Capacity Building for efficient utilisation of Biomass for bioenergy and food security in the greater Mekong subregion

GMS bioenergy and biomass capacity-building specialist and project team leader (international, 19 person-months) The team leader will possess extensive knowledge and experience in implementing investment projects, and experience in capacity building in bioenergy and food security in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) The team leader will be responsible for the overall implementation of the TA and will supervise the team members in working with the individual consultants under the TA and with the project preparatory team. The team leader will be expected to do the following, among others: (i) conduct a biomass assessment, develop criteria for pilot projects and the selection of beneficiaries (through a participatory process), and implement pilot projects with the ensuing loan project in mind; (ii) develop a mechanism for regional cooperation through collaboration with relevant institutions in capacity building, technology transfer, and cooperation among developing countries; (iii) in cooperation with the legal, standards, and certification specialist, implement regional standards and certification and eco-labeling systems for bioenergy and eco-products for cross-border public–private partnerships (PPPs) in the GMS; (iv) organize knowledge events to extract knowledge for the design of pilot projects and capacity-building activities in bioenergy and food security in the GMS; (v) assess the potential of carbon financing, and build capacity and implement the program of activities across the GMS; (vi) design implementation arrangements for the expansion of bioenergy and food security projects in the GMS; (vii) organize training and capacity-building activities, including training in procurement, bidding procedures, and reporting systems in investment projects; (viii) implement a baseline survey and a monitoring and evaluation framework for all TA activities, building on the work of the Global Bioenergy Partnership and others; (ix) assess the capacity of NGOs and centers of excellence to implement pilot projects and studies subcontracted to them, including their capacity to extract lessons as knowledge products; (x) conduct necessary studies for the appropriate design of the pilot projects, including analyses of potential climate change scenarios and their likely impact on the availability of different type of biomass and an assessment of the need for the development of alternative biomass sources; (xi) engage with the project steering committee, the coordinators from the GMS working group on agriculture (WGA), and government agencies to report implementation progress; (xii) establish, supervise, and monitor project activities and information dissemination to governments through such means as study tours to GMS countries; and (xiii) prepare and submit reports.