Result Based Financing Specialist (RBF)

Liberia Electricity Sector Strengthening and Access Project (LESSAP II)

Project ID: P173416

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES – INDIVIDUAL SELECTION)

Issue date: October 17, 2025

Closing date: October 31, 2025

Consultancy Services for Solar Home System (SHS) Result Based Financing (RBF) Specialist

Contract Reference No: LR-RREA-507152-CS-INDV

• Background

The Rural and Renewable Energy Agency (RREA) is an autonomous agency of the Government of Liberia, established in 2010 and legislated in 2015. Its mandate is to facilitate and accelerate the economic transformation of rural Liberia by promoting the development and supply of modern energy products and services, with a focus on locally available renewable resources.

Liberia's National Electrification Strategy (NES) aims to achieve universal electricity access by 2030, with a target of 75% access by 2030. The strategy outlines a combination of grid expansion, mini-grids, and stand-alone solar systems to achieve these goals.

Under the World Bank-financed LESSAP II, RREA is implementing initiatives to electrify public health and education facilities, deploy solar home systems for households and off-grid productive uses, and pilot private sector-led mini-grids. These efforts are aligned with Liberia's medium-term development plan and contribute to the government's target of reaching universal access to electricity by 2030.

With the financing from the World Bank, toward the cost of Liberia Electricity Sector and Strengthening Access Project (LESSAP), RREA intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services for Project Coordinator.

• Objective of the Assignment

The Rural and Renewable Energy Agency (RREA) seeks a SHS RBF Specialist to lead the implementation of Subcomponent 2.b under the Liberia Energy Sector Strengthening & Access Project (LESSAP). This subcomponent focuses on deploying solar home systems (SHS) for households and introducing standalone systems for productive uses of energy (PUE). Building on the first phase, where the RBF mechanism was piloted with strong private sector participation, the second phase will expand access through larger subsidies, refined verification procedures, and new business models, supported by an online RBF platform to improve efficiency in claim processing and disbursement.

The Specialist will work closely with the Fund Manager to oversee all SHS and PUE activities, providing technical, operational and policy leadership. This includes joint supervision of claims verification, company due diligence, grant approvals and reporting, while also guiding private companies on financial planning, installation standards, after-sales services and innovative delivery models. In addition, the Specialist will design awareness programs, lead quality assurance, support enabling policy and regulatory frameworks, and promote inclusive productive use applications that stimulate rural economic development. Together with the Fund Manager, the Specialist will ensure that the program delivers sustainable and affordable energy access while driving local enterprise growth and community impact.

• Scope of the Assignment

The RBF Specialist will support all off-grid activities under the LESSAP SHS RBF Program in Liberia, with direct supervisory responsibility over the Fund Manager on all tasks specific to Solar Home Systems and standalone Productive Use of Energy (PUE) systems. In this capacity, the Specialist will ensure effective planning, coordination, implementation and reporting of the RBF mechanism. Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Provide direct supervision to the Fund Manager and approve tasks and deliverables related to the implementation of the RBF for SHS and PUE systems, ensuring alignment with program objectives and compliance with operational guidelines.

• Sit on the Evaluation Committee and evaluate proposals using agreed criteria and scoring in collaboration with the Fund Manager and partners.

• Oversee the Fund Manager in conducting due diligence of companies through business reviews and site visits, ensuring robust assessment of technical, financial and managerial capacity.

• Approve recommendations prepared by the Fund Manager for the award of grants with off-grid companies under the RBF.

• Facilitate duty waivers for importation of quality-verified off-grid solar products in collaboration with MOCI and LRA.

• Lead and supervise the verification of RBF downpayment claims (as applicable) and post-sales claims, in collaboration with the Independent Verification Agent (IVA), including telephone and field verifications, document checks and physical inspection of stock orders.

• Guide the Fund Manager in determining sample sizes for post-sale claim verification and review verification reports provided by the IVA, prior to authorizing disbursement of claims.

• Liaise with RREA Procurement and Finance Departments for timely disbursement of both direct and indirect subsidy incentives to off-grid companies.

• Provide oversight of contractors responsible for development of the capacity-building plans and the RBF software platform, ensuring integration with SHS and PUE requirements.

• Provide technical and policy guidance to companies on importation, taxation and regulation regarding off-grid solar products, including systems designed for productive uses.

• Serve as the principal contact point between RREA and participating companies on operational issues, and ensure timely resolution of bottlenecks.

• Others activities are indicated within the detailed Term of Reference

• Qualifications, Experience, and Competencies

• A minimum of Bachelor’s degree in a quantitative or management field such as Population Studies, Social Statistics, Economics, Statistics, Public Policy/Management, Data Science/Analytics, Engineering, or a closely related discipline.

• At least four (4) years overall, including three (3) years in RBF, performance-based contracting, output-based subsidies, or carbon-credit/RESULTS MRV in public or donor-funded programs. Equivalent specialist experience in verification/claims QA with an Independent Verification Agency (IVA), Fund Manager, or implementing partner will be considered. Experience support entrepreneurs or member services associations, especially with customer targeting and sales strategies; and

• In-depth understanding of Liberia’s program delivery context—including government systems, county-level implementation realities, and donor coordination—within the broader SSA environment. Cross-sector knowledge welcome; energy access exposure is a plus.,

• Proven written and oral communication skills; strong research, teamwork and interpersonal skills;

• High proficiency in GIS and data analysis tools, Microsoft Office suite (e.g., Excel, Project, PowerPoint, Word);

• Strong individual initiative, including the ability to take ownership of work and work product, motivate others to produce strong work product and solve problems.

• Required Qualities

• Ability to work under pressure and meet critical deadlines

• Communication and other interpersonal skills;

• High levels of personal initiative, motivation, honesty, integrity

• Proficiency in computer applications (Internet and MS Office suite) and report writing skills;

• Location and Reporting Line

The LESSAP1&2 SHS RBF Specialist will be based at the office of RREA in Monrovia, Liberia, but is expected to travel periodically to the project sites and other locations in rural Liberia. The Consultant will report to the Project Coordinator of the Rural and Renewable Energy Agency (RREA) or his or her designate.

• Duration

This is a time-based contract for a period of two years with the possibility of extension based on performance.

The attention of interested individual Consultants is drawn to Section III, paragraphs, 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” dated July 2016, revised November 2017, and August 2018, November 2020 and September 2023 and revised in February 2025, setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest. Please refer to paragraph 3.17 of the Procurement Regulations on conflict of interest related to this assignment which is available on the Bank’s website at http://projectsbeta.worldbank.org/en/projects-operations/products-and-services/brief/

Interested individual will be selected in accordance with the Individual Consultant Selection (ICS) method set out in the Procurement Regulations.

Further information and the detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment can be obtained electronically at the following email addresses and Website, from Mondays to Fridays, from 0900 to 1600 hours GMT:

Email: [email protected] Website: www.rrealiberia.org

Expression of Interest; clearly marked Consultancy Services for Solar Home System (SHS) RBF Specialist, must be delivered through an email to the address below on or before 4:00 p.m. Local Time, on October 31, 2025.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Attn: Executive Director

Rural and Renewable Energy Agency

LEC Sub-station, Newport Street

1000 Monrovia 10, Liberia

Email: [email protected]

Electronic submission should also be copied to the following addresses:

[email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected], [email protected]; [email protected], theophilusk@rrealiberia