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CONSULTANT VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

Issued on: 16 September 2015     

BACKGROUND AND INTRODUCTION

East African countries have the highest annual urbanization rate in the world, estimated at above 4%. The annual demand for new urban houses is estimated to be on average at 100,000 units in each country. This corresponds with an estimated 40,000 new housing units, supplied by the market, by National Housing Corporations, real estate developers, private contractors and individuals.

With rapid population growth, increasing urbanization and continued rural to urban migration, demand for energy in East Africa’s cities is increasing rapidly. It is estimated that 40% of the total national electricity generated in the region is used in buildings alone and these consume more energy than the transport and industry sectors respectively.

UN-HABITAT, as part of the United Nations response to climate change, and in supporting the Secretary General’s Initiative on Sustainable Energy for All (SE4All), has prioritized two key areas:

• Assisting national and local governments in reviewing and updating building laws and regulations, with a view to promote low carbon practices, renewable energy sources, and energy efficient designs and standards; and
• Revitalizing urban planning as the most important tool to curtail urban sprawl, promote efficient transport system, and influence future energy supply and demand.

The regional GEF[1] project on Promoting Energy Efficiency in Buildings in East Africa (EEBEA) has the objective to mainstream Energy Efficiency measures into housing policies, building codes and building practices in East Africa: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi. In order to promote energy efficiency in building, the project includes 5 components, namely:

• Establishment of energy efficiency (EE) data and benchmarks in the building sector;
• Integration of energy efficient measure in the building codes, housing policies and regulations;
• Awareness raising and capacity building in EE;
• Appropriate financial framework for the implementation of EE measures in buildings;
• Development and implementation of pilot projects.

This consultancy is linked to project component 4 on the appropriate financial framework for energy efficiency in buildings.

The East African market has seen over the past decade a wider and increasing dissemination of Energy Efficiency (EE) and Renewable Energy (RE) technologies. Both technologies, at the time being, are associated with high investment costs, but also with low (or no) operating costs. Initial investment costs, however, constitute a significant market barrier, effectively limiting the dissemination of EE&RE technologies, especially in buildings. This barrier is effecting stronger on the dissemination than the pull factor of lower operating costs of these technologies.

The East African financial market currently does not provide adequate finance and lending products in support of a wider dissemination of EE&RE technologies, especially for buildings. Also, the market demand for green mortgage or concessional loans for sustainable buildings featuring EE and RE technology is limited at the time being. A significant saving potential for energy, resources and especially operating costs remains dormant, while on the other hand the uptake for existing finance products is low.

This consultancy will focus on developing a manual on financing green buildings that is targeting the finance sector/banks/lenders. The manual should include a comparative analysis of "green" versus "conventional" buildings, based on the EE/RE technology. This will also include a cost benefit analysis of the technologies involved. Derived from that will then be a stepwise guideline on the substance to help banks to guide lending. A chapter on the current green lending market in Kenya and East Africa, i.e. a broad qualitative market analysis, will also be included and serve as a reference frame for the Manual.

In this way, this consultancy will help to overcome the existing market barriers by providing necessary knowledge, and through providing a guidance material for the finance sector on green mortgages.

OBJECTIVES

The main objective of the project “Promoting Energy Efficiency in Buildings in East Africa project” is:

• To mainstream energy efficiency measures into housing policies and finance, building codes, and building practices in East Africa and
• To achieve considerable avoidance of CO2 emissions as a result of improved building practices.

The specific objectives of this consultancy are:

• To develop a manual on financing green buildings that is targeting the finance sector/banks/lenders.
• To derive a model for financing EE&RE technologies in Buildings through green mortgages and other financial products, suitable for the region, and outlining key parameters, variables and the business model.

KEY OUTCOME

Breaching the gap between technology and finance in the emerging market for EE&RE technologies in Kenya and East Africa. Contributing to overcome the existing market barriers by providing necessary knowledge, and through providing a guidance material for the finance sector on green mortgages.

KEY TASKS AND PROPOSED ACTIVITIES

Under the supervision of the Leader, Urban Energy Unit, the incumbent will have to undertake the following tasks:

• Develop an outline and list of content for the manual and present it to UN-Habitat for discussion. Develop a detailed work and travel plan for this consultancy.
• Conduct a broad and qualitative market study on the current green lending market in Kenya and East Africa. Conduct a desk review of international best practices on green lending and benchmark the Kenyan and East African Market with the international best practices.
• Undertake a Cost Benefit Analysis of selected EE & RE technologies, indicating both energy and resource efficiency and financial costs and benefits (EE&RE vs. conventional).
• Derive a set of models for financing EE&RE technologies in buildings in the form of generic lending products, including (but not limited) for instance green mortgages and concessional loans, with specific reference to the East African market.
• Develop a set of 10 model projects that can be eligible for housing finance under a green mortgage scheme or similar green lending product. Each proposal should be limited to a project profile only, including background, key actors, key beneficial, budget, type of EE and RE measures etc. Each project brief should not exceed 4 pages. The model projects will form part of the manual, but are also going to be presented to the finance sector to further raise interest.
• Compile and complete the manual.

KEY OUTPUTS

Until the end of this consultancy the following key outputs are to be produced:

• Outline and list of content for the Manual.
• Detailed work and travel plan.
• Survey report on the current green lending market in Kenya and East Africa (to be incorporated as a chapter in the Manual).
• Desk review of international best practices on green lending (to be incorporated as a chapter in the Manual).
• Comparative analysis on the Kenyan and East African Market with the international best practices (to be incorporated as a chapter in the Manual).
• Cost Benefit Analysis of selected EE & RE technologies (to be incorporated as a chapter in the Manual).
• Set of models for financing EE&RE technologies in buildings in the form of generic lending products (to be incorporated as a chapter in the Manual).
• 10 model projects on green mortgage or similar green lending products.
• Completed final draft for comments by UN-Habitat (until 29 January 2016) and amended final draft in accordance to the comments (until 31 March 2016).

COMPETENCIES

Communication: excellent oral and written communication skills, combined with a proven ability to make presentations and write reports/projects, as well as in conceptualising and implementing strategies.
Planning and Organising: able to work with a high degree of flexibility and often under pressure; self-organisational capacity and planning skills represent an asset.
Professionalism/Technical Skills: technical skills  in banking sector, in the development and administration of lending products and also with regards to green technologies, including energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies will be an asset
Client Orientation: able to understand the partners’ needs from partners at country level and provide adequate and professional technical advice 

EDUCATION

university degree in one of the following fields: Economics, Commerce or Business Administration or a related field. 

WORK EXPERIENCE

Minimum 3 years of proven working experience in banking sector, in the development and administration of lending products and also with regards to green technologies, including energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Fluency in English is required; knowledge of French is an asset. 

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.

[1] Global Environment Facility

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