regional and international] that are involved in climate change mitigation and RE development and maintain coordination regarding pre-investment analysis of the RETs that would be recommended for possible demonstration under the envisioned FGP.

C.   Implementation Arrangements

Among others:

• Review the institutional arrangements in climate change mitigation and RE development projects in other developing countries
• Propose an implementation arrangement, involving the key players, for effective funding, and operation of FGP, describing explicitly the process by which the entire project will be executed, including the inter-governmental complementarity and line of reporting. Suggest implementation arrangement for: [i] overall project management and monitoring [ii] implementation of each major project activity; and, [iii] implementation of demonstration activities [if any]
• Propose project activities that would involve the assessment of the need for capacity building and institutional strengthening or the stakeholders and in particular, the executing agency of the project, and recommend programs to achieve institutional capacity building.

D.   Climate Change / Renewable Energy Policy Formulation

This will be based on the inputs from the national assessment reports, particularly on existing national polices that are relevant to financing energy technology applications [including RE] in each PIC. Among others:

• Identify and recommend activities for the FGP that concerns the development of policies that would facilitate the provision of financial assistance to prospective users of proven RE technologies
• Evaluate lessons learned from past and ongoing climate change mitigation / energy development programs of the government, particularly on the financial aspects
• Evaluate lessons learned from past and ongoing development programs of the government, particularly on the coordination and implementation arrangements
• Assess the existing national development polices, including climate change policies, that are related and relevant to RE technology development and application in each PIC
• Review the existing government policies/plans/programs on energy and the environment
• Evaluate lessons learned from past and ongoing development programs of the government that are related to climate change mitigation and renewable energy
• Review the range of government policies related to energy and economic development with reference to such items like pricing, taxation, subsidies, fiscal and monetary incentives, interest rates and other regulatory measures that would encourage the financing of energy development and utilization investments/ventures
• Suggest project activities that would address the need to develop policies and strategies that would support the market of RE technologies in the PICs
• Propose project activities that would involve the development of policies and programs that would facilitate commercialization and productive uses of RE applications in the country, and are in line with the development, environment and economic policies/plans/programs of each PIC government for rural communities.

E.   FGP Components & Benefits

• Determine the possible FGP components that would address the identified barriers and desirable outcomes in the field of RE applications in the PICs, and the GEF strategic priorities for RE. This should include the assessment of potential benefits in terms of reduced emissions from the implementation of each component. This will be based on the results from the Logical Framework Analysis [LFA] exercise undertaken as part of the MSP Results Workshop
• Based on the desired outcomes/objectives in the field of RE, propose possible interventions that should be included in the FGP to realize such outcomes/objectives
• Considering the desired outcomes/objectives, determine the technical assistance required for the proposed FGP activities
• Describe the baseline scenario for the FGP, and the GEF alternative, which is the FGP
• Estimate the benefits that can be realized from the proposed FGP activities
• Estimate the domestic and global environmental benefits [if any] of the various activities [or group of activities] that will be carried out under the FGP
• Determine FGP baseline and incremental activities and identify baseline co-financing.

F.   MSP Results Workshop and Others

• Assist in facilitating the MSP Results Workshop, which is planned for 5-9 July 2004, and where the LFA exercise will be carried out
• Participate and contribute in the discussions and negotiations with various donor agencies and local/regional institutions involved in climate change and RE development to resolve issues concerning overlaps between what are currently being done and what the planned FGP will carry out. Suggest possible options for complementarity and resolving any project duplication issues
• Attend pertinent meetings set-up by SPREP and the UNDP-Apia office.

G.   FGP Executive Summary and Project Document

• Prepare the FGP Document [UNDP-GEF format] and Executive Summary [GEF format]
• Estimate the budgetary requirements for each FGP activity and the corresponding implementation schedule
• Submit the first draft of the FGP Brief and Executive Summary to SPREP by 23 rd July 2004
• Submit final FGP Project Brief and Executive Summary to SPREP by 13 th August 2004.

3.               Resource Materials Available

The following materials will be available:

•  15 PIREP Country renewable energy sector reports

•  PIREP regional renewable energy sector report

•  Report on possible financing mechanisms for RE in the PICs

•  Report on possible projects to showcase the business angle of RE delivery in the PICs

•  Report on technical support programme for RE in the PICs

•  First National Communications to the UNFCCC COP

•  A regional synthesis of the PICs greenhouse gas inventories

•  PIREP Medium Size Project [MSP] Brief

•  PIREP UNDP Project Document [ProDoc].

4.               Outputs

The following outputs are expected from the GEF Expert:

•  Proceedings of the MSP Results Workshop and the LFA Exercise

•  A draft UNDP-GEF Project Brief and Executive Summary in the official GEF formats [including the incremental cost annex] for the FGP

•  A revised FGP Project Brief incorporating relevant comments and suggestions of participating countries, the Council of Regional Organisations for the Pacific [CROP], Energy Working Group [EWG], UNDP-Apia and UNDP-GEF

•  Documentation of specific findings and recommendations from all evaluations made

•  Consultancy Report providing an assessment/review of key issues and a listing of all names/contacts made during the period of assignment.

5.               Qualifications

The expert must have:

•  Extensive experience and in-depth knowledge in technical, economic, institutional, regulatory, and financing aspects of climate change mitigation using renewable energy preferably in developing countries

•  Extensive experience with GEF project development and formulation of GEF project briefs

•  Familiarity with GEF operational strategy and operational programs

•  Experience in estimating incremental costs and log-framework approach Preferably working experience in the Pacific or in other Small Island Developing States [SIDS] regions

•    Postgraduate degree in relevant science or engineering field, such as chemical, mechanical or other engineering disciplines

•    Extensive experience in renewable energy technology applications including experience in the design and implementation of RE projects [preferably those funded by the GEF]

•  Good track record in project design, with UNDP experience being an asset

•  Project team experience

•  Familiarity with, and updated on, various international projects on RE development and applications, with experience in SIDS being an asset

•  Very good command of oral and written English.

6.               Reporting

The outputs from this consultancy will be submitted to SPREP in hard copy and electronic format. The GEF Expert will be required to submit drafts of the reports to SPREP for comments. Copyright for the reports, and ownership of all material produced during the consultancy, will be vested in SPREP.

7.               Expression of Interest

Based on the above, interested individuals and organizations are invited to submit their EoI for this consultancy. Each EoI must as a minimum provide:

•  the CV of the individual that will contribute to the consultancy

•  a summary of recent work in this field [client contact details and work produced]

•  detailed strategy for conducting this consultancy

•  a timetable outlining key milestones for the consultancy activities [preferable to start in late April 2004 and to be completed by 13 August 2004]

•  daily consultancy fees and the person days required to complete the assignment

•  confirmation of availability to travel in or around July 2004 for this consultancy

•  any other information considered necessary for the consultancy.

8.            Others

Minimal travel is expected in this consultancy. Travel will be made to the MSP results workshop venue, which is tentatively planned to be held over a one-week period. There may possibly be a need to visit one other PIC for consultation purposes. Every effort will be made to link the two visits together.

All EoIs must be addressed to the PIREP Chief Technical Adviser and to be received in both hard and electronic copies before close of business on 7 April, 2004 . Additional information can be requested from:

Solomone Fifita

Chief Technical Adviser

Pacific Islands Renewable Energy Project

South Pacific Regional Environment Programme

P.O Box 240

Apia

Samoa

Phone +685 21929

Fax +685 20231

E-mail: solomonef@sprep.org.ws and solomonefifita@yahoo.com

http://www.sprep.org.ws