Consultant for environmentally sound management of healthcare waste

Result of Service Final report on Healthcare Waste Management and Treatment Technologies: A Handbook Incorporating the Impacts of Pandemics and Plastic Waste

Work Location Remote

Expected duration 2 working months over a 6-month period, starting as soon as possible

Duties and Responsibilities A. Background

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment.

The overall objective of the UNEP’s Economy Division is to encourage decision makers in government, local authorities and industry to develop and adopt policies, strategies and practices and technologies that promote sustainable patterns of consumption and production, make efficient use of natural resources, ensure safe management of chemicals and contribute to making trade and environment policies mutually supportive. It promotes the development, use and transfer of policies, technologies, economic instruments, managerial practices and other tools that assist in environmentally sound decision making and the building of corresponding activities.

As part of the Economy Division, UNEP International Environmental Technology Centre (IETC) works with developing countries to implement sustainable solutions to environmental challenges, with focus on holistic waste management. IETC provide technical and advisory support to national and local governments to enhance their use of environmentally sound strategies and approaches. IETC also implement in-country demonstration projects using innovative waste prevention and management methods and technologies to improve human well-being, reduce the impact of climate change, increase resilience and create jobs. Working with a wide range of partners and in line with relevant multilateral environmental agreements, IETC mission is to serve as a global center of excellence on environmentally sound technologies with focus on holistic waste management.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is having dramatic impacts upon the world’s healthcare systems and economy. During this time, ensuring reliable and safe solid waste management services, including for COVID related waste, is a critical component of any strategy to protect public health and contain the spread of the virus. The COVID-19 pandemic comes on top of an already highly precarious situation where 2 billion people worldwide lack access to waste collection and 3 billion people to controlled waste disposal. Uncollected, non-disposal or poor disposal of waste has both environmental and health consequences and puts extra pressure on already stretched public services. Therefore, ensuring continuity of waste collection and adequate waste disposal is even more pressing during this pandemic. Additionally, the amount of healthcare waste being generated is increasing dramatically. Low to middle income countries often do not have adequate facilities and technology to safely treat and dispose of healthcare waste, and are at especially high risk.

According to a report published by IETC, the primary component of institutional healthcare waste is plastic. Such plastic use in healthcare systems is already an area of concern; however, the COVID-19 crisis has led to a rapid expansion in the production of plastic products mainly related to Personal Protection Equipment (PPEs). Furthermore, some states and regions have temporary lifted plastic bag bans and have also banned reusable packaging as precautionary measures against the spread of coronavirus. These trend poses serious challenges to global efforts to reduce plastic pollution.

The UNEP-IETC therefore, developed draft “Healthcare Waste Management and Treatment Technologies: A Handbook Incorporating the Impacts of Pandemics and Plastic Waste”. The consultant will support the finalization of Healthcare Waste Management and Treatment Technologies: A Handbook Incorporating the Impacts of Pandemics and Plastic Waste.

B. Duties

Objectives: Under supervision and guidance from IETC programme officer, the consultant will develop and finalize the revised ‘Compendium of Technologies for Treatment / Destruction of Healthcare Waste’. The publication will be web-based interactive publication.

Specific tasks and responsibilities: Finalization of Healthcare Waste Management and Treatment Technologies: A Handbook Incorporating the Impacts of Pandemics and Plastic Waste, which include the following: - Develop a plan on how to make the publication short and concise. - Edit the entire report to create short and concise report with key actions to take (less than 100 pages). - Strengthen the report’s strategic messaging, flow and narrative. - Suggestions of infographics and visual tools that should be developed for the report.

Output expectations: Output 1: Submission of final publication of Healthcare Waste Management and Treatment Technologies: A Handbook Incorporating the Impacts of Pandemics and Plastic Waste

Deliverables: Submission of final publication of Healthcare Waste Management and Treatment Technologies: A Handbook Incorporating the Impacts of Pandemics and Plastic Waste

Performance indicators Submission of deliverables through electronic submission.

Qualifications/special skills Academic Qualifications: - Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in waste management or other relevant scientific discipline.

Experience: - Minimum fifteen years of previous international experience in the waste and resource management field. - Working experience for technical aspects of sound management of waste especially related to safe treatment of medical waste. - Working experience(s) in a multicultural environment including United Nations would be an asset. - Excellent oral and written skills in English; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills - Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel - Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment are required.

Language: - Fluency in both written and spoken English. Knowledge of other UN languages is an advantage

Special skills / knowledge: - Knowledge on medical waste treatment will be required. - Knowledge of all major aspects of medical waste management, including medical waste treatment and disposal will be required Knowledge on WHO guidelines on healthcare waste and national guidelines on medical waste management in developing countries will be desirable. - Knowledge on medical waste under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants and under the Basel Convention will be desirable.

No Fee THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.