District Cooling Consultant

Organizational Context

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), through its Mitigation Branch and India Office, seeks to accelerate district cooling investment and knowledge in India. This role supports the design, advocacy, and operationalization of a district cooling knowledge hub, fostering stakeholder engagement, fundraising, and strategic communications to ensure its sustainable growth and impact.

Job Purpose

This consultancy role supports UNEP's projects on scaling up district cooling in India, aligning with the Cool Coalition's framework. The purpose is to provide technical, organizational, and advocacy support for stakeholder engagement, knowledge development, and dissemination of best practices. The consultant will contribute to accelerating market and knowledge sharing for energy-efficient district cooling systems, including the operationalization of a proposed District Cooling (DC) hub in India. This hub aims to offer policy advisory, project support, technology transfer, training, and capacity building to promote the diffusion of these systems. The role involves extensive liaison with UNEP offices and global stakeholders to drive awareness, buy-in, and support for the DC hub, enabling its scalability and long-term impact.

Responsibilities

Provide technical, organizational, and advocacy support for UNEP's district cooling projects in India, operating within the Buildings and Cooling Unit. Engage in significant liaison with UNEP's Asia-Pacific, Paris, and Copenhagen Climate Centre offices. Offer technical expertise, strategic, and organizational support for stakeholder engagement, advocacy, and knowledge development. Disseminate knowledge and best practices for district cooling in India and globally, collaborating with the UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre. Support the government of India in accelerating market and knowledge sharing for energy-efficient district cooling systems, including the operationalization of a proposed DC hub. Contribute to the hub's strategy by strengthening a virtual knowledge center, reviewing physical competence center alternatives, and linking with UNEP's urban heat management initiatives. Engage with diverse stakeholders including urban planners, architects, engineering firms, developers, industry associations, contractors, and facility management companies to promote market knowledge and adoption of district cooling systems.

Work Experience

A minimum of five years of relevant experience is required, with a preference for experience in market research, stakeholder mapping and engagement, or strategic communication. Expertise in the Indian context and experience engaging government, industry, finance, and academia in India are essential. Advanced experience in communication and stakeholder engagement/management is also required. Experience in district cooling market development and engaging multiple stakeholders in project development and partnership building is crucial.

Skills

Stakeholder engagement and management, Advocacy, Fundraising, Strategic communications, Technical expertise in district cooling, Organizational support, Knowledge development and dissemination, Market research, Project development, Partnership building, Communication skills.

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