Internship Opportunities Energy Efficiency Intern

JOB DESCRIPTION FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY INTERN, EACREEE

Job Title:

Energy Efficiency Intern, EACREEE

Main Duty Station and Location:

EACREEE Secretariat in Kampala, Uganda

Mission/s to:

Missions to EAC Partner States and internationally when applicable

Start of Contract (EOD):

1 January 2024

End of Contract (COB):

31 December 2024

Number of Working Days:

12 working/months (full-time)

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The East African Centre of Excellence for Renewable Energy and Efficiency (EACREEE) was established by the East African Community (EAC) to play a key role in promoting renewable energy (RE) and energy efficiency (EE) in the region. EACREEE has been mandated by the EAC Council of Ministers responsible for energy to promote RE&EE in eight Partner States, including  Republic of Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of Kenya, the Republic of Rwanda, the Republic of South Sudan, the Republic of Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania and Somalia (joined in 2023). . EACREEE´s goal is to facilitate the creation of an enabling environment for RE & EE markets and investments, to contribute to (a) increased access of modern, affordable and reliable energy services; (b) energy security; and, (c) mitigation of negative effects (e.g. local pollution and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions).

EACREEE launched its technical activities five years ago. The EACREEE Secretariat is in place and has a fully functional office at Makerere University in Kampala City. The Centre is operating as a corporate body with the capacity to receive funds, and contracts and undertakes legal proceedings. Its governance, operational and accountability structures and procedures have been legalized, developed and approved, and its long-term strategy and short-term plans have been developed and endorsed. During its first operational phase of four years (from 2016 to 2020), the Centre has implemented a broad range of technical activities and identified main areas of intervention, which include support in regional energy policy, capacity building and project development and execution, knowledge management, lobbying, advisory provision, and financing and investment promotion. This has paved the way for a second operational phase of the Centre. Therefore, to consolidate the achievements and to strengthen the capacities of the Centre, the EACREEE Board of Directors requested the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) to support the Centre during its 2nd operational phase.

For the second period, EACREEE has identified and prioritized seven (7) strategic programmatic areas for the period 2020-2024, which include (i) accelerating the adoption of clean and sustainable cooking and heating; (ii) improving energy efficiency in the built industrial environment; (iii) promoting capacity building and investment in electrification via clean energy mini-grids and standalone solutions; (iv) ensuring inclusive and sustainable energy access in situations of displacement; (v) fostering a lighthouse of new technologies and solutions (storage, digitalization, innovative Renewable Energy Technologies (RET), and circular economy); (vi) promoting utility-scale and distributed grid-connect renewable energy;  and, (vii) enhancing women and youth entrepreneurship and employment in sustainable energy businesses within the EAC region.

This phase also counts on  the technical assistance of UNIDO and with funding from the Austrian Development Agency (ADA). Under the common umbrella of the Global Network of Regional Sustainable Energy Centres (GN-SEC), an initiative coordinated by UNIDO, EACREEE aims to play an active role in this global network, seeking to share experiences, cooperate on joint programs and advocate for RE&EE on a global level. The GN-SEC is an innovative south-south and triangular multi-stakeholder partnership to accelerate the energy and climate transformation in developing countries. The gradually expanding partnership comprises a sub-network of Centres for both the African and the Arab region (in cooperation with the EAC, SADC, ECOWAS, ECCAS, and the Arab League) and a sub-network for Small Island Developing States (in cooperation with CARICOM, and SPC). The network is now becoming a global platform for knowledge exchange and provides a “maker-space” for south-south cooperation on joint issues and solutions.

PROJECT CONTEXT

Technical Support for the Second Operational Phase of the East African Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (Project ID 200110)

The 2nd support phase of the project follows up on the initial one “Establishment and First Operational Phase of the East African Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (EACREEE)”, which was implemented in partnership with the EAC Secretariat between 2013 and 2019. UNIDO moderated the complex intergovernmental decision-making process and provided services for institution-building and technical program development under the Global Network of Regional Sustainable Energy Centres (GN-SEC) Programme.  The 2nd support phase is based on the findings of an undertaken external mid-term review, SWOT and PESTLE analysis of EACREEE.

The assessments have confirmed the continuing relevance and value proposition of EACREEE. They draw positive conclusions about the achievements and performance of the centre. EACREEE has full legal identity as EAC Centre of Excellence, hosted by the Makerere University College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT) in Kampala, Uganda. Its’ governance structure and rules and procedures are fully operational. Over the past years, the centre has built up a network of national focal institutions and various international partnerships. EACREEE has implemented initial technical activities and developed a project pipeline. The centre is well-connected to EAC processes and an active member of the GN-SEC.

However, the external reviews also revealed several shortcomings and risks, mainly related to the legal status and weak resource and technical capacity base of the centre. It has not developed its full potential. Lengthy discussions between EAC Partner States on the legal status of the centre led to significant delays and impacted negatively on the resource base and fund-raising abilities of EACREEE. The initial objective to establish the centre as full-fledged institution of the EAC has not been achieved. The current legal status of EACREEE as centre of excellence based on Ugandan law comes with some bottlenecks for its regional operations. Up to now, EAC Partner States are not paying membership fees.

Therefore, the overall objective of the 2nd support phase is to prepare the centre for full autonomy and long-term sustainability. During the project period, the centre will expand its programme portfolio and become a regional and international hub for RE&EE issues and solutions. The centre will increase its project implementation rate and develop joint programs with the other GN-SEC centres. International partnerships will leverage significant co-finance for the activities of the centre. The project will support EACREEE to transition to a full EAC institution and a sustainable funding model, which will include membership contributions of the EAC Partner States. 

Therefore, currently the centre is strengthening its technical and administrative staff capacities. In this context, EACREEE is recruiting an Energy Efficiency Intern, to be located at the EACREEE Secretariat in Kampala, Uganda. It shall be noted, that EACREEE looks for new innovative experts, who have so far not worked in the centre. Further information on the project is available at: www.eacreee.org and www.gn-sec.net.    

EACREEE aims to have an equal representation of men and women at all levels of the organization, through the implementation of effective gender mainstreaming practices, including achieving gender balance when recruiting technical and management positions.

EACREEE also aims to have regional balance from the EAC Partner States at all levels of the organization by ensuring that the human resources of EACREEE represent the different countries of the EAC.  EACREEE will make sure that recruitment processes are transparent and non-discriminatory. EAC Partner Countries include the Republic of Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of Kenya, the Republic of Rwanda, the Republic of South Sudan, the Republic of Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania and Somalia (joined in 2023).

Scope of duties:

The Energy Efficiency Intern reports to the EACREEE Lead Technical Expert on Energy Efficiency and the UNIDO seconded EACREEE Technical Expert, in coordination with the EACREEE Interim Executive Director, whiO coordinates closely with the UNIDO Project Manager (PM) and his team at UNIDO HQ. The intern will provide written progress reports on his/her activities every three working months. The assignment of the expert has the following scope and expected results:

Main duties

  1. Organizational development and local coordination:
  • Assist the Lead Technical Expert Energy Efficiency, EACREEE Technical Expert, and EACREEE IED with the day today coordination of the National Focal Institutions (NFIs) and contributing to relationship building with the EAC Secretariat and a broad range of national, regional and international public and private partners;
  • Assist the Lead Technical Expert and EACREEE Technical expert in the development and implementation of the EACREEE annual work plans, budgets and as well as  drafting of progress reports;
  • Contribute to the strengthening of the monitoring system and tracking framework to measure the performance and impact of EACREEE in line with the established indicators in the results framework of the UNIDO project document and the EACREEE Business Plan;
  • Participate in bi-weekly meetings with the UNIDO PM and his team; submit a quarterly overview of implemented activities;
  • Support EACREEE team in preparation of missions of the core partners (e.g. EAC, UNIDO, etc.) to Uganda in close coordination with the UNIDO office in Kampala.

2. Programme development and implementation:

  • Under supervision and guidance of EACREEE technical senior staff, provide inputs for the development of programs and projects for funds raising, according to the EACREEE work plan or other initiatives within the framework of the GNSEC network.
  • Under supervision and guidance of EACREEE technical senior staff, conduct research, gather data in a standardized manner for data base building, and develop technical analysis in order to contribute to the development of EACREEE project proposals and work plan implementation, including policy documents in the energy efficiency field.
  • Prepare and provide inputs to the Lead Technical Expert Energy Efficiency and EACREEE Technical expert for the development of Minimum Energy Performance Standards and other activities linked to energy efficiency for benefit of the region. Participate in Technical Committee meetings for the development and adoptions;
  • Provide inputs and assist the Lead Technical Expert Energy Efficiency and EACREEE Technical Expert in the development and harmonization of the national and regional policy and other quality assurance frameworks;
  • Support the EACREEE team in the quality assurance work throughout the project cycle of a wide range of different EACREEE activities (e.g. trainings, conferences, policy activities, co-funding of projects);
  • Conduct research, gather data in a standardized manner for data base building, and develop technical analysis in order to contribute to the development of EACREEE project proposals and work plan implementation, including policy documents under the framework of the EAC Regional Renewable Energy roadmap.
  • Assist EACREEE team in mainstreaming gender, empower youth, as well as ensure consideration of environmental and social safeguards aspects throughout the technical operation of the Centre with a respective quality and appraisal framework.

3. Coordination, communication and knowledge management;

  • As delegated and under the guidance of the EACREEE Lead Technical Expert Energy Efficiency, EACREEE Technical Expert, EACREEE IED and/or UNIDO PM, the intern shall represent the Centre and raise awareness on energy efficiency opportunities within the EAC region;.
  • Provide inputs and support to the EACREEE senior technical staff in the development of timely policy inputs and briefs for EAC to be considered in international energy and climate processes (e.g. COP, SDGs, etc.); advocate for a just and inclusive energy transition addressing particularly the needs of LDCs;
  • Assist the EACREEE technical staff in the planning and establishment of the GIS based EAC energy information system by considering the lessons learned and best practices of other GN-SEC centres and internationally;
  • Provide flexible support to the EACREEE and UNIDO HQ teams.

MINIMUM ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Natural sciences with specialization in Energy technologies or energy policy and systems or any other relevant discipline. Enrollment in a master’s degree in Engineering or Natural Sciences is an added advantage.

Technical and Functional Experience:

  • At least one (01) year of work experience in technical positions in the energy or electricity sector in one or several countries of the East African Community (EAC) is required.
  • Good knowledge of the urban and rural energy challenges of the EAC region is desirable.
  • Demonstrated knowledge of energy efficiency technology characteristics, economics, policies, incentives and business models is required.
  • Good analytical writing, presentation and communication skills are required. The application shall show-case a track-record of written reports/documents.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft processing software (e.g. word, excel) and energy efficiency software is required;
  • Demonstrated understanding of gender equality and women’s empowerment in the field of energy, as well as the interconnections between energy and sustainable development is desirable.
  • Ability to work under pressure and handle politically and culturally sensitive issues in a diplomatic manner.

Language Requirements: Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Excellent English writing skill is a mandatory requirement since all communication and documents will be conducted and submitted in English. Working knowledge of French and Swahili is highly desirable.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

Core values:

  1. Integrity
  2. Professionalism
  3. Respect for diversity

Core competencies:

  1. Results orientation and accountability
  2. Planning and organizing. 
  3. Communication and trust
  4. Team orientation
  5. Client orientation
  6. Organizational development and innovation

How to Apply for the EACREEE Energy Efficiency Intern Role

All applications to be sent to info@eacreee.org

The Closing Date: Monday 15th January 2024 by 5.00pm

NOTE: Citizens of all the East African Community member states are encouraged to apply!

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews.

Job expired