Result of Service
Under the direct supervision of the responsible project officer, the international consultant will be expected to collaborate, communicate and travel as required to consult effectively with the project officer and relevant ministries, departments, authorities, national consultants, and other collaborating organizations in the target countries. 1. Lead the development of comprehensive funding proposals for each of the four target countries, in close partnership with relevant authorities, to secure necessary financial resources for the pilot projects while ensuring alignment with project timelines. 2. Oversee the design and implementation of the e-bus pilot projects, in close partnership with relevant authorities, throughout both the financing application process and the implementation phase after financing has been secured. 3. Produce a report, tentatively named a “Regional Roadmap on Best Practices for Financing Electric Mobility in Public Transport” which will compile key learnings and case studies from the project and provide insights for the region. Additionally, prepare a policy brief on a financing-related topic to be determined in consultation with the responsible project officer. 4. Produce presentation material to be delivered at national workshops in each of the target countries and present project findings at a regional meeting to be organized by ESCAP. Budget code: SB-025543.01; CHN-EV Phase 2 project.
Expected duration
26Feb2025-25Feb2026
Duties and Responsibilities
ESCAP supports its member States to develop efficient, environmentally sustainable, safe, and inclusive transport networks and services, in line with the Regional Action Programme on Sustainable Transport Development in Asia and the Pacific (2022-2026). As part of this mandate, ESCAP delivers comprehensive capacity development and technical assistance programmes on sustainable urban mobility and low carbon transport, among others. To this end, ESCAP is implementing the project “Accelerating the Transition to Electric Mobility for Public Transport in Asia and the Pacific (Phase II)” over the period 2024-2026. The project comprises focused activities aimed at launching pilot electric bus systems in four target countries: Lao PDR, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Tajikistan. These activities will deliver tailored support to each country, empowering them to implement low-carbon transport systems while also demonstrating the feasibility of various financing mechanisms for transitioning to electric buses, such as loans, grants, and green funds. These outputs will be disseminated through the Asia-Pacific Initiative on Electric Mobility to support peer learning and good practices for other countries in the region, where limited access to finance often poses difficulties in overcoming the high upfront costs and long-term viability of electric buses. ESCAP Transport Division seeks an international consultant with relevant expertise to support the project’s implementation. Building on the technical and infrastructure feasibility studies for the pilot projects in the target countries, which are being finalized by ESCAP, the international consultant will recommend suitable financing mechanisms that support the deployment of the electric buses and lead the development of comprehensive funding proposals, in close partnership with relevant authorities, to secure pilot project financing. The international consultant will also lead the design and deployment of the pilot projects, ensuring alignment with donor requirements and providing practical project management support to local stakeholders in areas such as fleet planning, infrastructure procurement, and risk mitigation. Based on the findings from the project, the international consultant will produce a regional report on best practices for financing electric mobility in public transport, develop a policy brief on a financing-related topic, and deliver presentation materials at national and regional meetings to be organized by ESCAP.
Qualifications/special skills
[Advanced] University degree in finance, economics, public policy, sustainable development, urban studies, or a related discipline. Required: (i) At least 7 years of experience in mobilizing finance for infrastructure or transport projects, preferably in electric mobility. (ii) Demonstrated expertise in successfully securing financing such as grants, loans, and municipal bonds in developing countries. (iii) Experience in implementing transport infrastructure projects, preferably in the Asia-Pacific region. (iv) Experience collaborating with government stakeholders, international organizations, and financial institutions. Desirable: Experience in the Asia-Pacific region
Languages
Fluency in written and oral English is required.
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.