The SNV EnDev Phase III project titled “Accelerating Access to Energy Services” is a market development initiative being implemented in Kenya as part of projects supported by the EnDev Programme. The new implementation phase began here in Kenya in October 2019.

The overall objective of the SNV EnDev phase III project is to contribute to the Kenya’s SE4All initiative whose goal is to achieve 100% universal access to modern energy services by 2030 for both cooking and electricity. The project includes two major components, namely ‘EnDev Core’’ and “EnDev Refugees. SNV Kenya is also implementing the EnDev/IKEA Foundation funded Sustainable Energy for Smallholder Farmers (SEFFA) project, supporting smallholder farmers to access energy services.

The Assignment/Project Scope

This position will support both the EnDev Market Based Energy Access (MBEA) II project as well as the Sustainable Energy for Smallholder Farmers (SEFFA) project.

The MBEA II project focuses on market-based approaches to energy access within the refugee setting in Kakuma refugee camp as well as the host community. MBEA II promotes supply, distribution and use of clean cooking and solar powered solutions through a mix of market based and social approaches. The market-based approach is anchored with distributors of the targeted products in the refugee set-up and includes technical assistance and activity based financial facilitation. The social based approach includes partnerships with relevant agencies operating in the refugee camp in order to promote co-financing for solutions targeting social institutions. The MBEA II project team also implements the Piloting EPCs in Kalobeyei (PEPCK) project which pilots the use of electric pressure cookers to households and SMEs connected to the solar mini grid in Kalobeyei.

The Sustainable Energy for Smallholder Farmers (SEFFA) project is a partnership between IKEA Foundation and Energising Development (EnDev) and will support smallholder farmers in Kenya in accessing and using energy services to improve their livelihoods and increase their resilience to climate change. The project is implemented by SNV in partnership with GIZ and addresses the lack of access to sustainable and affordable renewable energy technologies and services for productive use of energy (PUE) in the agricultural sector.

Job Description

The project is looking for an Advisor to support project implementation, administration, knowledge management and business development.

Role of Advisor PUE/Access to Finance 

Reporting to the Sector Lead Energy, the advisor will support project implementation on various tasks including but not limited to supporting:

1. Project activities related to access to finance for energy products and services, incl. support towards market research on design and implementation of finance mechanisms (asset, end user finance, etc.), results-based financing, etc., stakeholder and partner engagement, and monitoring and evaluation.
2. Project activities on promoting the Productive Use of Energy, including support towards market research, stakeholder engagement, partner onboarding, provision of technical assistance with a focus on business model design and finance mechanisms and awareness raising and behavioural change communications activities.
3. SEFFA project on a needs-basis, including but not limited to beneficiary engagement processes, partnership development, technical assistance, knowledge development and dissemination, RBF fund management, monitoring and reporting.
4. Business development and provide needs-based support to other projects/programmes/initiatives.

Qualifications

• Academic degree (preferably MSc) in relevant discipline such as business administration, finance, economics or similar
• Minimum of 5 years working experience in finance for development with a development or microfinance institution, NGO or relevant social enterprise
• Professional experience in the off-grid energy and/or agricultural sector is a plus
• Experience with results-based financing, asset and end user finance
• Excellent communications and report writing skills
• Ability to work independently with a range of actors in challenging environments and geographic settings
• Strong commitment, passion, and positive, pro-active attitude to work
• Organised and methodical, with attention to detail

Additional Information

Duration: The contract will be full-time for 12 months, with possibility of extension subject to programme resources.

Requirements: Duty station will be Nairobi with travel to field offices.

Desired start date: 1 February 2021 or sooner.