Expression of Interest are invited for MTF Survey in Lesotho Lesotho has made significant strides in expanding electricity access, but universal access remains a major challenge. As of 2023, an estimated 57 percent of the population had access, with a stark disparity between urban and rural areas, 85 percent versus 45.2 percent, respectively.1 Progress has been hampered by sectoral constraints, including unprofitable tariff structures and limited investment. The government of Lesotho has recently taken bold steps to address the challenges in the energy sector and ensure universal access to reliable, affordable, sustainable, inclusive, and clean energy by 2030. As part of these efforts, the National Electrification Strategy, a roadmap for cost-effective electrification expansion, is currently under development. Additionally, the government is preparing the National Energy Compact to join the Mission 300, a World Bank (WB) and African Development Bank initiative to bring electricity to 300 million people in Africa by 2030. To support the governments ambitious goal, the WB team is launching a national energy survey based on the Multi-Tier Framework (MTF), aiming to provide analytical guidance for electrification initiatives in Lesotho. ENERGY SURVEY BASED ON THE MULTI-TIER FRAMEWORK ESMAPWB, in consultation with multiple development partners, developed the MTF to monitor and evaluate energy access by following a multidimensional criterion for energy access.2 The MTF redefines energy access by replacing the traditional binary definition (access or not) with a multidimensional approach. It defines energy access as the ability to obtain energy that is adequate, available when needed, reliable, of good quality, convenient, affordable, formal, healthy, and safe for all household energy services. Based on the definition, the MTF approach measures energy access provided by any technology or fuel at different levels. Energy access is measured in the tiered spectrum, from Tier 0, indicating no access, to Tier 5, the highest level of access (Bhatia and Angelou 2015).3 Grounded in the MTF, a global energy survey was developed to capture countries energy access situations. By 2024, ESMAP-WB carried out the energy survey examining households, communities, public institutions and enterprises in 25 countries to establish each countrys baseline to measure progress towards the universal energy access goals. At the same time, ESMAP-WB has assisted national governments (in particular, energy authorities and statistical offices) to build capacities for the use of the framework and gathering data in the future (e.g., through integrating an MTF module to the upcoming periodic national household surveys.) NATIONAL ENERGY SURVEYS IN LESOTHO Under this assignment, a nationwide energy survey based on the MTF (consisting of three components: a household survey, a community survey, and a public institution survey) will be conducted in Lesotho. The survey will capture Lesothos current energy access status at a granular level, explore energy use for space heating, assess household energy affordability, and estimate electricity demand. Findings will guide electrification priorities, promote the productive use of electricity, and provide insights for future government interventions. ESMAPWB intends to engage a consulting firm to carry out energy survey activities and related capacity building in Lesotho. The assignment will be carried out primarily in coordination with the WB team, with other key stakeholders involved as necessary. OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE OF WORK The objectives of this survey are: To analyze energy access at a granular level This study aims to provide energy access status at the household, community, and public institution levels. This study will take a more nuanced approach to analyzing access to electricity and clean cooking services using the Multi-tier Tracking Framework and will also examine households energy use for space heating. To examine the energy affordability of households This study aims at analyzing households ability to pay for energy services. The study will examine households expenditure levels and energy spending, and it will also investigate households demand and willingness to pay for the grid connection, off-grid solar solutions, and improved biomass stoves at different price points and payment periods. To analyze households access to off-grid technologies and their behavior. This study will identify different off-grid solutions households use for electricity, including solar and mini-grids. It will examine household behavior in adopting and utilizing these technologies. The consulting firm will prepare and implement the following quantitative surveys, as part of the national energy survey: household survey, community survey, and public institution surveys. Tender Link : https://wbgeprocure-rfxnow.worldbank.org/rfxnow/public/advertisement/5374/view.html
