Consultancy Services required for Digitizing Clean Energy (DCE) Training Manuals and Tools Development, Practical Action

Introduction

Practical Action is a change-making organization that works in unconventional ways. We bring people together in bold collaborations, using knowledge and innovation, to build futures free from poverty and help shape a world that works better for everyone. We help people facing some of the world’s toughest problems, made worse by catastrophic climate change and persistent gender inequality. We are working in communities in 11 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. We help them change their world through: Farming that works, Energy that transforms, Cities fit for people and Resilience that protects.

Background to the Consultancy

Practical Action, in partnership with Integral Media Limited (a publishing and digital development firm specializing in development and deployment of interactive media, including web dashboards and mobile applications) are implementing the Digitizing Clean Energy Sector Service Delivery Ecosystem project (“DCE Kenya” or DCE-K) in marginalized regions of Kenya. This project is aimed at increasing access to clean energy for marginalized communities. The project will take a digital approach to tackling systemic value chain challenges, through deployment of Yakazi Network, a suite of mobile apps and online dashboards that connect different stakeholders and provides a platform for sharing opportunities, upskilling, networking and e-commerce across sectors. The intervention will focus on two counties in Kenya – Narok and Baringo counties. This intervention aspires to:

• Promote digitization of the clean energy (CE) sector, with a focus on off-grid lighting and clean cooking solutions.
• Empower youth and women to pursue livelihoods in the energy sector.
• Create a sustainable supply system of qualified technical personnel accessible “on-demand” via geo-location on a mobile application and also enable user ratings.
• Strengthen information flow and connectivity among different actors.
• Upgrade the capacity of last mile entrepreneurs.
• Upskill technical personnel and enable digital peer networking and work referrals.
• Create awareness on clean energy products via the digital platform.
• Avail product and troubleshooting information to end-users in audio format.
• Target, mentor and serve last mile end-users via a mobile application and podcasts

The initiative is an ambitious service delivery system overhaul, and the first of its kind in the energy sector in East Africa. It promises a paradigm shift in how information flows, key stakeholders are inter-connected, business support services are delivered, tools and equipment accessed, and technical personnel are trained, deployed, found and engaged by both energy companies and end-users. It will lead to increased energy access, work and business opportunities for youth and women (100 jobs created, 10 existing and new Last Mile Entrepreneurs (LMEs) supported and increased incomes for women and youth-owned CE enterprises.

Objective and Scope of the Assignment

The overall objective of this consultancy is to support Practical Action and Integral Media Ltd develop training materials that meet the identified needs of the graduates from TVETs in Narok and Baringo counties.

Development of CE Training Curriculum

Using an already conducted needs assessment report, the consultant will be required to develop an appropriate training curriculum for the TVET graduates. For additional input into the curriculum, the consultant will also engage the project team, TVET instructors, CE players and other relevant stakeholders to ensure their input is considered in the design of training manuals, tools and materials, leverage on pre-existing curriculums and training materials they have and are willing to share. Incorporating the identified capacity gaps, the consultant will develop an integrated training curriculum that focuses on:

• Business management (Enterprise development strategies, Last Mile Distribution channels, marketing and market linkage strategies, customer care, after sales service, customer acquisition strategies, etc.)
• Agency empowerment
• CE technical training with a focus on:

1. Solar PV installation and system trouble shooting
2. Basic electrical installation
3. Biogas installation and servicing
4. Solar water heating systems installation and system trouble shooting
5. Fundamentals of E-cooking
6. Clean cooking technologies and fuels
7. Gender and inclusion in the energy sector

In summary, the consultant is expected to develop an integrated CE training manuals, tools and materials for the trainees that covers enterprise development, CE technologies, agency empowerment and gender & inclusion in the clean energy sector.

Expected Deliverables and Outputs

The assignment has been allocated a total of 20 working days. The consultant is expected to provide the following deliverables:

1. Analyze the needs assessment report and determine the strengths and weaknesses of the onboarded LMEs and graduates (project beneficiaries).
2. Design a training manual based on the analyzed capacity of the project beneficiaries guided by the existing manuals as provided by the sector associations and the clean energy companies.
3. Package the manuals in a way that addresses the segments designed based on the capacities of the project beneficiaries
4. Validate the training manuals, tools and materials in conjunction with the selected project stakeholders, TVET instructors, Clean Energy players and other relevant stakeholders.
5. Design a training program based on the effectiveness of different training models and training schedules.
6. Simplified training materials such as power point presentations, handouts, quizzes.

Administrative and Logistical Support

The Consultants will report to the Project Manager, but will have regular interactions with other key project staff who will provide day to day support during the assignment. Practical Action will cater for all travel, accommodation and subsistence incurred by the consultant in the course of the assignment. This will be done in line with Practical Action policies and upon prior approval of costs and field plan by the Project Manager.

Terms of Engagement

Practical Action shall make the payment in three tranches as indicated below

• Tranche 1 (20% of the total cost): Upon successful submission of inception report with a desk review of targeted material sources.
• Tranche 2 (40% of the total cost): Upon submission and acceptance of the draft training curriculum
• Tranche 3 (40% of the total cost): Upon submission and acceptance by Practical Action of the revised final training manuals, tools and materials.

Note: The payments will be made subject to the consultant meeting quality and timely delivery of the stated tasks.

Timeframe

The activities will be undertaken between the months of July and August 2022.

Minimum Qualifications

• Degree in the energy or business field.
• Minimum of 3 years’ working experience as a trainer for a technical training institute.
• Experience in the energy sector and/or agency empowerment programs will be an added advantage.
• Demonstrate reasonable experience in adult capacity building, especially in the fields of business skills development.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, training and coaching skills, with good command of English, Swahili and local languages.
• Excellent time management, organizational, networking, liaison skills, self-motivated and with the ability to work under minimal supervision.
• Prior experience working with institution in curriculum development or implementation.
• Immediate availability