Regional Consultancy to support the execution of pilots related to the better management of sea-based litter in ports and marinas in the framework of the “Marine Litter MED II” Project (Leve

Result of Service The ultimate result of this assignment is the timely and effective implementation of pilots in the selected major ports and marinas in the region through the support and technical assistance provided within the framework of the “Marine Litter MED II” Project in relation to the application of charges at reasonable costs for the use of port reception facilities or, when applicable, application of the No-Special-Fee system in such major ports, as well as the provision of reception facilities and the delivery of ship-generated wastes in such marinas, which will in turn contribute to the enhanced management of marine litter from sea-based sources in ports and marinas as well as reduce the amount thereof ending up in the sea.

The Consultant shall lead, coordinate and supervise the work of a team of three (3) national consultants (one consultant in each of Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia) working under the “Marine Litter MED II” Project. The national consultants are responsible for the timely and effective follow-up of implementation of the pilots in their respective countries: - Provide guidance to the national authorities and consultants on the methods of work and communication, information gathering, data collection as well as the preparation of the necessary supporting materials; - Provide information and documents to the national authorities and consultants specifically relating to the application of charges at reasonable costs for the use of port reception facilities or, when applicable, application of the No-Special-Fee system, hereinafter referred to as the Cost Recovery Systems (CRS), as well as the provision of PRF and the delivery of ship-generated wastes; and - Providing the necessary technical support to the national authorities and consultants, including onsite, in relation to the implementation of the said pilots, as appropriate.

Work Location Home-based

Expected duration Expected duration of the contract is three (3) months (66 days) spread over sixteen (16) months from the time of signing of the consulting agreement.

Duties and Responsibilities The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the United Nations system's designated entity for addressing environmental issues at the global and regional levels. 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. United Nation’s Environment 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. This consultancy assignment is for the Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP) - Programme for the Assessment and Control of Marine Pollution in the Mediterranean (MED POL), Athens, Greece.

COP 18 adopted Decision IG.21/7 related to the Regional Plan on Marine Litter Management in the Mediterranean in the Framework of Article 15 of the Protocol for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea against Pollution from Land-based Sources and Activities (LBS Protocol) to the Barcelona Convention, hereinafter referred to as the Marine Litter Regional Plan (MLRP) (UNEP(DEPI)/MED IG.21/9). COP 22 adopted Decision IG.25/9 on Amendments to the MLRP (UNEP/MED IG.25/27).

According to Article 9(15.4) of the MLRP, and in conformity with the objectives and principles thereof, the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention shall, in accordance with Article 14 of the Protocol concerning Cooperation in Preventing Pollution from Ships and, in Cases of Emergency, Combating Pollution of the Mediterranean Sea ("the 2002 Prevention and Emergency Protocol”), explore and implement by 2017, to the extent possible, ways and means to charge reasonable cost for the use of port reception facilities or when applicable, apply No-Special-Fee System. The Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention shall also take the necessary steps to provide ships using their ports with updated information relevant to the obligations arising from Annex V of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) and from their legislation applicable in the field.

Moreover, according to Article 10(16(g)) of the MLRP, the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention undertake to explore and implement to the extent possible the measure pertinent to the application of charges at reasonable costs for the use of port reception facilities or, when applicable apply No-Special-Fee system, in consultation with competent international and regional organizations, when using port reception facilities.

Within the framework of the EU-funded “Marine Litter-MED” Project, , executed over the period 2016 to 2019, eight (8) pilots related to the better management of sea-based litter in ports and marinas were implemented by the Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea (REMPEC), the UNEP/MAP Regional Activity Centre jointly administered with the International Maritime Organization (IMO), in three countries (Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia).

In parallel, a Guidance Document to Determine the Application of Charges at Reasonable Costs for the Use of Port Reception Facilities or, when Applicable, Application of the No-Special-Fee System, in the Mediterranean, hereinafter referred to as “the Guidance Document”, and the Operational Guidelines on the Provision of Reception Facilities in Ports and the Delivery of Ship-Generated Wastes in the Mediterranean, hereinafter referred to as “the Operational Guidelines”, were developed within the framework of the “Marine Litter-MED” Project, and adopted at COP 21 (Decision IG.24/11).

The second phase of the project “Marine Litter MED II” Project, which builds upon the “Marine Litter-MED” Project, provides an important contribution to the implementation of the UNEP/MAP Medium-Term Strategy 2022-2027 (MTS) as well as the Programme of Work and Budget for 2022-2023 adopted at COP 22 (Decision IG.25/1 and Decision IG.25/19, respectively). It envisages, amongst others, to expand the implementation of pilots related to the enhanced management of marine litter from sea-based sources in ports and marinas in the Mediterranean, with a focus on advancing the existing work on: - The application of charges at reasonable costs for the use of port reception facilities or, when applicable, application of the No-Special-Fee system; and - The provision of reception facilities in ports and the delivery of ship-generated wastes.

It also envisages to explore and establish synergies between the MLRP and the IMO Action Plan to address marine plastic litter from ships, as well as other relevant plans or initiatives, such as the IMO-Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)-Norway GloLitter Partnerships Project.

In line with the EU-funded Marine Litter MED II Project and the UNEP/MAP Medium-Term Strategy 2022-2027 (MTS), as well as the Programme of Work and Budget for 2022-2023, there is a need to recruit a regional consultant to assist the Lead Agency as well as support relevant authorities and other entities, as appropriate, in each beneficiary country. Specifically, the consultant will provide tailored expert advice, technical proposals, and will draft relevant documents, with a view to facilitating the timely and effective work by the relevant national consultant of (a) pilots to determine the application of charges at reasonable costs for the use of port reception facilities or, when applicable, application of the No-Special-Fee system, in the major port(s) selected for this purpose by the said beneficiary country; and (b) pilots related to the provision of reception facilities and the delivery of ship-generated wastes in the marina(s) selected for this purpose by the said beneficiary country.

The Consultant will work under the direct supervision of UNEP/MAP MED POL Associate Programme Management Officer (Marine Litter MED II Project Manager), under the guidance of UNEP/MAP MED POL Programme Management Officer, in consultation with REMPEC.

Specific tasks and responsibilities:

1. Prepare a detailed work plan for performance of the following tasks accompanied with a timetable for completion of each task over a time period of 16 months including a synopsis of work to be undertaken for each task and means for achieving the prescribed outputs of this consultancy. 2. Attend a regional kick-off Meeting to be held through videoconference, to discuss the content of the reference documents to be analysed, the scope of the assignment, as well as to collect all required information for the completion of this consultancy and to agree on the method of work and communication channel. 3. Provide input in drafting the regional kick-off Meeting report reflecting the main outcomes of the meeting. 4. Attend, together with the relevant national consultant, and for each beneficiary country, a national kick-off Meeting. 5. Contribute with input to the national kick-off Meeting reports, to be prepared by the relevant national consultant for each beneficiary country. 6. Contribute with input to the detailed national workplans and associated timelines for the timely and effective implementation of the pilots, to be prepared by the relevant national consultant for each beneficiary country. 7. Contribute with input in the preparation of a detailed regional workplan and associated timeline to secure the coordinated implementation of the pilots in the respective beneficiary countries. 8. Provide technical support to the follow-up work related to the pilots implemented within the framework of the “Marine Litter-MED” Project, to be carried out by the relevant national consultants assigned from each beneficiary country. 9. Provide technical support and input to the work pertinent to the development/update of the targeted diagnosis, to be prepared by the relevant national consultants for the selected ports and marinas in each beneficiary country. 10. Attend, together with the relevant national consultants, and for each beneficiary country, a field trip to the selected ports and marinas as well as a national meeting to be held in the said country organized by the national authorities/consultants and provide the necessary technical support and input to the said consultant for the said assignment. 11. Contribute with input and review the reports of the national meetings, to be prepared by the relevant national consultants for each beneficiary country. 12. Provide technical support and input to the work pertinent to the preparation of the Waste Reception and Handling Plans (WRHPs), to be prepared by the relevant national consultants for the selected ports and marinas in each beneficiary country. 13. Provide technical support and input towards facilitating the provision of expert advice by the relevant national consultants to the various stakeholders in relation to the selected major ports and marinas in each beneficiary country. 14. Contribute with input to the integrated national pilot reports, to be prepared by the relevant national consultant for each beneficiary country. 15. Draft an integrated regional pilot report, based on the input received by the national authorities/consultants, to: a) provide an overview of the pilots implemented in the respective beneficiary countries; b) provide insights on the lessons learnt, best practices, gaps, common challenges, based on the general findings, and recommendations, including suggestions on improvement at regional level, with specific focus on the CRS as well as the provision of PRF and the delivery of ship-generated wastes; c) propose a way forward with respect to the regional cooperation and coordinated activities that can contribute to the enhanced management of marine litter from sea-based sources in the Mediterranean; and d) provide insights on how synergies between the amended MLRP and the IMO Action Plan/Strategy to address marine plastic litter from ships, as well as other relevant plans or initiatives, such as the IMO- FAO-Norway GloLitter Partnerships Project, could be explored or established at the national, sub-regional or regional level. 16. Attend two technical/regional meetings related to the implementation of the “Marine Litter MED II” Project or related to the enhanced management of marine litter from sea-based sources in ports and marinas in the Mediterranean, when necessary. 17. Draft reports/minutes of the discussions held during the technical/regional meetings and report them to UNEP/MAP. 18. Provide input to UNEP/MAP deriving from the implementation of the pilots at national/regional level for the needs of reporting to the donor.

Qualifications/special skills Competency: Good knowledge of regional (Mediterranean) and international policy, regulations and tools related to the management of marine litter from sea-based sources is required.

Academic Qualifications: Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in environmental sciences, environmental law, marine science, or other closely related disciplines (preferably on marine litter or port management) is required.

Experience: - A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible work and experience in the management of ship-generated waste, port reception facilities (PRF) or the implementation of the international regulations governing the control of sea-based sources of marine litter, are required. - Working experience with and good knowledge of UNEP/MAP and/or its components (particularly REMPEC) in the field of management of marine litter from sea-based sources is an asset. - Experience in the organisation, overseeing and coordination of international and regional projects is an asset. - Experience in the development of national, regional, or international policies, strategies, regulations, guidelines relating to the management of marine litter from sea-based sources and PRF is an asset. - Experience in the development of Waste Reception and Handling Plans (WRHPs) for ports or marinas is an asset.

Language: - Excellent language skills in English (writing/speaking) are required. - Very good language skills in French (writing/speaking) are 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.