Deadline 29 February 2024
United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat)
Call for Expressions of Interest for for Cooperation Partners for Small-Scale Agreements of Cooperation
Barriers and Opportunities to the Adoption of Electric Vehicle technology in Dar es Salaam
Date first published: 12 February 2024
Deadline for submissions of EOI: 29 February 2024
Introduction
Tanzania is gaining ground on e-mobility faster than any other East African country, with at least 5000 electric vehicles (EVs) on the road. EVs are currently playing a critical role in reducing road emissions in a variety of sectors, including tourism, passenger mobility, goods delivery, and healthcare access.
However, due to rapid urban growth and growing individual motorisation, the transport system in Dar Es Salaam continues to suffer from chronic congestion. This has led Dar es Salaam City Council to introduce a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) scheme in 2016 (named DART) with 140 fossil fuelled buses that are currently running, connecting the city centre with the Western suburbs (phase 1). The existing BRT stations and terminals are important transport hubs. Further plans include expansion to new routes and the addition of further buses. The city also considers other sustainable solutions including electric mobility solutions (e.g. e-Feeder to BRT, e-BRT-Busses, e-bike sharing).
In Africa’s electric mobility landscape, electric two- and three-wheelers currently dominate, constituting a remarkable 79% of the electric fleets, while electric light-duty vehicles make up 20%, and electric buses account for 1% (AfEMA, 2023a).
The EU funded SOLUTIONSplus project supports Dar es Salaam in this transition to electric mobility. The SOLUTIONSplus demonstration projects in Dar Es Salaam focus on e-mobility for last-mile connectivity. The demonstration projects are integrating electric 3-wheelers for passenger services with Dar es Salaam’s BRT (DART) to support first/last mile connectivity and electric bicycles for distribution services and supporting the pilot of electric bicycles for urban delivery services.
Challenges remain, with e-mobility being a very young industry, including limited funding availability, limited consumer knowledge, but also few trained technicians. The increasing number of EVs in the country urgently necessitates the availability of more trained technicians to maintain the reliability of these vehicles.
Objective
The proposed collaboration aims to publish a report that sheds light on the Electric mobility ecosystem in Tanzania, giving an overview on capacities, policy environment, market overview and user awareness. The report would target a record of updated EV fleet numbers, and updated policy changes. A workshop would be held with relevant stakeholders for validation or distribution of the report.
Expressions of interest
UN-Habitat invites Expressions of Interest from academic or research institutions; Not-for-Profit Organizations; Governmental and Inter-Governmental organizations to conduct the research activity, which should include a combination of primary and secondary research methods (surveys, interviews, market reports, statistical data etc.). The study should be carried out in close collaboration with the SOLUTIONSplus project partners and should include (but not limited to) the following activities:
1. Conduct a Market Overview of 2- and 3-wheelers in Tanzania
2. Research Consumer Demographics and Behavior (consumer preferences, purchasing behavior etc.)
3. Assess the Regulatory Environment and Policy Landscape affecting the industry
4. Research the Competitive Landscape of key players in the market (both local and international)
5. Examine the Distribution Channels for 2- and 3-wheelers and logistics and supply chains
6. Review technological advancements, Innovations, and trends in vehicle design
7. Analyse Economic Factors impacting the market (GDP, inflation etc.)
8. Examine Social and Cultural Factors (cultural preferences, societal attitudes etc.)
9. Assess the Environmental Impact of 2- and 3-wheelers
10. Identify Challenges and Growth Opportunities
11. Predict Future Trends and Outlooks
The EOI should contain, but not be limited to the following:
i. Overall experience of the organization in the areas of sustainable (electric) mobility, market readiness, EV technology and innovations.
ii. A short conceptual proposal on how the institution/organization plans to develop and implement this programme incl. scope and nature of work. Please also highlight the innovation in the proposed initiative, as well as replication possibilities;
iii. The support/ contribution the organization is willing to make including cash and in-kind; (contribution in terms of staff time, office space and equipment and other support in cash and in-kind should be expressed in monetary terms)
iv. Copies of statement of annual budget and annual reports of the previous 2 years;
v. Copy of two latest audited reports, and
vi. Governance and organizational structure; experience and qualifications of key professional staff and infrastructure facilities of the organization.
Budget
UN-Habitat will contribute financial resources to the tune of USD 15,000 (Fifteen Thousand United States Dollars). The EOI shall make reference to counter-part contributions (cash and in-kind) of the applying entity.
Overall Timeframe
The work outlined in this EOI is scheduled to commence by 15 March 2024 and completed by 31 May 2024.
Submission Requirements and Guidelines
Expression of Interest must be delivered by email no later than 15 February 2024 to unhabitat.ubss.eoi@un.org with the reference “EOI-Market Research Kenya-2024” in the subject of your email. Failure to indicate the reference may result in your proposal not being considered.
Contact Information:
For any questions related to the application please write to:
Ms. Judith Owigar
Urban Basic Services Section – Urban Mobility
United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat)
P.O. Box 30030 Nairobi, Kenya judith.owigar@un.org
Other:
Please note that this EOI notice does not constitute a solicitation. UN-Habitat reserves the right to change or cancel this requirement at any time in the Expressions of Interest/or solicitation process.
Submitting a reply to an EOI does not guarantee that a Cooperation Partner will be considered for receipt of the solicitation when issued and only Cooperation Partners who are deemed qualified by UN-Habitat upon completion of evaluation of submission, will receive the final solicitation document.