National Consultant for the Assessment, Costing and Lessons Learned on School Rooftop Solarization

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1. Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

UNICEF Bhutan, in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Skills Development, supported the installation of photovoltaic (PV) solar rooftop panels at Sakten Lower Secondary School in Trashigang in 2024. Besides generating solar energy for alternative lighting thereby augmenting power outage from the existing source, the solar facility was aimed at providing uninterrupted hot water supply to the girls and boys hostels, which can promote health and hygiene among the students from the highland areas. The initiative was part of Climate Change Education project to demonstrate school rooftop solarization as a reliable energy alternative and a green practice. The installed solar facility at Sakten MSS could also demonstrate hands-on STEM learning laboratory, enabling learners to explore solar generation, storage, consumption, basic electrical safety, data interpretation, and climate/energy concepts.

This is the first model of the kind created with UNICEF support. Documenting the experience of the model will help establish the most efficient approaches and modality of implementation for further projects.

2. Objectives of the Assignment

Overall Objective: To assess and cost the rooftop solarization scheme at Sakten MSS and document benefits, challenges and lessons learned to inform decision-making and potential scale-up.

Specific Objectives:

• Establish the built system characteristics (PV capacity in kW, battery capacity in kWh, inverter rating, safety/protection, monitoring setup).
• Produce a life-cycle costing (CAPEX, OPEX, O&M, training, monitoring, replacement cycles).
• Assess benefits (financial savings, reliability, environmental outcomes where feasible, and STEM teaching/learning use) as well as educational, environmental, resilience, and service continuity benefits.
• Identify implementation challenges and sustainability risks (technical, financial, institutional, supply chain, safety).
• Produce simple payback and estimates with transparent assumptions and sensitivity ranges.
• Recommend best approaches for scale up.

3. Scope of Work:

a. Inception & Data Request

• Develop methodology, workplan, tools, and a data request list (school bills, any project documents, warranties, O&M arrangements) to prepare for the assessment of the inputs and outputs of the system and project.
• Prepare a plan for data collection in the field - observations, interviews, technical assessment, etc. with Trashigang district authorities (District Engineer, Chief Education Officer and Bhutan Power Corporation), school leadership, teachers, and relevant technicians/service providers.

b. Field Assessment (Sakten MSS)

• Verify system configuration and performance indicators: PV, inverter, battery, wiring, protection, metering, monitoring dashboards/logs.
• Review installation quality and safety practices (earthing/grounding, signage, access control, battery housing/ventilation, basic fire safety readiness).
• Document operational routines: monitoring responsibility, fault reporting, downtime history, maintenance frequency, spare parts access.

c. Benefits Assessment (Energy + Education)

• Validate baseline and post-install electricity consumption/costs using available bills and/or meter records.
• Establish grid outage frequency and duration through school authority records/interviews (and any available utility data).
• Assess use as a STEM learning tool: Assess the extent to which the solar facility supports the implementation of science curriculum, Climate Change Education, STEM, and sustainability-related learning outcomes within the National School Curriculum, including its use in classroom teaching and co-curricular learning activities
• Assess environmental and energy resilience benefits, including diversification of renewable energy sources, improved reliability during power disruptions, and contribution to climate action awareness and education.

d. Costing + Financial Metrics (Payback & Levelized Cost of Electricity)

• Develop a life-cycle costing spreadsheet including CAPEX (equipment + installation + commissioning + transport/logistics), OPEX/O&M, and replacement cycles (battery/inverter assumptions, warranties, degradation).
• Calculate simple payback and compare with tariff-based electricity cost where data allows; provide sensitivity analysis (battery life, discount rate, O&M cost, degradation, outage assumptions).

e. Lessons Learned & Recommendations

• Summarize what worked and what did not (design, procurement, installation, O&M, safety, learning integration).
• Provide actionable recommendations for technical specifications, O&M governance/budgeting, capacity building, STEM integration package, SOPs for project implementation and monitoring templates for future sites.
• Assess institutional arrangements, including the roles and responsibilities of schools, Dzongkhags, technical service providers, and relevant government agencies in supporting operation, maintenance, monitoring, and long-term sustainability of the solar facility.
• Document logistical, procurement, transportation, installation, and maintenance challenges and lessons associated with implementing rooftop solar systems in remote and high-altitude school settings.

4. Work Assignment Overview:

Under the supervision of Education Specialist of UNICEF Bhutan, the consultant is expected to deliver the following outputs:

Sl. No.
Work Assignments Overview
Deliverables/Outputs
Delivery deadline
1
Inception Report
Methodology, tools, data request list, mission plan, ethics/safeguarding approach
3 days
2
Data collection in the field
Data collection, consultation with stakeholders, books and documents review
6 days
3
Draft Report + Costing Model
Draft findings; as-built system specs (kW/kWh); costing spreadsheet; payback + sensitivity
7 days
4
Validation Presentation
10–15 slides with key findings, costs, benefits, lessons, recommendations
1 day
5
Final Package
Final report; cleaned costing spreadsheet; 2-page brief; annexed tools/data tables. The final report must include benefit analysis, costing and financial metrics, lessons learnt and recommendations for further implementation
3 days
20 days

5. Duration of Contract: 20 working days spread over 2 months including travel.

6. Travel: International travel is not foreseen for this assignment. However, 6 days of travel (One primary mission to Trashigang Dzongkhag and Sakten) is anticipated. The travel cost should be incorporated in the financial proposal.

7. Payment terms and conditions:

The consultant’s payment terms and conditions are specified below upon certification by UNICEF's Education Specialist that all deliverables have been satisfactorily submitted and the feedback and comments incorporated. The final payment to the consultant will be made after successful completion of all deliverables and submission of consultancy performance appraisal.

1. 20% after completion of data collection, consultation with stakeholders, books and documents review, and upon submission of inception report and endorsement by UNICEF.
2. 80% upon submission of final report; cleaned costing spreadsheet; 2-page brief; annexed tools/data tables including benefit analysis, costing and financial metrics, lessons learnt and recommendations for further implementation, and endorsement by UNICEF.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements:

1. Education Qualification:

• Masters Degree in Renewable Energy/Engineering/Energy Economics/Education/Environmental Studies or related field.

2. Work experience/Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required

• Minimum 7 years’ experience across at least two areas: solar PV assessment/design review; life-cycle costing/financial analysis (payback, LCOE)
• Strong analytical writing and ability to produce user-friendly costing tools and reports.

Proposal should include the following:

1. Motivation letter
2. Consultant’s full Curriculum Vitae.
3. Proposed approach and methodology that will be followed in executing the assignment.
4. A lump sum fee structure, indicating a breakdown of professional fee for the anticipated number of working days, including travel.
5. Name(s) of collaborator(s) (if applicable) with their full curriculum vitae.
6. Sample of previous relevant work (final products or links to previous work can be shared along with the proposal if any)

Selection will be done by UNICEF Bhutan as follows:

1. Technical Evaluation (75 points)

• Qualification and understanding of the Terms of Reference) - 15 points
• Technical soundness - 30 points
• Previous experience and work sample - 30 points

2. Financial Evaluation (25 points)

Procedures and Logistics

1. The consultant is expected to use his/her computer and work from his/her own workstation and arrange his/her own logistics for the travel.
2. The consultant will report the progress periodically to the UNICEF's Education Specialist who will monitor the progress, provide further directives and endorse the report.

Remarks:

1. The consultants must submit the financial proposal along with the technical proposals.
2. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

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UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

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Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, all eligible and suitable candidates are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

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