Specialist on environmental information systems and statistics - waste management

Result of Service The objective of this consultancy is to strengthen the knowledge and capacity to carry out information-based policy actions in the waste management sector in Caribbean countries by analyzing information systems, defining waste management and circular economy indicators, collecting related information and data, and providing technical assistance and training activities to target countries, among other actions.

Under the overall coordination and technical guidance of the UNEP, in coordination with other key partners, the consultant will be responsible for the following activities:

1. Analyse and assess waste information systems in the Caribbean countries: This will focus in analysing the current waste management information systems of national statistics entities and those sectoral agencies in charge of waste management, and the barriers and opportunities to strengthen them, taking into account any existing analysis, such as the related work of the IDB. In this sense, a focus will be given to countries not yet analysed by other entities, such as Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Cuba.

2. Define a suitable set of waste management and circular economy indicators, considering the results of the analysis of information systems previously conducted, and taking into account international best practices and SDG-related indicators, and particularly the related on-going work of the IDB.

3. Collect information on the waste management and circular economy systems of the Caribbean countries analysed, which will serve as a test of the previously identified indicators, and as a baseline for indicator-based assessments and information platforms in the region. Research will be conducted on available data and methodologies to populate these parameters, as well as available databases to be used or adapted to Caribbean needs. This will be done in collaboration with national statistical departments and waste agencies, and the focal points of the UNEP Regional Environmental Information Network in the Caribbean and will complement the information collected by the IDB in the other countries of the region.

4. Identification of pilot countries in the Caribbean region to provide technical assistance for strengthening waste data and information systems in four (4) countries. To this end, selection criteria will be established based on the information previously collected and supported by the defined indicators, in collaboration with the countries involved in the project, and the rest of the implementing partners.

5. Provide technical assistance to the target countries, for strengthening waste data and information systems in four selected countries. As a result, it is expected to guide the creation or use of existing systems and platforms to deliver data in a sustainable and internationally comparable way over time and reports on waste. This will consider UNEP's Sustainable Development Goals database and the Global Environment Situation Room. Data and information will be created taking into account its potential and compatibility to be used by regional online database of comparable indicators on waste management systems.

6. Support the development of a regional training, on waste management statistics and associated indicators, to be conducted tentatively during first half of 2023. The training will be addressed to representatives of statistical offices and waste management agencies from Caribbean countries. This will be done considering experiences and best practices on waste management and the circular economy, either as a result of programme assessments and interventions, or from information gathered from different stakeholders and sources; and in collaboration with other key partners, such as UNEP Regional Environmental Information Network focal points in the Caribbean, and the IDB. As a result, at least 20 professionals from Caribbean countries are expected to be trained.

7. Development of a report on the status of waste management systems in the Caribbean, taking into account the indicators defined and the information collected, and in collaboration with other key partners, such as the IDB.

Expected Deliverables:

Product No. 1: Report outlining work methods of the consultancy including stakeholder engagement processes and data collection, and the assessment of waste management information systems and reporting in the target countries.

Product No. 2: Document containing a list and description of the selected indicators, and the rationale for their suitability.

Product No. 3: Report and excel document with the necessary information, taking into account the methodology and format of the IDB related initiative.

Product No. 4: A document defining the four countries selected, and the justification based on the selection criteria, including the consultation and validation process with the countries.

Product No. 5.1: A document reflecting the technical assistance plan, including key stakeholders to be engaged.

Product No. 5.2: Report on the technical assistance provided to target countries to date.

Product No. 6: A document reflecting the training plan, stakeholders involved, implementing partners, and description of the conducted workshop, including recommendations by participants.

Product No. 7: Report on the status of waste management in the Caribbean, based on the compilation of and analysis of waste indicators.

Work Location Home-based

Expected duration 12 months

Duties and Responsibilities 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.

The UNEP Latin America and the Caribbean Office (LACO), located in Panama City, works closely with the 33 countries of the region and its activities are integrated into the Medium-Term Strategy and the Programme of Work approved by the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA). The UNEP Caribbean Sub-Regional Office (SRO), located in Kingston, Jamaica, is a catalyst, advocate, educator and facilitator to promote the wise use and sustainable development of the Caribbean environment.

UNEP is an implementing partner in the European Union (EU) Action for the Caribbean financed by the 11th European Development Fund on circular economy in general and of solid waste management in particular. The Action seeks to improve the resource efficiency of Caribbean economies and is aligned with the EU’s Green Deal, including green economy approaches and obligations regarding Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). UNEP’s support will focus on the normative, knowledge and policy engagement components of the Action, strengthening national legislative frameworks and facilitating sub-regional and Caribbean- wide action.

The geographic scope of the Action includes the Caribbean Forum (CARIFORUM) Member States (Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago and Cuba). Other partners of the Action programme include the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ) and the Agence Francaise de Developpment (AFD), who will be focused on piloting technical interventions in selected countries. UNEP will promote uptake of best practices, lessons learned and appropriate and successful technology options.

A key objective of the Action Programme is to “Increase knowledge and capacity to deliver information-based policy action”, through three actions: 1. Regular review of the situation of waste management and the circular economy in the Caribbean countries, and analysis of relevant NDCs, current information systems and data gaps. 2. Strengthen waste information systems and capacity to deliver waste statistics, including SDG related indicators, assist countries to populate data and support digitalization of the waste management sector. 3. Knowledge generation and gathering on waste management best practices, lessons learnt, technical guidelines, and development of capacity building and training activities.

These actions will involve regular review and monitoring of the status of waste management in the Caribbean region using existing methodologies and tools, such as UNEP's Waste Management Outlooks, and modifying them as necessary. Furthermore, waste management and circular economy indicators will be defined, taking into account international best practices and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) related indicators. Research will be conducted on available data and methodologies to populate these parameters, as well as available databases to be used or adapted to Caribbean needs, and countries will be assisted in strengthening their waste information systems. This will be done in collaboration with national statistical departments and waste agencies, and focal points of UNEP's Regional Environmental Information Network in the Caribbean, as well as with other multilateral partners, such as the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

To this end, UNEP is seeking a specialist on information systems and environmental statistics, with a focus on waste management and circular economy, who will work in coordination with experts from UNEP, IDB and other key partners. This is a home-based product-based consultancy, and the work and outputs of the consultant will be supervised by the UNEP Regional Coordinator of Chemicals and Pollution programme, Latin America and the Caribbean Office, in coordination with the head of UNEP's Sub-regional Office in the Caribbean, and the Regional Coordinator of the Science Policy programme, Latin America and the Caribbean Office.

Qualifications/special skills Academic Qualifications: - Advanced university degree (Master’s degree, or equivalent) on Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Economics, Management, Policy, Law, and/or similar. A first-level degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in the related fields of studies with two additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. - Additional studies or specific training in waste management, statistics, data analysis or similar is an asset.

Experience: - At least five (05) years’ experience in the environmental field, statistics, or data analysis. - Professional experience on environmental and waste management statistics and information analysis is desired. - Familiarity with waste management issues, circular economy, and specificities of the Caribbean SIDS would be advantageous. - Familiarity with the goals and procedures of international organizations, in particular those of the UN and EU, is an asset. - Experience in training other specialists would be an asset.

Language:

For the post fluency in English is required. Confident in Spanish is an asset.

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.