Climate Change Vulnerability Study and Provide Adaptation options for the SAPP

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST (CONSULTING SERVICES – FIRMS SELECTION)

COUNTRY: Southern African Power Pool (SAPP)

Projects Grant No.: TF-A4772

Assignment Title: Conducting a Climate Change Vulnerability Study and Provide Adaptation options for the SAPP

Background

In terms of climate change impacts, “Southern Africa is uniquely susceptible to the impacts of climate change. In coming decades, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region is expected to experience higher land and ocean surface temperatures than in the past, which will affect rainfall, winds, and the timing and intensity of weather events. Climate change poses a number of risks to SADC goals for regional economic development. Increased frequency of floods, cyclones, and droughts has damaged electrical infrastructure, disrupted livelihoods, and has caused loss of life. As adaptation to climate change involves many factors of progress in Southern Africa, SADC is committed to international conventions and Programmes on climate change” (http://www.sadc.int/themes/meteorology-climate/climate-change-adaptation/).

Regionally, the electricity sector is one of the highest emitting sectors in terms of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions due to its dependence on coal and other high emitting fuel sources, accounting for 62% of the generation mix, SAPP Pool Plan. Yet it is also one of the most vulnerable sectors due to its dependence on climate affected variables (e.g. water, wind, solar) for electricity production[1]. The increasing demand for electricity and the Region need for a cleaner and sustainable energy future creates a unique challenge for this sector. Therefore, there is increasing pressure on the power sector to transition to renewable energy in light of the SAPP Pool Plan, which will at least reduce the climate change impacts to manageable levels. Within the electricity sector, adaptation to Climate Change is widely recognised as a complementary strategy to the Mitigation of climate change strategy to effectively manage the impacts of the inevitable risks of climate change. There has thus been a growth in interest by many electricity utilities in shaping a business adaptation response to climate change and to this end, electricity utilities are starting to engage in broad dialogue about adaptation with a variety of stakeholders. Adaptation in electricity operations and investments will require improved risk management and building resilience, including improved understanding of how resilience can be built into every-day management practices (e.g. reducing risks to extreme weather events). The way in which current and future operations and resources are managed, including human resource management, may therefore need to be reconsidered, with serious efforts given to innovation in technologies and the management of existing practices.

Objectives and scope of consultancy assignment

The overall objective is to undertake an assessment of the short, medium and long impacts and vulnerability of climate change for the SAPP member utilities.

The specific objectives are:

• To undertake the diagnosis of climate change vulnerability;

• Developing risk and opportunity profiles;

• Development of the SAPP Climate Change policy;

• Update of the SAPP Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Strategy; and

• Development of an energy-climate action plan in the SAPP utilities and in capacity building activities for the member utilities.

Brief Key Deliverables

The study will be undertaken in phases and the expected deliverables are to be produced as follows:

Phase 1

• Inception Report

• Climate change impact risk and opportunities profiles for SAPP utilities (including associated adaptation to climate change strategies).

Phase 2

• Climate Change Policy for the SAPP

• An overall adaptation and mitigation strategy for the SAPP

• Training manuals

• Study Report

Required Qualifications and Experience

The Consulting firm must have experience in undertaking and implementation of the Climate Change vulnerability and adaptation assessment studies, of a similar magnitude of this assignment. The Firm must have more than 10 years of existence. The submission should demonstrate involvement in at least 2 or more similar assignments executed/under execution by the firm, at least 1 similar assignment in the SADC region. Experience in undertaking similar studies for the energy sector will be advantageous.

The team leader must be appropriately qualified in the environmental management field with specialisation in Climate science/modelling or meteorology vulnerability assessment and must demonstrate prior involvement with project reference of studies undertaken. The firm should be able to field highly experienced multinational team, covering at a minimum, the following key experts: Lead Consultant; Lead Social Development Planner; Climate change specialist; Modeler, Electrical engineer, and Environmental/Natural Resources specialist.

The SAPP invites eligible consulting firms (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services.

The shortlisting criteria is as follows:

• Years in business with relevant Climate Change vulnerability and adaptation assessment experience.

• Availability of qualified and experienced key experts.

• Evidence of having executed relevant projects in terms of similar size / volume and complexity including SADC region projects.

Consultants may associate with other firms in the form of a joint venture or a sub-consultancy to enhance their qualifications. A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the QCBS method set out in the Consultant Regulations.

Further information can be obtained by email listed below.

Expressions of interest must be emailed to the email below, on or before 31 March 2022 at 15:00 hours Central African time and mention "Expression of Interest for Consultancy Services for the Conducting a Climate Change Vulnerability Study and Provide Adaptation options for the SAPP“

Contact: Southern African Power Pool

Attention: Thembekani Luthuli, SAPP Procurement Specialist

Tel: +27 10 446 9600/+27 72 709 7252

Email Address: [email protected]

[1] www.wri.org/publication/content/8028. Navigating the numbers. Provides a comprehensive assessment of the world’s GHG emissions at the global, national, sectorial, fuel levels and identifies implications of the data for international cooperation on global climate change