Vacancy Announcement No: UPU/13/Consultant/STC/30
Title: Business Consultant for the project on power supply and connectivity in post offices in Africa
Grade: Consultant
Type of contract Short-Term Consultant
Duration: One hundred days
Publication Date: 11 November 2013
Application Deadline: 22 November 2013
Consultants
Organizational Unit: Development Cooperation Directorate (DCDEV)
Scheduled date for taking up appointment: 2 December 2013
Organizational Context:
The Universal Postal Union (UPU), a specialized agency of the United Nations, with its headquarters in the Swiss capital of Berne, is the primary forum for cooperation between postal sector players. With a membership of 192 countries, the UPU helps to ensure a truly universal network of up-to-date products and services. It is working with the Pan African Postal Union (PAPU), a specialized agency of the African Union (AU) in the field of postal services, and with other stakeholders, to develop the postal sector in Africa. In this connection, a regional development plan (RDP) has been prepared for the 2013-2016 UPU cycle, together with priorities identified in line with the Doha Postal Strategy, which was formally adopted by the UPU's member countries at the 25th Universal Postal Congress, held from 24 September to 15 October 2012.The project designed to provide power supply and connectivity to post offices in Africa is considered a prior¬ity during the 2013-2016 cycle and requires sourcing for funding. In this regard, the UPU, in consultation with the other members of the Steering Committee on Postal Infrastructure (SCPI) - comprising PAPU, the African Union Commission (AUC) and organizations dealing with postal issues in Africa - would like to recruit a business consultant to lead the study aimed at providing power supply and connectivity to post offices in the Africa region and to design a bankable project for that purpose.
Main duties:
1. Scope of the consultancy mission
The study to be undertaken by the consultant will cover sources of energy, particularly renewable energy such as solar power, as well as Internet connectivity.The consultant will prepare a bankable project covering the countries in the pilot project and the rest of the countries in the Africa region participating in the project.
2. Objectives of the consultancy mission
The objectives of the mission are to examine current and potential business activities conducted in post offices and demonstrate how the viability of such business activities can be enhanced if the problem of power and Internet connectivity is resolved. In developing a bankable project, the consultant will be expected to conduct activities such as the following:
- Review the data provided by technical consultants, including data for each individual country, pertaining to the size and location of the post offices (rural, urban, etc.), the situation of power supply and connectivity, the types of facilities available, as well as the situation in their immediate environment (close to social/economic/educational facilities, etc.).
- Consider business opportunities in the communication industry (such as e-services, etc.) and demonstrate how customers can make use of the post office to conduct business if there is power and Internet connectivity.
- Recommend suitable sources of power and Internet connectivity to meet current and future business needs.
- Explore the business continuity planning options for the sustainable provision of power and Internet connectivity.
- Develop a matrix for the electricity consumption estimation, as well as the cost and type of equipment, for each African country participating in the project.
- Develop a matrix for the ICT services required, as well as the equipment, cost and ICT interconnectiv-ity, for each African country participating in the project.
- In developing cost structures, consider the possibility of the postal operator's obtaining preferential ICT service rates from the telecommunications operator.
- Identify income-generating activities and services for the local community (business, digital, financial and social inclusion, renewable energy, etc.).
3. Expected outcomes/deliverablesIn addition to ensuring the deliverables of the technical consultants, the business consultant will:
- prepare two models for the postal power and connectivity infrastructure implementation plan (PPCIIP) for use by postal operators;
- produce a comprehensive proposal for a bankable project to install power and Internet connectivity in post offices;
- identify possible funding institutions.
QUALIFICATION AND SKILLS REQUIRED
Education:
At least a bachelor's degree in economics, business administration or another relevant discipline.
Experience:
At least five years' experience conducting similar projects.
- Experience in the communications sector e.g. postal business operations;
- Experience in preparation of bankable projects;
- Experience in preparation of proposals for infrastructure development projects;
- Experience in implementation of infrastructure projects in Africa;
- Experience in large-scale power distribution infrastructure projects;
- Experience in large-scale internet connectivity infrastructure projects;
- Experience involving team leadership and management.
Language skills:
Proficiency in English and French.
Additional Information:
Duration of the mission:
- The mission is to be completed within 100 working days from the date on which the contract is signed.
- The training of the beneficiary countries' national project managers is to be completed by 15 January 2014.
- The consultant is to visit the countries identified by the Steering Committee within the period agreed.
- An interim report on the mission should be submitted by 28 February 2014.
- The final report should be submitted by 15 March 2014.
Submission:
The consultant's submission will comprise:
- a detailed curriculum vitae;
- references;
- a technical proposal, including a description of the strategy and methodology to be used for gathering information and the study's implementation schedule, taking into account the time frame stipulated in the terms of reference;
- copies of certificates confirming academic qualifications and experience;
- a written commitment to accomplishing the mission on schedule.
Selection criteria:
The following elements will be taken into consideration:
- technical proposal;
- academic qualifications;
- relevant skills and experience.
The conditions of recruitment are governed by the rules of the International Bureau of the Universal Postal Union.
Monthly salary: (Net of tax)
249,01 USD/journée de travail (7569,93 USD/mois)
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