Utilities and Energy Business Models Expert at Mercy Corps

This consultancy falls under the following two programmes:

• Productive of Use of Energy Pilot Design for KPLC (WB-KPLC) is a consultancy commissioned by the World Bank to support the Kenyan national utility: KPLC. The project will be to design a pilot for the utility that aims to test initiatives to stimulate electricity demand on the national grid, particularly in last mile communities. The research will involve key informant interviews, data analysis, business model assessment, and study design, with a set of final written deliverables outlining stakeholder engagement strategy and pilot implementation plan. Note that this programme is contingent on donor funding.
• The Powering Renewable Energy Opportunities (PREO) Powering Renewable Energy Opportunities (PREO) is a UK FCDO and IKEA Foundation funded programme that catalyses the growth of Productive Use of Energy (PUE) enterprises in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. PREO provides catalytic grant capital, technical assistance, knowledge management and PR support to early-stage PUE innovators to demonstrate their business model, thereby enabling them to gather critical business data, attract private capital and scaleup further. PREO has funded 43 PUE enterprises across sectors such as electric mobility, solar irrigation, cold storage, cooling for food, circular economy among others in sub-Saharan Africa. PREO is jointly implemented by The Carbon Trust and MC-E4I. PREO has recently concluded a call for proposals and is seeking the service of a PUE financing expert with demonstrated project management, climate finance, and geographic experience, to support evaluation of the grant applications and provision of support to successful grantees.

Required Experience & Skills:

•  5-10 years of experience in relevant technical field (required) 
•  Minimum 5 years direct experience: 
• implementing electricity business model, productive use, and/or demand stimulation work in partnership with utilities and other energy service providers – preferably in Africa 
• performing analysis of business, financial, electricity consumption data for assessing viability of electricity businesses
• assessing issues faced by utility customers related to electricity use 
• identifying and forging external partnerships for utilities 
• providing written and verbal recommendations to utilities and government stakeholders.