Lender's Technical Advisor

Lender's Technical Advisor

Department: Investment

Employment Type: Contract / Temp

Location: Africa

Reporting To: Transaction Lead

Description Allied Talent Partners (ATP), a Three Cairns Group initiative, is a mission-driven, not-for-profit talent marketplace focused on solving the human capital bottlenecks slowing down sustainable development efforts in emerging economies, with an initial focus on Africa.  ATP connects vetted, experienced, context-relevant professionals to high-impact opportunities in energy access and sustainable development – strengthening local capacity and fuelling economic vitality. We specialize in fixed-term, deliverable-driven engagements – from interim leadership and generalist projects to niche technical expertise – handling project scoping, talent vetting and matching, contracting, payroll, and compliance so that our clients can focus on impact.

High-Level Overview 

Our client is establishing a panel of Lender's Technical Advisors (LTAs) – including electrical, mechanical, and civil engineers, as well as sector specialists – who can be engaged on a project-by-project basis to review, assess, and report on the technical soundness of target investments. 

The SME Lending team anticipates approximately 10 transactions in total requiring technical due diligence support during the panel term. The LTAs will assess design integrity, equipment specification, installation quality, and compliance with applicable standards, providing clear, evidence-based recommendations to inform investment decisions. Ideal candidates will combine strong technical depth in their sector with experience conducting lender-facing technical due diligence across Africa. 

Role and Responsibilities
Role: Lender's Technical Advisor
Direct Report: Transaction Lead  
Candidates Required: 10 consultants (panel-based arrangement covering multiple disciplines)

Key Deliverables:
Document Review & Technical Appraisal

• Review all project documentation – including designs, technical specifications, feasibility studies, and bills of quantities – to ensure proposed solutions are technically sound, cost-effective, and consistent with project objectives. 
• Assess design adequacy in relation to local environmental, geotechnical, and operational conditions. Identify and document any design or specification gaps that could impact performance, safety, reliability, or sustainability. 
• Evaluate consistency, completeness, and coherence of technical documentation and recommend corrective measures to resolve identified deficiencies. 

Standards & Compliance Verification

• Verify project conformity with applicable national, regional, and international standards (e.g., IEC, IEEE, ISO, local building codes, IT or energy infrastructure standards).
• Review the qualifications, experience, and certifications of EPC contractors, key suppliers, and technology providers to confirm technical capability and compliance. 
• Confirm that health, safety, environmental, and quality (HSEQ) requirements are fully embedded in design and implementation.
• Assess the quality and compliance of proposed products and technologies with recognized certification schemes (e.g., VeraSol). 

Performance & Risk Assessment

• Evaluate technology selection, system configuration, and performance projections against established industry benchmarks and reference projects. 
• Identify potential technical and operational risk – including reliability, degradation, and maintenance issues – and recommend mitigation strategies. 
• Review adequacy and enforceability of warranties, performance guarantees, O&M plans, and long-term service arrangements.
• Assess the project's resilience to external stressors such as climate conditions, supply chain disruptions, or evolving regulatory requirements. 

Site Verification (as required)

• Conduct on-site inspections to validate site conditions, confirm assumptions used in design, and verify construction readiness.
• Document findings with photographic evidence and commentary on discrepancies or constraints affecting implementation. 
• Evaluate site access, logistics, grid or utility interconnections, and potential environmental or social risks. 

Financial Viability

• Review project cost structure, procurement strategy, and financing plan for alignment with industry norms and reasonableness of underlying assumptions. 
• Assess the implementation schedule, project controls, contingency provisions, and adequacy of the budget. 
• Evaluate the organizational structure, governance, and staffing plan to assess institutional readiness and execution risk from the lender's perspective. 
• Conduct a market and regulatory assessment, including SWOT analysis of the sector, policy framework, permitting requirements, and long-term market outlook. 

Review and test the financial model by assessing the robustness and realism of technical, financial, and commercial assumptions, and running sensitivity and scenario analyses (e.g., cost overruns, schedule delays, demand variations).

Reporting: Prepare three reports aligned with the lender's due diligence workflow:

• Inception Report:Summarizes scope, documentation received, identified information gaps, proposed methodology, and detailed work plan. 
• Draft Technical Due Diligence Report & Presentation: Outlines preliminary findings, key risks, potential red flags, and recommended mitigations for client feedback. 
• Final Technical Due Diligence Report: Integrates feedback, presents conclusive recommendations, assigns a technical risk rating (low / moderate / high), and specifies any pre-disbursement conditions. 

Other Ongoing Monitoring and Evaluation

• Conduct periodic monitoring and verification of project implementation throughout the loan facility term, where applicable. 
• Develop performance indicators and evaluation criteria to track progress, technical compliance, and operational performance of funded projects.
• Provide periodic updates and risk re-assessments as required by the lender or project sponsor.  

Requirements Experience Required:

• Experience in technical design, engineering, or systems evaluation renewable energy, preferably in one or more of the following technologies: Solar home systems, C&I solar PV, small-scale hydro, or mini-grids. 
  
• Proven track record conducting technical due diligence for lenders, DFIs, or investors. 
  
• The consultant must have participated in at least two (2) similar assignments within the last five (5) years, that have been successfully and substantially completed and that are similar to the proposed assignment. 
  
• Familiarity with project finance processes and technical reporting standards used in investment decision-making. 
  

Technical Requirements:

• Background in Electrical, Mechanical, or Civil Engineering, or another relevant technical field. 
• Professional registration with a recognised engineering or technical body (e.g., IEK, ERB, EIZ, IET, IEEE). 
• Knowledge of applicable engineering, building, or technology standards (e.g., IEC, ISO, IEEE, or national codes). 
• Demonstrated ability to assess system design, safety, technology suitability, and compliance with performance benchmarks. 
• Strong analytical, diagnostic, and report-writing skills; ability to communicate technical findings to non-technical stakeholders. 

Other Skills:

• Analytical and objective: Exercises sound technical judgement with professional integrity. 
• Clear communicator: Translates complex findings into concise, decision-ready insights for non-technical audiences. 
• Organised and detail-oriented: Produces consistent, accurate, and well-structured reports. 
• Collaborative yet independent: Engages effectively with investment teams and project partners while maintaining impartiality. 
• Adaptive: Manages multiple assignments across sectors and geographies under tight timelines. 

Working Arrangement
Location: Consultants may be based anywhere in Africa; proximity to Kenya, Rwanda, and Zambia preferred.
Language:
Travel: Occasional travel for site verification, to be approved on a project-by-project basis.

Terms of agreement:
Start Date: November 2025
Contracting Period: Panel arrangement for 5 months (could be extended based on availability of funds), with call-offs on a per-deal basis – 10 working days expected per project. 

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