Institutional Governance Consultant

Under the Global Network of Regional Sustainable Energy Centres (GN-SEC) program, [link removed] UNIDO supports the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) [link removed] in the establishment and operationalization of the Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency for Central Africa (CEREEAC) [link removed]. CEREEAC aims to accelerate the energy and climate transition by providing support “from the region for the region”. The geographic scope of the centre includes Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and São Tomé and Príncipe.

UNIDO provides technical backstopping and assistance regarding institution, technical program and partnership building throughout the first operational phase of the centre. In addition, UNIDO promotes joint learning, exchange of lessons learned and south-south triangular projects with the other regional centres under the GN-SEC platform and project. Together with the other regional centres, namely ECREEE (ECOWAS), SACREEE (SADC), EACREEE (EAC) and RCREEE (Arab region), the CEREEAC will contribute to the African Union (AU) efforts to establish a harmonized low-carbon continental electricity system and a market for sustainable energy products and services. In this context, there are opportunities to create links to EU supported programs, including the Africa-EU Energy Partnership and the AU energy program.

The CEREEAC strives to address demand and supply-side barriers for integrated and inclusive ECCAS sustainable energy product and service markets by promoting economies of scale, equal progress, joint learning and spillover effects between countries. Through cross-border cooperation approaches and methodologies, the centre will complement and accelerate national efforts in the areas of policy, regulation, quality infrastructure, qualification, knowledge and facilitation of investment and entrepreneurship. It will serve as a central hub for knowledge sharing, capacity building and for fostering international and local partnerships.

The CEREEAC will cooperate with technical thematic hubs, one of them being the Oyo Centre of Excellence for Renewable Energy RE and Energy Efficiency EE (hereafter referred to as Oyo Centre or CEO) in the Republic of the Congo. The Oyo Centre is currently being operationalized with the technical support of UNIDO. The Oyo Centre is envisaged to become a national centre with a regional outlook, with the ultimate objective to support the development of an integrated and inclusive sustainable energy market in the Republic of the Congo and the wider region. In line with the institutional structure of CEREEAC, the Oyo Centre will serve as one of the thematic hubs of the CEREEAC, with a focus on supporting research and development (R&D) and capacity building in renewable energy (RE) and energy efficiency (EE).

The European Union (EU) has established an action titled “Support Programme for ECCAS specialized organizations for the operationalization of the regional market and development of renewable energies”[1] [link removed]. This action aims to support the establishment of a regional electricity market in Central Africa by developing the regional market and increasing the share of renewable energies in the energy mix, to contribute to greenhouse gas emissions reduction[2] [link removed].

Within this framework, and in line with the core objectives and activities of the CEREEAC, the cooperation between the CEREEAC and the Oyo Centre will promote access to modern, affordable and reliable energy services, as well as energy security by promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency investments, markets and industries in Central Africa. As a thematic hub, the Oyo Centre will support the CEREEAC by promoting applied research and capacity building in the domain of renewable energy and energy efficiency, in collaboration with regional stakeholders.

Within the framework of project ID 200138, the European Union is supporting regional activities through the Action Plan (entitled in French): Programme d’appui aux organisations spécialisées de la CEEAC pour l’opérationnalisation du marché régional et le développement des énergies renouvelables. Support spans across several domains and includes research and development (R&D) – leveraging the Oyo Centre’s role as thematic hub for R&D.

During the first half of 2025, in collaboration with the Oyo Centre and the CEREEAC, UNIDO guided the development of a baseline study aimed at assessing the status of the R&D and innovation landscape within the ECCAS region, to identify existing gaps and weaknesses, as well as priority actions to overcome these. During – and after – the study, R&D institutions within the Central African region have been engaged to enhance regional cooperation. UNIDO is now seeking to formalize such cooperation by officially creating a network of research institutions operating in the space of RE and EE, in line with the EU Action Plan.

It is within this context that UNIDO is seeking an expert to conduct a comprehensive legal review of the internal regulations and annexes developed for the Network of Research Institutions for the Energy Transition of Central Africa (ReTEAC). The purpose of this assignment is to ensure that the internal regulations comprehensively cover all necessary institutional, operational, and governance aspects, and are fully aligned with international best practices and standards for the governance of research networks and multi-stakeholder platforms. In this regard, the service provider will be expected not only to review and strengthen the existing draft regulations and annexes, but also to identify and address any gaps by proposing additional provisions where needed.

The assignment will include the following key activities:

Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager (i.e., a UNIDO staff member responsible for the overall implementation of the project) and in close cooperation with the project team in the HQ and field location, Institutional Governance Consultant will be responsible for the following main duties:

Concrete/measurable

Outputs to be achieved

Expected duration

Location

Conduct a rapid assessment of institutional governance and regulatory frameworks including:

2 days

Home based

Review, redraft and expand internal regulations and annexes including:

7 days

Home based

Hold a 2-hour validation workshop with the SC and project Stakeholders

3 days

In person or online as will be agreed

Submission of Final report incorporating feedback from the validation workshop

Submission of Final Report (including the final, consolidated version of the internal regulations and annexes)

2 days

Home based

Education: Advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) in law, public administration, business administration or other relevant discipline is required. Alternatively, a first level university degree may be acceptable provided it is combined with additional 5 years of professional hand-on experience that is directly relevant to the expertise required by the specific assignment.

Technical and Functional Experience:

Languages: Fluency in written and spoken French is required. Working knowledge of any other ECCAS language is desirable.

Core values:
WE LIVE AND ACT WITH INTEGRITY: work honestly, openly and impartially.

WE SHOW PROFESSIONALISM: work hard and competently in a committed and responsible manner.

WE RESPECT DIVERSITY: work together effectively, respectfully and inclusively, regardless of our differences in culture and perspective.

Key competencies:
WE FOCUS ON PEOPLE: cooperate to fully reach our potential –and this is true for our colleagues as well as our clients. Emotional intelligence and receptiveness are vital parts of our UNIDO identity.

WE FOCUS ON RESULTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: focus on planning, organizing and managing our work effectively and efficiently. We are responsible and accountable for achieving our results and meeting our performance standards. This accountability does not end with our colleagues and supervisors, but we also owe it to those we serve and who have trusted us to contribute to a better, safer and healthier world.

WE COMMUNICATE AND EARN TRUST: communicate effectively with one another and build an environment of trust where we can all excel in our work.

WE THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX AND INNOVATE: To stay relevant, we continuously improve, support innovation, share our knowledge and skills, and learn from one another.

[1] [link removed] “Programme d’appui aux organisations spécialisées de la CEEAC pour l’opérationnalisation du marché régional et le développement des énergies renouvelables”.

[2] [link removed] This action aims to accelerate the implementation of the Africa-EU Green Energy Initiative (AEGEI) in Central Africa by strengthening partnerships with sub-regional organizations specializing in the energy sector. It is in line with the EU's policy of regional economic integration, promoting renewable energies and energy efficiency in Central Africa and energy efficiency in Africa. It is in line with the principles of the EU's Green Pact and the priorities of the member states of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS).

This appointment is limited to the specified project(s) only and does not carry any expectation of renewal.
Employees of UNIDO are expected at all times to uphold the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and respect for diversity, both at work and outside. Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for jobs at UNIDO.

All applications must be submitted online through the Online Recruitment System. Correspondence will be undertaken only with candidates who are being considered at an advanced phase of the selection process. Selected candidate(s) may be required to disclose to the Director General the nature and scope of financial and other personal interests and assets in respect of themselves, their spouses and dependents, under the procedures established by the Director General.

Visit the UNIDO website for details on how to apply: www.unido.org

NOTE: The Director General retains the discretion to make an appointment to this post at a lower level. 

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