Only nationals and/or permanent residents of the country of the duty station are eligible to apply. Female candidates are particularly encouraged to apply.

Vacancy  announcement temporary appointment of project personnel

Organizational Context

UNIDO is the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability. Its mission is to promote and accelerate inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID) in developing countries and economies in transition. The relevance of ISID as an integrated approach to all three pillars of sustainable development is recognized by the recently adopted 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which will frame United Nations and country efforts towards sustainable development in the next fifteen years. UNIDO’s mandate in SDG-9, calls for the need to “Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation”. Accordingly, the Organization’s programmatic focus is structured in three thematic priorities: * Creating shared prosperity * Advancing economic competitiveness * Safeguarding the environment. UNIDO delivers its services through the following four complementary and mutually supportive core functions: (a) technical cooperation activities; (b) analytical and policy advisory services; (c ) standard- setting and compliance and (d) convening and partnership role. Such core functions are carried out in Departments/Offices in its Headquarters, Regional Offices and Hubs and Country Offices. The Programme Development and Technical Cooperation (PTC) of UNIDO is responsible for providing technical cooperation services on technological and economic issues and is organized in the following departments: Department of Partnerships and Results Monitoring, Department of Agri-Business Development, Department of Trade, Investment and Innovation, Department of Energy and Department of Environment. Furthermore, PTC has a close cooperation with other field based Centers and Offices, such as the Investment and Technology Promotion Offices, forming the extended field network of UNIDO.

This position is located under the Department of Energy in the Climate Technology and Innovations Division (PTC/ENE/CTI) which is responsible for supporting Member States with access to and uptake of low carbon, climate friendly and clean energy technologies, innovations and entrepreneurship. It focuses on supporting entrepreneurship and facilitating the establishment of climate technology innovation ecosystems. In addition, the Division is responsible for enhancing the use of low carbon technologies by industry and local communities, thereby contributing to climate mitigations and resilience in recipient countries. In discharging its responsibility, in line with the overall strategy of the Department, the Division cooperates closely with Energy Systems and Infrastructure Division (PTC/ENE/ESI) and Climate Policy and Partnerships Division (PTC/ENE/CPP), as well as other relevant organizational departments within UNIDO (in particular with the Department of Environment (PTC/ENV), the Department of Agri-Business (PTC/AGR) and the Department of Trade, Investment and Innovation (PTC/TII), donors such as the GEF, and other international and national institutions.

Project context (id 130310) :

The project “Promoting organic waste-to-energy and other low carbon technologies in small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) scale: Accelerating biogas market development in South Africa” is implemented by the Climate Technology & Innovations Division, which is part of the Department of Energy. The project focuses on conversion of agro-processing organic waste streams to useful forms of energy for application in SMME units and/or clusters of units, with the primary focus being combined heat and power (CHP) for on-site and off-site demand and bio-CNG for other downstream value addition such as transport or off-site heat depending on the applicable local circumstances and required energy forms. Each of the selected demonstration projects utilize the digestate from the digesters in various forms to demonstrate the concept of integrated biogas systems. The aim is to introduce these technologies to the agro-processing sector and address the specific challenges identified in the project proposal that was submitted earlier. The main objective of the proposed project is to promote market-based dissemination of integrated biogas systems where there is good potential for recovery of energy from organic waste, ideally through co-digestion combining agro-residues from different sectors. This is achieved by a combination of interventions at regulatory level, market development combined with specific investments as well as building the capacity of market players and enablers. While prior only large scale industries (and small projects below 250kW and households/communities) in South Africa had received attention, the added value of this project is promotion of these technologies in the SMMEs sectors. Without GEF intervention these technologies were unlikely to have widespread uptake in SMMEs, even where useful organic waste streams are available, and companies can demonstrate financial viability. The project acts as a trigger to demonstration and rapid replication in the uptake of the technology. The project builds on previous GEF programmes undertaken by UNIDO and have synergies with other proposed GEF projects to address an important sector hitherto omitted. In addition, the project collaborates with other ongoing projects and programmes by various development partners. The possible risks that may affect the project implementation are associated with the viability of the proposed technologies in local conditions, changes in international oil prices, limited availability of biomass (i.e., supply-side limitations) and of demand on the energy produced from biomass (demand-side limitations), and dysfunctional regulatory framework. The Project consists of four (4) components as listed below: 1. Capacity building and technology support system – will strengthen the institutional capacity as well as addressing the insufficient technical capacity training, awareness and the development of knowledge products, in supports of reducing (perceived) risk of industry, 2. Biogas market development and regulatory framework – will strengthen the regulatory framework to effectively promote and support SMMEs to invest in integrated organic waste to energy technology, focusing on quality standards, the use of digestate and grid connection, 3. Technology demonstration – will demonstrate the technical feasibility and commercial viability of the selected five SMMEs integrated biogas projects in different sectors and at different capacities to demonstrate inter alia the use of digestate, scrubbing and compressing gas and co-digestion by supporting the implementation of 5 selected demonstration projects. This component is a source of knowledge that will be inform standards development, biogas guidelines and drafting and editing of biogas online manual. This will build confidence of both industry and the finance sector; create best practice examples to pave the way for replication in the scale up component, on the basis of experience gained, reduced risk and increased capacity and awareness at multiple levels and finance sector, 4. Scaling up – will support the establishment of a replication mechanism to mainstream the application of biogas for SMMEs by assisting additional biogas projects with technical assistance as required and helping to establish financial mechanisms targeted at promoting the use of integrated biogas technology in SMMEs sector. Duty station: Home-based with missions within South Africa and to Vienna, Austria Approximate duration: 40 working days spread over 3 months

Main Functions :

As such, the consultant is expected to evaluate the project according to the Terms of Reference. S/he will act as leader of the evaluation and will be responsible for preparing the draft and final evaluation report, according to the standards of the UNIDO Office for Independent Evaluation. The Consultant will report to the UNIDO project manager and will be expected to carry out the following tasks/duties: – Desk review: Review project documentation and relevant country background information (national policies and strategies, UN strategies and general economic data); Determine key data to collect in the field and adjust the key data collection instrument accordingly (if needed); Assess the adequacy of legislative and regulatory framework relevant to the project’s activities and analyze other background info. – Delivery of draft inception report. – Briefing in South Africa by the project manager and other key stakeholders: Finalization of the inception report containing work plan, key findings of desk review, methodology, review tools such as interview guidelines and questionnaires, sampling technique(s), etc. – Conduct field work within South Africa in December,2018: Briefing of reviewer(s) in the field, possible testing of review tools, field visits, field research, interviews, observation, questionnaires, etc. – Debriefing in the field: Presentation of the preliminary findings and recommendations for all project stakeholders. – Debriefing at UNIDO HQ: Presentation of preliminary overall findings and recommendations to the stakeholders. – Prepare draft mid-term review report according to the TOR. – Share the review report with UNIDO HQ and national stakeholders for feedback and comments. – Revise the draft project review report based on comments from UNIDO Quality Monitoring Division and stakeholders and edit the language and form of the final version according to UNIDO standards.

Core Competencies :

Core values: INTEGRITY: To work honestly, openly, impartially and in accordance with the values of the United Nations. PROFESSIONALISM: To work in a competent, committed and calm manner. RESPECT FOR DIVERSITY: To work effectively, respectfully and inclusively with people from different backgrounds and with different perspectives. RESULTS ORIENTATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY: To be accountable and responsible for achieving results and meeting performance standards. PLANNING AND ORGANIZING: To plan, organize and manage work effectively and efficiently. COMMUNICATION AND TRUST: To communicate effectively and build trust. TEAM ORIENTATION: To cooperate at various levels. CLIENT ORIENTATION: To be responsive towards those to whom services are provided internally and externally. ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION: To realize continuous improvement, support innovation, share knowledge and skills and learn from others.

Minimum Requirements :

Education :

Advanced university degree in development studies, social sciences, environmental science, chemistry, engineering, or related areas.

Language :

Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Knowledge of local languages would be an asset.

Computer skills

Field of expertise

• A minimum of five years’ experience in conducting and managing reviews or evaluations (of development projects), preferably in the field of renewable energy ;
• Sound qualitative and quantitative methodological skills incl. data collection, management and analysis skills ;
• Knowledge about renewable energy : GEF operational programs and strategies and about relevant GEF policies such as those on project life cycle, M&E, incremental costs, and fiduciary standards] ;
• Experience in the review of GEF projects and knowledge of UNIDO activities an asset ;
• Knowledge about multilateral technical cooperation and the UN, international development priorities and frameworks ;
• Working experience in developing countries, ideally in South Africa ;
• Very good communication, interpretation and writing skills, as well as interpersonal skills ;
• Proven leadership capacity.

This appointment is limited to the specified project(s) only and does not carry any expectation of renewal.