Myanmar: Renewable Biomass Energy Program Leader

Oct 7, 2019 | Groupe Energies Renouvelables, Environnement et Solidarités
View Original

Set up in 1976, GERES is an international development NGO which works to improve the living conditions of the poorest and tackle climate change and its impacts. As a grassroots actor, the energy transition is a major lever in all its actions. In order to drive societal change, GERES promotes the development and dissemination of innovative and local solutions, supports climate-energy policies and actions and encourages everyone to commit to Climate Solidarity by taking action and supporting vulnerable populations.

Since 2014, GERES operates in Myanmar through the implementation of field projects focused on domestic energy access. Building on the expertise developed in Cambodia, and on a strong regional network of industrial stakeholders, GERES is now exploring opportunities to work on the topic of sustainable, traceable and legal biomass fuels. GERES operates in Cambodia since 1994 and has focused its work on facilitating access to sustainable biomass energy. While massive deforestation is striking in the area, the challenge is to maintain enough forest resources to supply the population. The biomass energy program was designed to impact all along the value chain, from supply to demand. At wood-fuel level GERES works along the communities in forested areas to ensure sound biomass sourcing and sustainable management plans. Also, GERES works hand in hand with local charcoal producers and Cambodian authorities to support the development of a sustainable, legal, traceable and innovative charcoal supply chain. GERES has also tested the viability of alternative biomass fuels, such as rice husk briquettes and pellets, cassava and palm sugar briquettes.

Mission

Under the supervision and authority of the South East Asia Regional Director, the Renewable Biomass Energy Program Lead will be in charge of promoting and coordinating the development of a strategy on renewable biomass energy in Southeast Asia. In addition, after the first months and within a longer time perspective, s/he will progressively take charge of implementing a global program approach and ensuring knowledge sharing, as well as quality and consistency of all the activities within his/her area of expertise, for all GERES geographies.

In Myanmar, the job holder will be managing a national energy expert (to be recruited) to support the baseline assessment of the Myanmar biomass energy sector. The Biomass Energy Program Lead will also work in close coordination with GERES Myanmar team.

In Cambodia she/he will work in close coordination with the Cambodia Country Representative and the Kjuongo Project Manager (the latter to be recruited).

She/he will also work in coordination with GERES Expertise (GEX) Director, based in Brussels and will interact with counterparts in other GERES areas of intervention (GEX as well as West Africa, Central Asia and Europe-Mediterranean teams).

Please, note that GERES is looking for somebody willing to consider a long-term commitment. Upon positive completion of the first contract, and in line with GERES internal procedures and regulations - as well as according to the available financial resources - the position might be relocated to Europe or West Africa and job description updated, in order to assume a more global position within the organization.

Tasks

Expected tasks for this position

1 – Building on and disseminating the knowledge on biomass energy

  • Enhancing GERES’s knowledge in the region on the biomass energy sector and disseminating it within and outside the organization. This will be primarily achieved by leading a baseline assessment of Myanmar biomass energy sector. The study will have the main objectives of:
  • Gaining an in-depth understanding of supply chains, key actors, and issues associated with legality and sustainability of the materials/sources in the domestic and industrial biomass energy sectors in Myanmar;
  • Understanding how the sector developments in Myanmar may affect deforestation and/or sustainability initiatives;
  • Identifying potential strategic interventions and engagement with the energy sector in Myanmar, reflecting on the trends in policy developments and development partners positioning. 
  • Coaching local and international staff on biomass energy 
  • Ensuring sound data and knowledge management on his/her area of expertise within GERES 
  • Representing GERES on his/her area of expertise in the region
  • Participating to technical meetings. Promoting the added value of GERES around biomass energy within and outside the region with the support of the related GERES staff

2 – Leading and facilitating the strategic reflection on biomass energy in Southeast Asia and beyond

  • Ensuring the biomass-energy sector technical oversight in the region, with special attention to innovation (e.g. alternative sustainable biomass sources, innovative models for sustainable wood-fuel supply-chains etc.)
  •  Assessing current GERES strategic positioning on biomass energy in the region; 
  • Facilitating the collective reflection on biomass energy in Southeast Asia and in other regions; 
  • Developing strategic roadmaps and positioning papers (to be submitted to relevant directors for validation); 
  • Designing key strategic result and impact indicators for the program in the region, with a perspective to scale them up at GERES global level;
  • Contributing to GERES biomass energy strategy and activities development in the region and globally.

3 – Conducting GERES’ biomass energy strategy implementation in Southeast Asia

  • Engaging with the national teams in order to implement the biomass energy strategy in Southeast Asia; 
  • Developing and facilitating partnerships around biomass energy and contributing to sound institutional relations between GERES and its partners; 
  • Drafting a sound monitoring system as well as the related monitoring tools, including results and impact indicators of project, as well as proper methodology for data collection; 
  • Implementing backstopping and adjustment mechanisms, when need arises;
  • Coordinating project evaluations, if needed.;
  • Supporting fundraising activities (fundraising screening, meeting donors, project proposal drafting).

4 – Providing technical guidance and implementing his/her expertise on biomass energy

  • Identifying, overseeing and designing project proposals (at both technical and financial level) in the region;
  • Carrying out technical assignments, or contributing to, depending on the level of expertise required, for GERES or partners;
  • Upon specific request of the GERES HQ and/or GERES Regional Offices, and upon consultation with GSA Regional Director, taking on the quality control of the initiatives within his/her area of expertise outside of GSA; 
  • Ensuring – in close coordination with the GSA financial controller - the administrative and financial follow up of his/her missions;
  • Implementing cross-cutting activities in the framework of a multi-country program, if needed.

5 – Managing and motivating his/her team/staff

  • Planning and organizing team activities;
  • Coordinating and engaging the team over the strategy and the objectives;
  • Ensuring hierarchical management (e.g. recruitment, coaching, workloads, evaluations);
  • Developing team competences and support the progresses of the members of the team;
  • Watching over the well-being of the team and working conditions.

Requirements

Required profile

Education and experience 

  • Education: Master’s Degree in energy studies, forest engineering, climate and natural resources management or any relevant field. PhDs in any of the above subjects will be considered an asset.
  •  Required experience: minimum 7 years in similar positions, with at least 3 years in developing countries, with demonstrated field experience as well as experience in undertaking baseline assessments.

Skills

Required Skills

  • Fluency in English (at least C1 as per the CEFR) both written and oral;
  • Intermediate knowledge of French (at least B1 as per the CEFR) both written and oral;
  • Technical expertise in biomass energy (e.g. combustion processes, solid biomass fuels sourcing, transformation and processing, charring and briquetting processes);
  • Proven knowledge of energy-climate nexus in developing countries, in particular related to biomass energy sector;
  • Knowledge of the key development cooperation principles and tools;
  • Data monitoring, analysis and excellent reporting skills;
  • Proficiency in Microsoft office (word, Excel, PPT);
  • Management skills;
  • Efficient and rigorous time management;
  • Ability to work under pressure and in autonomy;
  • Adaptability to changing and working contexts;
  • Ease in human relations ;
  • Social mind-set, out-going;
  • Driven towards high impact and quality intervention;
  • Conviction and commitment ;
  • Willing to travel regularly.

Desirable Skills

  • Fluency in French (B2 and above);
  • Project design expertise ; 
  • Advanced quantitative and qualitative data analysis;
  • Gender-energy nexus working knowledge.

Conditions

  • Type of contract: French fixed term contract (CDDU) of 12 months renewable 
  • 204 working days per year
  • Full time position. Occasional work on Saturday
  • Starting date: November 2019
  • Position based in Yangon with regular travels to the field in Myanmar and recurrent travels to Cambodia 
  • Salary based upon profile, experience and GERES salary grid 
  • Monthly expatriation allowance (paid locally). The basic allowance rate for Myanmar is equal to USD 420 per month. This rate could vary, based on the number of family members as well as GERES’ policies and regulations.
  • 26 paid leaves per year
  • Annual leaves bonus, health insurance (50% covered by GERES), retirement, unemployment, repatriation insurance.