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Energy Policy Expert: USAID Clean Power Asia Program, Bangkok Based

Abt Associates, a global leader in technical assistance, program implementation and international development, seeks qualified individuals to fulfill the position of Task 2 Lead: Improved Enabling Environment for Large Scale/Grid-connected Renewable Energy for the USAID Clean Power Asia program. This position will be based in Bangkok, is full time, and will report to the USAID Clean Power Asia Chief of Party. Local candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

The purpose of USAID Clean Power Asia is to accelerate the regional transition to high performing, low carbon power sector. The Activity will assist the governments of the Lower Mekong and other developing countries in Asia in energy planning and help establish effective policy, regulatory, and technical environment for low-emissions growth in the power sector, while simultaneously attracting public- and private-sector investment in Renewable Energy (RE) development.

The program will initially focus on the four Lower Mekong countries of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Vietnam, but may expand into Myanmar (Burma), and later to Indonesia and the Philippines on a limited and strategic basis. It will also include activities on the ASEAN regional level.

Application Instructions

• To be considered for a position, applicants are required to submit a CV and an application letter explaining how his/her specific qualifications, skills, and expertise are relevant to the stated position responsibilities.

Overall Responsibilities

• Work in close coordination with the project team, under the direct supervision and guidance of the Chief of Party, to improve the enabling environment for large-scale renewable energy deployment; accelerate private and public sector investment in renewable energy; promote U.S. government energy sector activities; and share lessons learned with the broader community;
• Support future energy policy development related to setting and meeting national RE targets
• Develop and nurture relationships related to each task with other donors, government counterparts, private sector actors and others in the region who share the program’s goals.

Position Specific Responsibilities

The Task 2 Lead will lead overall activities under Task 2, Smart Incentives and Policy Support, under the direct supervision of the Chief of Party. Overall, the Task 2 Lead will review and analyze best practices in Smart Incentives and other enabling environment issues related to power sector policy, laws and regulations that impact the scaling of RE investment in the Mekong countries and the broader ASEAN, suggest incentive and policy support options to be undertaken with program support in each target country, and lead efforts with partners, subcontractors, and others to institute such mechanisms in support of a stronger enabling environment for RE.

Potential activities that the Task 2 Lead will be expected to direct include, but are not limited to:

• Task 2.1 Support government entities in designing and implementing smart incentives and removing disincentives to promote investment in RE, and bring lessons learned to workshops planned under the program:
  • Establish regionally scalable RE FIT, competitive procurement or other policy incentive options to promote investment in grid-connected RE
  • Improve regulatory framework for RE including streamlined permitting
  • Studies, followed by workshops, on existing smart incentives outside ASEAN (including the US and Europe), among ASEAN countries and for individual select LM countries
  • Conduct research and implement pilots on distributed PV in selected LM countries, including net metering and addressing other barriers to achieving goals for Distributed PV. The pilot programs could address setting goals and developing approaches; tariff design; quantifying economic impacts; codes, standards and interconnection processes; modeling and mitigating impacts on the electric distribution system; and (re) aligning utility interests with distributed PV. Share lessons learned in such a manner that all countries receiving Clean Power Asia assistance benefit.
  • Lead Clean Power Asia efforts to support or develop an ASEAN Regional Workshop on Competitive procurement in coordination with the Asia Clean Energy Forum (ACEF) in June, 2017. Thailand would likely have a key role in this workshop to share its experiences with the current biomass “FIT bidding” process and other experiences with competitive procurement.
  • Study on impact of fossil fuel subsidies on RE investment and options for restructuring/removal of subsidies to support achieving RE targets incorporated into various policies and plans. Coordinate with ADB/WB/KFW as this is an issue included in their policy loan.
• Task 2.2 In the area of Variable Renewable Energy (VRE) Integration, CPA will
  • Link to tasks 1.1 (RE target-setting) and 1.2 (RE Zones) which will aim to support planning for VRE integration (generation and transmission planning, market planning and other issues impacting the transmission and distribution grid)
  • Improve capacity of policymakers to understand VRE integration challenges and solutions including system limits
  • Support development of grid codes that facilitate VRE integration and other grid and interconnect requirements for VRE connection in LM Mekong countries
  • Improve capacity of system operators to integrate VRE into the power grid
• Participate in developing and monitoring implementation of the annual work plan
• Manage staff and consultants under Task 2
  • Draft scopes of work and select consultants (and staff as needed)
  • Manage any part-time staff or consultants
  • Review and approve deliverables and final work products of staff and consultants
• Other duties to be determined in conjunction with the COP and USAID.

Qualifications

• Minimum seven (7) years’ experience in the policy aspects of the grid-connected renewable energy in one or more of the Lower Mekong countries in which USAID Clean Power Asia is focused (Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Lao PDR) and/or in ASEAN;
• Progressive experience working on donor-funded – preferably USAID-funded — energy and/or economic growth projects in the ASEAN region;
• Proven ability to manage logistical aspects of donor-funded project activities with multiple actors including energy ministries, regulators, universities, domestic banks, equity firms, and utility and planning agencies across the ASEAN region;
• Minimum of a Master’s degree in a relevant discipline is required;
• Applicants must bring native-level proficiency in one or more of the following languages: Lao, Khmer, Vietnamese, Thai , or Burmese; and
• Fluency in English is required.

Interested candidates may submit their CV to cparecruitment@abtassoc.com referencing “Task 2 Lead” in the subject line. Candidates MUST indicate their salary history and availability. No other documents are required at this time. Applications will be accepted until July 22, 2016.

Abt Associates is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse workforce. Abt Associates provides market-competitive salaries and comprehen