As the host of the Energy Access Institutions Facility, CLASP is seeking an individual consultant or a consulting firm (“the Consultant”) to develop a landscape assessment and stakeholder map of the market institutions working towards Sustainable Development Goal 7. Activities will include developing and evaluating a long list of market institutions, conducting a series of stakeholder interviews, and analyzing the findings supported by desk research. The final deliverable will be the creation of a landscape analysis and stakeholder map that summarizes roles across the sector, highlights points of overlap and remaining gaps, areas of strength and where these institutions as a collective are succeeding and/or in need of improvement in addressing the evolving needs of the sector.

About the EAIF

The Energy Access Institutions Facility (EAIF) is a joint donor initiative supporting market institutions that are essential to scaling the distributed renewable energy sector. Market institutions improve market health and accelerate sector growth, helping companies bridge the gap from start-up to sustainability, advocating for progress and investment, and supporting businesses to ensure that products get into the hands of people who need them.

The EAIF reduces administrative and management requirements for donors and fundraising burdens for market institutions. It enables donors to invest in the sector through a portfolio of institutions, technologies, and approaches, and institutions to pursue a bolder vision distinct from project-driven objectives, as well as the flexibility to pivot to emerging opportunities in a fast-moving sector. Current and past support has been provided by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), UK Aid (FCDO) via the Transforming Energy Access platform (TEA), Good Energies Foundation, and others. CLASP plays the role of EAIF Manager.

About CLASP

CLASP is the leading global authority on efficient appliances’ role in fighting climate change and improving people’s lives. An international NGO with 25 years of expertise and offices on four continents, CLASP collaborates with policymakers, industry leaders, and other experts to create a more sustainable future for people and the planet. CLASP and our partners are dedicated to solving the world’s most pressing, interconnected issues: the climate emergency, poverty, inequality, and access to energy.  We are mission-driven and committed to a culture of diversity, transparency, collaboration, and impactful work. Find out more about CLASP.

Introduction

Despite the significant opportunity the distributed renewable energy (DRE) sector (which, for the purposes of this project, comprises the full suite of energy services that can be served through sector expansion including lighting, heating, cooling and cooking), presents, key market barriers such as limited funding and capacity stifle the scaling of the sector and its contribution to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7. The private sector alone cannot and will not address these institutional barriers. To tackle these barriers, holistic ecosystem support is required. As a result, Market Institutions (MIs) are needed to act in support of the full DRE sector.

MIs are ecosystem-level organizations that create, regulate, stabilize, and legitimize the DRE sector to accelerate its growth and scale. Relevant areas of work include collecting market data and building the evidence base, capacity building and fostering innovation, collaboration and coordination, policy, advocacy, and access to finance.

MIs’ work has been critical in promoting, conveying, and safeguarding the DRE sector and has facilitated several key sectoral outcomes and impacts to date.

CLASP, our partners, and donors, are seeking a consultant to conduct an objective, thorough assessment of the sector’s MI landscape.

Timeline

Contract Timeframe: February-June 2025

Deadline for Application: 20 January 2025 at 23:59 ET

Application includes registering as a Consulting Partner and submitting requested materials per the instructions below.

Deadline for Questions: 10 January 2025 at 23:59 ET

All questions must be addressed in English to Yasemin Erboy Ruff at yerboyruff@clasp.ngo. We request all inquiries be made to this e-mail address and not by phone.

Scope of Work

CLASP on behalf of the EAIF seeks a Consultant to lead a Landscape Analysis & Stakeholder Mapping process. The Consultant is expected to undertake a thorough and dispassionate analysis of how leading non-government organizations are serving the DRE market and where there are areas of success, gaps and/or need for improvement, as a service to the sector.

While each applicant is requested to suggest their preferred approach to achieve this effort, expected activities include: developing and vetting a comprehensive list of market institutions; desk research; creation of an evaluation framework; stakeholder interviews, and thorough analysis of the results. The Consultant will create a thorough and objective map that summarizes the role of each institution, highlights points of overlap and remaining gaps, areas of strength and where as a collective these institutions are succeeding or need improvement in addressing the evolving needs of the sector. The final outcome will provide, our donors and partners with an up-to-date assessment of contributions, overlaps, and areas of improvement. The Consultant must maintain transparency and objectivity throughout the project.

The budget range available for this project is USD $30-60,000.

Key Milestones and Deliverables

1. Monthly standing check-in meetings
2. Develop list of DRE sector MIs, per eligibility criteria to be provided by the Facility Manager
3. Develop a rating / evaluation system for assessing MIs’ efficacy of sector services and corresponding perceived impact
4. Develop long list of stakeholders to interview to support desk research and gauge MIs’ perceived value and services in the sector
5. Develop stakeholder interview questionnaire and/or focus group discussion materials
6. Conduct at least 20 individual stakeholder interviews, potentially accompanied by a focus group discussion or wider online survey, to cover relevant sub-sectors/technologies represented by MIs (mini-grids, clean cooking, productive uses, solar appliances, and solar home systems)
7. Conduct desk research and/or collection and review of organizational documents to support anecdotal evidence from interviews
8. Deliver summary results of stakeholder interviews (incl. quotes, common findings…)
9. Final deliverable: develop a landscape assessment and stakeholder map (slide deck format) with a brief summary of essential sector services, with overlaps and gaps identified
10. Final deliverable: present landscape assessment and stakeholder map to CLASP core team

Key Qualifications

• 7+ years of professional experience in clean energy access and/or related fields: public policy, the humanitarian aid sector, renewable energy and energy efficiency, international development with a focus on Africa and Asia, etc.
• Ideally the consultant will demonstrate experience across energy services and an explicit understanding of where the challenges, market readiness, and resource flows across key markets (including lighting, productive use appliances, mini-grids, and clean cooking).
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Existing relationships with DRE sector stakeholders is a plus
• Experience with program or organizational evaluation a plus
• Detail-oriented, effective, and flexible collaborator

Submittal

Register as a Consulting Partner

Interested parties must register as a CLASP Consulting Partner.

You will be asked to participate in an interview if you are selected to proceed.

Interested parties should submit the expression of Interest electronically, in English, by emailing Yasemin Erboy Ruff at yerboyruff@clasp.ngo. The files should be named as per the following example:

[CONTRACTOR_NAME] _EOI_EAIF Landscape Assessment_2024-12-09

The submission should not exceed 5 pages and should include:

• Budget and staffing plan (including day rate and estimated of hours of work for each staff) (1 page)
• Description of proposed approach, including major activities and key milestones (2 pages)
• CV detailing experience relevant to the project, and organizational qualifications document with CVs of key project staff, if applicable (1-2 pages).

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CLASP will notify all respondents who submit EOIs when a decision has been made.

CLASP is an equal opportunity employer that celebrates diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. CLASP’s goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative, at all job levels, of the citizens we serve. CLASP complies with all federal, state and local employment law in the countries we operate and is committed to providing equal opportunity for all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, disability, political affiliation, personal appearance, family responsibilities, matriculation, genetic information, military or protected veteran status, credit information or any other characteristic protected under federal, state or local law.

Each person is evaluated based on personal skill and merit. CLASP’s policy regarding equal employment opportunity applies to all aspects of employment, including recruitment, hiring, job assignments, promotions, working conditions, scheduling, benefits, wage and salary administration, disciplinary action, termination, and social, educational and recreational programs.