National Consultant to Support the UNEP/MAP - MedProgramme in the Implementation of Child Project 1.1. for Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) - Level NO-B in Lebanon

Result of Service The ultimate result of this service is reducing pollution from harmful chemicals and wastes in the Mediterranean by completing the removal and disposal of PCBs-containing equipment in Lebanon.

Work Location Lebanon

Expected duration 6 months

Duties and Responsibilities General Information

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the United Nations system's designated entity for addressing environmental issues at the global and regional level. 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. UN Environment Programme's Ecosystems Division works with international and national partners, providing technical assistance and advisory services for the implementation of environmental policy, and strengthening the environmental management capacity of developing countries and countries with economies in transition. The assignment is for the Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP), Athens, Greece.

This consultancy assignment is in the framework of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) funded Mediterranean Sea Programme (MedProgramme): “Enhancing Environmental Security (GEF ID 9607), and Child Project 1.1“Reducing Pollution from Harmful Chemicals and Wastes in Mediterranean Hot Spots and Measuring Progress to Impacts” (GEF ID 9684)” executed by UNEP/MAP. The MedProgramme represents the first GEF programmatic multi-focal area initiative in the Mediterranean Sea aiming to operationalize priority actions to reduce major transboundary environmental stresses in its coastal areas while strengthening climate resilience and water security and improving the health and livelihoods of coastal populations. The MedProgramme is implemented in ten beneficiary countries sharing the Mediterranean basin: Albania, Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt, Lebanon, Libya, Montenegro, Morocco, Tunisia and Türkiye. It involves a wide spectrum of developmental and societal sectors, ranging from banking institutions, the private sector, governmental and non-governmental bodies, industry, research, media, and various other organizations. The MedProgramme is expected to deliver a set of complementary results embracing three categories of priorities identified by the Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA) for the Mediterranean Sea which are translated into three components of the Programme: i) Reduction of Land-Based Pollution in Priority Coastal Hotspots and measuring progress to impacts; ii) Enhancing Sustainability and Climate Resilience in the Coastal Zone; and iii) Protecting Marine Biodiversity.

Component 1 of the MedProgramme is devoted to the reduction of land-based pollution in priority coastal hotspots and measuring progress to impacts; its associated programme outcomes will be achieved through three Child Projects (Child Projects 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3). UNEP/MAP and MedProgramme Coordinating Unit, through MED POL and MedWaves, will implement Child Project 1.1 entitled “Reducing Pollution from Harmful Chemicals and Wastes in Mediterranean Hot Spots and Measuring Progress to Impacts” (GEF Project ID 9684) (hereinafter referred to as Child Project 1.1). Child Project 1.1 will be implemented in several countries. The overall targets for Child Project 1.1 include reduction and disposal of 2,000 tons of Persistent Organic Pollutant (POPs), mainly Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) and 50 tons of mercury wastes. The activities will comprise of interventions to significantly reduce the production, use, consumption and emissions/releases of targeted chemicals and wastes (POPs, mercury) through environmentally sound disposal of wastes and stockpiles; the adoption of sustainable production and consumption practices; investments in innovative techniques; and regulatory approaches. In this framework, an international contractor is already on board to coordinate the collection, drainage, transport and final disposal of PCB-containing equipment, who needs to be supported by a national expert for the interventions at each respective country.

To this aim, UNEP/MAP- MedPCU recruited, under the framework of CP 1.1 a consultant who prepared a list of relevant legislations, with a short summary, governing the environmental sound management and removal of the PCBs in Lebanon, and provided training to environmental inspectors and/or other national enforcement officials in Lebanon for monitoring the sound disposal of inventoried PCBs by the contractor for the preparatory work of the final PCB disposal strategy, Activities related to the final PCB disposal activities are now needed to support the Ministry of Environment in carrying out the final PCB disposal activities.

For this, UNEP/MAP requires the services of a national consultant to support the tasks referred to in section 4 of this ToR, including follow-up together with both the Ministry of Environment (MoE) in Lebanon on the execution of on-the ground activities related to PCB disposal in Lebanon.

Under the direct supervision of the Programme Management Officer (Chemicals&Waste) and overall guidance of the MedProgramme Programme Manager, the consultant will be responsible for the following tasks:

(i) Preparation for the assignment 1. Prepare a detailed workplan for the assignment including timeline;

(ii) Support for PCB disposal in Lebanon

2. Provide inputs, including follow up with stakeholders, prior to the inception meeting and participate in the inception meeting with the international contractor for PCB disposal for the final PCB disposal operation; 3. Assist and follow-up with both the Ministry of Environment and the international contractor for PCB disposal on the Basel notification procedures, and on the development of the Health, environmental and safety plan 4. Provide technical support in the preparation of field visits for the collection of PCB-containing equipment, and address and resolve any pending issues and if necessary, to bring to the attention of MedPCU. 5. Final report for the implementation of activities under this assignment.

Qualifications/special skills - Education: Advanced university degree in the field of environmental sciences, engineering, management or equivalent is required A minimum of 5 years of experience in the area of environmental management is required. Experience in similar projects is required. Experience in working with governmental institutes is an asset.

Languages Language: Fluency (both oral and written) in English 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.