Laboratory Capacity Building and Training Specialist

Result of Service Support the comprehensive strengthening of selected Environmental Laboratories in IWEco participating countries, both in terms of training and procurement of equipment/repair of existing equipment, to support regional environmental health surveillance and improved ecosystem management in Caribbean SIDS.

Work Location Virtual

Expected duration 75 days

Duties and Responsibilities ORGANISATIONAL SETTING

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) funded IWEco project – Integrating Water, Land and Ecosystems Management in Caribbean Small Island Developing States project – is a five-year multi-focal area regional intervention that applies a “Ridge to Reef” approach integrating watershed and coastal areas management in small islands for addressing the multiple challenges of sustainable water, land (including forests) and biodiversity management and conservation within the spatial framework of the watershed unit.

The overall objective of the project is to contribute to the preservation of Caribbean ecosystems that are of global significance and the sustainability of livelihoods through the application of existing proven technologies and approaches that are appropriate for small island developing states. A total of ten (10) Caribbean countries are participating in the project: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago and St. Vincent and Grenadines.

The Project is co-implemented by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and co-executed by UNEP Caribbean Environment Programme (CEP)/Secretariat to the Cartagena Convention and the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA). The Project Coordinating Unit (PCU) is located at CEP in Kingston, Jamaica.

Under the CARICOM framework, CARPHA has the core mandate for environmental health and environmental management in provision of technical advisory services, conduct of environmental assessments, policy development and research on behalf of the countries in the areas of water, land/watershed resources management, wastewater, chemicals (pesticides and hazardous chemicals) and solid waste management. The Department is a training centre for environmental laboratory diagnostics services through its accredited laboratory facility.

An updated laboratory capacity and training needs assessment was completed during the first half of 2021 allowing the project to effectively move forward with strengthening regional capacity to analyse available data for effective regional environmental monitoring. In this Phase 2, two distinct components have been identified:

● provision of support to UNITAR (United Nations Institute for Training and Research) in order to deliver a package of recommended and agreed training modules to specific environmental laboratories throughout the Wider Caribbean Region; ● provision of support to UNOPS (United Nations Office for Project Services) to identify the types of equipment and materials to be procured and delivered to specific environmental laboratories in selected IWEco countries.

The environmental laboratory strengthening exercise will contribute to Component Two, Output 2.1.3. (Strengthened field monitoring and assessment capabilities) to strengthen participating countries’ field monitoring and assessment capabilities and to inform project outputs on environmental monitoring and testing indicators, and more specifically relate to Activity 2.1.3.2. (Procure laboratory diagnostic equipment, tools and supplies) and Activity 2.1.3.4. (Develop training modules and conduct associated training).

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The consultancy entails:

● Conducting desk studies and research allowing for the selection of the most suitable equipment to be acquired within the available project budget. ● Additionally, determining the brands and models best suited for laboratories within the IWEco project region and the existing equipment that might be repaired. ● Collaborating and making networking arrangements with the heads of laboratories selected for capacity building. ● Setting up the laboratory network to advise on the needs and priorities of laboratories and to provide coordination in laboratory capacity building in the Wider Caribbean Region. ● Collaborating with UNITAR to ensure that the agreed training material prepared meets the intended objectives of the recommendations made in the Assessment Report. ● Collaborating with UNOPS to ensure that the equipment to be procured meets the intended objectives of the recommendations made in the Assessment report. ● Tele-meetings with members of the IWEco PCU, UNEP-CEP/RCU staff, staff of IWEco project partner agencies and others as required to support data collection efforts and inform generation of the final report. ● Preparation of a final report and PowerPoint presentation to communicate the capacity strengthening activities (which include both the training as well as the equipment procurement/repair) to the 6th IWEco Regional Project Steering Committee Meeting, planned for July 2022.

Qualifications/special skills Academic Qualifications: Advanced degree in Environmental Science, Environments Monitoring, Regional Development, Sustainability Management, Sustainability Analytics, or a field directly related to the assignment. A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Experience: ● A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in project or programme management or related area is required. ● Experience conducting field research, especially within the Caribbean or in a Small Island Developing States. ● Proven and demonstrable experience in the environmental monitoring. ● Significant expertise in environmental research and analysis; specific experience in field reporting in environmental monitoring in developing nations would be considered an asset. ● Experience with capacity development to support environmental health surveillance in developing countries will be considered an advantage. ● Experience in the Caribbean region context is required. ● Experience in carrying out consultancy assignments for the GEF, UN Environment Programme or other international development partners will be considered an advantage. ● Experience in the Management of Environmental Laboratory Operations. Language: High level of proficiency in oral and written English.

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.