Expertise France is recruiting an individual consultant to support the technical preparation of the project support to the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE), including the conduction of an exploratory mission in Cabo Verde, which is ECREEE's headquarters city. The objective of the assignment is to provide technical support to Expertise France to construct the logic of intervention, propose tailored activities and budget adapted to the stakes and local context.

 The assignment is composed of 1/ a preparatory phase, 2/ the conduction of an exploratory mission in Cabo Verde and 3/ the drafting of the Description of Action.

 1)      Preparatory phase: Desk review and preliminary work

 Prior to the exploratory mission, the consultant will provide a home-based analysis of existing documentation. It will include the following tasks:

 -          Desk review of ECREEE, relevant specialized ECOWAS organizations in the energy sector and other key stakeholders,

-          Preliminary analysis of ECREEE’s technical capacities based on the existing documentation,

-          Critical assessment of ECREEE’s Master Plan for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency and National renewable energy action plans,

-          Identification and preliminary analysis of field-related programs and initiatives financed by international funders to ensure coherence and identify potential synergies (e.g. AGoSE-AO, WACEC Program)

 The consultant will also propose key questions and methodology and prepare interview materials for the exploratory mission. He/she will plan the meetings with the relevant stakeholders to be hold during the mission, with Expertise France’s support.

 2)      Exploratory mission

 With a representative from EF HQ, the expert will undertake a 5-day mission in Cabo Verde (the exact number of days can be subject to modification), with specific logistical details to be determined when the time arises (taking into account that Expertise France will cover: flight tickets, accommodation and will deliver perdiems). The purpose of the mission will be to consult ECREEE and other key stakeholders in order to collect the data and information relevant to elaborate the project proposal. The consultations will serve to deepen the preliminary analysis, assess ECREEE’s needs and positioning, catch the needs and expectations of key organizations involved in the project (EU Delegation and others) and co-construct the intervention logic.

 The exploratory mission will include but not limited to the following tasks:

 -          Consult with ECREEE, EUD and other key stakeholders,

-          Assess ECREEE’s capacities to lead and follow the preparation of RE investment projects,

-          Collect data or documentation on the RE project pipeline that can potentially be further prepared in the frame of the program, including from AFD’s pipeline.

 The expert will be proactive during meetings, bringing his expertise and his critical analysis in order to identify potential risks and issues related to the future project implementation. The mission will allow Expertise France to encounter partners who will potentially be part of the project. The mission will also be a way to catch the different needs and expectations of the main organizations involved in the project.

 Besides, the EF team implementing the WASOP program (based in Cabo Verde) will also be consulted to gain from the partnerships it has already made with ECOWAS related organizations and to assess the opportunities to share support functions. If relevant, the consultant will meet teams from European implementing agencies (Luxdev, GIZ) or other relevant organizations operating in the renewable energy sector to ensure coherence and potential synergies with other programs.

 To complete the in-presence meetings during the mission and nurture the analysis, online meetings can be organized with specialized ECOWAS organizations active in the energy sector and not based in Cabo Verde (e.g. WAPP) or with AFD West African local offices or PROPARCO. Expertise France will facilitate the organization of these meetings.

After the mission, the consultant will produce a report presenting the key findings and detailing his/her post-mission’s analysis to better tailor EF intervention to respond to the project’s objectives.

 3)      Drafting of DoA

 This task will consist of the preparation of a Description of Action document (DoA) detailing the interventions, in close coordination with Expertise France project manager.

 Draft the DoA to include activities for technical assistance to support the preparation of investment energy projects and the adoption of the ECOWAS green hydrogen strategy, including but not limited to:

-          Context and justification of the action, sector analysis and project rationale;

-          An indicative theory of change and logical framework describing the objectives and results to be achieved;

-          The strategic approach to the project implementation;

-          The activities to be led, with detailed justification for each proposed activity;

-          The different expertise required during the implementation period of the project;

-          This will also include a description of the following:

o   Description of operational risks and possible solutions to solve them

o   Technical and logistical resources to be mobilized

o   Advice on budget

o   Institutional and contractual set-up

o   Sizing of the teams

Mission calendar and associated working days

The expert will also ensure cross-cutting attention to the integration and risks related to the institutional context (current political, economic and social situation) in the development of the technical proposal.

Thoughout the program development, he/she ensure its integration into the European Global Gateway Investment Agenda.

The exploratory mission, alongside the mission report and DoA will be implemented by one expert and supported by Expertise France. The mission will follow this indicative calendar, with dates subject to modification based on the specific requirements and preferences of the project team: