Biomass Research Consultants (2 positions), Ruyigi

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is offering 2 short term consultancies (14 days) within UNHCR Burundi in our Sub-office of Ruyigi.

UNHCR is a global organisation dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people. Every year, millions of men, women and children are forced to flee their homes to escape conflict and persecution. We are in over 125 countries, using our expertise to protect and care for millions.

• Title: Biomass Research Consultants
• Duty Station: Ruyigi Sub-Office, Burundi
• Duration: The assignment is for a period of 14 working days for each consultant
• Contract Type: Individual Consultancy
• Closing date: 30 September 2021
• Start date: 15 October 2021

Organisational context

Burundi has a total land area of 2,568,000Ha 275,000 of which is forested. About 201,000Ha are categorized as other woodland while 120,000Ha is tree planted land. Forested and other woodland land constitutes about 19 percent of total land area. In Burundi 97.2 percent of households use traditional solid biofuels, only 1.1 percent use modern biomass technology. Burundi produces 5,999,000 cubic meters of wood fuel and consumes almost all of it (5997080, 99.97%). Wood fuel imports and exports account for 2 and 3 cubic meters respectively. Burundi produces 264,000 MT of charcoal and consumes all of it (263,998, 99.999%). Imports and exports are negligible at three and five percent respectively[1].

Most biomass use in Africa is in the form of firewood, animal dung and agricultural waste (Traditional), and is mostly used within the households. The level of burning efficiency is low compared to modern uses such as using biomass to produce electricity. Intermediate biomass uses includes use of charcoal. Burundi, Chad, Nigeria, Ethiopia and Rwanda have the highest percentage of households with traditional biomass use and are largely dependent on biomass-based energy sources. These are the hot spots within SSA where interventions should be prioritized.

The increased burden of refugee camps on their surrounding area’s natural resources will contribute further to this inefficient fuel biomass utilization that are inefficient and harmful to the environment. This is against a huge potential to harness the available forest and other resources through the development and creation of energy efficient cook ware that is accessible, affordable and user friendly to the returnee households.

To actualize this there is need to assess available biomass, and characterize it based on chemical properties, cost of use, and its sustainability. Together with this assessment, the potential of biomass and materials that can be converted to char-briquettes as a fuel at production level for the targeted communities need to be evaluated.

The position

The objective of this exercise is two pronged. An expert is required to technically examine the available biomass, and characterize it on chemical properties, cost, and sustainability, and recommend viable and practical materials with analysis of their usability and suitability in terms of cooking and cooking technologies.

For this reason, one expert is needed to technically examine the available biomass, their chemical properties, cost, and sustainability, in order to recommend viable and practical materials and to carefully examine their usability and suitability in terms of cooking and cooking technologies.

The second consultant is needed to evaluate the potential of biomass and materials that can be converted to char-briquettes as a fuel at production level for the targeted communities need. This will include proposed densification technologies depending on the raw materials, quality assurance measures need for future production, post-production, storage, and delivery.

Together, the two consultants will develop practical recommendations for the implementation of solutions based on the research and submit the findings to UNHCR.

Duties and responsibilities

1) Assess and map the type, volume and cost of available biomass appropriate for producing briquettes that are suitable for cooking applications.

2) Analyze the potential of each type based on volumes, chemical composition, costs and sustainability

3) Evaluate the supply chain and logistics of transporting biomass to targeted areas for purposes of briquette production.

4) Study the alternative use of biomass for various purposes such as for animal feed, construction, etc.

5) Examine the location(s), availability and cost of char powder or residues

6) Evaluate local regulations and policies in connection with biomass collection and use

7) Assess local briquette production if any in terms of production, volume, cost and sales

8) Evaluate seasonality of various available biomass sources suited for briquette production

9) Examine availability, volume and cost of potential binders such as molasses, cassava powder, starches, etc.

10) Assess cookstove models which are suited for briquette use in connection to cooking

11) Evaluate local stakeholders such as cooperatives to determine their role in biomass collection and use

12) Engage private sector players or any organization that may use biomass for various applications.

13) Assess alternative projects that can lead to increase in biomass production for various applications or alternative productive uses.

14) Prepare a TOR for agents of alternative fuel production such as char-briquettes aligned with UNHCR targeted communities.

15) Identify synergy and complementarity with other development initiatives/projects in area of the project, in particular with agricultural projects capable of producing the required type of biomass

Deliverables

1. An inception report outlining the methodology to be employed by the consultants in undertaking the assignment
2. Draft report on the findings of the assessments clearly capturing the biomass types, locations, characteristics, supply chains, and business cases for their commercialization.
3. Organize two workshops/briefings one with the UNHCR senior management in Bujumbura and one at the field level/with senior field staff. Due to covid-19 mitigation measures, the briefing will be virtual.
4. Based on the inputs and comments by management and other stakeholders improve/update the report and Submit a final report that considers comments received from management and stakeholders proposing concrete recommendations for future interventions.

Essential minimum qualifications and professional experience required

The ideal candidate will have:

• Education/training: Post-graduate (Masters or PHD) qualification in the field of forestry/ agriculture, of energy, business development or development studies, engineering/ environmental Science
• Language: good business language skills in English and working knowledge of French
• General professional experience: 5 – 7 years of experience in the Biomass Energy sector, Business Development in refugee settings, Environmental Protection, Forestry, Sustainable Land use or related topics.
• Experience in biomass commercialization, sustainable energy use within humanitarian settings.
• Experience in identifying and testing suitable raw materials for biomass production and matching these with suitable cookstove design.
• Experience in energy audits
• Specific professional experience: 5 years of hands-on experience in biomass cooking fuel production, biomass resource assessments and business development.
• Regional experience: Experience as a consultant for UNHCR or other UN agencies in EHAGL region as well as experience with clean cooking related field work in Burundi.
• Other: 5 years of experience in the humanitarian field

Location

The successful candidate will be based with the team in Ruyigi Sub-Office but will travel throughout the 4 provinces hosting the camps (Ngozi, Muyinga, Cankuzo, Ruyigi) and present his/her preliminary result in the Country Office in Bujumbura.

Conditions

• The intended start date may be within 10 calendar days from the date of contract award.
• The Consultant’s tasks will be fulfilled within 14 days following the commencement date and the above-mentioned milestones will be observed.
• On the commencement date, the Consultant is deemed to be fully mobilised.

[1] UNEP, 2019: Review of Woodfuel Biomass Production and Utilization in Africa: A Desk Study