Energy Access Officer
Background Information - Job-specific
UNOPS hosts Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) Secretariat/Programme in Vienna, Austria. Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) is an independent organization with a global mandate to accelerate progress on the energy transition in emerging and developing countries. We work at the intersection of energy, climate, and development. We collaborate with governments and partners worldwide to end energy poverty, accelerate the deployment of renewable energy solutions, and combat climate change.
Our vision is a world where everyone, everywhere, can lead a dignified life on a healthy planet, powered by sustainable energy. We promote this vision by pushing for higher ambitions, stronger policies, greater finance flows, increased localization and green jobs, and faster results toward an energy transition that leaves no one behind.
Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon launched the Sustainable Energy for All initiative in 2011. Since then, our CEO has served as the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Sustainable Energy for All and Co-Chair of UN-Energy.
SEforALL is also spearheading a significant project in Zambia, in collaboration with the Government of the Republic of Zambia, the Rockefeller Foundation, and the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP). The project aims to scale up Zambia’s mini-grid sector by establishing a comprehensive data baseline, validating the technical and financial feasibility of mini-grids, and activating the market for the rollout of the “1,000 communities” program. This initiative focuses on supporting the deployment of an initial 100 mini-grids as a proof of concept to assess financial viability, identify operational challenges, and evaluate socio-economic impacts. The insights gained from this phase will inform strategies for scaling up the deployment to the remaining 900 communities, ensuring a sustainable and impactful nationwide rollout.
The project emphasizes stakeholder activation, sustainable program design, and the transfer of knowledge and technology to local communities, aiming to build in-country capacity and create a replicable model for other regions. By focusing on these strategic objectives, SEforALL is laying the groundwork for a successful expansion of clean energy access in Zambia, with the potential to serve as a model for similar efforts in other countries.
This position is located within the Investment-grade Policy and Regulatory Frameworks team with a focus on the Zambia project.
Functional Responsibilities
- Provide technical support to the country coordinator to ensure communication and alignment between the Presidential Delivery Unit (PDU), Ministry of Energy (MoE) and the Rural Electrification Agency (REA).
- Ensure that relevant government stakeholders are engaged in the initiative under the guidance and autonomy of the PDU, organizing and facilitating meetings and convenings where required.
- Provide on-the-ground assistance to government departments, agencies, developers and partners to troubleshoot and accelerate the delivery of the programme and deployment of projects.
- Support in critical data collection and gathering to support the assessment of the viability of mini-grid sites to be included in the programme as well as feeding into programme design.
- Develop key programme concept notes, presentation material and communications to engage and influence stakeholders using data analysis and best-in-class approaches.
- Provide support in aligning technical insights with political considerations to ensure full buy-in of the programme.
- Provide inputs to internal SEforALL monitoring, evaluation and learning mechanisms.
- Support SEforALL’s fundraising efforts to mobilize resources for programme delivery in the long term.
- Participates in various missions, workshop and meeting related to initiative in Zambia
- Support SEforALL in identifying long-term opportunities for continued engagement, supporting the country to achieve SDG7.
Education/Experience/Language requirements
Education
- Bachelors degree in energy, engineering, law, political sciences, economics, business administration or a related field.
Work Experience
- Minimum of 2 years of experience in the energy sector, particularly in the off grid or mini-grid sector, preferably as financier, private sector developer, government agency or donor support programme
- Experience working in rural development and implementing impactful projects in rural regions of Zambia is considered an asset.
Language
- Fluency in English (Reading, Writing and Spoken) is required.
- Working knowledge of another, official UN language is an asset.
- Knowledge and ability to work in local languages is considered an asset.
