NKE 1 SENIOR NON-KEY EXPERT: RENEWABLE ENERGY POLICY EXPERT / TEAM LEADER

Project title: ‘’EU Facility supporting policy dialogue and technical assistance in Iraq’’

Brief description of the project: The specific objective of this assignment is to strengthen public institutions and develop capacities for policymaking, planning, and implementation in view of engaging with non-state actors, responding to citizens’ needs and contributing to general socio-economic development including domestic revenue mobilization. Within this framework, the purpose of this contract is to provide on-demand technical assistance open to all Government entities targeted by EU interventions in Iraq through EU Special Measures and the EU multi-annual indicative program 2021-2026, as well as technical assistance directly to the EU delegation and support to the EU delegation for policy dialogue.

Assignment: Technical Assistance for Iraq’s Renewable Energy Regulatory Framework

The ultimate purpose of this assignment is to produce a set of research-grounded regulations to support the implementation of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Law (REEEL), promoting the adoption of RE systems, especially at the consumer level, and promoting a more robust business environment that contributes to Iraq’s burgeoning private sector. To do so effectively, the assignment will undertake a mixed-methods research initiative to understand private sector views on the business-enabling environment for RE systems, especially solar PV, and consumer preferences and dynamics. The assignment will also make recommendations concerning tariff calculations and costing per hour/per watt.

Working closely with the Energy Committee and the relevant legal departments within the government and the legislature, the assignment will define and carry out primary research, engage in individual and group policy dialogues, and deliver draft regulations that align with the government’s policy goals and the REEEL. The NKE team will work collaboratively to carry out the following tasks:2

COMPONENT 1: Policy-Level Technical Expertise and Coordination

Seeking to understand government perspectives on the shift towards renewable energy and drive discussions towards private sector solutions that meet citizen demand, the assignment led by NKE1 will actively engage policymakers and senior officials, fostering consensus and utilizing evidence (developed in Component 2) to inform decision-making.

• Engage key stakeholders to determine policy preferences regarding the implementation of the REEEL. Routine, cyclical engagement with proposed regulatory ideas and drafts of the proposed regulations are expected.
• Act as a liaison to encourage supportive positions on renewable energy in line with broad EU policy goals and the EU’s MIP for Iraq.
• Convene routine working-level policy discussions and at least one senior-level policy discussion, in partnership with PMAC.

COMPONENT 2: Market and Sector Research

This assignment will provide a meaningful window into understanding the private sector’s views and needs by carrying out three studies, employing both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The findings will be actionable and will inform the drafting of regulations (Component 3) and policy discussions throughout the government (Component

1). Led by NKE3, the design, fieldwork, and analysis of data gathered will be presented to government and international audiences and used to inform policy discussions and regulatory drafting.

• Design and undertake three studies, listed in order of priority and expected focus:
• o Private Sector: Perspectives of private sector companies working on renewable energy solutions to understand their views on the marketplace and industry. These will include market and regulatory barriers to entry, tariff impacts and cost implications, supply chains and potential disruptions, and observations of consumer trends and perceptions of awareness and acceptance of RE solutions. (60% of anticipated focus)
• o Business Associations: Seeking to understand how associations support the RE industry, specifically regarding varying approaches to consulting office registration, technician training, involvement in recommending regulatory specifications, government lobbying, and inclusion in governmental consultations and committees. (25% of anticipated focus)
• o Government and public sector actors: As a supplement to the policy discussions in Component 1, collect data that enhances the assignment’s understanding of governmental views on the role of business associations, as well as perspectives on how Iraq can promote the use of RE, including understanding perspectives on RE business registration, workforce availability and technician training, and other key market dynamics. (15% of anticipated focus)
• Each study will produce a written analysis and presentation, with an additional comprehensive report that makes substantive recommendations for REEEL’s regulations as well as prospective technical support or governmental reforms needed to promote the adoption of RE. These studies will be presented to government stakeholders as part of the policy discussions listed in Component 1.

COMPONENT 3: Regulatory Drafting

This assignment will combine the consensus derived from policy discussions (Component 1) and market research (Component 2) to produce draft regulations for the government to use in promoting market-oriented solutions to renewable energy generation.

• Develop a final draft of regulations corresponding to the REEEL for governmental consideration/issuance. If the law has not yet been passed, the document should be adaptable as interim government instructions.
• Provide technical assistance to legal department staff from the government and legislature, as requested, to develop and discuss the draft regulations.
• Produce financial models and calculations to support regulatory sections on tariffs, grid sales by independent power producers, costing per hour or watt, and other related financial considerations.

Position: NKE 1 SENIOR NON-KEY EXPERT: RENEWABLE ENERGY POLICY EXPERT / TEAM LEADER.

The expert will carry out the following tasks:

• Overall activity leadership, including managing the team, their inputs and outputs, work schedules, and managing delegations across the team.
• Lead Component 1, including engagement with relevant ministries and government bodies to align the vision for the REEL’s regulations, cross-referencing and presenting information from research findings. Build support for consensus-based ideas and advocate for the adoption of the draft regulations.
• Draft regulations aligned with the REEEL, with significant support from NKE2, integrating the market research and financial tariff experts’ outputs into the regulations.
• Oversee and guide market research to refine the scope and analyse findings, ensuring they are reflected in the draft regulations.
• Overall responsibility to produce the research analysis, regulations, and project reports defined in this ToR, whilst managing contributions across the team.
• Liaison to the EUD, stakeholders, and the project core team (including delegating as appropriate), including providing progress updates as requested.
• Flexibility to undertake and direct other tasks across the team, as required for successfully completing the overall assignment ToR.

Qualifications, experience and skills required:

• Master’s degree in related field (Electricity, Energy, engineering, environment or other related field), and 10 years of experience relevant to the assignment, or a bachelor’s degree in related field (Electricity, Energy, engineering, environment or other related field), and 15 years of experience relevant to the assignment.
• Experience in building consensus between policy stakeholders.
• Significant knowledge of renewable energy policymaking, ideally in similarly transitioning environments.
• Demonstrated successful experience in working collaboratively with a broad array of stakeholders, a strong strategic orientation at institutional and technical levels with demonstrable capacity to support education system development and capacity building.
• Excellent analytical, conceptualisation, interpersonal, and English/Arabic report-writing skills.
• Excellent English and Arabic presentation/communication skills.
• Experience in the MENA region will be an advantage, preferably in Iraq.
• Experience with EU-funded projects will be an advantage.

Duration of the assignment: Up to 70 days

Period of the assignment: Expected to commence in July 2025, subject to EUD approvals and coordination. Completion is expected within eight months of commencement.

Place of assignment: Baghdad, Republic of Iraq.

Language requirements: Fluent spoken and written English and Arabic language proficiency.

We invite interested candidates to send their CVs not later than 15 June 2025.

Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

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