Project Management Advisor

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(Consulting Services – Individual Selection)

Country: SAPP Region

Name of Project: Southern African Power Pool Program for Accelerating Transformational Energy

Projects Grant No.: IDA-H9890

Assignment Title: Project Management Advisor

The World Bank is preparing a Program with the Southern Africa Power Pool (“SAPP”) to help accelerate preparation of priority regional power generation and transmission projects in the region of the Southern African Power Pool. The program development objective is “to facilitate the preparation of priority regional energy projects in the Southern African Power Pool region”. As part of this initiative, SAPP intends to procure the services of a Program Management Advisor.

Scope of work:

The Program Management Advisor shall work with Project Specialists and be responsible for developing the priority projects in the SAPP pipeline.

Duties and responsibilities:

• Work closely with the Chief Transactions Advisor and provide him/her with any required information and reports to ensure smooth and proper implementation of the AREP program.

• Assist the Chief Transactions Advisor to provide information and updates on project activities and /or implementation issues as requested by SADC, the SAPP, government agencies, other project stakeholders, and the World Bank.

• Provide project progress reports as well as briefs and reports on an ad hoc basis.

• Work as the advisor to Project Specialists and provide capacity building to Project Specialists.

• Identify issues that affect project implementation and identify solutions in agreement with the Chief Transactions Advisor.

• Work and advise on the development of appropriate project structures with a view to attracting private sector investments and optimizing the mix of financial instruments.

• Ensure that projects are completed on time and within budget and ensure that project objectives are met.

• Liaise with stakeholders on project plans.

• Supervise and evaluate the performance of Consultants.

• Any other duties as assigned by the Chief Transactions Advisor.

Qualifications and experience:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in business administration, finance, engineering, or economics.

• A minimum of 10 years of relevant energy sector/transaction experience in project management. Must show a track record of projects/investments in which he/she has been involved with high-level responsibility (related to project finance, negotiation, coordination, management, etc.), experience of working in Africa is an advantage.

• Ability to work under pressure and manage responsibilities within tight deadlines.

• Experience in the field of project finance, infrastructure finance, credit enhancement design; and transaction design experience for complex PPPs.

• Experience with PPPs and commercial deals in developing country context.

• Familiarity with best practices in infrastructure finance.

• Knowledge of contracts, bid processes, project design and the wide range of risk instruments.

• Recognized by peers and/or managers for providing high quality, pragmatic advice to senior officials and practitioners on PPPs.

• Experience building partnerships, including negotiations with donors, and executing agencies.

• Demonstrated ability to engage on a range of issues in developing countries including advice on both program and project development.

• Understanding of how governments work and political sensitivities – especially as they relate to development of key national infrastructure/cross-border infrastructure.

• Client focus and commitment to results.

• Strong ‘people’ skills – able to develop strong working relationships and able to develop high levels of trust across public and private sectors by demonstrating high levels of competence, professionalism, political awareness, tact, and diplomacy.

• Excellent English proficiency, both spoken and written.

• High level written and oral presentation skills.

Required competencies:

• Knowledge in the development arena – translates technical and cross-country knowledge into practical applications and contributions to strategies to develop and implement PPP programs and projects, interacts with clients at the policy level.

• Policy dialogue skills – anticipates needs and requests in the field and conducts independent policy discussions with representatives of the government and non-government partners.

• Integrative skills – understands relevant cross-sectoral areas and how they are interrelated.

• PPP policy, institutions, and implementation – solid and broad understanding of the development and implementation of policy/legal/institutional frameworks and the practical application of this to develop programs and projects.

• Innovative skills – develops innovative solutions with others.

• Results oriented – achieves results and identifies mission-driven solutions for the client.

• Collaborative skills within teams and across boundaries – initiates collaboration across boundaries and broadly across the World Bank Group and brings differing ideas into the forefront.

• Knowledge management skills – creates, applies, and shares knowledge to strengthen internal and/or external client solutions.

Duration of assignment:

The duration of the assignment is for 12 months, with an initial probation period of 3 months. Subject to the Consultant's satisfactory performance of the assignment, the contract may be extended.

Reporting and location:

The Project Management Advisor will report to the Chief Transactions Advisor and provide advisory services to Project Specialists. The Project Management Advisor will receive support in the fiduciary functions of financial management, procurement, and environmental and social safeguards from the respective specialists.

SAPP headquarters are in Harare, Zimbabwe. While the Project Management Advisor is not expected to reside full time in Harare, Zimbabwe, he/she should be willing to spend at least 70% of his/her time in the SADC region. During the times in the region, office space will be provided at the SAPP Headquarters in Harare and at such other place in the Southern African region that SAPP may decide. The job involves a lot of travel and candidates should be willing to travel extensively within the SADC region and abroad.

Selection process:

The Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Individual Consulting method set out in the Procurement Regulations. Further information can be obtained through email during office hours from Monday to Friday [0900 to 1600 hours CAT].

Interested individuals should submit their proposals (either by email, post, or delivery of hard copies) clearly marked on the subject line or envelope, “Program Management Advisor”, not later than 1500 hours CAT on 15 September 2021.

The SAPP CC Executive Director

Southern African Power Pool

7th Floor Gold Bridge,

Eastgate Office Complex

P.O. Box EH52,

Emerald Hill, Harare

ZIMBABWE

Tel: +263 242 254241-4

Email: [email protected]