DFID 7123 Service Provider for the Energy Security and Resource Efficiency Programme (ESRES): Real Time Learning Process, Somaliland

Actual CPV code is ‘75211200 Foreign Economic-Aid Related Services’.

Objective and Scope

ESRES is an entirely new programme for Somaliland, trying to do something that has not been done before in a Fragile and Conflict Affected State (FCAS). It aims to introduce 3-5 mini-hybrid grid pilots across multiple sites in Hargeisa, and potentially beyond and improve capacity in the Ministry of Energy and Minerals to develop a regulatory framework by December 2017. It will also establish a renewable energy fund in the final year of the pilot phase with the aim that Independent Power Providers (IPPs) in Somaliland will show interest in the pilots and in taking up this technology in future. The six key objectives of the ESRES Real time learning process are:

To assess whether ESRES hybrid mini-grid pilots can provide access to affordable green energy for communities in Somaliland;

To examine capacity building in the Somaliland Ministry of Energy and Minerals (MEM) designed to lead to the development of a regulatory framework for the provision of electricity;

To explore likely adoption of hybrid mini-grids by Independent Power Providers (IPPs) in Somaliland;

To generate and use real time learning to update the ESRES theory of change and improve programme implementation during phase 1;

To use evidence to produce recommendations for the design and implementation of ESRES Phase 2 To gather and disseminate robust evidence on the feasibility and challenges of hybrid mini-grids in Somaliland highlighting, where appropriate, lessons of wider applicability in other FCAS;

To undertake DFID annual reviews of the ESRES programme and Project Completion Reports if required.

While most ICF programmes report against a common set of ICF Key Performance Indicators, given the nature of the ESRES programme it is considered unreasonable to expect high levels of results against the KPIs.

Examination of the RTL key review questions may lead to questions or recommendations around ESRES governance and management arrangements, and if these arise they would clearly be important to capture.