Principal Energy Specialist / Renewable Energy at African Development Bank - AfDB

Position Number: 50093761
Position Grade: PL4

The Complex
The Vice Presidency for ‘Power, Energy, Climate and Green Growth’ is a Sector Complex focusing on the Bank’s Ten Years Strategy, High 5s priority of “Light up and Power Africa”. The complex’s objectives are

• to develop policy and strategy; (ii) to provide deep sector technical expertise to the Regions by gathering pool of experienced individuals who can be consulted for their expertise on complicated transactions; (iii) to develop new financing instruments; (iv) to act as spokesperson to represent the Bank with external stakeholders on all aspects of “Light Up and Power Africa”.
• The Complex will focus on areas of Power systems, policy and regulation, renewable energy, and Climate and Green Growth.

The Department / Division

• The Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Department has the broad objective of promoting the development of renewable energy - both large and small scale - and promoting energy efficiency along with clean cooking. More specifically, the department is mandated to (i) function as a one-stop source / hub for renewables programmes/projects, energy efficiency and clean cooking (ii) focus on “enabling market development” with an emphasis on developing new approaches / areas (e.g., mini-grid programmes, thematic or country focused funds) and play a lead role in establishing region- or country-specific programmes (iii) mobilize concessional resources as part of the structuring of blended finance solutions for projects and, programmes.
• The Department also hosts the Desert to Power (DtP) Taskforce. The DtP initiative aims to accelerate economic development in the Sahel region through the deployment of solar technologies at scale.
• Specifically, DtP proposes to deliver electricity to 160 million people on-grid and 90 million off-grid and to add solar energy generation capacity of up to 10 GW through a combination of public and private interventions.
• The initiative covers 11 countries (Burkina Faso, Chad, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, and Sudan). The initial rollout will focus on the G5 Sahel countries (Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger). It aims to develop and implement electrification program based on solar power generation including grid based, mini-grid and off-grid access scale up for households, social and economic infrastructure including energy for productive uses.

The Position

• The Principal Renewable Energy Specialist will play a lead role across a range of activities linked to the development, financing, and deployment of renewable energy projects, including a coordinating role in the context of the Desert to Power Taskforce.
• The job holder will focus on:
  • The identification, preparation and implementation of bankable renewable energy generation projects, including both grid-connected and decentralized technologies
  • Support the design and implementation of both public and private sector initiatives, including investment facilities;
  • Support Regional Member Countries (RMCs) in particular in the Sahel with designing investment scale-up programs to attract private sector players, along with the mobilization of concessional resources and implementation of innovative blended finance solutions; and
  • More broadly coordinate the various activities undertaken in the context of the Desert to Power initiative.

Key Functions
Under the overall supervision and guidance of the Division Manager – Renewable Energy, the Principal Renewable Energy Specialist will perform the following:

• Coordinate the various activities of the Desert to Power Taskforce, ensure regular engagement and communication with internal and external partners including the country focal points, project implementation units and prepare regular updates on the implementation of the initiative.
• Prepare, appraise, negotiate, and supervise Desert to Power projects.  These include solar generation plants, transmission and distribution, regional transmission interconnections, public-private partnership projects, and electricity access projects. S/he will actively participate in overseeing implementation of energy operations with the aim to enhance quality and accelerate implementation.
• Assist regional member countries in structuring renewable energy and energy access scale-up programs, including Independent Power Producer (IPP), green mini-grids and solar home systems scale-up programs, engaging with relevant stakeholders on aspects of enabling policy and regulatory environment.
• Lead project origination and business development activities, with a view to developing a pipeline of sustainable energy investments to which AfDB’s full range of financial instruments, including concessional finance could be applied.
• Contribute to the preparation of knowledge and analytical work for to inform country-focused strategy work as well as new operations in renewable energy.
• Undertake any other task that the Division Manager or Director may assign.

Competencies (Skills, Experience, and Knowledge)

• At least a Master’s Degree in Economics, Finance, Business Administration, Engineering, Energy or related subjects.
• Have a minimum of six (6) years professional experience at project level, broad knowledge of various energy sub-sectors, including renewable energy technologies and business models.
• Proven ability to interact competently with, as well as to assess and provide technical advisory services to, both public and private sector stakeholders in the renewable energy space.
• Experience in Multilateral or Development Bank / Development Financial Institutions operations, preferably in an African context is an added advantage
• Good understanding of public and private sector financing, experience in resource mobilization and structuring of blended finance solutions.
• Experience in forging and managing relationships with a variety of stakeholders - local organizations, governments, and financing institutions.
• Demonstrated track record in the management of energy projects
• Demonstrated professional experience in African context
• Full knowledge of the principles of project cycle and project implementation.
• Strong interpersonal and client orientation skills, with proven experience in building and managing teams.
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing effectively in French or English, with a good working knowledge of the other language.