EU4Environment E-Waste National Consultant in the Republic of Moldova

Result of Service The National Consultant will be hired to deliver the mentioned above task.

Expected results:

i) Technical assessment report of the existing EPR mechanisms for WEEE and further opportunities for management of WEEE to improve the performance of the existing system management infrastructure for WEEE in Moldova is completed; ii) Recommendations report of selected EPR schemes in regards to their technical, environmental and economic performance in Moldova is prepared. iii) Gap analysis and recommendations report to address identified shortcomings in implementing the EPR legislation for WEEE in Moldova in consultation with national partners is developed; and iv) Consultation workshop with the environment authorities, representing various stakeholder groups and interests from industry is organized.

Work Location Home-based

Expected duration Approximately 100 working days from 20 June 2022 to 21 November 2022.

Duties and Responsibilities 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. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action.

This assignment is part of the EU-funded “EU4Environment” Action aiming to help the six Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Republic of Moldova, Ukraine) preserve their natural capital and increase people's environmental well-being, by supporting environment-related action, demonstrating and unlocking opportunities for greener growth, and setting mechanisms to better manage environmental risks and impacts. The Action will be implemented in 2019-2023 by five international organisations (OECD, UN Environment Programme, UNECE, UNIDO, and the World Bank).

The application of strategic approaches to waste management can assist in addressing countries’ overarching waste management challenges. To this end, within EU4Environment’s component 2.4 on “The use of strategic approaches on waste management” UNEP will support countries in promoting development of comprehensive sustainable waste management policies and policy instruments. Addressing countries’ overarching waste management challenges, it will contribute to develop comprehensive sustainable waste management policies and policy instruments, responding to the request of countries. More specifically, under Activity 2.4.2 Initiating/assisting the establishment of Extended Producers Responsibility (EPR) schemes, UNEP will provide technical assistance to undertake activities to improve the performance of the existing system management infrastructure for Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) in the Republic of Moldova. The proposed activities will help the Republic of Moldova in identifying critical needs for ensuring operationality of the existing Extended Producers Responsibility (EPR) schemes for Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE).

This will be achieved through the provision of technical assistance, advisory services and capacity development/trainings to policy makers, businesses and business associations, as well as NGOs and other stakeholders.

The Law on Waste no 209 /2016 , that entered into force in 2017 in Moldova, was developed in line with Directive 2008/98/EC on waste and took into consideration the following EU legislation: Regulation No 1907/2006 (REACH), Directive 2006/66/EC on batteries and accumulators and waste batteries and accumulators, Directive 2011/65/EU on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment, Directive 2012/19/EU on WEEE, Directive 2011/65/EU on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in EEE.

Since the Republic of Moldova intends to update the legal and regulatory framework for the implementation of Article 12 of Waste Law, after six years of its practical application, there is an urgent need to optimize conditions under which national EPR systems can perform well and how they deliver best results. To address this knowledge gap, it is important to develop an independent study that analyses the performance of different national EPR schemes and provide recommendations for the effective implementation of existing and upcoming requirements.

To assist UNEP in the implementation of the aforementioned activities a support of a National Consultant is required. The consultant will work home-based with possible travel (subject to COVID-19 restrictions) under the guidance and oversight of UNEP’s Regional Office for Europe in Geneva. The National Consultant will also work in close collaboration with EU4Environment national focal points in the Republic of Moldova and the International Consultant.

Specific tasks and responsibilities

Under overall guidance of UNEP and in close cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment of the Republic of Moldova, the National Consultant will conduct the following tasks:

i) Conduct review of the existing EPR mechanisms for WEEE and further opportunities for management of WEEE to improve the performance of the existing system management infrastructure for WEEE.

The review will: - set out aims of the study - methodology for data collection (qualitative and quantitative methods); - analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the existing EPR schemes for WEEE and waste batteries in Moldova; - develop proposals for addressing the identified shortcomings in the light of regulatory requirements for competitive EPR schemes in Europe and the EU.

Recommendation related implementation of eco-modulated fees will be done in close cooperation with the International Consultant.

The technical report will cover the following issues: a) results of the interviews and focus group discussions conducted with the EPR schemes and related business community. b) assessment of compliance with EPR of business community (number of economic operators complying and number of free riders) – reasons for poor enforcement of EPR legislation, potential incentives to motivate business. c) assessment of registered PROs: legal form, coverage, operational plans and if appropriate – financial plans, efficiency in achieving the targets, as well as challenges they face; d) challenges related to WEEE management, including WEEE export and import issues; and e) recommendations to address the identified shortcomings for the increasing efficiency and to achieve specific objectives and/or targets for waste management.

A review report shall be prepared in English, in MS Word format, 10-20 pages.

ii) Conduct performance analysis of the existing EPR mechanisms for WEEE and waste batteries in the Republic of Moldova using environmental, economic and technical key performance indicators (KPIs) and develop recommendations for their improvement

The report shall cover the following issues: a) In regards to environmental KPIs, the analysis will focus on collection rates, waste collection per capita and recycling/treatment rates: - Collection infrastructure; - Organisation of the collection system; - Reporting and validation process for statistical data on WEEE collection, recovery and recycling; - Achievement of the EU collection target; - Development of the collection rates (in %) between 2016 and 2021; - Treatment Capacities; - Processing requirements; - Achievement of recycling/preparation for re-use targets per waste category in 2021. b) Economic KPIs comprise the costs for producers (per tonne POM), costs for collection as well as costs for recycling/treatment. c) Technical KPIs reflect the level of stakeholder satisfaction, the innovation potential of the EPR scheme as a whole and its awareness creation potential. d) Define recommendation to increase efficiency (financial and logistical) of the PRO policy to attract new members improve their communication with the members identify potential waste recyclers or available intermediates.

A technical assessment report should be prepared in English, in MS Word format, 10-20 pages. iii) Conduct gap analysis and develop recommendations to address identified shortcomings in implementing the EPR legislation for WEEE in Moldova in consultation with national partners

The aim of the gap analysis is to develop recommendations to update the legal and regulatory framework for the implementation of Article 12 of the Waste Law in Moldova, and to improve the legal framework emphasizing stakeholder roles and their obligations, strengthening multispectral coordination mechanism, improving reporting system to ensure access to high-quality, timely, reliable and coherent data, as well as providing decision makers with a visibility onto the evolution of key performance indicators (KPIs) for the monitoring of the EPR implementation.

The gap analysis report will cover the following issues: a) key public and private actors and their role, a particular emphasis is put on the fair allocation and balancing of obligations amongst key stakeholders, including specific obligations for EPR schemes; b) review and update key criteria for the EPR scheme establishment (share of placed on the market (POM) product, territory coverage, etc.) based on technical review of existed EPR schemes. c) assess monitoring and enforcement mechanisms following annual reporting procedure to the WMAIS, define action to improve it and to reduce free-riding.

A gap analysis report shall be prepared in English, in MS Word format, 10-15 pages. iv) Organize consultation workshop with competent authorities, business community, various stakeholder groups and interests from industry (producers, associations) - Develop an agenda, invitation letters and talking points for consultation meetings and compilation of comments received from stakeholders; - Present the findings of the assessment studies; - Develop PowerPoint presentation(s) in English and Romanian to present proposed updated contents of regulatory measures developed by national and international consultants for the comments from the Ministry; - Present the findings at the stakeholders consultation workshops (PowerPoint presentation); and - Prepare the workshop summary report (including participants list). The workshop summary report is to be prepared in English in MS Word format, 3-5 pages).

Implementation modality: The National Consultant contracted will carry out activities in cooperation and with technical support from UNEP. All reports are to be prepared along several stakeholder consultations to collect inputs for the draft text. The National Consultant will facilitate consultations workshops in collaboration with the Ministry.

The main deliverable will be a comprehesive report of not more than 40--60 pages in English and Romanian (as described above in i), ii), and iii) and excluding annexes), as well as concrete recommendations.

The report will be written in English, and then translated into Romanian in a non-technical, clear and understandable way, using graphs, maps, info graphics, concrete examples and other images where possible. The layout/structure of the reports will be discussed between the international consultant and national consultants as well project team and the final beneficiary.

All materials prepared must be in line with the graphic identity of the EU4Environment project (logos will be provided by UNEP).

Performance Indicators: - Quality assessment of the current waste management and infrastructure for WEEE and waste batteries in Moldova is available; - Performance analysis of the existing EPR mechanisms for WEEE and waste batteries in the Republic of Moldova conducted; - Quality and timely communication and reporting delivered.

The National Consultant will work alongside the International Consultant and in consultation with the EU4Environment National Focal points. The National Consultant is reporting to and will be evaluated by UNEP Europe Office Climate Change and Resource Efficiency programme coordinator in Geneva.

Qualifications/special skills Academic Qualifications: University degree in the field of environment protection, economy, management, and other related field. Experience: Minimum 7 years of national and/or international consulting experience and/or policy drafting and analysis in the field of environment and waste management, other related fields; Skills: - Experience in preparation waste management studies, reviews, sectoral recommendations, preparing regulatory impact assessment; - In-depth knowledge of international best practice in waste management; - Experience in working with central and local public authorities; - Proven understanding of Moldovan realities concerning waste management, existing system management infrastructure for WEEE, and extended producer responsibility (EPR) performance issues; - Familiar with current status of the waste management in the Republic of Moldova; - Experience in conducting market review, reports and assessments - Excellent analytical and communication and reporting skills; - Excellent computer skills (MS Word, Excel, etc.); - Hands-on experience in environment policy drafting and analysis, strategic planning and monitoring. Language: An excellent command of written and spoken English, Romanian and/or Russian is required.

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.