Yemen: Project Analyst- Renewable Energy

Jan 8, 2024 | United Nations Development Programme
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Protracted conflict in Yemen has not only caused widespread damage and displacement but also significantly reduced livelihood opportunities and food security. Weaknesses within community institutions and local authority have eroded the social contract between them, whilst marginalization of communities’ further limits access to services and social cohesion. Local and community institutions are under-resourced and under capacitated, limiting access to basic services. Communities are also subject to environmental shocks and threats at a time when coping mechanisms, strategies, and assets are significantly depleted. Exposure to environmental stressors exacerbates the existing precarious situation and requires risk reduction strategies to mitigate the potential for further disaster. The combination of these hardships not only leads to increased vulnerability to the point of famine but also further weakens social cohesion and leads to inter-community conflict.

The ERRY III interventions are designed to contribute to the below goals and outcomes: The Overall Objective (Goal) of the Programme Crisis-affected communities are better able to manage local risks and shocks for increased resilience and self-reliance.

Specific Objectives (Outcomes): 

• Outcome 1: Community institutions are strengthened and capacitated on gender-sensitive resilience planning, conflict resolution, and social cohesion. 
• Outcome 2: Vulnerable communities benefit from equal access to clean energy solutions, environmental protection, and climate-adaptive capacity in a sustainable manner 
• Outcome 3: Sustainable livelihoods for women and men are created through improved production, food security, and income opportunities. 

UNDP Yemen seeks to hire a Renewable Energy Officer (ERRYIII) based in the UNDP Country Office in Sana’a to support the solar component implementation to promote and provide access to clean/sustainable energy to most needy people in Yemen. The Officer would also support renewable energy initiatives of the country offices in various targeted locations by providing technical assistance, developing operational guidance, and standard operating procedures for the project team and specialists. The expertise of renewable energy officers can also be harnessed by programme units such as Governance and Rule of Law, Economic Resilience and Recovery Unit, and Peace Support Facility.
 

Duties and Responsibilities

Responsibilities and Roles:

Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager, the Project Analyst- Renewable Energy will be based in Sana’a and will lead the coordination and implementation of outcome 2 activities. Following are the specific roles and responsibilities of the officer.

Summary of Key Functions:

• Lead on project implementation, including delivery of technical, operational, financial, and administrative outputs and tracking the progress of the project by monitoring and reporting of solar energy, renewable energy intervention.
• Act as a principal focal point and technical expert for the Waste to Energy Project Implementation:
• Ensure knowledge management/development and provision of technical advice to relevant project stakeholders on solar energy applications, including Waste to Energy Project Implementation. 
• Development of strategic partnerships 
• Development of technical and financial designs for all renewable energy interventions including solar for health, education, local offices, productive associations, drinking water, irrigation, solar and wind micro, and mini grid, waste to energy, water desalination...etc
• Ensure gender mainstreaming within the project
• Lead on youth innovation activities to promote local production of sustainable solutions in the field of renewable energy such as solar Tuk-Tuk, automatic production machines, solar cooling solutions, and other related applications.
• Lead on the local assembly activities of solar Pico/small scale and household solutions and clean smokeless cooking stoves. 
• Support UNDP projects on solar energy intervention and provides technical assistance as and when required.
• Support UNDP country office on Renewable Energy Initiative, such as waste to energy to support Aden, Hodeidah and Sana’a offices. 
• Work closely with Project Manager to support Solar Working Group established at the national level.
• Lead on renewable energy innovation initiatives for ERRY II project. 
• Support Participating UN organizations “PUNOs” and provide technical assistance on solar and renewable energy initiatives under ERRY joint programme.
• Provide technical assistance and hand holding support to implementing partners, public institutions (health, education, and local offices) on solar energy intervention.
• Support project team to carry out the baseline, end line, market assessments.
• Support project team to carry out micronarrative studies.
• Develop manual and guidelines for the solar and renewable energy initiatives in Yemen.
• Support project team to carry out solar mapping in Yemen.

Specific Tasks and Responsibilities:

Lead on project implementation, including delivery of technical, operational, financial, and administrative outputs and tracking the progress of the project by monitoring and reporting 

• Act as focal point for all solar energy activities led by UNDP, both internally and externally.
• Oversee the contracting process of implementing partners and contractors, including budget, work plans and capacity assessments, according to UNDP rules and regulations.
• Support the implementation of M&E framework for the solar energy activities, in close coordination with the UNDP M&E Officer, according to UNDP rules and regulations, and standards for donor reporting.
• Conduct spot checks and field visits to project location sites.
• Prepare reports in English and Arabic on renewable energy activities, for internal and external audiences such as UNDP management and donors.
• Record issues, risks and lessons learnt before, during and after projects completion.

Act as a principal focal point and technical expert for the Waste to Energy pilot initiative and other innovative startups:

• Support project team in building rapport with private sector on WtE initiatives
• Facilitate feasibility study on waste to energy
• Support implementing partners to initiate dialogues with private sectors, local authority, and communities in consultation with technical specialists
• Responsible for the implementation of WtE pilot initiatives including gasification and plastic recycling plants 
• Design low cost start up business models to improve access to decentralized energy services.

Support Private Sector Capacity Building on Waste to Energy Business Model Development:

• Support private sector to tailor made the gasification model suiting to Yemen needs
• Work closely with private sector in developing the energy model from the waste 
• Identify and support private sector in scaling up the waste to energy model in Yemen. 

Support in the diversification of renewable energy approaches through innovation model:

• Develop PAY AS YOU GO model for relevant sector
• Develop waste, water, and wind model under the ERRY and support country office in the replication

Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment:

• Supporting gender mainstreaming throughout the project life cycle including design, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation
• Ensure coordination and partnership with national gender mechanisms, women-led organizations, academies, networks, forums, etc;
• Support the institutional and technical capacity of the project team and stakeholders on gender equality and women’s empowerment as well as social safeguards aspects;
• Support the implementation and reporting of gender-responsive actions,  and allocating the required resources ;
• Contribute to the country office communication, and knowledge management system on gender equality and women’s empowerment.

The incumbent of the position should avoid any kind of discriminatory behavior including gender discrimination and ensure that:

• Human rights and gender equality is prioritized as an ethical principle within all actions. 
• Activities are designed and implemented in accordance with “Social and Environmental Standards of UNDP”. 
• Any kind of diversities based on ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, disability, religion, class, and gender are respected within all implementations including data production. 
• Differentiated needs of women and men are considered. 
• Necessary arrangements to provide gender parity within all committees, meetings, trainings etc. 

For information about required competencies, full responsibilities, qualifications, and the UNDP disclaimer, visit the original job posting.