Expert on Iraq’s Digital Governance for Integrated and Smart Power Grids
Organizational Context
The United Nations Economic Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), a regional UN body, is spearheading a project to strengthen national capacities in developing digital governance policies for integrated, resilient, and inclusive power systems. This consultancy role supports ESCWA's mandate to foster economic integration and sustainable development by providing policy guidance and technical expertise across member states.
Job Purpose
The purpose of this consultancy is to conduct a comprehensive, evidence-based assessment of Iraq's power sector digitalization landscape. This assessment will support ESCWA and national stakeholders in identifying priorities for enhancing integrated, resilient, and digitally enabled power grids. The role involves evaluating the current status of digitalization, identifying policy, regulatory, institutional, and technical gaps, and providing practical, policy-oriented recommendations to inform project activities, capacity building, and the development of harmonized digital governance approaches for power grids.
Responsibilities
The Expert will conduct desk research, stakeholder mapping, and inception planning, reviewing national strategies, regulations, and technical documents related to Iraq's electricity sector, renewable energy, smart grids, and digital transformation. Responsibilities include performing a national mapping and diagnostic assessment of the power sector's digitalization landscape, evaluating digital systems, governance, and identifying gaps and opportunities. The role also involves preparing materials for project meetings, supporting consultations with Iraqi institutions for validation, and revising deliverables based on feedback to ensure they are clear, evidence-based, and actionable.
Work Experience
At least 7 years of relevant professional experience is required in areas such as electricity-sector policy, power-system planning/operation, smart grids, energy-sector digitalization, data governance, cybersecurity, or renewable energy integration. Experience within Iraq’s electricity sector, including work with government institutions, regulators, or utilities, is also required, as is experience in stakeholder engagement and delivering high-quality outputs under tight deadlines.
Skills
Familiarity with SCADA, EMS, smart metering, renewable energy forecasting, data interoperability, cybersecurity, and digital governance in the energy sector. Fluency in English and Arabic is required. Experience in stakeholder engagement and consultation processes is necessary.