Job Description
Are you interested in joining an organisation with a long term commitment to fighting poverty? Would you like to work in a challenging environment and develop an international career focused on demonstrating shared core values that achieve results?
SNV Ghana is looking for a
Senior Associate Advisor Renewable Energy
Based in Accra, Ghana
(Consultancy contract)
SNV is a Dutch based international Development Organisation that provides Capacity Development Services to local institutions and organizations in more than 30 developing countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe.
Present in Ghana since 1992, SNV is committed to the reduction of poverty, and works to achieve this in line with national poverty reduction strategies.
Access to adequate, affordable and sustainable energy products and services is a precondition for development. Typically, less than 10 % of the population in a sub Saharan African country is connected to the electricity grid and over 80 % of the same population lacks access to modern, safe, clean and efficient energy sources for heating, cooking and lighting. This segment of the population uses traditional biomass such as charcoal, wood, straw, agricultural residues and dung, the use and collection of which brings with it various negative consequences, such as increased pressure on the environment, a high workload and indoor air pollution, especially affecting women and children.
The overall goal of SNV Ghana is to contribute to improve the livelihoods of the rural and peri-urban poor in Ghana by accelerating the dissemination of renewable energy products and services for the poor.
In this context, SNV Ghana has recently chosen to extend its advisory team and is seeking a level III (senior level) advisor in Renewable Energy.
Responsibilities
A: Strategic positioning and resources mobilisation
- Contributes in providing strategic direction to the renewable energy sector, improving relevance, efficiency and effectiveness of current and new SNV interventions (biomass energy; solar; others), with special attention to RE business development and RE financing;
- Identifies opportunities for market-based, scaled and innovative initiatives;
- Assure successful stewardship of relationships with both current and potential donors in the government, foundations, corporate sectors, as well as with private donors, and lead efforts to identify and pursue new opportunities;
- Ensures increased external funding of SNV interventions in the RE sector and takes up a (leading) role in proposal development;
- Supports mainstreaming of accountability, gender equity and social inclusion in RE interventions.
B. Advisory services
- Provide on-the-job technical support and coaching of advisors and Local Capacity Builders, for effective delivery of advisory services to clients;
- Advises partners, LCBs and clients in the RE programmes especially in the area of entrepreneurship development, business development, access to finance and product development.
C. Knowledge development/networking
- Ensure up to date contextual analysis within the renewable energy sector in Ghana, identifying and interpreting emerging opportunities, barriers and threats to the SNV strategy and services;
- Support Clients/Partners in a multi-stakeholder approach and stimulate building effective networks and partnerships between them;
- Provides leadership in product development (codification of proven approaches; assessment of new technologies/devices);
- Knowledge brokering and sharing of international best practices in RE with clients, partners and SNV team;
- Documents results and best practices in the form of case studies, advisory practice experiences, training materials, and presents findings at relevant forums.
Candidate profile
- Master’s degree in Renewable energy (or in Management of appropriate development technologies), Economics of Sustainable development, Agro-economy, Rural development, geology, hydrology, metallurgical. Experience in finance/investments for renewable energy, business skills will be an added advantage.
- Master’s degree + 7 years, or Bachelor’s degree + 10 years of expertise in RET (Renewable Energy Technology);
- Proven track record in capacity building, experience in micro and medium size enterprise development and insight into problems and constraints in stimulating private-public partnerships.
- Demonstrated track record in consulting (business development) or working directly on social impact and profit making enterprises or projects
- Experience in networking, alliance building and facilitation of multi-stakeholder processes, product development, organisational learning, institutional change processes, and project proposal formulation.
- Experience in strategy development and execution.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively in international settings ranging from high-level diplomatic to corporate and grass-roots / field settings
- Strong (state of the art) knowledge of the renewable energy sector in Ghana and/or Africa will be an added advantage;
- Strong applied analytic skills are required.
- Experience in economic development, energy or climate is required.
Desired Skills and attitude
- Leadership skills, including independent initiative, staff management and coordination, meeting facilitation, flexibility, ability to drive multiple aspects of initiatives and projects from inception to implementation within a limited time frame, and ability to develop and sustain effective working relationships with people of diverse backgrounds and levels of expertise.
- Superior oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills, including keen attention to detail and ability to express complex ideas clearly to a broad range of audiences.
- Advanced knowledge of and experience with MS Office Suite and Internet use.
- Ability to travel moderately with readiness to work and travel in rural districts with minimal amenities.
- Excellent listening skills combined with oral and written communication skills (in both English and preferably also French).
- Personal commitment to SNV’s vision and the ability to articulate it to others in a manner that compels them to action.
Description duty station
Name: Accra, Ghana
Health services: Good.
Educational facilities: There are international schools (English) available.
Security situation: Good.
Accessibility: Accra has an international airport which is served by regular flights from/to international destinations. The roads are good.
Communication infrastructure: Telephone, fax, Internet/e-mail are good.
Contract Duration: Consultancy contract of 1 year, with the possibility of renewal
Desired start Date: 1 July 2012
Salary: We offer a competitive associate - consultancy contract
How to apply?
Please send your application letter and CV to efenu@snvworld.org (att. Eric Fenu, Country HR Officer) with reference number GH 10218 before 1 May 2012
More information about SNV
SNV is an international not-for-profit development organisation. We believe that no-one should have to live in poverty and that all people should have the opportunity to pursue their own sustainable development.
Starting out in the Netherlands more than 40 years ago, we now work in 36 countries, with offices in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Balkans.
Our global team of over 1,100 professionals work with local partners to equip communities, businesses and organisations with the tools, knowledge and connections they need to increase their incomes and gain access to basic services. This empowers them to break the cycle of poverty and guide their own development.
By sharing our specialist expertise in Agriculture, Renewable Energy, and Water, Sanitation & Hygiene, we contribute to solving some of the leading problems facing the world today – helping to find local solutions to global challenges and sowing the seeds of lasting change.
SNV aims to make a lasting difference in the lives of approximately 40 million people living in poverty over the period 2011-2015.
For more information, please refer to our website: www.snvworld.org
We do not appreciate third-party mediation based on this advertisement.
