Location: Selected refugee settlements in Uganda, Kenya, and Ethiopia 

Duration: 12 - 18 months; anticipated 10 – 15 days per month (variable month to month) 

Reporting to: Anthony Okello, THEA Programme Co-ordinator 

Overview 

As part of the Transforming Humanitarian Energy Access (THEA) programme, funded by the UK Government Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) through the Transforming Energy Access (TEA) platform, which is managed by Carbon Trust, Ashden are seeking consultant(s) with experience in humanitarian energy access to support a number of refugee-led clean energy initiatives in Uganda, Kenya and Ethiopia.  

PLEASE NOTE THAT PREFERENCE WILL BE GIVEN TO APPLICANTS WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE OF FORCED DISPLACEMENT 

Purpose of the Project Support Consultants 

To strengthen project delivery, ensure real-time monitoring, and enhance local engagement, Ashden seeks to contract Settlement-Based Project Support Consultants to assist with ongoing activities implemented by the selected THEA grantees. 

The Project Support Consultants will support Ashden and its grantees to: 

• Monitor the implementation of activities by the different grantees. 

• Ensure timely progress of planned activities. 

• Facilitate documentation, feedback, and communication between Ashden and Refugee Led Enterprises. 

• Act as a local liaison for coordination and accountability. 

• Understand grantees technical assistance (TA) needs and identify suitable TA programmes or providers. 

The grantees fall into two groups:  

Inclusive investment pilots (IIPs) of £10,000 plus TA and comms support, which will be awarded to twelve refugee-led clean energy projects in Kenya (3), Uganda (6) and Ethiopia (3), (both enterprise and not-for-profit), to test different business- and energy delivery models in displacement settings. 

Refugee-led Energy Enterprise Accelerator (REEA) grants of £25,000 plus TA and comms support, which will be awarded to six refugee-led energy enterprises in Uganda (3), Kenya (2) and Ethiopia (1), to demonstrate how, with the right support in place, refugee-led clean energy initiatives can achieve impact and scale.  

Key Responsibilities 

The Project Support Consultants will: 

• Support the assigned THEA grantees to adopt and implement required policy and procedure to manage their proposed project and grant funding (e.g. adopting suitable safeguarding or health and safety policies; developing simple financial management systems). 

• Work with Ashden and THEA grantees to identify suitable suppliers and guide grantees through the procurement process. 

• Understand the TA and communications training/support which THEA grantees require, and support Ashden to identify suitable local providers (where possible). 

• Facilitate communication between Ashden and THEA grantees, ensuring timely submission of reports and sharing of insights. 

• Support the THEA grantees in organising or attending community-level meetings or events, including stakeholder engagement. 

• Monitor project activities by the assigned THEA grantees, including monthly field visits and more regular informal check-ins via phone call/WhatsApp/email. 

• Track progress of deliverables and timelines, flagging delays or risks to the THEA Project Coordinator. 

• Support data collection as required for monitoring and evaluation (M&E), including beneficiary feedback, energy access indicators, case studies, and photos/videos. 

• Assist in verifying deliverables and expenditures (e.g., installation of equipment, user engagement sessions). 

• Provide basic logistical support for site visits by Ashden staff, donors, or partners. 

• Maintain a simple activity log and submit short monthly updates for each grantee (template to be provided). 

• Promote ethical conduct and uphold safeguarding and financial integrity. 

Deliverables

• Monthly activity reports summarising progress, issues, and recommendations for each THEA grantee. 

• Real-time alerts on any red flags, delays, or changes in context to projects or project sites. 

• Support documentation (e.g. photos, short stories, data collection sheets where applicable). 

Duration, Time Commitment, Fees and Expenses 

• Project Support Consultants will be expected to work 10-15 days each month, including site visits, support to grantees, and preparation of reports 

• Duration: Maximum of 18 months, subject to performance and programme needs. 

• Fees: £100/day (Uganda and Ethiopia); £125/day (Kenya). 

• Payment will be made on a monthly basis upon submission of an invoice and timesheet, agreed deliverables and confirmation of work done. 

• Expenses: Reasonable travel and other expenses will be agreed in advance and reimbursed by Ashden upon proof of spend 

• Consultants shall be responsible for paying all relevant taxes and other insurances, social security or deductions required in their country of operation.  

  Required Experience

• Experience working in humanitarian, development, or energy-related projects. 

• Experience in supporting community-led projects and small enterprises to develop their policies, procedures business models.  

• Knowledge of renewable energy technologies (esp. Solar and clean cooking) and interest in climate or sustainability. 

• Resident of or familiar with the assigned refugee settlement(s). 

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills. 

• Ability to write short reports and use tools like WhatsApp and basic spreadsheets. 

• Familiarity with local languages and community dynamics is an added advantage (e.g. Somali and/or Afar in Ethiopia; Kiswahili in Kenya and Uganda; Juba Arabic, Arabic, Kinyarwanda or Kirundi in Uganda) 

Ethical Considerations

Project Support Consultants will be expected to: 

• Uphold the highest standards of safeguarding; diversity, equity and inclusion; transparency; and anti-bribery and corruption 

• Adhere to Ashden’s policies and procedures when carrying out any and all activities related to Ashden and the THEA programme. 

• Respect autonomy and confidentiality of all THEA grantees and those coming into contact with the programme, and to represent the values of THEA programme and Ashden in all community engagements. 

  Application TIMELINE 

Interested applicants are encouraged to complete the application no later than May 7th 2025.

Please note that we may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications.  

Interviews will take place on Teams: 

• First round interviews will be held on May 15th and 16th 

• Second round interviews will be held on May 21st  

If you require reasonable adjustments please contact us at people@sfct.org.uk

Background

According to UNHCR, the UN agency mandated to aid and protect refugees, as of May 2024, an estimated 130 million people around the world are in need of humanitarian assistance. Of these, 120 million have been forcibly displaced. If refugees and displaced people were the population of a single country, it would be the 12th or 13th largest in the world, with sub-Saharan Africa hosting around 20% of the global refugee population. Many camps and settlements for refugees and displaced people in sub-Saharan Africa are situated near national borders, in remote locations which are far from large cities, and beyond the reach of electricity grids.  

Estimates suggest that refugee households collectively could be spending as much as $2.1billion on energy each year, without accounting for humanitarian agencies’ costs to hand out rations of firewood for household cooking. But with millions now living in displacement as a result of protracted crises, such vast sums still only equate to the most basic levels of energy provision and come at considerable cost to some of the poorest and most vulnerable populations in the world - spending for energy by displaced people is estimated to be around $200 per family per year for less than 4 hours of energy a day. According to 2022 Chatham House research, 94% of forcibly displaced people living in camps have no meaningful access to electricity, and 81% rely on firewood or charcoal for cooking. 

As far as energy is concerned, humanitarian provision has generally been limited to NGOs supplying firewood for cooking, and basic torches for lighting. According to the UNHCRs 2023 Report on Sustainable Energy, over half a million solar lanterns have been distributed as part of rapid emergency response. Indeed, small solar lanterns and solar home systems are well suited to refugee and displacement contexts. They are portable in case households are relocated, and sometimes provide enough power to charge mobile phones, radios or laptops - devices which are as crucial for the day-to-day life of households in displacement settings as they are to anyone else in the modern world.  

In long established displacement settings, where humanitarian agencies no longer hand out large numbers of solar lanterns for free, falling costs mean that solar lighting solutions and small solar home systems can be purchased for $10 - $150. Though affordability remains a challenge, the success of several commercial entities providing sustainable energy products and services to refugee households - including five Ashden Award winners - serves to demonstrate the high demand for energy in displacement settings, and the viability of market-based solutions.  

While the mainstream humanitarian system struggles to meet the increasing energy needs of households and enterprises in displacement settings, and faces continuing resource constraints, there has been a noticeable growth in the participation of refugee-led organisations and refugee entrepreneurs in providing critical energy solutions to communities in long-term displacement situations. 

Under the THEA programme, Ashden is providing six grants of £25,000 to refugee-led organisations already active in the clean energy sector, and a further twelve grants of £10,000 to refugee-led clean energy initiatives which are at an earlier stage or with a less established track record. To support this work, in particular assisting with technical assistance, monitoring visits and project reporting, Ashden are seeking consultants based in or near the grantee project locations