National Project Development Consultant

Environment

Overview

Support project implementation of GEF CReW+ in Jamaica.

You have:

• Bachelor's degree in applied natural sciences, engineering, or relevant disciplines is required.
• At least 4 years of work experience in natural resource planning and management, environmental health, agriculture, water and sanitation, or closely related field is required.
• Proficiency in oral and written English is required.
• Certification in project management would be an asset.
• Good analytical and organizational skills in gathering baseline documentation and communicating with experts is required.
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft software applications such as Word, Excel, Project, and PowerPoint is required.
• Knowledge of and experience in operational modalities and procedures of UN Agencies and/or GEF would be an asset.

Result of Service The Implementation of Component 3 is expected to benefit the project location in the following ways:

1. Increased water conservation, reuse, and water sustainability (inclusive of recharge of aquifer); 2. Improved water supply, especially in the dry season; 3. Beautification of the area; 4. Increased eco-tourism activities; 5. Reduction in wastewater run-off; 6. Improved water quality to sustain wet land and marine lives and 7. Replenish or sustain wetlands and mangroves.

Work Location Home-based

Expected duration Two (2) months

Duties and Responsibilities Organisational Setting

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the United Nations systems designated entity for addressing environmental issues at the global and regional levels. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of global consensus on environmental issues by keeping the environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action.

UNEP and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) are currently implementing the Global Environment facility-funded CReW+ Project An integrated approach to water and wastewater management in the Wider Caribbean Region using innovative solutions and sustainable financing mechanisms in 18 countries in the Wider Caribbean. The GEF CReW+ Project aims to implement innovative technical small-scale solutions in the Wider Caribbean Region using an integrated water and wastewater management approach. The project is co-executed by the Secretariat of the Cartagena Convention and the German agency Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GmbH) on behalf of UNEP and the IDB, respectively, along with the Organisation of American States (OAS).

Through the UNEP Cartagena Convention Secretariat, the Project Coordinating Group is seeking a Consultant to support the overall implementation of the GEF CReW+ Project by preparing specific national-level activities in Jamaica (CReW+ national package) under Component 3, which entails the “provision of innovative small-scale, local, rural, peri-urban and community-based solutions for IWWM”. The objective is to showcase the diverse utilization of treated wastewater for reuse for various economic sectors. This will be implemented at selected National Water Commission’s Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs) across the island. The economic activities that will potentially benefit from reuse include Agriculture, Manufacturing, Housing & Tourism (Eco-tourism), depending on the locations of the WWTPs across the island.

Presently, the outfall of some of these WWTP’s discharges are “not fully compliant” treated effluent. Some of these discharges are only partially compliant treated effluents, resulting in some contaminants being discharged directly into water bodies, thereby impacting negatively economic activities and recreational water quality. In addition, some of the sites suffer from intermittent and unreliable water supply; therefore, treated effluent can be utilized and or swapped for non-domestic purposes such as irrigation/gardening, manufacturing, recharge of aquifer and wetland/mangrove replenishment, among others.

Component 3 of Jamaica’s CReW+ National Package includes the preparation of a comprehensive Project Feasibility Study, Engineering Designs inclusive of a Monitoring and Maintenance Manual for the implementation of the applicable wastewater reuse solutions at the selected NWC’s WWTP sites across the island.

The objective of the Consultancy is to define and prepare scope of works for the activities to be undertaken under Jamaica’s national activities under Component 3 of the GEF CReW+ Project, and to identify two or three suitable options for treatment facilities to be selected for implementation of WW reuse.

Duties and Responsibilities

This consultancy is intended to lay the foundation for the subsequent activities under both Component 2 and 3. The initial activity under Component 3 is to gather the relevant information for defining Component 3 of the national-level project activities and support the identification of the most suitable project locations. Following this, the technical team to carry out the selection of the WWTP for wastewater reuse, as well as the feasibility Study and the Engineering Designs. With the results from this initial activity, the GEF-funded CReW+ Project team will undertake, under Component 2, the development of a Business Plan that will include a market study for the identification of potential clients for wastewater reuse, as well as the preparation of a Financial and Economic feasibility Study supported by cost benefit analyses and Ability-to-Pay Assessments, among others.

The proposed activities under this initial assignment for component 3 are:

1. Carrying out a situational analysis which identifies how national and local circumstances, including needs and priorities in WWT and reuse, and how these have changed in recent years. This would include identifying work undertaken by other related projects, including gaps, priority needs and opportunities for synergies 2. Desk analysis of potential project areas/sites, including but not limited to the NWC’s existing wastewater treatment facilities reviewing and verifying water-related data provided by NWC and operators, in order to shortlist 3-4 locations based on their suitability for selection as a project location. 3. Visiting the potential project areas/sites, including but not limited to the NWC’s existing wastewater treatment facilities reviewing and verifying water-related data provided by NWC and operators. 4. Select the most-suitable project location based the previously gathered information and in stakeholder consultation. 5. Identification of the two-three most suitable options for the wastewater treatment facility to be selected at the project location. 6. In consultation with stakeholders, prepare a roadmap for design to execution and control including national and local authorities, utilities or other service providers, users, community organizations, etc.). The organization of the meetings during the visit of the consultant will be responsibility of the national counterpart. 7. Conducting a brief stakeholder consultation and identifying modalities for the potentials for reuse (component 2 of the project); 8. Pre-design of the most strategic, cost-effective and risk-informed treatment solution at the project location considering nature based solutions where possible, with key recommendations related to local capacity building and sustainability (operation and management, and financial sustainability overtime) and potential for reuse of treated effluents for agriculture, landscaping or other activities. 9. Developing a preliminary Work Plan and Schedule to undertake the subsequent activities under Component 3 (design and construction), including data gaps, a list of the information required in order to undertake the works efficiently and overall limitations to be considered for the implementation of Component 3.

The consultant responsible for this initial assignment will report directly to the UNEP Cartagena Convention Secretariat and will work in close coordination with the regional project management team and the GEF Operational Focal Point. Payment will be remitted subject to the approval of deliverables by UNEP.

Qualifications/special skills Skills: Proven ability to network and develop partnerships across a range of stakeholders, as well as coordinate multi-stakeholder national consultation processes and document results is required. Good interpersonal skills is desirable. Good analytical and organizational skills in gathering baseline documentation and communicating with experts is required. Good understanding of national policies and institutional structures, and the ability to advise on institutional capacities and relations is desirable. Proficient in the use of Microsoft software applications such as Word, Excel, Project and PowerPoint are required. Academic Qualifications: A Bachelor's degree in applied natural sciences (e.g., natural resources management, environmental management), engineering or other relevant disciplines is required. Certification in project management would be an asset. Experience: At least 4 years of work experience in natural resource planning and management, environmental health, agriculture, water and sanitation or any closely related field is required. Previous experience providing technical oversight and project management for similar assignments would be a distinct asset. Work experience with project stakeholder institutions and agencies in the project area and the Caribbean would be an advantage. Knowledge of and experience in operational modalities and procedures of UN Agencies and/or GEF would be an asset. Language: English and French are the two working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, proficiency in oral and written 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.

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Added 3 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: careers.un.org