Energizing Development Program – Sierra Leone

Call for Expression of Interest (EoI) for the recruitment of a consultant to Develop Energy Projects through Strengthening PI-CREF in Sierra Leone (DevEP)

PN: 22.9025.2-012.00

Project: ENDEV Sierra Leone

Cosoft: 83483027

Background

Sierra Leone strides towards a renewable energy future, emphasizing inclusivity and sustainability. The Sierra Leonean Ministry of Energy (MoE) has outlined a vision for 2035, aiming to increase generation capacity to 1 GW. This plan includes a more diversified energy mix, with 55% from hydro, 30% from thermal, and 15% from solar and other renewables. The goal also includes boosting import capacity to 100 MW from neighboring countries. Renewable energy constitutes a significant portion of Sierra Leone’s energy mix. In 2021, renewable energy generation reached 244 GWh, accounting for 75% of total electricity production. Hydroelectric power is the primary contributor, representing 70% of RE generation, while solar and other renewables contribute 2%.  

The Climate Diplomacy Action Program (CDAP), implemented by the German Development Cooperation (GIZ) and funded by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) on behalf of the German Federal Foreign Office (FFO), supports the FFO in climate dialogs with partner countries, in particular the G20 and V20. CDAP implements regional and bilateral measures in selected thematic areas, such as climate protection, loss and damage, resilience, adaptation to the consequences of climate change, energy climate diplomacy, climate financing, climate and security. CDAP support the FFO in the implementation of the Accelerated Partnership for Renewables in Africa (APRA). 

The Office of the Chairman Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy & Food Security (PI-CREF) is mandated to spearhead government efforts towards tackling the Trio challenges of energy access, climate change and food insecurity. The roles and responsibilities of PI-CREF include the following: – (a) Facilitating Policy Coherence and Coordination; (b) Mobilization of International Partnerships and Resources; (c) Representation and Advocacy: renewable energy solutions, and (d) Technical and implementation support to relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies. Thus, the mandate of PI-CREF is to leverage support for related MDAs to develop, manage, coordinate and strategically align public policy and national development efforts to drive effective delivery of climate change actions, universal access to sustainable energy, food and nutrition security programs in Sierra Leone.

Sierra Leone is a founding member of the Accelerated Partnership for Renewables in Africa (APRA) and has organized a consultative process with IRENA and other APRA partners for sketching out priority intervention areas. APRA, along with its founding members Kenya, Ethiopia, 

Namibia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, and Zimbabwe, is an Africa-led initiative focused on expanding renewable energy across the continent to foster resilient and inclusive green growth. Its goal is to support its member countries in their commitments to ambitious energy and climate policies, driving the transition to renewable energy. 

The proposed intervention aims to deploy an expert, to address the financing challenges hindering Sierra Leone’s transition to a sustainable renewable energy sector, aligning with the overarching objectives of the APRA Action Plan. The project aims to support the MoE, respectively, PI-CREF, in the Priority Action on mobilizing finance and other priority areas. This effort aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement and the APRA objectives, which include mobilizing finance, engaging the private sector, and offering targeted technical assistance and capacity building.

  Responsibilities/Task to be performed by the contractor:

The planned project activities will support the MoE and PI-CREF by supplying an Energy Expert. This expert will be supporting PI-CREF to establish a dedicated unit that will facilitate the operationalization of Sierra Leone’s Energy Transition and Green Growth Plan, the National Clean Cooking Strategy, and other related climate and energy sector development strategies and plans as outlined in the Medium-Term National Development Plan (MTNDP) 2024-2030 of Sierra Leone. The expert will be based in Freetown, PI-CREF.

Objective of the consultancy:

• Facilitate the operationalization of Sierra Leone’s Energy and Green Growth Transition Plan, the National Clean Cooking Strategy, and other related climate and energy sector development strategies and plans as outlined MTNDP 2024-2030 of Sierra Leone. 
• Develop a suite of transformative pipeline climate and energy projects
• Identify gaps and provide support for climate and energy sectors policy reforms.
• Support resource mobilization efforts, through establishment of partnerships with IFIs and development partners, organizing and/or participation in project financing meetings, etc.
• Contribute to capacity building of MDA’s in climate and energy sectors.

Additionally, the expert will be supporting the PI-CREF with the preparation of bankable projects and the establishment of the PI-CREF Energy and Climate Finance Hub facility. Thus, the aim is to provide external expertise to the PI-CREF that is directly advising the MoE. The funding will be provided through the FFO-IKI funded CDAP, with on-site coordination by the GIZ energy portfolio in Sierra Leone.

In line with the proposed APRA priorities for Sierra Leone, key activities outlined will include to facilitate the transition to clean energy and energy security in Sierra Leone.

Implementation time frame

For the whole assignment, GIZ shall hire the contractor for 200-man days, the anticipated contract term, from 1^st April to 31^st December 2025.

 Eligibility criteria and mandatory documents to be submitted by the Consultant for pre-qualification (Submission conditions)

Qualifications of proposed Consultant

Qualifications of the team leader

• Education/training (2.1.1): A university degree Master/MBA in Mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, renewable energy, energy finance, finance, economics, energy economics, resource economics, energy, climate finance or very close related area from a recognised university.
  • Language (2.1.2): C2-level language proficiency in English, local languages of Sierra Leone will be an advantage 

• General professional experience (2.1.3): 7 years of professional experience in the renewable energy sector
  • Specific professional experience (2.1.4): 7 years in renewable energy project development and financing sector
  • Leadership/management experience (2.1.5): 7 years of management/leadership experience as project team leader or manager in a company or as self-employed expert
  • Regional experience (2.1.6): 5 years of experience with similar projects in West Africa, Caricom or SIDS region.
  • Development cooperation (DC) experience (2.1.7): 5 years of experience in DC projects
  • Other (2.1.8): Clear evidence of participation in financial training’s, project development trainings, project management training, experience in developing or least developing countries. 
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Submission of Expressions of Interest

The consultants should submit their “Expression of Interest” via E-mail to sl_quotation@giz.de with the subject “Cosoft 83483027_EoI Application for DevEP’’

Not later than 25^th February 2025. The CV should not exceed two pages (excluding copies of documents) using font and font size of Arial and 11 respectively, at line spacing 1.15. 

For any questions, contact sl_enquiry@giz.de with the subject ‘’Cosoft 83483027_EoI Application for DevEP’’ not later than Friday 21^st of February 2025

Only prequalified interested enterprises will be contacted with a template for detailed elaboration of the proposal. However, a brief profile that details your experiences in similar partnership will be required (see “Submission condition” above).