National Consultant - Environmental Law Expert (Thailand)

Result of Service SAFE – (i) Legal and policy review for Thailand; and (ii) Specific recommendations for national level guidelines for Thailand, for the management of wildlife facilities. Unwaste – Text contributions on Thailand for (i) Legal Framework - the report on legal frameworks in 10 ASEAN Member States with special focus on offences, violations, crimes and penalties to address waste trafficking; and (ii) Comparative Analysis - the report on comparative analysis of administrative and criminal remedies adopted to respond to violations of the legal frameworks in place in the Priority 1 group of countries (Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand).

Work Location Home based

Expected duration The contract duration will be for 9 months from signature of the contract.

Duties and Responsibilities 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. UNEP’s Asia and the Pacific Office geographically serves 41 countries across the region to promote and implement sustainable development solutions. It assists countries of the region pursue sustainability, particularly in their implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development including technical expertise, facilitating access to finance, undertaking cutting-edge science-policy assessments, offering advisory services and strengthening laws, policies, management and governance. UNEP works with national and local authorities, civil society, other UN organizations, research institutions and the private sector to catalyze the efficient use of the region’s natural assets and reduce the degradation of the environment. UNEP Law Division is the lead Division charged with carrying out the functions of UNEP in the field of environmental law, governance and related policy issues, including those related to multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs). UNEP supports the environmental rule of law through strengthening legal frameworks and institutional capacities to address priority environmental issues including the illegal trade in environmentally sensitive commodities.

This consultancy will support the implementation of UNEP’s contribution to the projects, ‘Safety Across Asia For the global Environment (SAFE)’ and ‘Unwaste: tackling waste trafficking to support a circular economy’, which are being implemented in partnership with United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The SAFE project aims to support the prevention of zoonotic diseases linked to wildlife trafficking by identifying and addressing the risk factors of possible transmission of zoonotic diseases in existing wildlife facilities. The Unwaste project aims to fight trafficking in waste between the EU and Southeast Asia by promoting enhanced EU-ASEAN Member States partnerships, in support of ongoing efforts towards a circular economy transition. UNEP’s contribution falls under the Law Division umbrella project ‘Addressing Environmental Challenges through the Law’. The national consultant shall work under the supervision of the Head, National Environmental Law Unit (NLU) of the Law Division or his/her designated mandated representative(s), and in close cooperation with the Regional Sub-programme Coordinator for Law and Governance, Asia and the Pacific Office.

SAFE Project To support the review of Thailand’s existing regulations, policies and strategies, the consultant will:

1. Collect through desk research and interviews of key stakeholders as needed and analyze information on laws, regulations and policies in Thailand, pertaining to wildlife related areas of husbandry, markets, hygiene, trade, medicinal uses and consumption of wildlife products relevant to licencing and management of wildlife facilities; 2. Conduct, on the basis of the collected information and analysis, a legal and policy review pertaining to all areas mentioned under paragraph 1 above, including best practices and recommendations on national guidelines for the management of wildlife facilities; 3. Support the preparation and organization of two series of consultations with experts and stakeholders (including feedback sessions with UNEP and other project implementing partners) to present, review and finalize the legal and policy review and recommendations on national guidelines for the management of wildlife facilities which relate to and are relevant for Thailand, including the preparation of the agenda, the proposed list of experts and identified stakeholders and participants, questionnaires, presentations, post consultation reports, and any material relating to the consultations; 4. Provide drafts and finalize the legal and policy review and recommendations on national guidelines for the management of wildlife facilities mentioned above; 5. Provide regular and updated information on, and facilitate the translation of legal and policy documents in Thailand and contribute to and support any other activities under the SAFE project which require legal and policy inputs on the licensing and management of wildlife facilities and other related topics.

Unwaste project The consultant will undertake the following activities under the Unwaste project to support the launch and dissemination of a first comprehensive study detailing waste flows from Europe to Southeast Asia, as well as policy and legislation gaps and the bilateral dialogue in Thailand for the country’s strategies on improvements at the legislative, enforcement management and compliance levels to effectively respond to waste trafficking and to support the transition to a circular economy: 1. Collect, through desk research and interviews of key stakeholders, as needed, and analyze information on legal and policy framework in Thailand with special focus on offences, violations, crimes and penalties, including administrative and criminal remedies to address waste trafficking, and a conduct a gap analysis; 2. Provide regular and updated information on, and facilitate the translation of, materials on the legal and policy framework in Thailand, following methodology guidance by UNEP, to support the preparation of the report on legal frameworks in 10 ASEAN Member States with special focus on offences, violations, crimes and penalties to address waste trafficking, and a gap analysis (“Legal Framework”) and the preparation of a comparative analysis of administrative and criminal remedies adopted to respond to violations of the legal frameworks in place in the Priority 1 group of countries (Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand) (“Comparative Analysis”); 3. Support the preparation and organization of two series of consultations with experts and stakeholders (including feedback sessions with UNEP and other project implementing partners) to present, review and finalize components of the two reports referred to in paragraph 2 above, which relate to and are relevant for Thailand, including the preparation of the agenda, the proposed list of experts and identified stakeholders and participants, questionnaires, presentations, post consultation reports, and any material relating to the consultations; 4. Provide drafts and finalize the contributions on Thailand for the Legal Framework and Comparative Analysis referred to in paragraph 2 above; 5. Contribute to and support any other activities under the Unwaste project which require legal and policy input.

Under both projects, the consultant will work in close collaboration with UNEP, UNODC and stakeholders involved; provide regular updates on the progress of the activities to UNEP, as required; and carry out any other tasks which may be assigned under the SAFE and Unwaste projects.

Qualifications/special skills Academic Qualifications: - Advanced university degree (Masters degree or equivalent) in Thai law, specializing in environmental law/policy, environmental crime, comparative law, or other relevant qualifications (required). A first level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Experience: - A minimum of two years of progressively responsible experience in the field of environmental law/policy in Thailand is required. Experience in research and analytical report writing on legal and policy approaches to address environmental crimes (including wildlife crimes) and trafficking in waste is desirable. Language: - English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in oral and written Thai and English is required.

Additional Information Posting for 7 working days.

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.