Job Profile Senior Adviser Management (N1) National Rural and Renewable Energy Programme Nepal 1. Preliminary 1.1 Short background: The National Rural and Renewable Energy Programme (NRREP) is designed as a single programme modality framework. Various development partners have committed to provide the financial and technical support through a joint financing arrangement and compact to NRREP. The Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC) is an apex institution responsible for promoting renewable energy technologies in Nepal, and is the executing agency for NRREP. As envisaged in the programme document and upon the request of the Government of Nepal for the management expert support to the programme, the Danish Embassy in Kathmandu, with funding from the Government of Norway, wishes to recruit a Senior Adviser - Organisational Management, to AEPC/NRREP. 1.2 Purpose of memo: The job profile describes the main tasks involved in the position and the qualifications required from candidates to the job. 1.3 Expected composition of recruitment committee: Applicants for the position will be selected for interview by the Danish Embassy following consultation with the Norwegian Embassy and the local authorities, who will also be represented at the job interview. Mercuri Urval will participate in the process of selection by conducting personality tests and test interviews with the selected candidates, as well as taking part in the final interview. The final interview panel consists of the sector coordinator from the Danish Embassy, a representative from the Norwegian Embassy, a representative from the local authorities (AEPC), and the consultant from Mercuri Urval in charge of the recruitment process. 2. The Programme 2.1 The programme in brief: The purpose of the programme is to provide efficient and effective service delivery in the rural renewable energy sector in Nepal, following as far as possible, a Sector Wide Approach (SWAp). The development objective of the NRREP is to improve the living standard of rural women and men, increase employment of women and men as well as productivity, reduce dependency on traditional energy and attain sustainable development through integrating the alternative energy with the socioeconomic activities of women and men in rural communities. Gender and social inclusion is mainstreamed into all levels of the NRREP. The NRREP contains three components: 1
i) Central Renewable Energy Fund (CREF); ii) Technical support; iii) Business development for renewable energy and productive energy use. The NRREP is designed as a single programme approach in the rural and renewable energy sector and is supported by the Government of Nepal as well as a number of development partners. The day-to-day managerial responsibility for NRREP is vested with the Executive Director of AEPC, under the guidance and responsibility of the NRREP Programme Steering Committee. The renewable energy technologies (RETs) promoted by the programme are: Solar Photovoltaic (PV) household lighting systems, solar PV systems for institutions (school, health centers etc.), solar water pumping systems and solar thermal applications, community and domestic biogas plants, which convert bio-waste to biogas for cooking and lighting, solid biomass, which puts emphasis on improved wood-fuelled cooking stoves, but also includes wood gasification and bio-briquetting, and finally community electrification using small hydropower resources to electrify rural communities. The programme is being implemented in partnership with the private sector, nongovernment organisations and local bodies. Entrepreneurs are offering RETs of various kinds and the NRREP provides subsidies to eligible households and projects following a subsidy policy and facilitates the credit through the financial institutions that target the poor and disadvantaged. The Danida budget for NRREP is DKK 205 million for 2012-2017, which is financed under the Danida Country Programme for Nepal. The Government of Norway will provide NOK 170 million. The other development partners (DFID, GIZ, KfW, UNDP, ADB and WB) also have their financial and technical commitments. The Government of Nepal is anticipated to contribute around 40% of the funds for the CREF and contributions in kind, consisting of office space, utilities, exemption on VAT and duties, etc. The overall coordination of the programme will be the responsibility of the NRREP Programme Steering Committee (NRREP PSC), which is chaired by the Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology. 3. The Position 3.1 Title: Senior Adviser - Management (N1). 3.2 Place of service: Kathmandu, Nepal. 3.3 Terms of Employment according to Danida staff rules. Below non-exhaustive brief benefits: Contract period: Until December 2017. Attractive remuneration package reflecting family status. Contribution to a pension scheme, health insurance and reimbursement of school fees. Free housing. The Embassy will authorise the adviser to rent suitable accommodation directly on the private market within an estimated average price range and subject to embassy endorsement of the standard and the security aspects of the intended residence. 3.4 Area of responsibility/tasks: The Senior Adviser (SA) will be posted physically at the AEPC at Lalitpur, on the Southern outskirts of Kathmandu. The SA is responsible to the Executive Director (ED) of AEPC, 2
who is also the national Programme Director. The ED is overall responsible for the execution of the programme according to the decisions made by the NRREP PSC. As such the ED is the SA s counterpart and the SA will advise the ED on management of the programme and management of staff. The next management layer is composed of a number of assistant directors and the SA will assist the ED in ensuring coordination between these and will provide advise when needed. In total, the AEPC consists of approx. 40 staff, of which nine are component managers and seven are national advisers. Besides the advisory role, the SA will, according to the Programme Document, verify all programme expenses, including checking for adherence to the Programme Document, budget, PSC decisions etc. The SA will periodically report on progress, deviations and obstacles to the lead development partner, the Embassy of Denmark. The main tasks of the SA are: Be part of the senior management team as the ED s counterpart and provide advice and assistance to the NRREP Programme Director (the Executive Director of AEPC) in his management of NRREP; Provide managerial support and advice to AEPC on how to restructure and further improve the management of the programme; o Provide support to strengthen subsidy delivery and management; o Strengthen the HR function, o Improve financial management including reporting, planning and budgeting structures; Support the NRREP to address audit and review issues; o Support the NRREP to implement recommendations made by the NRREP internal audit function, the Compliance Unit; o Ensure regular sharing of progress status and issues with the International Senior Compliance Adviser; Verifying payments before these are approved by the NRREP Programme Director; Support the implementation and use of existing management systems, guidelines and manuals; Advise AEPC on how to increase the institutional capacity of the institution; Advise on sector reforms, subsidy delivery mechanisms and new and innovative methods to deliver renewable energy services; Support and advise on methods to effectively integrate gender and social inclusion into activities at all levels of NRREP; Support AEPC in effectively cooperating with the Central Renewable Energy Fund; Support and guide the contracted national advisers on management of the programme and their AEPC counterparts; Support AEPC in preparation of job descriptions and selection of national advisers and terms of reference for short term consultancies of international and national technical assistance; Provide support to review missions as required; Any other activity as agreed upon during implementation within the SA s areas of professional expertise. 3
4. Demand profile/qualifications 4.1 Requirements and expectations concerning the candidates formal qualifications: Master s degree in management, development economics or other relevant academic area; Extensive practical experience from a management advisory position or a management position of a multifaceted development programme; Extensive practical work experience, preferably at the senior management level, from implementation of rural development programmes/projects related to energy, environment and/or natural resources; Experience collaborating with government, civil society and private sector in provision of services to the rural population in an inclusive approach; Experience working with renewable energy including an understanding of the technical and institutional setting for providing renewable energy services and subsidies (experience in energy efficiency would be a strong asset); Experience with rural development and gender mainstreaming; Experience working with bilateral assistance and multi-donor funded approaches to development assistance, preferably in South Asia; Proficiency in written and spoken English and conversant with the use of standard computer software. 4.2. Requirements and expectations concerning the personal qualities of the candidates: Motivate and engage a group of dedicated professionals with strong technical skills, where the challenge may be to work across technical areas and units towards a more integrated approach; Facilitate and maintain a high degree of sensitivity to the changing environment where the activities are carried out; Cooperate with a broad group of partners; Handle multiple tasks under time pressure; Good communication skills; Strong interpersonal skills and cultural understanding; Sound analytical capabilities; The ability to achieve institutional arrangements and solutions agreeable to different stakeholder groups. 5. Recruitment Procedure 5.1 How do you apply: Information about the mandatory application procedure can be found at: www.danidajob.um.dk. Reference number DK-54887-2015/NEP.01-W should be stated in the application. 5.2 Deadline for applications: 18 August 2015 at 12.00 noon (CEST) 5.3 Preliminary interviews and personal evaluation: week 39 (21-22 September 2015). Mercuri Urval will conduct a personal evaluation of selected candidates. 4
5.4 Language test: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has decided that all candidates called in for interview - except for those to whom the relevant language is mother tongue - shall be language tested in Denmark in the working language of the duty station (i.e. English). 5.5 Presentation to the appointments committee: 23 September 2015. 5.6 Decision: A decision is expected during week 39. 5.7 Expected commencement: 1 November 2015. 5