Reporting to: Delivery Manager Location: Based in Abomey-Calavi, Republic of Benin. Compensation: Competitive, according to experience. This position is funded under a strategic partnership between RELPand the West African Power Pool (WAPP)aimed at strengthening the institutional capacities of the WAPP General Secretariat. Join us in driving transformative energy solutions across the region! We are seeking a Strategic Advisor to the Secretary Generalto support the collaboration agreement with RELP and WAPP and join our dynamic, rapidly growing, and innovative organization. RELP is an impact-driven, independent nonprofit organisation that aims to facilitate the cheaper and faster deployment of renewable energy in emerging and developing countries. We aspire to increase reliable, affordable and sustainable energy, thereby mitigating climate change. Our MISSION is to accelerate the transition to clean energy by unlocking renewable energy markets to scalable private investments at low prices, promoting sustainable economic development for the people. We are very proud of our prominent Board of Advisors, which includes well-known personalities from the global renewable energy, climate, and business sectors. They are: Michael Liebreich, Rachel Kyte, Rebecca Collyer, Angelina Galiteva, David Rogers, Daniel Magallón, Charles Bai, and Felix Zhang as part of our team and board. Visit ourwebsitefor more information. We are funded by philanthropic organisations, including the Rockefeller Foundation, Quadrature Climate Foundation, Ballmer Group, European Climate Foundation, Packard Foundation, IKEA Foundation, Oak Foundation, Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet, and Good Energies Foundation through Climate Breakthrough. The candidate’s main focus will be to provide high-level strategic advice and technical expertise to the Secretary General to strengthen the General Secretariat’s institutional capacity in strategic planning, coordination of priority initiatives, resource mobilization, partnership development, strengthening of institutional relations, and support for strategic decision-making. The incumbent contributes to ensuring coherence between WAPP’s strategic directions and their operational implementation, with a view to promoting the achievement of WAPP’s strategic objectives and strengthening its institutional effectiveness. You will succeed in this role if you are a visionary, bilingual (English and French) senior energy executive with 20+ years of strategic advisory experience who can serve as a trusted advisor to the Secretary General, mobilize key regional partnerships, and translate complex West African energy integration goals into seamless institutional execution. If you enjoy challenges, are passionate about renewable energy, and seek a job with a meaningful impact in scaling up clean energy systems globally while contributing significantly to climate change mitigation, RELP will be a great fit for you. How you will contribute: Strategic advice and decision-making support: Provide the Secretary General with high-level strategic advice on institutional, strategic and governance issues affecting the achievement of WAPP’s objectives; Conduct strategic analyses and formulate recommendations to inform the Secretary General’s decisions; Prepare strategic notes, briefing notes, analyses, speeches and other high-level documents for the Secretary General; Anticipate issues, risks and opportunities likely to affect WAPP’s strategic priorities and propose appropriate measures. Strategic planning and monitoring of priority initiatives: Support the Secretary General in monitoring the implementation of the Strategic Plan and other priority institutional initiatives; Develop and update strategic dashboards and tools for monitoring institutional priorities; Monitor the execution of strategic decisions and action plans approved by the Secretary General, and propose the adjustments needed to ensure the expected results are achieved; Support the Secretary General in the strategic monitoring of institutional and sector reforms driven by WAPP, ensuring their coherence with the organization’s strategic directions. Partnership development and resource mobilization: Support the Secretary General in developing and strengthening strategic partnerships with Member States, regional institutions, technical and financial partners and other stakeholders; Contribute to identifying opportunities for cooperation and resource mobilization in support of WAPP’s priority projects and initiatives; Support the Secretary General in preparing for and following up on high-level meetings, official missions and strategic consultations with partners. Institutional coordination and strategic communication: Facilitate the coordination of strategic initiatives involving several departments of the General Secretariat; Ensure the consistency of contributions from various units in the preparation of files submitted to the Secretary General; Contribute to developing the Secretary General’s strategic messages aimed at supporting WAPP’s institutional positioning with Member States, partners and other stakeholders; Advise the Secretary General on advocacy, awareness-raising and engagement strategies for Member States, regional institutions and other stakeholders to foster buy-in for institutional reforms and WAPP’s strategic initiatives, particularly those related to the development of the Regional Electricity Market. Knowledge management and institutional improvement: Conduct strategic monitoring of developments in the energy sector, regional policies, financing mechanisms and international best practices; Propose innovative approaches to strengthen WAPP’s institutional performance, governance and organizational effectiveness; Capitalize on lessons learned from strategic initiatives and formulate recommendations aimed at strengthening institutional effectiveness and the continuous improvement of WAPP’s performance. What you will bring: Master’s degree (5 years post-secondary) or equivalent in engineering, planning, energy policy, strategic management, economics, business administration or any other relevant field. A minimum of twenty (20) years of relevant professional experience in the energy sector, regional or international institutions, strategic management, infrastructure development or any other related field. Demonstrated experience in strategic advisory, institutional coordination, executive management or high-level decision-making support functions. Experience as a director, senior executive or principal advisor within a regional or international organization, a development institution or an energy sector organization, particularly an electricity utility or a ministry in charge of energy, would be an asset. Good knowledge of issues related to regional energy integration, regional electricity markets and energy policies in West Africa; Good understanding of regional cooperation mechanisms, partnerships with development institutions, and resource mobilization processes; Good knowledge of strategic planning processes, institutional governance and change management; Good knowledge of technical and financial partners’ policies and procedures would be an asset; Excellent strategic analysis, synthesis and decision-support document drafting skills; Leadership, strategic vision and the ability to influence decision-making in a complex institutional environment; Excellent communication, negotiation and relationship management skills with high-level counterparts; A high level of diplomacy, sound judgment and confidentiality in handling strategic matters; Ability to work independently, take initiative and effectively manage multiple priorities simultaneously; Excellent organizational, analytical and rigor skills, with the ability to propose appropriate solutions; Ability to work in a multicultural and multidisciplinary environment, fostering collaboration and consensus-building; Good command of IT tools, including Excel, Word, Power Point, MS Project, email and the Internet. Excellent command of French and English, with the ability to draft strategic documents and interact effectively with high-level counterparts in both languages. Work schedule: This is a full-time and exclusive position. 12-month duration. Flexibility to travel frequently (mainly within the region)Our value proposition: Competitive fee. International work environment. Flexibility and work-life balance. PTOLearning Programme Be part of a high-impact project that makes a difference to people and the planet. Develop your knowledge and experience in an excellent work environment and challenging projects. Work and learn from a professional and expert team renowned in the renewable energy field. Anti-discrimination statement: RELP is an equal opportunity talent acquisition player. You are welcome no matter where you come from, what you believe, or what you look like. All applicants are considered regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression. We are interested in seeing what you can bring to the organisation. We are convinced that our diverse views, talents, and personalities enable us to better understand ourselves and our partners, and inspire us to think differently.
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