Job description

Terms of Reference (TOR)

1. Background Information

Somalia continues to expand access to reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity through decentralized energy solutions, including solar hybrid mini-grids and other off-grid systems. Mini-grids are particularly important for communities and productive-use customers that are not yet connected, and they are increasingly operated by private sector developers and Energy Service Providers (ESPs). These actors are central to electricity access, local economic development, renewable energy deployment, system reliability, and customer service delivery.

Job application service

Despite the growing role of the private sector in the energy access market, the mini-grid industry still faces technical, institutional, and coordination constraints. Developers and ESPs require stronger capacity in system design, operation and maintenance, protection of distribution and transmission lines, protection of substation equipment, protection coordination, short-circuit current analysis, fault investigation, safety practices, and use of power system analysis tools. At the same time, national industry associations need support to become more effective platforms for advocacy, knowledge-sharing, professional training, member services, standards promotion, and representation of private sector interests.

The National Transformation Plan (NTP) 2025–2029) also identifies the energy sector as a strategic enabler of Somalia's economic transformation, recognizing that reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy is fundamental to industrialization, productive sectors, private sector development, employment creation, and improved social services. The NTP prioritizes expanding energy access and infrastructure, promoting renewable energy development, reviving hydropower potential, advancing responsible oil and gas exploration, and strengthening the extractive sector through institutional reforms and increased investment. Under the NTP, the Government aims to increase national electricity access from 61.9% to 80% of the population by 2029, with particular emphasis on underserved rural communities, internally displaced persons (IDP) settlements, and hard-to-reach areas. This will be achieved through investments in diversified renewable energy sources—including solar, wind, hydropower, decentralized mini-grids, and modern transmission and distribution infrastructure—while promoting public-private partnerships (PPPs) and bankable energy investments to accelerate nationwide electrification and support inclusive economic growth.

Furthermore, the NTP seeks to improve energy affordability and sector efficiency by reducing national electricity tariffs by 50% by 2029 through comprehensive energy sector reforms. Key priorities include strengthening energy governance and regulatory institutions, expanding renewable energy generation, upgrading national grid and transmission networks, encouraging private sector participation through enabling policy and PPP frameworks, establishing technical electricity training institutions, and implementing a Single Buyer Electricity Market Model to integrate Somalia's fragmented electricity systems. The NTP also promotes long-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with Independent Power Producers (IPPs), modernization of existing mini-grids, and development of a unified national electricity network to improve reliability, reduce operational costs, attract private investment, and ensure sustainable, affordable, and reliable electricity services that contribute to achieving Somalia's broader National Transformation Plan objectives

This assignment will support these objectives by engaging a Mini-Grid System Protection and Capacity Development Expert to strengthen the technical capacity of national industry associations, private sector developers, and Energy Service Providers (ESPs). The assignment will also combine institutional strengthening with practical technical training to cover the priority areas such as electrical protection engineering, short-circuit current distribution, protection of distribution and transmission lines, protection of substation equipment, relay coordination, power system reliability, and practical use of engineering software such as ETAP and other equivalent tools.

The expert will work closely with the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources (MoEWR), relevant project teams, national industry associations, private sector mini-grid developers, ESPs, engineers, technicians, and other stakeholders. The work will contribute to a stronger, more professional, safer, and more reliable mini-grid industry in Somalia.

2. Objectives of the Assignment

The overall objective of the consultancy is to strengthen the technical and institutional capacity of national mini-grid industry associations, private sector developers, and Energy Service Providers through structured Technical training and practical knowledge sharing.

The specific objectives are to:

1.       Develop and deliver practical training on mini-grid operation, maintenance, protection systems, short-circuit current distribution, protection of distribution and transmission lines, and protection of substation equipment.

2.       Promote knowledge-sharing, networking, and linkages to good international practice for mini-grid market development.

Develop practical training materials, tools, guidance notes, monitoring templates, and knowledge products to support long-term the mini-grid sector capacitation.

Skills and qualifications

Qualifications and Experience Required a) Education

·         Advanced university degree in Electrical Engineering, Power Systems Engineering, Renewable Energy, Energy Engineering, Sustainable Energy, or a closely related field is preferred.

·         A first-level university degree in the above fields, combined with at least 10 additional years of relevant professional experience, may be accepted in lieu of a Master's degree.

b) Professional Experience

A minimum of ten (10) years of professional experience in power systems, mini-grid development, renewable energy, distribution networks, electrical protection, protection of lines and substation equipment, or energy sector capacity development.

·         Demonstrated experience designing and delivering technical training for engineers, technicians, private sector developers, ESPs, or utility staff.

·         Strong practical knowledge of mini-grid systems, distribution networks, protection of distribution and transmission lines, protection of substation equipment, protection coordination, fault analysis, and system reliability.

·         Experience in short-circuit current analysis, protection of distribution and transmission lines, protection of substation equipment (busbars, circuit breakers, instrument transformers, and power transformers), relay coordination, and fault investigation.

·         Experience using power system analysis software such as ETAP, DIgSILENT PowerFactory, PSS/E, or similar tools is highly desirable.

·         Experience supporting industry associations, professional bodies, private sector platforms, or energy sector coordination mechanisms is an advantage.

·         Knowledge of mini-grid market development, private sector engagement, energy access challenges, and renewable energy deployment in Somalia contexts.

·         Previous work experience in Somalia, including demonstrated experience providing technical training to existing ESPs, is highly advantageous.

·         Strong experience preparing technical reports, training manuals, guidance notes, tools, and knowledge products.

Attachments

TOR for Mini Grid System Protection Expert & Capacity Building Expert_Final

.docx

How to apply

10.   Application Process:

·         Interested candidates should submit a detailed proposal outlining their key expert’s qualifications, relevant experience, proposed methodology, and financial Proposal to [email protected] cc: [email protected] [email protected] by submission deadline of 18th September 2026.

11.   Confidentiality:

·         All information provided to the consultant during the course of the consultancy shall be treated as confidential and shall not be disclosed to any third party without prior written consent from MoEWR.

12. Conclusion

This consultancy is expected to strengthen Somalia's mini-grid sector by improving the capacity of private sector developers, ESPs, engineers, technicians, and national industry associations. Through institutional support, practical technical training, knowledge products, and stakeholder networking, the Mini-Grid Capacity Development Expert will contribute to a stronger, safer, more reliable, and sustainable local mini-grid market.

[email protected]