Senior Energy Advisor

Focus of the Role

Launched in 2013, Power Africa is a U.S. Government-led partnership that leverages the resources of 12 U.S. Government agencies with the private and public sector, to achieve two ambitious targets to expand access to power across sub-Saharan Africa by 2030: to increase installed power capacity by 30,000 MW, and to create 60 million new connections. 
The Power Africa model focuses on private sector-led solutions to drive power sector development. Government leadership is crucial to drive sustainable change in power sectors and make markets attractive for private sector investments. 
 

Please note that this is a fixed-term, full-time role for an initial period of 2 years that may be extended based on budget availability and performance.

Job Introduction

TBI, based on its wider work to support Government leadership for change, runs Power Africa’s Senior Advisors Group (SAG). This programme seeks to strengthen government capacity to plan and implement the reforms which create the enabling environment needed for long term, sustainable development of the power sector. The programme provides on-the-ground embedded support to ministries at the centre of government in the form of Resident or Regional Advisors, complemented by pro-bono high-level leader-to-leader support provided by the Senior Advisors Group (SAG) and targeted, technical support on specific aspects of reform by infrastructure specialists hired on a consultancy basis.
 

Key Responsibilities

TBI is providing advisory support to the Minister of Energy in Burkina Faso through a senior-level embedded Energy Advisor in the Ministry. The Energy Advisor is expected to assist the Minister and his office to execute their strategy for power sector development.

Responsibilities -

• Lead the Institute’s advisory support on energy to the political leadership in Burkina Faso
• Identify requirements for support, and plan and execute activities in close coordination with TBI’s country team and the Power Africa Senior Advisors Group team
• Provide top-quality strategic and practical advice to the Minister of Energy and his teams on power sector development, covering both on- and off-grid technologies
• Support the Ministry of Energy in its strategies for lowering the cost of power, including domestic as well as trade-based options
• Conduct financial appraisals of options for power sector development, in line with the Government’s investment programme for power sector development
• Help position Burkina Faso in the sub-region, by analysis and practical advice on regional power markets
• Support and advise the special unit for presidential projects on matters of power sector development and ensure close coordination with relevant sector ministries and wider TBI advisory support
• Ensure reporting and accountability toward Government counterparts, the Institute and programme donors
• Conduct research on selected topics as required by TBI’s West Africa Regional Advisor or the Country Head

Person Specification

• Masters degree (preferred areas of study: Business, Economics, Engineering);
• Minimum 7 years of experience, preferably in energy and power sector development;
• Ability to advise and influence senior counterparts
• Ability to navigate with sound judgment and independence a political work environment
• In-depth understanding of the energy industry, specifically in West Africa;
• Good knowledge of the solar photovoltaic industry and storage solutions;
• Sound understanding of financial analysis;
• Fluency in French and English required with excellent oral and written communication skills;
• Strong willingness to learn, and ability to be a real team player;
• Ability to thrive in a fast-moving political environment, with an emphasis on performance, results and accountability;
• In addition, we place high value on relevant personal qualities such as resourcefulness, tenacity, independence, self-confidence, and integrity;
• Above all, we are looking for individuals with high levels of enthusiasm, resilience, and a can-do attitude. Experience of living and working in developing countries is desirable but not essential.

About The Institute

At the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change we are dedicated to making globalisation work for the many, not the few. We do this by helping countries, their people and their governments, address some of the most difficult challenges in the world today – beginning with those where we think we can break new ground, offering leaders new thinking and new approaches. Our staff – over 200 of them, based all over the world – are working on some of the most intractable problems around issues of co-existence, governance, the peace process in the Middle East and renewing the centre.