Programme Officer -Technical Advisory Services, P-4

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) is an inter-governmental organisation mandated with the widespread and increased adoption and sustainable use of all forms of renewable energy. At present, IRENA has 170 Members (169 States and the European Union) that acceded to its Statute, and 14 additional States in the process of accession. IRENA supports countries in their transition to a sustainable energy future and serves as the principal platform for international cooperation, a centre of excellence, and a repository of policy, technology, resource, and financial knowledge on renewable energy. The Agency implements its mandate with the view of sustainable development, increased energy security, and low-carbon economic growth and prosperity. 

The Project Facilitation and Support (PFS) division integrates all the previous initiatives of IRENA related to project facilitation. It aims to achieve a tangible impact by facilitating funding and investments for promising projects, co-organising regional Investment Forums with matchmaking events, and fostering cooperation between international institutions with compatible objectives. One of the main instruments is the Climate Investment Platform (CIP), a joint initiative of IRENA, the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL). The activities include the preparation of projects, support to the partners who can help projects to achieve financial close, and the organisation of international and regional matchmaking events where project owners, lenders, investors, and donors can meet.

Other responsibilities include the development and promotion of project facilitation tools, like the Energy Transition Accelerator Financing Platform (ETAF) and the Open Solar Contracts initiative. All these initiatives have in common that they help attract investments in the renewable energy sector and provide directly relevant support to projects.

Duties and Responsibilities:-

Under the guidance of the Director of PFS and direct supervision of the Senior Programme Officer – Project Facilitation (P-5), the Programme Officer, P-4, has the responsibility to lead and coordinate the work of the Project Support / Technical Assistance Unit. This includes:

• Lead the implementation of PFS’s technical assistance activities provided under country-specific and regional projects and programmes for governments, regional energy organisations and other stakeholders;
• Develop tools and techniques to assess the needs for support, training and technical assistance and to set priorities;
• Lead the streamlining and optimization of technical assistance processes within the division;
• Develop technical assistance and training programs in line with the scope of the division, for both, PFS internal resources and external stakeholders;
• Collaborate across divisions to gather required knowledge and expertise for coordinated project input;
• Lead, coordinate and participate in providing support to developers and other IRENA’s stakeholders, in the analysis and proper completion of the project development reports to be submitted into the CIP as well as the ETAF Platform;
• Supervise the overall project implementation support and interventions of the PFS Technical Assistance Unit, ensuring that planned activities are carried out in a timely fashion; overseeing processes related to human and financial resource management, procurement, general administration, security, and information technology for the Unit;
• Lead the PFS’s capacity buildings interventions, collaborating and supporting other Units during countries’ training activities, provide technical expertise in training where and when necessary, including guidance for development of required tools and methodologies to assist project implementation and develop enabling frameworks for investment scale-up;
• Develop strategies and techniques to measure the impact of the support that is provided by the PFS Division in the overall Agency context, as per results-based framework management;
• In close collaboration with other divisions, lead PFS contribution to workstreams on climate finance, carbon credits markets and trading mechanisms, renewable energy supply chains and green industrialization projects, including but not limited to providing technical advisory to member states, leading capacity building events (for IRENA colleagues and external partners) and identifying and establishing strategic partnerships;
• Coordinate with the division’s senior management the resource allocations and reporting on various voluntary contributions, agency and external publications, and statutory bodies’ reports for the work related to the Unit;
• Manage, guide and mentor staff under his/her supervision; promote teamwork and communications among staff in the Unit, divisions and across the Agency;
• Contribute to establishing and maintaining strengthened contacts with country counterparts and interlocutors, development partners and stakeholders in implementation of the division’s workplan;
• Performs other relevant tasks as required. 

Competencies:-

Professionalism: Experience of managing and mentoring of multicultural and multidisciplinary teams, deep understanding of renewable energy economics and technologies; knowledge of renewable energy project financing, carbon finance. Additional knowledge on renewable energy supply chains, and regulatory aspects in different contexts would be beneficial. Proven ability to implement projects and programmes; demonstrates professional competence in subject matter and pays attention to detail; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations.

Communication: Excellent communication skills, negotiation and presentation skills, both oral and written; creates and promotes enabling environment for open communication; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Accountability: Takes ownership for all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organisational regulations and rules; supports peers and colleagues, provides oversight and takes ownership of delegated responsibilities; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable; operates in compliance with organisational regulations and rules.

Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organisational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Planning and Organising: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; proactively identifies priority activities to ensure successful completion of work assigned. Able to effectively manage different tasks and goals simultaneously with short lead times

Qualifications:-

Education: Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in engineering, public policy, political science, energy management, sustainable development, environment, natural science, finance, economics, or another relevant field. A first- level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience: A minimum of seven years of experience in renewable energy project development, project finance, carbon markets, renewable energy supply chains, public policy and/or energy sector, some of which should be at the international level and involve the private sector; experience of managing and mentoring multicultural and multidisciplinary teams; experience in international cooperation and in dealing with multilateral agencies, networks and forums; experience in managing of complex international programmes, energy financing programmes or renewable energy technology deployment. Experience in emerging markets and in government engagement. Experience in the design of training and technical assistance programs.