Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Expert

Result of Service

A Social Inclusion (GESI) assessment and Action Plan, for the planned implementation of activities of the project De-risking facility for energy performance contracting and related investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.

Work Location

Mauritius

Expected duration

Part-time

Duties and Responsibilities

UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre (UNEP CCC) seeks to engage a Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Expert (consultant) to perform an Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Impact Assessment and Recommendations (safeguards), including a Gender Analysis and Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Action Plan for the Detailed Preparation Phase of the project De-risking facility for energy performance contracting (EPC) in Mauritius, funded by the Mitigation Action Facility. The Detailed Preparation Phase for the project De-risking facility for energy performance contracting (EPC) in Mauritius consists of the following activities, where Activity 4.1 is the activity requested to be implemented by the consultant: Activity 1.1. Detailed economic projection of all cash flows including for the Mauritius ESCO Guarantee Fund, and potential additional cost for disposal of old inefficient equipment, ensuring acceptable returns for all involved stakeholders and that the sector can become gradually self-insured. Activity 1.2 Review of EPC relevant policies and legislations to identify potential improvements to further promote EPC approaches in both the public and private sector, including a review of public procurement guidelines for energy and energy renovation services. Activity 1.3 Development of an accreditation scheme to ensure professional conduct of the sector, including a public ESCO registry to enhance trust in ESCOs and match making between potential EPC projects and ESCOs. Activity 1.4 Development of detailed operational procedures for the financial mechanism. Activity 2.1 Training on public sector procurement of ESCO services. Activity 2.2 Training to banks on ESCO EPC implementation model and EPC guarantee mechanism Activity 2.3 IPMVP training taking into consideration M&V plans for EPC developed through the EPC framework consultancy, for ESCOs to achieve higher accreditation Activity 3.1: Energy efficiency job market fair Activity 3.2 Promotion of ESCO implementation of audit results to private companies Activity 3.3 Identify pilot EPC projects in public buildings for procurement through a SuperESCO framework and prepare procurement process including proposed contracting arrangements. Prepare Requests for proposals to be launched as the first activity during implementation. Activity 4.1 Environmental, social and gender impact assessment and recommendations (safeguards), including Gender Analysis and Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Action Plan Activity 4.2 Establish a robust management structure for the project UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre (UNEP CCC) seeks to engage an Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Expert (consultant) to perform Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Assessment and develop an Action Plan with recommendations to streamline gender and social inclusion into project implementation. The objective of the consultancy is to provide an assessment of gender and social inclusion conditions in Mauritius related to the expected implementation of the Mitigation Action Facility’s funded project De-risking facility for energy performance contracting (EPC) in Mauritius, and to propose recommendations to mainstream gender and ensure social inclusion (GESI) in the implementation of energy performance contracting and related access to finance. The scope of the De-risking Facility is to unleash investment in energy efficiency (EE) in Mauritius through a guarantee mechanism designed to be permanent and ensure widespread use of EPC in Mauritius by alleviating the financing sector’s perception of risks related to EPC. As women are underrepresented in science-based careers (ref. National Climate Change Mitigation Gender Analysis and Action Plan) in Mauritius, and ESCO activities are centered around technical and science-based expertise, a gender-focused approach should be taken into consideration. Furthermore, the implementation of the project will lead to retrofits of old equipment and the introduction of energy efficient technologies and components. This will generate waste streams of retired equipment and components. There is therefore a need to analyze the potential GESI impacts related to waste management of the potential waste streams of retired equipment and components caused by the introduction of energy efficient technologies. The GESI analysis Is meant to generate insights to be integrated in the project design at the end of DPP, to ensure that project implementation mainstreams gender and ensure social justice. The GESI Assessment and Action Plan shall explore gender equality and social inclusion challenges related to the implementation of the project. The methodological approach applied for this process will be strongly based on a combined approach of primarily and secondary data collection and stakeholder engagement and consultations, including relevant government ministries, Energy Service Companies (ESCO), facility owners, financial institutions, waste management authority and e-waste recyclers/collectors. The final output is a Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Assessment and Action Plan. The content of the report should meet research standards in terms of referencing, methods data analyses and language. Objective The objective of the consultancy is to provide an assessment of gender and social inclusion conditions in Mauritius related to the expected implementation of the Mitigation Action Facility’s funded project De-risking facility for energy performance contracting (EPC) in Mauritius, and to propose recommendations to mainstream gender and ensure social inclusion (GESI) in the implementation of energy performance contracting and related access to finance. Output expectations The final output is a Gender Analysis and Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Assessment and Action Plan. The GESI Assessment and Action Plan shall explore gender equality and social inclusion challenges related to the implementation of the project De-risking facility for energy performance contracting in Mauritius and provide recommendations and risks that should be considered. The content of the reports should meet research standards in terms of referencing, methods data analyses and language. Performance indicators 2 Reports in word format. The outline and structure for the final GESI Report is defined by the Mitigation Action Facility and will be provided by UNEP CCC. The length of the final report should be approximately 30-40 pages (excluding annexes). Output: Gender equality and social inclusion Activity 1: Provide an analysis of GESI dimensions in Mauritius Activity 2: Provide an analysis of GESI dimensions in the field of renewable energy and energy efficiency and finance sectors Activity 3: Provide an analysis of the GESI dimensions in relation to the organizations participating in project implementation (inter alia State Investment Corporation/Capital Asset Management, UNEP, Energy Efficiency Management Office, Energy Service Companies (ESCOs) and prospective clients) Activity 4: Provide an analysis of GESI dimension related to waste management of the potential waste streams of retired equipment and components caused by the introduction of energy efficient technologies. Activity 5: Provide GESI recommendations for the project design and monitoring 1st deliverable – 30 September 2025 - Submission of proposed outline of reports and proposed methodologies 2nd deliverable – 7 November 2025 – Submission of final reports.

Qualifications/special skills

The consultant needs to have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in gender and social studies, environmental studies, waste management, economics, law or another relevant field. A master’s degree is desirable and preferred. The consultant needs to demonstrate relevant work experience in the field of gender and/or social inclusion in Mauritius. The consultant needs to demonstrate relevant work experience with national government institutions and/or academia in Mauritius. The consultant needs to document a minimum of 7 years of relevant work experience with a bachelor’s degree, or a minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience required with master’s degree. Experience working with financial access and gender is considered an asset. Experience in the energy sector, especially related to the energy efficiency sector is considered an asset. Experience working with solid waste management, especially related to waste management in Mauritius is considered an asset.

Languages

Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Knowledge of other UN languages, especially French is an asset.

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.