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Scope of Work

Senior Financial Advisor

 (Consultant or Staff)

USAID Clean Power Asia Program, Bangkok Based

1. Overview

Abt Associates implements the USAID Clean Power Asia activity in order to accelerate regional transition to high-performing, low carbon power sources. The activity will assist the governments of the Lower Mekong and other developing countries in Asia in energy planning and help establish an 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 focuses 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.

2. Location

Bangkok, Thailand and off-site.

3. Scope

Senior Financial Advisor works under the direct supervision of the Task 3 team leader. He/She will be responsible for providing strategic approaches, implementing activities and engaging with the private sector in the renewable energy market with a goal to achieve the program financial mobilization targets of $750 million USD. Overall, the Senior Financial Advisor will support work in the Lower Mekong countries, and the broader ASEAN (e.g. the Philippines and Indonesia), to mobilize investment from public and private sector into renewable energy projects as well as to collaborate with other key market players and lead efforts with partners, subcontractors, and others. 

The position will provide sector and country-specific investment and financial expertise to unlock investment opportunities, originate projects and secure investment, as well as develop partnerships with private and public investors active in the development of renewable energy based projects.

4. Tasks

Task 1: Planning, organizing and conducting the ‘USAID Clean Power Asia’s Quarterly Investors Meet’ and other outreach activities: The Senior Financial Advisor will develop partnerships, lead engagement and collaborate with public and private investors regionally to drive investments to renewable energy projects by organizing an investors’ meeting called “USAID Clean Power Asia’s Quarterly Investors Meet”. The goal is to present priority sectors and promising renewable energy projects for investment (e.g. Rooftop Solar in Vietnam and Thailand, small hydro power plants in Laos, Solar auctions in Lao, biomass and RE firm power in Thailand, and others to be identified). The Senior Financial Advisor will also help organize webinar(s) on solar PV rooftop and other renewable energy investment opportunities in the region. These events will be focused on specific technologies, countries and platforms, including (but not limited to) the Lao Solar Auction and joint work with the Vietnam Low Emissions Energy Program (VLEEP) to promote investment in Solar Farms.

Task 2: Originating and identifying Renewable energy Projects.  The Senior Financial Advisor will originate and identify renewable energy projects identifies through the “Investor Meets” or that can take advantage of the platforms developed under the program, and that can be taken to bankability. He/she will facilitate processes with project proponents to originate, design and drive projects towards bankability and present these projects during the quarterly investor meetings under Activity 1. Identifying projects through transaction support may be provided, but is subject to direction from the Task 3 Lead and approval of the COP. Technologies to be promoted includes solar (rooftop and solar farms), wind, biomass and small hydro (<15 mw).

Task 3: Planning and coordinating to establish a ‘Solar Rooftop Certification Center’ to meet the needs of this growing market in Thailand and the region. The main propose of this activity is to create a reliable organization who can accredit solar PV installers in order to reduce risks for facility owners and lenders.  This will include investigating potential agencies to host the center, selecting the agency, drafting a framework for the organization, negotiating an agreement with the selected agency and supporting the establishment of the certification center.

Task 4: Identifying opportunities, developing a strategic plan and implementing expansion of the USAID Clean Power Asia Program Task 3 activities in the Philippines and Indonesia. . The Senior Financial Advisor will assess the renewable energy market in the Philippines and Indonesia with a goal to promote scalable & replicable business models and financing options for renewable energy. The assessment will include evaluation of the market potential ($ which could be mobilized from equity or debt, MW that could reaching financial closure) for investing in solar (both rooftop and solar farms), wind, biomass and small hydro (as appropriate for each country) based on existing tariffs and evaluating and documenting the existing risk-reward ratio for each technology; documenting the existing barriers to achieving, or increasing, that potential such as existing policies and regulations (or a lack of specific policies and regulations); proposing strategies and potential activities to improve the risk-reward ratio and/or overcome market barriers; documenting how the activities will build on recently completed or ending programs or to achieve the mission’s strategic objectives or to complement continuing programs; and developing materials to promote the proposed activities to the USAID Philippines and USAID Indonesia missions.

Task 5: Identifying opportunities, planning and implementing gender inclusive activities in the Program.  The Senior Financial Advisor should review gender strategic plan under the USAID Clean Power Asia and propose specific tasks for each year of the program. He/she will discuss the feasibility of using gender lens investing, using gender data to see opportunity and mitigate risk for better investment decisions, with renewable energy businesses that can achieve financial results as well as gender-equitable social change. Then, identify the role of investments to initiate gender-inclusive technology and processes.

Task 6: Representing USAID Clean Power Asia Program. The Senior Financial Advisor will represent the program at regional- and national-level renewable energy, renewable energy and broader business community events, as advised by the Task 3 Lead, the COP or her designee. Collaborate and work with relevant stakeholders to promote adoption of market-based instruments, tools and templates such as standardized power purchase agreement (PPA), financial model templates, investment guidelines, etc.

Task 7: Assisting the USAID Clean Power Asia Program Task 3 team. Examples of the assistance include drafting scopes of work, participating in selection of consultants or subcontractors and reviewing deliverables and work products. Participate in developing and monitoring implementation of the annual work plan and contribute to drafting the quarterly reports and annual report.

5. Schedule

February 1, 2018 to September 30, 2018.

6. Level of Effort

Number of working days: Not to exceed 110 days for consultant

For staff, full time employment

7. Qualifications

• MBA or Master’s Degree in business management, financial analysis, international development or equivalent.
• At least 20 years of professional and practical experience working with private sector mobilizing investment in energy or power projects, infrastructure or equivalent.
• Minimum 2 years working experience with international organizations.
• Experience in evaluating risk-reward ratio of RE projects, developing a pipeline of bankable projects and promoting investment in RE in challenging environments.
• Excellent organizational skills; strong analytical skills; ability to manage technical staff or collaborate with other consultants,
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills (both oral and written); commitment to working with a distributed team and result oriented collaboration with colleagues.
• Fluency or native-level English language ability.
• Ability to work rapidly with multiple teams in various locations, and as required, as well as work remotely.

8. Application Procedure

Interested candidates may express their interest by email recruitment@usaidcleanpowerasia.org  referencing “Senior Financial Advisor” in the subject line. Applications will be accepted through January 5, 2018. To be considered, your email MUST INCLUDE the following information:

1. A written expression of interest summarizing your qualifications for the scope of work.
2. CV clearly indicating work/consulting history and either daily consulting rate or annual compensation for each consultancy/position, stated in currency of payment.
3. Preference will be given to Thai nationals and candidates with immediate availability.
4. Clearly state if you wish to be considered for full time employment or a part-time consultancy.

9. Additional Documentation

If a candidate is selected for an interview, the following documents will be required (while not required in application, you may choose to submit these with your application package:

1. US Federal Form 1420 (EBD) https://www.usaid.gov/forms/aid-1420-17.
2. Proof of Education/Degree attained (transcript or diploma).
3. Proof of annual salary or daily consulting rate as stated in the EBD (acceptable forms include employment agreement, pay stubs, employer verification letter).

Due to the volume of anticipated applicants, only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Interviews will be scheduled as warranted and may be conducted in person or via electronic means.

Abt Associates is doing business as Abt Associates Thailand, registered with the Thailand Department of Commerce.  Abt Associates is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse workforce.