Project Description

Deloitte’s USAID-funded Nepal Hydropower Project (NHDP) provides policy and transactional support to Nepal’s large and medium sized hydropower projects. Specifically, NHDP supports the Office of the Investment Board of Nepal (OIBN), the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation (MoEWRI), and the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA). NHDP also provides technical assistance to MoEWRI and NEA related to policy and legislative development, sector restructuring, regulatory reform, cross-border electricity trade, and capacity building. NHDP will also be assisting the Electricity Regulatory Commission (ERC) in its final years. 

The expected long-term results of the NHDP are:

• Improved economic growth, job creation, and quality of life
  
• Strengthened economic relationships with Nepal’s neighboring countries, and improved balance of payments due to electricity sales
  
• Greater energy security due to enhanced domestic generating capacity and integration with the Indian market
  
• A lower carbon generation future for both India and Nepal
  

Objective

NHDP’s support has been important in assisting and advising OIBN, MoEWRI and NEA on the development and negotiations of Project Development Agreements (PDAs), Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and other project documents. The PDAs provide for setting up of the Project Monitoring Units (PMUs) for ensuring timely deliverable and compliance of PDA activities and obligations. Amongst other things, NHDP has been advising OIBN in establishing the Project Monitoring Unit (PMU) and developing a Project Dashboard for monitoring and overseeing project activities. The Electricity Sector Specialist will support NHDP on assisting the PMU, continued development of PDAs and other transaction, advisory, sector restructuring and capacity building work at OIBN and for other Nepalese energy stakeholders. He/she will work directly with the Chief of Party (COP), as well as other specialists and team members and will communicate findings to clients including USAID.  

Deliverables, Tasks and/or Outputs

Key responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Support the Chief of Party (COP), Senior Energy Sector Restructuring Specialist and Senior Financial Advisor(s) as well as other team members with their work and deliverables
  
• Support the team in tracking deliverables, targets and milestones under the hydropower Project Development Agreement, Power Purchase Agreements, transmission agreements and other project documents
  
• Facilitate interactions with various stakeholders, ministries, governmental authorities and agencies whose activities and roles are essential to the objectives of NHDP
  
• Meet with IFIs such as the WB, IFC, DFID, KfW & ADB to understand their positions and requirements to invest in HPPs. Work with the team to convene investors and institutions to identify ways of minimizing transaction risks, including improving the enabling environment for cross-border power evacuation
  
• Act as a conduit for NHDP’s, and its team members’ interactions with counterparts such as OIBN, NEA, MoEWRI and ERC
  
• Work directly with team members to advise and train OIBN on findings across listed tasks
  
• Perform research and analyses on hydropower related risk mitigation and regional/country context
  
• Assist/perform capacity building on deal structuring and financial analysis of PDAs for OIBN, MoEWRI and potentially NEA
  
• Occasional project site visits (as required) and collection of key indicator information
  
• Other tasks as assigned
  

Deliverables may include:

• Summary reports on work
  
• Contributions to project deliverables
  
• Maintenance of Excel based PMU dashboard
  
• Presentation materials for formal trainings

Qualifications/Requirements

The Electricity Sector Specialist should have the following qualifications: 

• Minimum of 5 years working in the area of energy with experience working in the electricity (especially hydropower) sector preferred 
  
• Experience and in-depth understanding of development of hydropower projects in Nepal, the licensing regime and the actors involved
  
• Minimum of Bachelor’s degree (Master’s degree preferred) in the areas of business administration, finance, economics, engineering or other related fields
  
• Expertise in the use of spreadsheet tools such as Excel
  
• Familiarity with officials of the governmental authorities and their roles in the electricity sector (hydropower specific experience preferred)
  
• Understanding of legislative and regulatory process governing hydropower projects in Nepal and about relevant legal duties of regulatory agencies and government ministries
  
• Knowledge about hydropower Project Development Agreements, Power Purchase Agreements and deliverables under them
  
• Experience in working with International Financing Institutions, multilateral development agencies and donor experience will be preferred 
  
• Fluent knowledge of both the English and Nepali languages, in terms of speaking, reading and writing
  
• Strong communication skills 
  
• Proactive, self-starter willing to take initiative
  
• Ability to work both independently and in a team environment, including with remote team members 
  
• Willingness to be flexible and responsive in a dynamic work environment 
  
• Experience working with USAID, IFIs, government, and private sector institutions is strongly preferred 
  
• Experience and understanding of electricity sector structures and the reform process either in Nepal or in other developing countries is preferred

This position is open to Nepali nationals only.