Hiring a Consultant to Review the Current Biomass Strategy — Rwanda Energy Access and Quality Improvement Project

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (REOI)

Kigali, on 05/08/2025

Ref No: RW-REG/EDCL-488891-CS-QCBS

Project: Rwanda - Energy Access and Quality Improvement Project

Tender Name: Hiring a Consulting Firm for the review and Update of Rwanda’s Biomass Strategy

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Rwanda’s Clean Cooking Strategy is integral to the nation's energy transition, aiming to reduce reliance on biomass, improve access to modern, cleaner cooking solutions, and support environmental sustainability. The Strategy directly contributes to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). Most Rwandan households and institutions still rely on biomass for cooking, contributing to deforestation, poor health outcomes, and environmental degradation. Rwanda’s Vision 2035 and Vision 2050 set ambitious targets for achieving universal access to modern, clean cooking solutions, reducing reliance on biomass, and promoting a Just Energy Transition. The updated Clean Cooking Strategy will align these national objectives with Rwanda’s SDG commitment.

The Terms of Reference (ToRs) outline the tasks for the review and update of the Clean Cooking Strategy. The update will ensure the strategy aligns with the revised national energy policy, National Strategy for Transformation 2 (NST2), Energy Sector Strategic Plan 2024/25 -2028/29, SDGs, Rwanda’s Vision 2035, and Vision 2050, which set out ambitious goals for sustainable development, economic growth, and environmental protection. Reviewing and updating this strategy will provide a roadmap to achieve a clean cooking transition, contributing to the broader agenda of Rwanda’s Just Energy Transition.

2.0 OBJECTIVE OF THE CONSULTANCY SERVICES

• The overall objective is to review and update Rwanda’s Clean Cooking Strategy in line with national development goals, focusing on sustainable fuel use, clean cooking technologies, and a transition towards renewable energy and Rwanda’s commitments to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Specifically:

• Alignment with SDGs:

• SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy): Ensure access to modern, clean cooking technologies for all households and institutions, transitioning away from traditional biomass.

• SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): Reduce household air pollution from traditional cooking methods, which causes respiratory diseases and premature deaths.

• SDG 5 (Gender Equality): Empower women by reducing the time and burden associated with collecting firewood, while also improving their health through clean cooking technologies.

• SDG 13 (Climate Action): Promote sustainable energy practices that mitigate deforestation and reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with biomass fuel consumption.

• Alignment with national long-term strategies ie the revised national energy policy, NST2, Green Growth and Climate Resilience Strategy, Vision 2035, and Vision 2050: Update the strategy to support Rwanda’s long-term development visions, ensuring universal access to clean cooking solutions and reducing dependency on biomass.

• Leverage Existing Data and Tools: Use the latest available data from the 2022 National Census and the Second Multi-Tier Framework (MTF) survey to avoid redundancy in data collection. Integrate existing clean cooking planning tools, such as the ESMAP Clean Cooking Planning Tool and the SE for ALL planning tools.

• Institutional Cooking Analysis: Build on existing institutional cooking and heating survey data from previous studies and suggest solutions to address clean cooking issues in institutions especially schools where significant gaps exist.

• Integration of new technologies: The updated clean cooking strategy aims also to integrate the access and penetration of the different technologies and fuels and align with the Integrated Clean Cooking Plan and ESSP targets.

• Review and update the institutional framework: Update the institutional framework and integrate an appropriate sector coordination mechanism that can address the existing gaps accordingly.

• Just Energy Transition: Ensure that the strategy reflects principles of equity and inclusivity, particularly for low-income households reliant on traditional biomass. This will include designing financial mechanisms to support vulnerable populations in transitioning to cleaner cooking technologies.

• CONSULTANT’S SCOPE OF SERVICES

Review of the Current Clean Cooking Strategy:

• Assess the achievements and challenges of the current strategy.

• Identify gaps in implementation and propose solutions for accelerating the transition to clean cooking technologies.

• Align the updated strategy with Rwanda’s Vision 2035, Vision 2050, and National Strategy for Transformation (NST2).

Review of Existing National Data:

• Use data from the 2022 National Census, EICV reports and the Second MTF Survey to understand household cooking fuel consumption, technology adoption, and access.

Institutional Cooking and Heating Survey:

• Review and leverage past studies on institutional cooking and heating.

Fuel Demand-Supply Model:

• Update the demand-supply model for biomass, LPG, CNG, and electricity, incorporating trends in population growth, urbanization, and economic development.

• Use insights from the Rwanda LPG master plan and integrated clean cooking plan to support the scale-up of LPG and other modern cooking solutions.

Policy and Regulatory Framework:

• Review existing policies and regulations and recommend amendments into the Clean Cooking Strategy to support the clean cooking transition.

• Propose new strategies that incentivize private sector participation and improve market conditions for clean cooking technologies.

Development of an Action Plan:

• Develop a detailed action plan for achieving Rwanda’s clean cooking goals, with clear milestones for 2029, 2035, and 2050.

• Identify key stakeholders, funding mechanisms, and priority interventions.

• DURATION OF CONSULTANCY SERVICES

The consultancy is expected to last for 12 months from the start of the contract.

• QUALIFICATION OF THE FIRM

• Experience in Energy Transition Strategies: Proven track record in developing or reviewing national strategies focused on energy transition, clean cooking, and sustainable development in sub-Saharan Africa at least (3) three similar assignments.

• Sector Expertise in Clean Cooking: Knowledge of clean cooking technologies like LPG, biogas, biomass, CNG, and electric cooking systems having conducted at least 1 or more assessments on usage of the aforementioned technologies.

• Capacity to Conduct National-Level Surveys and Data Analysis: The consulting firm must demonstrate the ability to conduct large-scale, data-driven household and institutional surveys in the energy sector. This includes experience in designing and implementing representative sampling strategies to ensure robust and actionable insights. The firm should also possess proficiency in integrating new survey data with existing datasets, such as national censuses, the Multi-Tier Framework (MTF), or household budget surveys. Advanced data collection tools, including digital surveys, geospatial mapping, and real-time monitoring systems, should be employed effectively. Evidence of this capacity is for the firm to demonstrate proven experience of having conducted at least in 1 or more exercises such as baseline studies to assess pre-existing conditions and establish benchmarks for clean cooking adoption, longitudinal analysis to track changes over time and evaluate the impact of interventions, and gap analysis to identify areas with significant deficiencies in clean cooking access and usage for targeted intervention.

• Technical Expertise in Fuel Demand-Supply Modelling: The consulting firm must demonstrate capability in using and updating demand-supply models relevant for energy transition, incorporating key factors such as population growth, urbanization, and economic trends. The models should provide accurate projections to inform policy and investment decisions. Proof of expertise should include examples of 1 or more previous assignments where demand and supply models were used to inform strategies or policies.

• Experience with Stakeholder Engagement: The firm must show a proven ability to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders, including government entities, private sector players, development partners, and local communities. Effective stakeholder engagement should be evidenced by examples of past projects where the firm facilitated partnerships, conducted consultations, or implemented multi-stakeholder initiatives. Documentation should include stakeholder feedback, outcomes of engagement, or formal acknowledgments from involved parties.

• Policy and Regulatory Knowledge: The consulting firm should possess expertise in reviewing existing policies and regulatory frameworks and proposing actionable changes to support energy transitions and clean cooking goals. Evidence of this expertise should include prior work on policy analysis, drafting policy recommendations, and successful adoption or implementation of regulatory changes. Supporting documents such as policy briefs, reports, or official endorsements should be provided.

• Proven Experience Project Management Capacity: The firm must exhibit strong project management capabilities to oversee complex, multi-faceted projects, ensuring timely delivery and adherence to quality standards. Evidence of this capacity should include project timelines, examples of successfully completed projects, client testimonials, and descriptions of project management tools or frameworks employed.

• Experience with Just Energy Transition: The consulting firm must demonstrate a track record of designing strategies that promote inclusive and equitable access to clean energy solutions for vulnerable and low-inco