Regional Consultant for drafting PCB and Hg Management Plans to Support UNEP/MAP - MedProgramme in the Implementation of Child Project 1.1 (Level B)

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

Result of Service

The ultimate result of this service is draft of a regional PCB management plan, including national plans, for Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro, and an environmental management plan for disposal of metallic mercury in Algeria.

Work Location

home-based

Expected duration

5 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, through the MED POL Programme and the UNEP/MAP Regional Activity Centre for Sustainable Consumption and Production (MedWaves), implements 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 is 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 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.

To this aim, UNEP/MAP, MedPCU requires the services of a consultant to support the development of a regional PCB environmental management plan for the countries of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro to support them in the disposal of identified PCB wastes. This plan shall also add national PCB management plans for governmental approval. In addition, the consultant shall draft an environmental management plan for final disposal of metallic mercury in Algeria.

Under the direct supervision of the Programme Management Officer (Chemicals & Waste) and overall guidance of the MedProgramme Programme Coordinator, 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) PCB management plans in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro 2. Undertake 3 missions to visit sites in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro to gather information regarding the sites and surroundings of the sites. Technical data is already available. 3. Summarize available information, including legislation, locations, technical data and draft an PCB management plan, including environmental and health considerations, for each country. 4. Draft regional PCB management plan for Albania, Bosnia &Herzegovina, and Montenegro. (iii) Hg management plan related to metallic mercury in Algeria 5. Undertake 1 mission to visit some sites in Algeria gather information regarding the sites and surroundings of the sites. Technical data is already available. 6. Summarize available information, including legislation, locations, technical data and draft an Hg management plan, including environmental and health considerations, for each country. 7. Draft national Hg management plan for Algeria.

(iv) General and closing tasks 8. Prepare monthly progress reports for all activities undertaken (including mission reports); 9. Final report for the implementation of activities under this assignment.

Qualifications/special skills

Advanced university degree in the field of environmental science, environmental engineering, chemical engineering or equivalent is required A minimum of 5 years of experience in the Hazardous wastes Management is required. Working knowledge of GEF projects is an asset. PCBs management and disposal experience is required Hg management and disposal experience is required Hazardous waste management experience in the Mediterranean region is an asset

Languages

Fluency (both oral and written) and excellent writing skills in English are required. Working knowledge of French is an asset.

Additional Information

Not available.

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.