Terms of Reference (ToR) - Solar Power Expert (Ethiopia)
Position: National Solar Power Design and Installation Expert (Freelance Consultant)
Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (with frequent field travel to remote/off-grid national parks)
Duration: Up to 3 months of actual level of effort distributed over a 6-month period
Start Date: Immediate
1. Background
The objective of this assignment is to equip remote and off-grid national park infrastructure—including headquarters, sub-headquarters, and ranger outposts across Central and Southern Ethiopia—with reliable, sustainable, and high-quality solar power units. To ensure successful implementation, a qualified national expert is required to oversee the entire technical lifecycle from design verification to procurement and final commissioning.
2. Scope of Work and Key Tasks
The Consultant will provide technical expertise and oversight for the solar electrification sub-project. Tasks include, but are not limited to:
- Technical Assessment & Load Calculation: Review existing power needs at targeted national park buildings and adjust the capacity of solar units to match current and projected energy demands accurately.
- Specification Update: Review and update existing technical specifications, engineering designs, and bills of quantities (BoQ) for the solar PV systems, battery storage, inverters, and distribution networks.
- Sourcing & Market Analysis: Identify and evaluate reliable sources for high-quality solar equipment suitable for harsh, remote environmental conditions.
- Procurement Support: Assist in preparing bidding documents and manage technical evaluations for both International Competitive Bidding (ICB) and National Competitive Bidding (NCB) processes in compliance with procurement guidelines.
- Supervision of Installation: Provide on-site supervision during the installation phase to ensure contractors adhere strictly to technical designs, safety protocols, and quality standards.
- Commissioning & Testing: Lead the testing and commissioning of all installed solar power units, validating system performance before official handover.
- Capacity Building & Operations Support: Develop simple operation and maintenance (O&M) manuals and conduct basic training sessions for national park staff and rangers to ensure long-term system sustainability.
- Reporting: Prepare brief technical progress reports, procurement evaluation notes, and final commissioning briefs per location.