Expert on Iraq's Digital Governance for Integrated and Smart Power Grids

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Economic Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) is a regional arm of the United Nations established to foster economic integration and promote sustainable development across its member states. ESCWA provides policy guidance and technical expertise to support countries in the region, focusing on various sectors including energy, environment, and social development. The organization operates in multiple countries within the Western Asia region, working collaboratively with other UN bodies such as UNECE and ESCAP to address regional challenges and enhance capacities in member states. ESCWA's mission is to support inclusive and sustainable development through evidence-based policy-making and capacity-building initiatives.

Job Overview:
The consultancy position aims to strengthen Iraq's power sector by developing digital governance policies that facilitate the planning and management of integrated, resilient, and inclusive power systems. The consultant will be tasked with conducting a comprehensive assessment of Iraq's power-sector digitalization landscape, identifying existing digital systems, institutional arrangements, and data governance practices. The objective is to provide actionable recommendations that will support ESCWA and national stakeholders in enhancing the digital capabilities of Iraq's power grid. The consultant will prepare an inception report, conduct a national mapping and diagnostic assessment, and contribute to the development of harmonized approaches for digital governance in the energy sector. This role is crucial for ensuring that Iraq's power systems are equipped to integrate decentralized energy resources and improve overall system reliability and efficiency.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Expert will be responsible for several key duties, including:

• Conducting desk research and stakeholder mapping to review national strategies, laws, and policies related to Iraq's electricity sector and digital governance.
• Preparing an inception report and workplan that outlines the methodology and stakeholder engagement approach.
• Conducting a national mapping and diagnostic assessment of Iraq's power-sector digitalization landscape, identifying key digital systems and governance arrangements.
• Providing practical recommendations to inform project activities and capacity-building efforts.
• Preparing materials for project meetings and revising deliverables based on feedback from ESCWA and national counterparts.
• Coordinating with ESCWA on stakeholder outreach and validation processes, ensuring that findings are clear and evidence-based.
• Engaging with relevant Iraqi institutions to validate findings and refine recommendations, ensuring that outputs are submitted in editable formats.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a master's degree in energy policy, electrical engineering, power systems, economics, public policy, digital transformation, data governance, cybersecurity, or a related field. Additionally, at least 7 years of relevant professional experience in areas such as electricity-sector policy, power-system planning, smart grids, energy-sector digitalization, and data governance is required. Experience working within Iraq's electricity sector, including collaboration with government institutions and regulators, is essential. Candidates should also demonstrate experience in stakeholder engagement and the ability to deliver high-quality outputs under tight deadlines. Familiarity with technologies such as SCADA, energy management systems, and cybersecurity practices in the energy sector is also required.

Educational Background:
A master's degree in a relevant field such as energy policy, electrical engineering, or public policy is mandatory for this position. Candidates must submit a copy of their educational degree as part of their application, as incomplete applications will not be considered.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 7 years of professional experience in the electricity sector, specifically in areas related to power-system planning, digital governance, and energy-sector digitalization. Candidates should have a proven track record of working with government institutions, regulators, and utilities, particularly in the context of Iraq's electricity sector. Experience in stakeholder engagement and the ability to produce high-quality deliverables within tight timelines is also essential.

Languages:
Fluency in English and Arabic is required for this position, as these are the working languages of ESCWA. Candidates must demonstrate proficiency in all four areas of language use: speaking, reading, writing, and understanding. Knowledge of French is considered an asset but is not mandatory.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy is expected to last for a duration of 2 months and is primarily remote. The United Nations does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process, ensuring that applicants are not required to provide any financial information or bank account details.