GGGI is recruiting a consultant to support development of the Green Affordable Housing (GAH) project in Saint Lucia.  The consultant will work closely with the Saint Lucia Development Bank (SLDB) and other project stakeholders to advance the project, including researching demand, supply, and characteristics of affordable housing the country; conceptualizing the project’s financing structure; and strengthening the project concept note.  The contact may be extended upon completion of work based on availability of funds.

BACKGROUND

GGGI is partnering with the Government of Saint Lucia as well as the Saint Lucia Development Bank and the National Housing Corporation among other stakeholders to advance the development of one of Saint Lucia’s flagship climate resilience projects, the Green Affordable Housing (GAH) project.

This project envisions the construction of 3,000 sustainably-designed resilient and affordable housing solutions primarily catering to vulnerable groups, including low-income families and youth, which currently reside in highly vulnerable areas. The Saint Lucia government along with the National Housing Corporation (NHC) have recently approved a Public Sector Relocation Program (PSRP) to relocate housing developments to less vulnerable areas. The MOH have estimated that there is a shortfall of 14,000 homes to complete the relocation program.

The project has been prioritized in the Saint Lucia GCF Country Program for funding by the GCF and aligns with principles espoused in the National Adaptation Plan (NAP). The project is being led by the Saint Lucia Development Bank (SLDB) which acts as the main project implementing entity.  Saint Lucia’s National Designated Authority (NDA) and SLDB have held preliminary discussions with the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), which has expressed interest in co-financing the project. The project has an estimated construction cost of US$ 60 million and is expected to be financed by GCF, SLDB,CDB, and other partners with a 60/10/30 co-financing ratio.

SLDB, the Government and Saint Lucia and other partners have developed a draft concept note for the project, and with this consultancy GGGI is seeking to support advancement of the project.   The consultant will be expected to provide support for initial work on the following components of the project:

• Component 1: Define and design the project´s blended-finance structure and financing arrangements to make the housing units affordable and accessible to the targeted population. Determine and identify the parameters under which the newly constructed units will be made affordable and accessible to the target population.

• Component 2: Develop tender documentation to produce sustainably-designed sample homes based on Saint Lucia building codes and international best practices. Under this component, the project will seek to address the climate-change induced housing challenges by developing tender documents for the construction of resilient and green housing stock.

• Component 3: Development of GCF Funding Proposal. GCF capital will finance the detailed design of the green housing solutions and their construction. The team expects to complete the development and submission of the funding proposal during Q2 2022, leaving approximately 6 months to address GCF comments for the project to be presented at the December 2022 board meeting for approval and funding.

OBJECTIVES AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The consultant will work closely with GGGI Caribbean Representative, GGGI Senior Investment Officer, as well as officials at the Saint Lucia Ministry of Finance, Economic Growth, Job Creation, External Affairs and the Public Service; SLDB, Saint Lucia Ministry of Housing (MOH), National Housing Corporation, and others to support advancement and further development of the GAH project.

SCOPE OF WORK

Based in Castries and embedded in the SLDB, the consultant will lead further development of the GAH project, including performing updating the project concept note, elaborating the detailed workplan of the project, and conceptualizing appropriate finance and credit mechanisms.   The consultant will lead the day-to-day activities required for the successful completion of deliverables and maintain engagement with relevant stakeholders to gain necessary inputs to the project and coordinate with related workstreams.

The consultant is expected to complete the following activities, and any other activities required to complete these activities and the deliverables below:

Component 1:

Engage with project stakeholders and perform background research as necessary to understand the objectives of the project, and the parameters under which the GAH units can be made affordable and accessible to the target population.

• • Engage with stakeholders and perform research to ascertain the demand, supply, customers, pricing, availability, technical characteristics, legal and regulatory frameworks of green and/or resilient housing in Saint Lucia.
  • Conduct socio-economic characterization of target beneficiaries, including the assessment of purchasing power and willingness to pay
    • • Define and categorize primary and secondary beneficiaries
      • Gather relevant available economic data
      • Plan and organize 2 focus group discussions with target beneficiaries
      • Define, quantify and monetize adaptation needs of primary and secondary beneficiaries
      • Conduct vulnerability assessment of target beneficiaries in alignment with GCF adaptation indicators and past GCF-funded projects and programs
      • Conceptualize and develop an overview of the project´s blended-finance structure and financing arrangements in consultation with SLDB, to guarantee affordability of the housing solution for target beneficiaries on the basis of the following analysis:
        • • Define specific type(s) of risk that need to be mitigated in order to make the project bankable
          • Justify the need for GCF concessional funding
          • Define and justify the type and degree of concessionality of GCF funding to ensure affordability of housing solutions without generating windfall profit for private investors
          • Identify other similar blended-finance structure to justify assumptions and calculations
          • Define mechanisms to avoid moral hazard or market distortion through the provision of concessional funding
          • Develop narrative to justify SLDB capacity to lead the implementation of the solution
          • Define the project´s expected leverage ratio and compare it to other similar adaptation projects to demonstrate the project´s value for money
          • Define and justify the expected financial return for SLDB and private investors
          • Validate credit mechanism concept with SLDB and other stakeholders as necessary via consultations and a validation workshop

 

Component 2:

• • Review the Saint Lucia building code and document findings assessing relevance, gaps, and requirements related to the GAH project.

 

Component 3:

• • Define the project´s impact objectives in alignment with GCF´s theory of change including:
    • • Adaptation impact expectations, targets and methodology for accurate measurement, as well as potential mitigation co-benefits
      • Define the project´s key objectives and develop solid narrative to justify its alignment with the country´s adaptation  plans
      • Update Green Affordable Housing concept note and work plan
        • • Review work conducted to date on the GAH project and elaborate a detailed work plan for project activities
          • Update the Green Affordable Housing concept note in GCF format based on information gleaned in the above activities and in coordination with relevant stakeholders.
          • Submit concept note to GGGI’s review committee and make modifications as requested.

The consultant will collaborate internally with other consultants and staff members assigned to this project as needed.

 

OUTPUT/REPORTING REQUIREMENTS/DELIVERABLES

The Consultant shall report regularly to the Project Lead, and provide written monthly status reports in the provided template. The Consultant must work as part of a team with GGGI, the Government of Saint Lucia, SLDB, and other partners at all times.  Microsoft PowerPoint and Word products must be delivered using GGGI templates provided.  This is a deliverable based contract, the Consultant will be responsible for the development and submission of the following deliverables.  Due dates are subject to change based on the project schedule.

 For each deliverable except for #1, the consultant is required to deliver a draft version one month prior to the deadline, and a final version by the deadline.

 

Deliverable	Submission date	Payment breakdown	Payment Schedule
1. Inception Report and work plan	Two weeks after contract signing	$2,000	Payment 1
2. Report on the demand, supply, customers, pricing, availability, technical characteristics, legal and regulatory framework of green and/or resilient housing in Saint Lucia	November 2021	$4,000
3. Report on Socioeconomic characterization of target beneficiaries including the assessment of purchasing power and willingness to pay (including minutes, agenda, and participants lists of focus group discussions)	November 2021	$5,000
4. Overview of the  project´s blended-finance structure and financing arrangements (validated with SLDB)	Dec 2021	$5,000	Payment 2
5. Review of Saint Lucia building code	Nov 2021	$5,000
6. Updated Green Affordable Housing Project Concept Note and detailed work plan	Dec 2021	$6,750

 

Estimated Total Fee : USD 27,750 depending on candidate’s credentials

 

QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCE/EXPERTISE

• • Master´s degree or equivalent professional qualification in Engineering, Urban Development or other related fields
  • Minimum 12 years of progressively responsible experience in project development/implementation related to sustainability/climate change/green building
  • At least seven years of green housing/urban development experience
  • Proven experience developing blended-finance adaptation urban projects
  • Thorough understanding of Saint Lucia building codes and  resilient housing initiatives and standards in the Caribbean
  • Advanced understanding of green and climate resilient housing design, standards, and technologies, particularly as relevant to a Caribbean context
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills and a proven ability to develop, maintain and enhance relationships with a variety of internal and external contacts
  • Ability to work with a range of stakeholders, including banks, non-bank financial institutions, capital market authorities, government officials, project developers and investors
  • Prior experience developing climate change adaptation concept notes and funding proposals
  • Familiarity with the GCF

 

DOCUMENTS TO BE SUBMITTED

• • Cover Letter
  • CV/Resume
  • Writing sample

To apply, please click on the link below.

 

Caribbean: Senior Green Building Vacancy