Recruitment of Consultant - Owners Engineer

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT SELECTION Title of Assignment: Owner’s Engineer Name of Project: Accelerating Sustainable and Clean Energy Transformation (ASCENT) Project ID: P513939 Implementing Agency: Ministry of Energy and Mining Country: Kingdom of Lesotho Contract Type: Time-based Contract The Government of Lesotho has received financing from the World Bank for the implementation of the Accelerating Sustainable and Clean Energy Access Transformation (ASCENT) Project. The ASCENT is being implemented by the Ministry of Energy and Mining (MoEM). One of the components of ASCENT is Component 1, titled “Increasing Access to On-Grid Electrification”. This component is the primary focus of this assignment. It finances expansion of the national distribution network and last-mile connections in targeted peri-urban and highland rural areas identified as least-cost grid electrification zones under the Lesotho's National Electrification Strategy (NES). Activities to be undertaken under Component 1 include construction of new Medium Voltage (MV) lines and Low Voltage (LV) distribution networks; installation of transformers, service drops, and prepaid meters; provision of ready boards for households unable to afford internal wiring costs; and reinforcement and upgrading of existing transformers to improve reliability and climate resilience. The component targets the connection of approximately 24,842 non-electrified households, businesses, and public facilities. The Project Implementation Unit (PIU) is established within the MoEM and is supported by two Technical Units: the On-Grid Technical Unit and the Off-Grid Technical Unit, respectively tasked with implementing the off-grid and on-grid project activities. Working closely with the Lesotho Electricity Company (LEC), which is the state-owned utility responsible for the transmission and distribution of electricity nationwide, the On-Grid Technical Unit is specifically mandated to bear the primary responsibility for technical due diligence, land acquisition, and oversight of electrical works contractors under Component 1. Under the On-grid Technical Unit, the PIU intends to hire an individual consultant to provide support to the Project in managing and implementing of Component 1 of ASCENT project. This assignment is central to the successful achievement of the project. Objectives and Scope of the Assignment The objective of this assignment is to support the ASCENT PIU in the effective and efficient implementation of Component 1. The individual consultant will provide integrated support across three key areas: contracts management and coordination, review of designs prepared by LEC for the Project, and ad hoc supervision of civil and electrical works including quality assurance and control. The consultant under the supervision of On-grid project engineers will work in close collaboration with the PIU team, LEC, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that project activities are delivered on time, with required quality, within budget, and in compliance with World Bank fiduciary, technical, and the applicable environmental and social (E&S) standards. The Summary Scope of the Assignment The assignment is structured around three core areas of support, covering both the design/procurement phase and the construction supervision phase of the project. • Project Management and Coordination Support • Support to Design Review • Support to Procurement Process • Support to Supervision of Works and Acceptance (Quality Assurance and Control) Qualifications and Experience Requirements • A university degree (minimum bachelor’s level) in Electrical Engineering, Power Systems Engineering, or a closely related field. A master’s degree would be considered plus point in evaluation • A minimum of 10 years of professional experience in the power distribution projects, with demonstrated expertise in MV/LV network design, construction supervision, and project/contract management. • Proven experience in at least two similar assignments involving grid extension or rural electrification projects, preferably in Sub-Saharan Africa. • Strong familiarity with World Bank procurement procedures, experience in preparing tendering documents and managing works contracts. • Demonstrated ability to work independently and coordinate effectively with government counterparts, utilities, contractors, and development partners. • Proficiency in written and spoken English is required. Knowledge of Sesotho is an advantage. • Experience in the application of electrification design softwares such as Microstation, Reticmaster, or PowerOffice shall be an added advantage. Recruitment Process and Contract Type The selection method shall follow the World Bank’s Individual Consultant Selection method, and the procurement process shall be governed by the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers February 2025 (Sixth Edition). The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section III, paragraphs, 3.15, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations, setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest. In addition, please refer to the following specific information on conflict of interest related to this assignment: Consultants shall not be hired for any assignment that would be in conflict with their prior or current obligations to other clients, or that may place them in a position of being unable to carry out the assignment in the best interests of the Borrower. This is a time-based assignment. The consultant will be based in Maseru, Lesotho, with regular travel to project sites in the field as required. The Employer will provide the consultant with access to relevant project documents, data, and office space as needed. The initial contract will be signed for 1 year with 3 months’ probational period. The contract may be extended depending on the need and performance during the first year. The incumbent shall be selected on the basis of their relevant experience, qualifications, and capability to carry out the assignment. Candidates shall be considered if they meet minimum relevant requirements which shall be determined by the Client on the basis of the nature and complexity of the assignment and assessed on the basis of academic background and relevant specific experience and, as appropriate, knowledge of local conditions such as national language, culture, administrative systems, and government organization. Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours i.e. 0800 to 1700 hours, local time. Submission Interested candidates must submit their expressions of interest with certified copies of their educational certificates in a single PDF format to the email addresses mentioned below on or before 25th September 2026 at 17H00. The subject of the email must be “Expression of Interest – Owner’s Engineer” . Hand delivered expressions of interest shall not be accepted. Email addresses for submission and clarification requests: Attention: The Project Coordinator, ASCENT 120 Lancers Street, Maseru West Emails: makhabanel@lec.co.ls Cc lmokhutsoane@yahoo.com