USAID/Jordan Energy Sector Capacity Building Activity Quarterly Report, October 1 – December 31, 2015

The ESCB continued working with stakeholders to finalize demand side management (DSM) programs, including the Energy and Mineral Resources Commission, the Jordan Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Fund, and the three distribution companies. Final negotiations took place throughout the quarter, with all three proposals being approved by the EMRC by the end of the quarter. The MOU governing the DSM proposals and the funding by JREEEF will be signed in early 2016. ESCB continued to support JREEEF to procure the LEDs required for the household lighting project and to design a delivery strategy for the DSM program. A consultant was mobilized to provide technical support to IDECO to develop a non-core business strategy to sell energy-efficient household appliances, PV, and other efficient equipment. Under Task 2, all of the planned capacity-building activities contained in MEMR's 2015 capacity-building plan were completed. During the quarter, 5 courses attended by 67 government staff were conducted. Energy audits for three of six selected Ministries were completed, including the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Work supporting JREEEF continued on both the technical and outreach areas. ESCB supported the development of a draft annual report and the 2016 business plan. ESCB staff facilitated the development of new JREEEF windows for households, small and medium enterprises, schools, and for small hotels in Wadi Musa and Aqaba. JREEEF's social media presence was established with the website, Facebook, and Twitter accounts going live and public. ESCB, through its subcontractor Electric Power Engineers, continued technical assistance and capacity building for NEPCO, including providing over 100 hours of interactive training in grid impact studies and completion of a testing and commissioning manual for future renewable power projects. ESCB conducted a three-day training in investment-grade audits for representatives from six energy service providers and NERC. The three associations (EDAMA, REES, and Jordan GBC) signed the incorporation papers to form a not-for-profit company to implement the accreditation system. Registration of the coalition is ongoing at the end of the quarter. A final draft of the ESP Accreditation package was completed and presented to the Coalition Board members. The performance contract template was finalized after incorporating feedback received from the key stakeholders. Round 1 of technical assistance to ESPs was completed. The Task 3 team organized an informational event for the ESPs that attracted more than 50 participants, and was very well received. Work continued on identifying potential pilot project sites for RE/EE financing through Bank al Etihad. ESCB continued its support to Greater Amman Municipality in preparing the final addendum to the RFP for the waste-to-energy project. On October 6, ESCB conducted a ceremony to inaugurate the Jordan Customs' PV system. ESCB and its subcontractor, Etamax, conducted training for staff of Jordan Customs on operation and maintenance of the PV System. Site identification and feasibility studies were initiated for Year 3 PV projects, including an RSCN building at Azraq Nature Reserve, Ministry of Public Works and Housing, University of Jordan Cell Therapy Center, and pumping stations operated by the Jordan Valley Authority. A request for proposals was developed in coordination with USAID and Deloitte subcontracts department for future PV projects. The RFP will be released in early January, and will be used to select a limited number of firms that will compete for future PV projects under ESCB. A professional development networking event was held for junior and mid-level women working or hoping to work in the energy sector. Sixty-two women attended sessions on HR policies and inclusive company cultures, social media presence, and women's rights under Jordanian law. Two ESCB staff, Ms. Mary Worzala, COP, and Ms. Jenine Jaradat, Gender Advisor, were invited to present ESCB gender activities at the USAID Engendering Utilities Conference in Istanbul, Turkey. ESCB conducted professional development courses for CWEEL members and held a women's leadership breakfast to solicit ideas and feedback on gender activities from the leadership advisory group. The outreach and communications team published "Women in Energy in Jordan" in both English and Arabic, and mentorship tips sheet. Both publications were an outcome of the Women's Leadership Forum held last quarter. ESCB received feedback from the leadership advisory group on the publications and will use this feedback to improve future publications.