Consultant to conduct an assessment on renewal energy for migrant communities in Thailand At International Organization for Migration

Established in 1951, IOM is the leading inter-governmental organization in the field of migration and works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners. IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to governments and migrants.

1. ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT AND SCOPE:

Established in 1951, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is a Related Organization of the United Nations, and as the leading UN agency in the field of migration, works closely with governmental, intergovernmental, and non-governmental partners. IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to governments and migrants.

Under the Migrant Assistance and Counter Trafficking (MACTU) Unit, IOM Thailand implements a range of national and regional projects aimed at addressing migration challenges and delivering increased protection and assistance to vulnerable migrants in partnership with government, civil society and private sector counterparts. In particular, under the Asia Regional Migration Program (Asia RMP), supported by the United States Department of State, Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM), IOM aims to strengthen the capacity of government counterparts in migration management in various thematic areas, including assistance to vulnerable migrants, counter trafficking, labour migrants, return and reintegration, crisis management, and environment and climate change.

In 2017, IOM launched its institutional programme of work on environmental sustainability and made an institutional commitment to improve the sustainability of its operations at the strategic, programmatic and facility levels. IOM recognizes that a healthy environment is intrinsically linked to the well-being and resilience of migrants and host communities, including the need to integrate environmental factors across all areas of migration management, such as: prevention, preparedness and response to displacement, border management, labour migration and integration, and return and reintegration.

In the last few years, IOM has been expanding its research in Migration, Environment and Climate Change (MECC) related areas in Thailand to better understand the linkage between migration, climate change and environmental degradation. IOM is building on these efforts and piloting a new area of programming with local government in Thailand to improve migrant access to electricity, water, hygiene, and sanitation through use of green technologies and renewable energy solutions. IOM is committed to scaling up sustainable energy integration with the goal of promoting positive social benefits for migrant communities. Access to energy for lighting, cooking, water supply, heating, digital services and powering appliances at the household and community levels (for example, in key public institutions, such as health facilities and schools and water schemes), are central to the socioeconomic development and human capital of a country. Even if communities are connected to the national grid, reliability of access can be challenging due to frequent power outages, especially in rural areas. These conditions, in particular lack of electricity or frequent outages, can affect health facilities, schools, and related water, sanitation and hygiene services. Migrant communities in rural areas may be particularly at risk in these cases, including, but not limited, to communities located in Western, Northern and Northeastern provinces of Thailand.

Despite its importance, access to reliable and affordable electricity is often overlooked as a building block of socio-economic development, quality health, education and related water, sanitation and hygiene services. Some of the solutions to increase energy access include extending the grid network or connecting to decentralized solutions such as mini-grids or stand-alone solar photovoltaics systems. Decentralized solar energy solutions are promising options that can also simultaneously transform the sectors to a low carbon and climate resilient development pathway. This is a powerful benefit to migrant communities in the face of a changing climate and degrading environment.

2. OBJECTIVE AND SCOPE OF THE ASSESSMENT:

The overall aim of the consultancy is to conduct a feasibility study on renewable energy solutions (including solar) specifically for migrant communities and institutions serving those communities to increase local government’s efforts to improve living conditions in migrant communities while simultaneously driving adoption of clean energy sources that contribute to climate change mitigation. Through desk research, field visits and in close collaboration with local government and migrant communities, the outputs of the proposed consultancy are to:

i) Identify the energy needs and challenges in different communities in Thailand;

ii) Assess the impact of the identified needs and challenges on migrant communities;

iii) Determine the most feasible forms of renewable energy for migrant communities in Thailand;

iv) Identify two-three communities that may benefit from the installation of the identified forms of renewable energy solutions; and

v) Develop an implementation model (including Operation and Maintenance) for renewable energy projects in respective communities.

Scope of assignment

Under the overall supervision of the Head of Unit, MACTU, the direct supervision of the Programme Support Officer, the successful candidate will be responsible for the development and implementation of a needs assessment on renewable energy in Thailand, including consultation and presentation of the findings and recommendations to relevant central and local government counterparts, as well as pertinent migrant communities.

3. RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

The Consultant will undertake the following responsibilities:

1. Develop a clear research methodology and tools, and ensure their implementation.
2. Liaise and coordinate with relevant central and local government counterparts, including the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.
3. Undertake field visits and interview relevant stakeholders to assess communities for the development of a pilot in renewable energy. Coordinate with migrant communities.
4. Work closely with the IOM team and provide weekly updates on progress.
5. Develop and submit a detailed draft and final report, as well as presentation slides, including the results of the needs assessment/feasibility analysis, with recommendations on three-five pilot projects on renewable energy (including solar), proposed geographical location/community, risks, impact and benefits to host community, production cost and material requirement, implementation model.
6. Lead consultations, presenting needs, findings, and recommendations of the research to stakeholders.

4. TANGIBLE AND MEASUABLE OUTPUTS OF THE WORK ASSISGMENT

At the end of the contractual period, the following outputs will be delivered:

1. An inception report including methodology, timeline, preliminary design and questionnaires and tools that will be used during the field visits and the study,, as well as proposed changes made to the scope of work in the kick-off meeting. This information will be presented in an inception meeting with IOM focal points.
2. A first draft of the report for IOM focal points to review and provide feedback.
3. A final report for the whole assessment, including a PPT summarizing the process, the findings and recommendations.
4. Two consultation workshops introducing the needs, findings and recommendations of the assessment to government counterparts and other stakeholders.

5. QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• Master’s degree in Environmental and Climate Change Studies, Clean Energy, Social Sciences, Engineering, or a related field from an accredited academic institution with four years of relevant professional experience; or

• University degree in the above fields with six years of relevant professional experience.

Experience:

• Demonstrated experience in conducting needs assessments and research, particularly focused on issues related to renewable energy, including solar energy, in Thailand.

• Previous experience writing and reporting in international contexts, and liaising with local authorities and migrant communities.

• Experience in setting up community-based projects in renewable energy is highly desirable.

• Experience in the field of migration management, humanitarian assistance, and/or protection and assistance programming including counter trafficking is desirable.

• Strong organizational and editorial skills.

• Ability to timely understand the Organization’s structure and portfolios.

• Ability to work effectively and harmoniously in a team of colleagues of varied cultural and professional backgrounds.

• Proven ability to produce quality work accurately and concisely according to set deadlines.

• Ability to prioritize and work independently.

Languages:

Fluency in English and Thai is required. Fluency in Myanmar and/or Khmer is an advantage.

6. DESIRABLE COMPENTENCIES

*Values

• Inclusion and respect for diversity: respects and promotes individual and cultural differences; encourages diversity and inclusion wherever possible.

• Integrity and transparency: maintain high ethical standards and acts in a manner consistent with organizational principles/rules and standards of conduct.

• Professionalism: demonstrates ability to work in a composed, competent and committed manner and exercises careful judgment in meeting day-to-day challenges.

*Core Competencies – behavioural indicators

• Teamwork: develops and promotes effective collaboration within and across units to achieve shared goals and optimize results.

• Delivering results: produces and delivers quality results in a service-oriented and timely manner; is action oriented and committed to achieving agreed outcomes.

• Managing and sharing knowledge: continuously seeks to learn, share knowledge and innovate.

• Accountability: takes ownership for achieving the Organization’s priorities and assumes responsibility for own action and delegated work.

• Communication: encourages and contributes to clear and open communication; explains complex matters in an informative, inspiring and motivational way.

*Managerial Competencies – behavioural indicators

• Leadership: provides a clear sense of direction, leads by example and demonstrates the ability to carry out the organization’s vision; assists others to realize and develop their potential.

• Empowering others & building trust: creates an atmosphere of trust and an enabling environment where staff can contribute their best and develop their potential.

• Strategic thinking and vision: work strategically to realize the Organization’s goals and communicates a clear strategic direction.