This role will be suitable for someone who has experience delivering Technical Assistance programmes from project design, through contracting, implementation and completion. The position requires a solid understanding of the renewable energy and energy efficiency sector in South Africa, and the barriers to getting projects in these sectors developed and financed.
The Technical Assistance Co-ordinator will support the Technical Assistance Facility (TAF) by ensuring the process for developing and implementing Technical Assistance assignments is done e ffectively and efficiently, supporting the SUNREF programme’s objectives.
* Work with the TAF’s Team Leader and relevant IDC staff to initiate and design Technical Assistance assignments. Please note that some Technical Assistance assignments will also be done with the South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI).
* Identify consultant(s) options that could undertake and effectively deliver the assignments identified, and implement a process to choose one consultant (or team of consultants) by presenting them to the IDC, AFD and TAF Team Leader. Once a choice has been made to then negotiate a budget with them.
* Take these assignments through the approval process by first developing “Motivations for Approval” (MfAs) and then submitting the MfAs to the IDC, AFD and TAF team Leader for review and approval. Any comments provided should be addressed explicitly by the Technical Assistance Co-ordinator (TAC), until the MfA is either given a non-objection by the AFD, or alternatively does not receive approval.
* Once a Technical Assistance Assignment has been approved to then assist in the preparation consultant contracts, and associated requirements, with Palladium Europe and the consultants.
* To have oversight over each Technical Assistance Assignment and ensure they are implemented effectively so that they deliver on their objectives. This will involve participating actively in each assignment, including commenting on all reports and other deliverables. The TAC will ensure that all requirements are fulfilled (as defined in the contract) before invoices are paid and ensure that the consultants are paid timeously according to the commitments made by Palladium Europe.
* During implementation the TAC will also notify the Team Leader of any potential problems so that these can be managed proactively. At the end of any assignment, the TAC will ensure the project is closed out effectively and ensure that the project folder, in the shared drive, is up to date and organised in a way that allows for the easy extraction of information.
* If required the TAC will implement a process to develop a completion report for any Technical Assistance Assignment undertaken.
* The TAC will attend meetings as required, including weekly feedback meetings with the AFD and Steering Committee Meetings. The TAC will develop feedback on the status of all Technical Assistance Assignments for any meeting as requested by the Team Leader. This may involve developing presentations for such meetings.
* The TAC will support the development of all reports required by AFD, including the Quarterly and Semi-Annual reports.
* Maintain a database of consultants for possibly undertaking Technical Assistance assignments, so expertise sourcing occurs rapidly.
* Keep oversight on the TAF budget performance in terms of the overall project budget, and ensure it is reflected accurately in all reporting, and specifically the Technical Assistance tracking sheet.
* Implementation and management of technical assistance projects and programmes.
* Experience of implementing and managing capacity building activities.
* Solid understanding of renewable energy and energy efficiency projects, and the issues involved in financing them.
* Ability to work with different sets of stakeholders, and understand and interpret their perspectives when developing technical assistance assignments.
* Know how to effectively and efficiently run processes and be able to keep them moving forward through engaging and working with stakeholders in a constructive manner, when trying to find solutions to any problems experienced.
If interested, please contact Susie Shuford-Lazarz, SUNREF II Project Manager: [email protected]
Job Years of Experience: 2-3 years