National Air quality expert – Short-term consultancy for the design of an air quality monitoring system for Karantina

Contract

This is a National Consultant contract. More about National Consultant contracts.

Background

According to UN Habitat (2014), 88% of residents in Lebanon live in urban areas and are exposed to various environmental and health risks, including elevated levels of pollution that are preponderant in cities. The National Strategy for Air Quality refers to a WHO study stating that Lebanon is one of the Eastern Mediterranean countries most affected by outdoor air pollution (WHO, 2013b). Another study by Waked et al. (2012) pointed to the concentration of toxic emissions in coastal urban areas, due to road traffic, energy production, and other factors. The Neighborhood Recovery Framework (NRF) project at UNDP aims to improve the health and living conditions of neighborhood residents by establishing the mechanisms for evidence-based and participatory urban planning. Piloted in the Karantina neighborhood, the framework has facilitated a sense-making assessment of local challenges affecting neighborhood wellbeing. Among the key issues that were highlighted by the assessment is the impact of pollution on the residents’ lives, partly due to intra-neighborhood sources such as the waste dump and facilities, factories, power generators, truck traffic, and others. However, the absence of an environmental monitoring infrastructure in Lebanon hinders the ability to accurately evaluate environmental pollution and devise solutions accordingly. Additionally, environmental monitoring is often undertaken on a large national scale, overlooking potential variabilities within urban areas and neighborhoods. It is also usually compartmentalized, operating in sectoral silos, and does not contribute to holistic urban planning and governance. Furthermore, environmental monitoring has relied mainly on expertise and technology, with little consideration for social behaviors and community participation. The Neighborhood Recovery Framework (NRF) project at UNDP aims to develop the Urban Environment Monitoring System (UEMS) to support the improvement of the health and wellbeing of urban populations in Lebanon, by consolidating urban environmental data, making it public and accessible, and integrating it within a cross-functional urban planning process. The framework looks to engage local actors and stakeholders around neighborhood-based urban environmental data to improve responsiveness to emerging risks and challenges and empower local communities as active agents of urban environmental change. While the UEMS works at the neighborhood level, it also aims to impact city-wide and nation-wide urban policies by scaling learnings, incrementally expanding the areas of coverage, and uncovering risk and challenge patterns across neighborhoods and cities. For the purpose of developing the UEMS, the Neighborhood Recovery Framework (NRF) project is looking to hire an Air Quality expert to support it in building the monitoring system in Karantina.

Duties and Responsibilities

The scope of this consultancy entails the development of an air quality monitoring system for the Karantina area. General tasks The tasks mentioned below shall be performed in close cooperation with the UNDP/Urban Recovery Framework project team. The Consultant should report to the Urban Recovery Officer. Task 1: Identification and recommendations of air quality sensors 1.1 Provide Bill Of Quantities (BOQ) for the main air quality sensors and weather stations to be installed as part of the air quality monitoring system in Karantina – this includes sensors specifications, calibration and validation requirements, certificate of calibration and validation, recommended brand if available, quantities of each sensor. 1.2 Provide a list of potential providers in Lebanon, and an estimated cost Task 2: Mapping emission sources hotspots 2.1 Identify and map hotspots of emission sources in the area for the installation of the monitoring boxes including specific requirements for each location (characteristic of buildings, proposed height, power and internet connection, specific weather data, etc.) 2.2 Document methodology of work including mapping methodology, choice of sensors, measurement protocols, frequency of data collection for each box/sensor, etc. Task 3: Coordination with other consultants and service providers 3.1 Conduct regular technical coordination with the Project team and technical experts 3.2 Conduct field visits alone, or with other consultants to identify specific locations and their characteristics.

For additional information, please refer to ANNEX I – Terms of Reference 3. REQUIREMENTS FOR EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

Competencies

Functional competencies:

• High proficiency in Arabic and English languages;
• Demonstrable analytical skills, such as an extensive list of publications, etc.;
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills as well as the ability to establish and maintain a good relationship with stakeholders;
• Excellent facilitation skills; and
• Ability to meet deadlines and prioritize multiple tasks.

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Advocates and promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UN;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
• Knowledge of the UN preferable.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications:

• a. Master’s degree in environmental or electrical/ mechanical/ industrial/ engineering or closely related fields. Ph.D. will be considered an asset.

Experience:

• a. Local relevant experience of at least 10 years;
• b. Extensive knowledge of and experience in air quality monitoring; design of air quality networks, and data treatment and analysis
• c. Previous experience in the preparation of statistical and monitoring studies
• d. Previous experience in mapping sources of pollution and emissions quantification
• e. Experience in the instrumentation of air quality
• f. Previous experience with UN agencies/international organizations is a plus
• g. Knowledge of local policies and legal and regulatory frameworks is a plus.

Quotations must be submitted directly in NextGenERP supplier portal following this link:

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Link to UNDP Lebanon posting: https://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_negotiation.cfm?nego_id=511