To cut greenhouse gas emissions and tackle the climate crisis, we need to rapidly change how we produce and consume energy. Using energy more efficiently and generating energy through renewables (rather than fossil fuels) will play a massive role in reducing global emissions. As the world warms, more energy-intensive cooling services (particularly air conditioners) will be needed, exacerbating the impact on the climate. At the same time, rooftop solar energy can provide much of the world’s electricity. The combination of both solutions can ensure we can keep our people cool without contributing to global warming. WWF is working to drive this change through the ‘Cool & Solar’ initiative¹.

Significantly, more than half of this population lives in cities, and these urban areas are the centers of the fastest and largest transformations in population, consumption, resource use, and waste, with city dwellers accounting for over 70% percent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. On the other hand, cities are also important actors in the transition toward a low-carbon and sustainable future. To fully unleash their potential, cities need a supportive environment that enables them to achieve their goals more easily. Since 2015, WWF-Philippines has been implementing the One Planet Cities (OPC) and its flagship activity, the One Planet City Challenge (OPCC). This global initiative of WWF envisions that cities worldwide act as transformation catalysts, implementing integrated and inclusive plans in line with 1.5 °C while ensuring urban resilience and unlocking individual and collective climate actions. In order to keep cities engaged, the OPC program strives to provide additional benefits to cities, such as enabling them to focus on topics or areas that they still lack or need capacity building, as well as linking them with other WWF-PH projects or initiatives aside from OPC. Further, aside from capacitating city officials or representatives, the OPC develops activities that cater to the city’s other local stakeholders to ensure inclusivity and public engagement.

Building on this narrative, the “Cool and Solar Initiative” Project in the Philippines has an overall goal for select cities in the country and members of the Climate Action Philippine Alliance (CAPA) to reduce their emissions through: 1) actions on a city’s own buildings (application of solar use and energy efficiency measures) and 2) through better training and mobilization of the multi-stakeholders. Specifically, it aims to accelerate the uptake of rooftop solar PV and efficient cooling solutions in selected OPCC cities through (i) local technical capacity building, (ii) pilot projects, and (iii) awareness-raising. The project will run until June 2025.

¹ https://wwf.panda.org/discover/our_focus/climate_and_energy_practice/what_we_do/changing_energy_use/cool_solar/ 

Specifically, the Consultant will work to achieve Objectives 1, 2 & 3 of the project, which are to (a) support 3 cities to implement energy efficiency and renewable energy (solar rooftop) in their own local operations; (b) policy improvement; and (c) technical guidance, respectively. With the vision of enhancing Philippine cities’ capacity to be 1.5°C compliant as well as to strategically navigate the path of the local government units towards the Philippines’ Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC)², the identified partner cities are also part of the OPC local implementation. These are (1) San Fernando City, La Union, (2) Ormoc City, Leyte and (3) Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte. Further, the project intends to assist these cities in advancing their strategies to comply with the national policies:
▪ RA 11285, Section 7 - Role of LGUs in the Enercon Act
▪ AO No. 15, Series of 2024 - Call for Accelerated Implementation of GEMP and relevant IAEECC Resolutions
▪ IAEECC Resolution No. 1, series of 2021 - All GEs to strictly comply with GEMP
▪ IAEECC Resolution No. 3, series of 2021 - All GEs to use efficient air-conditioning units
▪ IAEECC Resolution No. 8, series of 2023 - GEs encouraged to install rooftop solar PV (at least 20% of electricity requirement)

The Consultant will work closely with the Energy Project Officer to effectively deliver below key outputs under the above-mentioned objectives:

• Set up a training program to build the capacity of identified cities and other stakeholders on energy efficiency and solar rooftop applications. This capacity building would include providing knowledge on energy efficiency of cooling and alternative natural refrigerants to foster the phase-out of HFCs as per the Kigali amendment and perhaps build on the DOE’s sustainable space cooling strategy and the expanded rooftop program to contribute to the PH NDC.
• Assist the cities in implementing energy management in their government buildings through practical implementation of energy management in 1 government-owned building. This assistance would include the installation of energy tracking, engagement of employees, and energy audit.
• Develop a policy brief to include energy-related criteria (e.g., implementation of energy efficiency measures, application of renewable energy, etc.) in the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) issued by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
• Actively engage the Department of Interior and Local Government and other partners (e.g., League of Cities of the Philippines and the Department of Energy) in advocating for the inclusion of energy-related criteria in the SGLG.
• Support partner cities in enabling energy-related local policies and ordinances.
• Develop a technical brief using the 3 cities as a case study for dissemination among CAPA members.

² https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/NDC/2022-06/Philippines%20-%20NDC.pdf

The Consultant shall undertake the following tasks during the assignment:

1. Assist in identifying 1 government-owned facility for the conduct of an energy efficiency audit
2. Collect needed baseline data of the 3 partner cities on energy supply/demand, day-to-day activities, including the use of energy meter/tracker
3. Conduct interviews, research, and meetings with city staff and other building personnel
4. Conduct energy efficiency audits of the identified city-owned facility in the 3 partner cities
5. Present the results/findings & recommendations of the energy audit to city stakeholders, including city staff, officials, mayors, in-city businesses, CSOs, etc.
6. Develop related tools, documents, and modules for the training program/capacity building of LGU staff
7. Facilitate workshops on renewable energy and energy efficiency for city staff, including activity design and content. Particularly in the city’s formulation/development of their Local Energy Efficiency & Conservation Plan (LEECP), as mandated by DOE.
8. Document and prepare activity reports of conducted workshops for city staff
9. Assist in policy review and development of policy brief and technical guidance on the role of local governments and stakeholders in accelerating energy transition
10. Serve as a technical resource person on various workshops with city staff, other local stakeholders, and CAPA members
11. Conduct presentations or debriefing sessions with WWF-PH project staff related to energy audit and capacity building
12. Communicate directly with WWF-PH, specifically with the Energy Project Officer and Project Manager, regarding any matter involving the project and related activities with the cities
13. Attend relevant meetings (offline & online) organized by WWF-PH as needed
14. Facilitate own local travels and other necessary logistics for the city visits

✓ A detailed workplan with timelines developed to perform the task and submitted at the start of the work
✓ List of needed data and requirements for the conduct of energy audit
✓ Conduct of “Energy Audits” in the identified government-owned facility of each city
✓ Energy Auditing Report for each facility that contains findings and recommendations
✓ Program design and content of capacity building program for city staff on energy transition, particularly renewable energy and energy efficiency
✓ Presentation materials and other tools/documents to be used for the workshops and activities with stakeholders
✓ Technical outputs and recommendations for LGUs needed in policy brief and technical brief

This opportunity is open to individuals or organizations with expertise/technical experience in renewable energy, energy audit, energy efficiency & conservation, energy management, nature-based solutions, environmental assessment policy, stakeholder engagement, and other related fields.

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in environmental engineering, energy management, or relevant fields (for Individuals)
• SEC Registered with Valid Business Permit and Tax Registration (For companies/organizations)
• At least 10 years of experience working on energy auditing/accounting, sustainable energy, and/or environmental resources management;
• Profound understanding of energy issues, especially perspectives about energy efficiency and renewable energy in local governments and private sectors in the Philippines
• Knowledge of energy management systems, sustainable energy transition, and climate change
• With experience in conducting technical workshops and capacity building sessions for local stakeholders and business sectors
• Relevant experience in developing and writing training programs, feasibility studies, baseline studies, and stakeholder consultations.
• Research and analytical skills, including data gathering and analyzing information using both qualitative and quantitative methods.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to write clearly and concisely and to communicate effectively.
• Experience working with international organizations and dealing with local governments is preferred

As an equal employment opportunity employer, WWF does not discriminate based on an applicant’s race, religion, sex, gender, or disability status. To reduce paper use, submissions by mail will not be accepted. Due to the high volume of applications, inquiries via phone cannot be accepted.

Interested applicants can email their CV with a cover letter to apply@wwf.org.ph.