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The Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP) is a multi-donor trust fund program administered by the World Bank and established in 1983. ESMAP helps build consensus and provides policy advice on sustainable energy development to governments of developing countries and economies in transition. ESMAP promotes the role of energy in poverty reduction and economic growth in an environmentally responsible manner. Its work applies to low-income, emerging, and transition economies and contributes to the achievement of internationally agreed development goals. ESMAP is currently supported by 13 donors—11 bilateral donor agencies, the World Bank, and the UN-Foundation. ESMAP’s products have included specific energy related studies, advisory services; pilot projects, conferences, workshops, and roundtables, training, publications and websites. The 2005-2007 ESMAP Business Plan focuses on four key thematic programs: energy security; renewable energy; energy-poverty linkages; and market efficiency and governance. ESMAP is administratively part of the World Bank's Energy, Transport and Water Department (ETW) in the Sustainable Development Vice presidency (SDN). Each senior staff in the core ESMAP team is responsible for a core program theme as thematic coordinator. The present appointment is a new position. For more information on ESMAP’s operations and products please visit www.esmap.org.

ESMAP identified household energy as a key theme in its 2005-2007 business plan within the energy poverty thematic area. The Consultative Group of donors (and the Technical Advisory Group that reviews ESMAP and provides feedback to contributing donors) has emphasized the importance of household energy work in ESMAP activities.

The Clean Energy Investment Framework (CEIF) is an important initiative described in the strategic papers prepared for the Development Committee and Board of Directors – Clean Energy and Development: Towards and Investment Framework (April 2006), and An Investment Framework for Clean Energy and Development: A Progress Report (September 2006). An Action Plan for implementation is currently under preparation. Pillar 1 “Energy for Development and Access to the Poor” of this framework focuses on the need to accelerate investments in the energy sector in order to improve growth and energy access for the poor and sets out a five track Action Plan. The SSA Energy Scale-up Plan identified five parallel tracks to address this shortfall: (1) scaled-up programs of household electrification (including grid reticulation and off-grid solutions); (2) additional generation and transmission capacity (including regional projects to lower costs); (3) provision of energy services for key public facilities such as schools and clinics to help meet MDGs; (4) provision of stand-alone lighting packages for households without electricity service; and (5) promotion of sustainable access to cleaner cooking and heating fuels.  

Track 5 of the action plan focuses on access to clean cooking, heating and lighting fuels.  Recognizing the many problems of traditional biomass use—including indoor air pollution, deforestation, and long hours of fuel collection—Track 5 seeks to promote interfuel substitution, to encourage the use of more efficient biomass stoves and charcoal kilns, and to promote the use of new and renewable energy for cooking, including biogas, biofuels, and others.   Implementation of the Action Plan with respect to Track 5 requires scaling up activities of the WBG on household energy especially in Sub-Sahara Africa. The new position in ESMAP will be the thematic leader for household energy (including the various activities linked to Track 5 of Pillar 1 in Africa but also similar activities in other regions) in the program.

Duties and Accountabilities

As a member of the ESMAP team, the Sr. Energy Specialist will coordinate activities related to household energy in the Energy Poverty Theme of the program. In general terms, the Sr. Energy Specialist will play a leadership role in mainstreaming household energy in WBG operations and analytical work; provide high-level support and policy advice on household fuels to senior Bank management, counterpart governments, and sector specialists in operations; handle partnerships on household energy with other global institutions; and coordinate and supervise a research program on household energy, including leading analytical pieces of work. Specific responsibilities include:
	
1.	Provide the analytical and intellectual leadership to support country teams to develop overall strategies for household energy that respond to the specific country needs, and integrating this into an overall strategy for the energy sectors and, in doing so, special emphasis will be paid in ways in which these actions contribute to the achievement of the Millenium Development Goals.
2.	Provide the leadership in the implementation of the household energy programs’ development, monitoring and capacity building strategies; advise client countries and Bank colleagues on financial, institutional and technical issues related to household energy.
3.	Continue the work undertaken by the ESMAP core team on indoor air pollution (dissemination of the damaging effect of indoor air pollution on human health, and of the opportunities in many sector to introduce remediation programs, update and review of best practices of improved stoves, including the linkages with sustainable biomass production)
4.	In the context of supporting country teams and providing policy advise to clients (i) generate “think pieces” and “best practice” papers; (ii) analyze complex financial, institutional and implementation issues for household energy; (iii) lead the development of policy proposals; (iv) support teams and, as requested, lead the interface with governments and agencies in the design of policy framework and advise on resolving implementation issues.
5.	Prepare relevant case studies, strategy papers and publications and the dissemination and knowledge management strategy of the ESMAP household energy activities.
6.	Supervise the appointment and work of short-term consultants ensuring consistency and conformity to Bank standards; evaluates studies and sector-related project documentation.
7.	Establish and strengthen links with the gender and SME practitioners in the World Bank and other institutions to support cross-thematic work on gender-household energy and the provision of household energy services through SMEs, both of which are important programs in the ESMAP business plan.
8.	Maintain liaison and dialogue with local, state and central government agencies, donors, research institutions, NGOs, the private sector and other institutions working in the household energy sector. 
9.	Establish cross-sectoral dialogues with the Water and Sanitation Program, and specifically on its household sanitation program to fertilize each other’s programs on issues such as market strengthening, consumer demand, consumer research, SME development, and eventually collaborate on joint household environmental health programs.

Selection Criteria

(i)	Masters’ degree in engineering, economics, business or related fields directly applicable to the duties and responsibilities of the position.
(ii)	At least 8 years experience in household energy with demonstrated track record in operational, policy formulation and analytical work.
(iii)	In-depth background with adequate education, experience and demonstrated competence in several of the following functional areas, as related to household energy: (a) economics; (b) interfuel substitution; (c) demand side measures (incl. improved cookstove programs); (d) supply side measures (incl. in sustainable forestry and rural development); (e) mainstreaming of household energy issues in energy sector planning and strategy formulation; (f) evaluation and assessment of donor assistance for household energy programs  
(iv)	A track record of team work and ability to produce high-quality results and outputs with minimal supervision.
(v)	Excellent interpersonal skills and proven ability to work in a multi-cultural environment and virtual teams located in different regions
(vi)	Excellent oral and written communication and presentational skills. Spoken and written fluency required in English, and French desirable
(vii)	Demonstrated political awareness and ability to diplomatically handle sensitive situations with target audiences and to otherwise cultivate effective, productive client relationships/partnerships.
(viii)	Experience with international lending institutions, global programs or international development agencies is an advantage
(ix)	Experience in Sub-Saharan Africa and in developing countries in more than one region is an advantage

The World Bank Group is committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, nationality, culture and educational background.  Individuals with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply.  All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

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