Senior Energy Associate

Deadline for Applications September 2, 2026 Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based) E (most hardship) Family Type (not applicable for home-based) Non Family with Residential Location Staff Member / Affiliate Type CONS Local Target Start Date 2026-10-01 Terms of Reference Operational Context - Kakuma and Kalobeyei The Kakuma-Kalobeyei operational area, situated in Turkana County in north-western Kenya, encompasses Kakuma Refugee hosting areas (comprising Kakuma 1, 2, 3, and 4) and the Kalobeyei Integrated Settlement. Currently it hosts around 318,000 refugees and asylum seekers originating from multiple countries, including South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Burundi, among others. Turkana County is among the most arid and economically constrained counties in Kenya. The region faces severe pressure on natural resources, a high incidence of poverty, and acute vulnerability to climate variability. Kakuma Municipality presents a unique opportunity to pilot and scale innovative, market­ based energy solutions that serve both refugees and host community members within an integrated development framework, aligned with the Kalobeyei Integrated Socio-Economic Development Plan (KISEDP) and Shirika Plan. The incumbent will provide technical expertise in the assessment, design, and implementation of energy projects, with a particular focus on long-term sustainability, market-based approaches, and the integration of energy solutions with livelihood, health, WASH, and education programming and support other environment related activities. Purpose and Scope of Assignment The purpose of this position is to provide dedicated, field-based operational and technical support to UN HCR energy programme across the Kaku ma and Kalobeyei operational area, with a strong emphasis on activity monitoring, ground-level coordination, and follow-up implementation. The Senior Energy Associate will serve as the primary on-the-ground focal point for energy activities in the area, ensuring timely and quality delivery of energy interventions while channeling strategic information to the Kakuma Head of Office and Senior Energy Officer in Nairobi. The incumbent will support the analysis, planning, monitoring, and reporting of UNHCR Kenya's energy strategy in Kakuma-Kalobeyei, which seeks to accelerate the transition to clean, green, and renewable energy solutions for refugees and host communities alike. All activities will be aligned with the UNHCR Global Strategy for Sustainable Energy, the Kenya Multi-Year Energy Strategy 2026-2030, the Shirika Plan, and the Kalobeyei Integrated Socio-Economic Development Plan (KISEDP). Roles and responsibilities: Activity Monitoring and Implementation Follow-up (35%) This constitutes the core function of the role. The Senior Energy Associate will: • Conduct regular field visits across Kaku ma refugee camp (area 1-4) _and the Kalobeyei Integrated Settlement to monitor the progress of all ongoing energy projects, including solar electrification of health facilities, schools, and community centres, as well as electric cooking initiatives and O&M contracts. • Maintain an updated activity tracker and work plan dashboard for all energy activities across the operational area, proactively flagging delays, risks, and proposed mitigation measures. • Monitor the quality of implementation of contractor and partner activities, including solar installations, electric cooking device deployment, and associated training programmes. • Verify the effective functioning of O&M contracts and escalate issues related to system downtime or maintenance gaps to the Senior Energy Officer in a timely manner. • Monitor the operationalization and performance of newly installed solar systems at health facilities, schools, market areas, and UNHCR field facilities across both Kakuma and Kalobeyei. • Ensure systematic data collection and documentation across all field activities, including