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Anchored in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and committed to the principles of universality, equality and leaving no one behind, the UNDP overall mission is to help countries achieve sustainable development by eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, accelerating structural transformations for sustainable development and building resilience to crises and shocks.

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Project background

Under the new Strategic Plan (2022-2025), energy is one of UNDP’s six signature solutions – alongside poverty and inequality, governance, resilience, environment, and gender equality – to support countries towards three directions of change: structural transformation, leaving no one behind and resilience. Scaled-up programming efforts on energy access and the energy transition will be coordinated under the newly established Sustainable Energy Hub (SEH), which represents parts of the organization’s systematic and programmatic approach to respond to the energy and climate change agendas. As per UNDP’s new Strategic Plan 2022-2025, the main objective of UNDP is increasing energy access for those furthest behind. By speeding up investment in distributed renewable energy solutions, especially for those hardest to reach and in crisis contexts, it aims to increase access to clean and affordable energy for 500 million people by the year 2025. Along the same line, access to affordable and renewable energy is one of the pillars of UNDP Lesotho’s Country Progamme Document (2024-28)

The European Union Delegation (EUD) in Lesotho in partnership with the Government of Lesotho is implementing Renewable Lesotho programme aimed at contributing to a green and resilient economy by promoting energy security, access to reliable and affordable clean energy, and growth. The Renewable Lesotho aims to increase renewable energy generation capacity and energy efficiency, promote a more equitable and gender-transformative access to clean energy, and improve Lesotho’s energy sector leadership and institutional capacity. This will be achieved through implementation of the following programme components:

• Component 1: Market preparation through provision of technical assistance and mobilization of private investments in renewable energies.
• Component 2: Granting Facility to provide results-based financing for off-grid energy solutions.
• Component 3: Lending Facility to provide financial support to project development.

The EUD is collaborating with different development partners to implement the mentioned progamme components. The Component 2 of the Renewable Lesotho programme will be implemented by UNDP in partnership with Ministry responsible for energy. This component has a specific objective aiming at promoting a more equitable and gender-transformative access to clean energy to be achieved through the following four outputs:

• Output 2.1: Establishment and operationalization of the Results-Based finance (RBF) funding mechanism.
• Output 2.2: Improved energy access window providing energy-efficient solutions for households.
• Output 2.3: Establishment of an energy application window to provide public service, commercial, and industrial facilities with renewable energy and energy efficiency solutions.

In light of above, UNDP requires services of the Result-Based Financing (RBF) funding facility Manager to administer, manage and implement the RBF funding facility including other administrative activities.

• Lead strategic planning and implementation for the project as well as formulation and periodic revisions of the project’s annual work plan (AWP), including plans for budget, HR and procurement that are developed in close coordination with UNDP’s Country Office Programme, HR, and Procurement teams. Lead development of detailed implementation plans;
• Provide overall supervision of all project staff in the project management unit as well as in the field offices;
• Establish, manage, coordinate, and supervise RBF funding facility implementation to ensure its overall relevance and performance, the effective realization and quality of its outputs within the specified constraints of time and cost as outlined in the Description of Action, and adherence to applicable UNDP policy and programme management procedures and Government standards, rules, and regulations. Act as a senior advisor on issues related to RBF funded activities;
• Provide direction, guidance, and direct supervision to RBF funding facility personnel;
• Undertake technical review of project documents produced by the RBF team and partners, and ensure high technical standards are met;
• Ensure all project interventions integrate a gender equality perspective/gender equality mainstreaming to the extent local context allows;
• Ensure proper execution of all administrative activities associated with RBF funding facility implementation, including mobilizing goods and services, preparing Terms of Reference, completing contracting processes, recruiting/selecting consultants and experts, and managing financial arrangements/transactions and their correct authorization;
• Identify opportunities for synergies with other projects within UNDP and beyond, to advance the key objectives and grow its focus.

Develop strategic partnerships:

• Substantively contribute to the harnessing of effective partnerships and lead the identification and onboarding process for implementing partners;
• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships and strategic linkages with implementing and development partners, government officials, businesses, NGOs, other national and regional stakeholders, and beneficiaries to support and ensure accurate interpretation of project objectives and promote inclusive project implementation;
• Substantively contribute to project communications and visibility efforts. Make recommendations to the management team on activities with potential for scale-up, replicability and synergies;
• Provide technical support to the implementing partners and act as a liaison between UNDP and EUD, and the partners;
• Support resource mobilization efforts and project development.

Monitor and report on progress in implementing project activities and achieving the targets set:

• Provide leadership and technical advice to the project in developing baselines and indicators for project monitoring and evaluation and coordinate the finalization of detailed results framework. Develop clear strategies and an effective system for data collection, means of verification, and information sharing and reporting;
• Lead the implementation of project monitoring, evaluation, and results framework to identify plan deviations and other problems; and make needed course corrections within agreed upon tolerances to achieve results. Conduct field visits as required to verify project activities relative to stated targets and provide regular field updates to UNDP management;
• Lead the development and conduct of mid-term and annual reviews, and end line assessment; and coordinate the conduct of independent evaluations. Organize project review and evaluation meetings. Follow up on the implementation of decisions, recommendations, and course corrections;
• Manage and monitor project risks, including social and environmental risks, initially identified and submit new risks to appropriate project governing bodies for consideration and decision on possible actions;
• Coordinate the preparation of corporate, donor and government reports in line with the reporting schedule and UNDP and EU requirements. Ensure provision of ad hoc reports and information requested by relevant entities;
• Guide and supervise all UNDP and Government reporting requirements and ensuring policy-based alignment between project and the Government of Lesotho;
• Ensure proper operational and financial closure of the project.

Facilitate knowledge and capacity building, knowledge sharing, and advocacy relevant to the assigned thematic areas:

• Identify capacity building needs and opportunities. Ensure appropriate training, project workshops and other relevant activities are organized and implemented in a consultative manner, involving technical experts and stakeholders that may include the government, private sector, NGOs, donors, and/or academia;
• Ensure project reports capture results, lessons learned and good practices for possible wider application;
• Participate in and ensure sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice on development and project related issues. Support establishment of knowledge platforms for the project, facilitate innovative mechanisms for dissemination of knowledge from the project, and develop knowledge resources and products to share with project partners and to support UNDP’s engagement in this area;
• Ensure capacity building for the RBF to be transitioned to the Government of Lesotho;
• Promote advocacy for EUD and UNDP work and opportunities for collaboration in addressing development trends in coordination with the project partners, stakeholders and, EUD and UNDP communications staff.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Specific Tasks:

The specific tasks expected of the successful Project Manager are divided into two distinct stages; RBF preparation and RBF Administration. The RBF Preparation is a fundamental exercise and stage for the RBF manager to ensure establishment of all the necessary structures, tools, processes and guidelines that will collectively ensure successful administration of the RBF facility.  The second stage is the RBF Administration to indicate how the RBF will be run including the “call for proposals”, evaluation processes, contracting, disbursements, verification etc.

RBF Preparation:

• Indicate the organizational structure and associated responsibilities – this would include approval structures;
• Detail how the fund will work, from applications to disbursements to verification of key performance indicators;
• Develop RBF Operation Manual covering subsidy/incentive delivery/financing modality, incentive eligibility, application process and procedures such as concept note, feasibility/business plan evaluation, etc., and all required templates and forms;
• Guidelines and procedures for evaluation and approval of off-grid applications for both technology windows of the RBF facility;
• Develop the Call for Proposals (CfP) document and selection criteria for participating developers. Define a CfP process including dates of published CfPs, response times, evaluation process, contract negotiations, etc;
• Develop disbursement and financial management processes including required forms and templates;
• Develop procurement guidelines that will be approved by the UNDP and Ministry responsible for Energy;
• Develop institutional, operational and financial management frameworks for transition of RBF facility into future national energy fund;
• Clarify how subsidy/financial incentives (Results Based Grants) will be offered and managed.

RBF Administration:

• Participate in addressing RBF subsidy/incentive and application with project developers;
• Conduct orientation seminars on RBF /subsidy/incentive for project developers;
• Manage and coordinate the technical verification process of RBF subsidy/incentive applications,
• Administer disbursement of RBF grants;
• Monitor and verify the performance of the RBF supported off-grid solutions in collaboration with the Department of Energy team;
• Participate in management meetings to facilitate linking and promoting the agenda of RBF facility programme and reporting on RBF management;
• Detail the Monitoring and evaluation process and develop any templates as required.

Institutional Arrangement

The RBF Project Manager works under the general supervision of UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, and under day-to-day supervision of UNDP Programme Specialist responsible for Energy and Environment portfolio and collaborates closely with Department of Energy. The incumbent is also expected to closely work with programme and Operations team of the country office and with wider stakeholders.