Technical Expert

Result of Service

(i) Better informed investors and solution providers regarding the market size, specific demand for SPIS technologies, and market potential of solar irrigation solutions for smallholder farmers. (ii) Better informed policymakers regarding the emission reduction potential of solar irrigation technologies and implications for the NDC revision process as well as the needed framework conditions to support uptake and diffusion of solar irrigation technologies through private markets.

Work Location

Kampala, Uganda

Expected duration

14 months

Duties and Responsibilities

The Accelerating Climate Technology Transition (ACTT) project aims to foster diffusion of nationally prioritized technologies for climate mitigation (such as energy for productive use) by conducting technology/market assessments, connecting technology providers with end-users and investors and generating concepts, and financing models relevant for increasing uptake and investment into specific ‘ready to market’ climate technology solutions. Knowledge, recommendations, and models generated in the project will be fed into policy and investment mobilisation processes through facilitation, partnerships and network linkages established and/or supported by the project and specific replication opportunities will be pursued across technologies and countries. The project seeks to address two key challenges 1) the low level of linkage between technology suppliers, potential off-takers and investors; and 2) the inadequate evidence on the progress/viability of climate technologies in meeting NDC targets. The ACTT project in Uganda builds on the previous TEMARIN project on market strengthening for climate technologies. The ACTT project will have a specific focus on solar irrigation pump (SIP) technologies for smallholder agriculture. The ACTT project is implemented by the United Nations Environment Programme Copenhagen Climate Centre (UNEP-CCC), supported by UNOPS, on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark (DANIDA). Agriculture is the lifeblood of Uganda’s economy as it employs over 70% of the population (mostly smallholder farming), contributes about 25% to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), and 33% of export earnings. Of the 80% of Uganda’s arable land area, only about 35% is cultivated to produce a variety of crops. Uganda is also reputed to be among the leading producers of coffee, bananas, oil seed crops, nuts, fresh fruit and vegetables, and essential oils. However, commercial productivity is limited by reliance on conventional methods, the changing climatic conditions, and the limited use of inputs including quality seedlings, fertilizer, pesticides, and irrigation systems. According to the World Bank, the long rainy season hitherto enjoyed by rainfed agriculture has now shortened by three months on average from nine to six months, and the dry spells within the rainy season may be further worsened. At present, only about 2% of the irrigation potential (covering 77,000 hectares of irrigated land) is utilized. Uganda’s National Irrigation Policy however, sets an ambitious target to irrigate a total of 1.5 million hectares of land by 2040 with half of the irrigation potential close to surface water resources that reduce unit cost and major infrastructure requirements. While Uganda possesses abundant freshwater resources close to the surface suitable for a more affordable micro-irrigation solutions, previous interventions have mostly focused on much larger and costly irrigation schemes connected to the grid for large commercial farmers, and only limited intervention exists for smallholder farmers who dominate the agriculture sector and are equally facing the challenges of drought. Small-scale irrigation systems offer several benefits including flexibility, modularity, technology sharing, affordability, water efficiency and rapid returns. Business models exist for small-scale irrigation solutions capable of serving 1 – 2 hectares of land and where investment costs can be recouped in less than 3 years. Despite the obvious benefits, only 1% of farmers in Uganda adopt irrigation technologies that mostly rely on diesel power which offers lower upfront cost compared to its solar counterpart which offers a relatively lower maintenance cost. Also, the smallholder agriculture market (which includes a significant proportion of women farmers) is often overlooked due to their limited ability to meet the high upfront costs of solar irrigation pumps. On the other hand, the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) estimated that over 100 million solar water pumps could be installed in Africa without causing groundwater scarcity, including for example 700,000 in Kenya alone. Irrigation can lead to improved agricultural yields over twice those of rainfed agriculture, allowing for quicker return on investment in irrigation systems. According to the World Bank, rainfed agriculture supplies more than 60% of the world’s food supply on 80% of land, whereas irrigated land provides 40% of the world’s food supply on only 20% of cultivated land. In Africa, only 6% of cultivated land is equipped for irrigation – a figure that is far below the global average of 20%. This consultancy focuses on expanding the market for smallholders solar-powered irrigation systems (SPIS) by conducting technology/market assessment in Uganda. Solar irrigation is a productive-use technology that plays an important role in the clean energy transition and/or climate mitigation in the AFOLU1 sector. It is also one of the climate technologies prioritized by the government of Uganda as part of adaptation and mitigation measures for its Nationally Determined Contribution. However, the challenges of securing affordable finance both for end users and for technology solution providers as well as the lack of knowledge of market potential and barriers for uptake are hindering the technology adoption at the scale required for substantial contribution to the country’s NDC ambition and economic output. Investors need visibility of where SPIS demand are located and the aggregated investment size. Providing such data and analysis including the ability to pay for SPI services would unlock investment opportunities. Existing database of geotagged smallholder farmers developed by NDC Action project for the purpose of Agro-insurance scheme may help provide insight into SPIS demand with additional mapping of scale of investment required. On this background, the part time consultant will undertake a technology/market assessment of innovative technologies and business models for SPIS in Uganda including mapping of risk mitigation instruments for SPIS, developing and showcasing pipeline of projects with geo-tagged smallholder farmers, aggregation of SPIS demands by smallholder farmers, their finance and knowledge needs, and ability to pay for SPIS solutions as may be required for investment decisions. This will be achieved by: • Assessing the technology/market including mitigating instruments, business model: identifying the current and potential market/demand for SPIS in Uganda with a focus on smallholder agriculture and identifying the landscape of SPIS technology innovations, innovators, typical financing terms for agro-productive use sector, and type of innovative business models in the market. • Site identification for SPIS project pipeline development Identifying feasible sites and developing a pipeline of SPIS projects that potential investor(s) could target for implementation. This would be based on consideration for drought vulnerability, willingness, and ability to pay, customer size, financing needs, gender inclusion, returns on investment, etc. • Engage and coordinate with key in-country stakeholders to facilitate project implementation. NB: The Technical Expert will work in close coordination with a Business/Finance Expert. Target beneficiaries: ● Local solar irrigation solution providers (companies) ● Smallholder farmers ● Financiers/investors ● Policymakers Activities: i. Collect, analyze, and synthesize information and data to assess the markets size, SPIS technologies and their market potentials using qualitative and quantitative data collection methods. This includes but is not limited to:  A compilation of existing solar irrigation pump (SIP) technologies and their characteristics,  A mapping of existing solar water pump distributors in Uganda including their market share, business models, and the capacity to absorb scale-up investment.  Assessing willingness for adoption of SPIS among geo-tagged smallholder farmers (relevance to technology solution providers and financiers)  Map feasible sites for project pipeline (relevance to technology solution providers and financiers)  Based on assessment of market size and mapping of project pipeline, quantify the GHG emission reduction potential (relevance to policymakers) ii. Conduct stakeholder mapping and engagement (including with policy makers, private companies, farmers organisations and financiers for the purpose of identifying data gaps and needs, co-generation of recommendations). iii. Organize and conduct validation workshop, roundtables/feedback and co-creation sessions with (selected) stakeholders. These can include but are not limited to webinars for knowledge dissemination, capacity building sessions for specific stakeholder groups on specific topics, targeted data collection sessions, targeted policy feedback sessions, etc. iv. Coordinate through regular recurrent meetings with business/finance expert being hired for the project under a separate Terms of Reference. Deliverables: ● 1.A) Work plan specifying a detailed implementation plan for the project’s duration. ● 1.B) Stakeholder consultation report including specification of arranged working relationships with stakeholders and organizations established for the project’s design and implementation. ● 2) Technology/Market assessment report (1st draft version) ● 3) Validation/co-creation workshop report ● 4) Technology/Market assessment report (final version) Inputs The Technical Expert will have access to and use the following inputs to be provided by UNEP-CCC: ● Scoping report including stakeholder mapping, and links to reports on solar irrigation pump. ● Mapping of energy transition programs in Uganda including on productive use of energy (PUE) and solar irrigation programs. ● Database of geo-tagged smallholder farmers ● The Expert will work with UNEP-CCC project staff who will provide input and review support to the design and execution phases and participate as relevant in data collection and/or analysis. UNEP-CCC is responsible for procurement of venues and catering for in-person workshops. The Technical Expert is responsible for organising, conducting and facilitating the workshops. UNEP-CCC will provide organisational support for online webinars. The Technical Expert is responsible for organising, conducting and facilitating webinars.

Qualifications/special skills

• A master’s degree with a background in engineering, agricultural economics, climate-smart agriculture, environmental sciences, or other climate-related fields ● Minimum 3 years of experience in a field of relevance to this assignment e.g. demonstrated experience working on the water-energy-food nexus and climate mitigation in the energy and/or AFOLU sectors in Uganda and shall have specific exposure to the SIP landscape. ● Demonstrated experience and excellent skills in technology/market assessment on climate technologies including market study design, data collection, interviewing, analysis and report writing. Quantitative skills in data and business analytics, data query in excel or R are required. Proficiency in Geographical Information Systems (GIS) is an advantage. ● Demonstrated experience and excellent skills in stakeholder engagement and management including in engaging with technology suppliers, policy makers, financial institutions or investors, public, and private sectors on climate-resilient agribusiness financing. ● The Expert should be resident in Uganda.

Languages

• The Expert should be fluent in spoken and written English.

Additional Information

Not available.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.

Read Full Description