Energy Sector Advisor, Steering Committee

Tetra Tech is Leading with Science® to implement clean energy projects and policies that advance global climate and decarbonization goals. We advise on national energy transition initiatives and structure finance to deploy clean energy solutions. We help create sustainable utilities and modern power grids. We promote equality and inclusivity in the global energy sector. We improve lives and livelihoods in the biggest cities and smallest villages, and at the intersection of energy-health and energy-water-food.

Project Summary 

Tetra Tech is implementing the recently awarded, five-year USAID Power Africa Empower West Africa Activity. Building on a decade of Power Africa success, Empower West Africa aims to close the energy poverty gap in the region by increasing supply of and access to affordable, reliable, and sustainable electricity. By 2029, Empower West Africa aims to establish six million new electricity connections; reach financial close for 2,500 megawatts of new generation capacity; construct 1,500 kilometers of new power lines; and achieve sales of 40,000 productive use of energy (PUE) devices.

Position Summary 

The Steering Committee (SC) is a key institutional structure in Sierra Leone’s power sector tasked with the responsibility to implement the sector reforms agenda, coordinate with development partners, and provide guidance on sector policy and regulations. Backed by the determined commitment of all development partners, the SC will be a major catalyst in strengthening governance and turnaround of the currently dilapidated sector. 

The SC was formed during the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Threshold Program (THP) to support implementation of the Energy Sector Roadmap but became inactive after the THP concluded. Based on lessons learned during the THP, the Government of Sierra Leone has reconvened the SC, which now includes donor partners and various working groups. It will meet quarterly to coordinate the activities of all partners, and its mandate will evolve based on sector needs and priorities.

Tetra Tech is recruiting an experienced Energy Sector Advisor to serve as an embedded advisor to Sierra Leone’s SC. The advisor will support the Government of Sierra Leone to implement energy sector reforms, achieve clean energy goals, and increase regional electricity trade. In addition, the Energy Sector Advisor will support activities in Guinea to advance Empower West Africa objectives in the region. Based in Freetown, Sierra Leone, the Energy Sector Advisor will report to the Outcome 4 Lead.

Position Responsibilities

• Liaise with the executive and legislative branches of government and various implementing entities to support the functioning of the SC and creation of associated structures, subcommittees, and working groups.
• Help monitor and track progress on the sector reforms roadmap.
• Manage high-level engagements with the government to ensure effective deployment of Empower West Africa interventions to reduce aggregate technical and commercial losses, secure emergency power, among others. 
• Work with sector stakeholders, including government agencies and development partners, to create a framework for engagement with sector stakeholders. 
• Work with sector stakeholders to create and define structures to support the SC ‘s Technical Committees, subcommittees, and working groups.  
• Prepare a spreadsheet-based tool to track and monitor progress on the reforms’ roadmap. The tool will track KPIs defined in the reforms roadmap and disseminate results monthly. 
• Provide advice to support functioning of the SC. 
• Maintain a high-level engagement with the government and its energy agencies to facilitate smooth implementation of loss reduction and emergency power management activities supported by Empower West Africa. 
• Provide support to activities related to energy sector policy, legal, regulatory, and market improvements.
• Design and conduct workshops and capacity building trainings on topics related to energy sector reform and institutional transformation. 
• Develop internal processes and standards to ensure consistency and quality of service delivery.
• Provide technical oversight for the work of Empower West Africa subcontractors and independent consultants involved in the implementation of energy sector policy, legal, regulatory, market, and utility improvements.
• Build and maintain strong partnerships and effective coordination among stakeholders such as USAID and other international donors, government bodies, and nongovernmental organizations.