Technical Advisor, Chemicals and Waste Unit

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

Result of Service

The ultimate results of services provided by the consultant will be to support in coordination and development of concepts and project documents for Global Environment Facility (GEF) mercury pipeline projects, provide technical guidance and advice toward the existing portfolio of the Chemicals and Waste Unit (in particular Minamata Convention related projects), and support in continuous engagement with Global Mercury Partnership and other internal units such as the Minamata Secretariat.

Work Location

Home based

Expected duration

12 months

Duties and Responsibilities

Organizational Setting:

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 overall objective of the UNEP's Economy Division is to encourage decision-makers in government, local authorities and industry to develop and adopt policies, strategies and practices and technologies that promote sustainable patterns of consumption and production, make efficient use of natural resources, ensure safe management of chemicals and contribute to making trade and environment policies mutually supportive. It promotes the development, use and transfer of policies, technologies, economic instruments, managerial practices and other tools that assist in environmentally sound decision making and the building of corresponding activities.

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) helps developing countries and those with economies in transition to meet the agreed incremental costs of measures designed to achieve global environmental benefits in six focal areas: biological diversity, climate change, international waters, ozone layer depletion, land degradation and chemicals and waste. An important component of almost all UNEP’s GEF projects is building capacity to manage the environment in a sound manner.

The Chemicals and Health Branch of UNEP plays a key role in supporting countries to implement, develop and execute chemicals related GEF projects that fit within its comparative advantage. UNEP’s comparative advantage within the GEF has been defined as:

• Scientific assessment, monitoring, early warning. • Linking science to policy (Capacity Building, Enabling Activities) at national, regional and global levels; • Innovation, technology transfer and lifting barriers; • Regional and global cooperation; • Awareness raising, advocacy, and knowledge management.

As part of its duties, the GEF Chemicals & Waste Unit is in charge of supervising a portfolio of ongoing projects, develop new projects to be submitted to the GEF and assist countries to close finished projects. The Chemicals team also provides coaching and advice to UNEP colleagues in the Chemicals and Health Branch and in other divisions. GEF Chemicals & Waste Unit has been successful in developing a series of projects which now require the completion of the package for GEF Chief Executive Officer (CEO) endorsement. Supervision of the development of these proposals has been assigned across the GEF team but the volume of work to be undertaken requires additional technical advice and input from a specialist consultant with experience in guiding Minamata Convention related GEF proposals. The development of the submissions is time sensitive, and the workload requires the support to be available as early as possible.

Reporting lines:

The incumbent will be under the direct supervision of the Portfolio Manager of the Chemicals and Waste GEF unit.

Specific tasks and responsibilities: The Consultant will be responsible for the following duties:

1) Concept and project development As we initiate the GEF8 cycle, the mercury pipeline projects need to be discussed and agreed with the GEF and project development needs to be initiated. The incumbent will lead the coordination and development of different concepts and projects with international and national stakeholders and support the Portfolio Manager on negotiations with the GEF and for the obtaining of the endorsement letters. The incumbent will work with different team members of the Chemicals and Waste Unit (C&WU) and provide technical advice on the drafting of the project identification forms (PIFs) and project documents and ensure their clearances.

Projects/concepts under direct supervision of incumbent:

• Full-sized project (FSP) on mercury trade in Asia

  Projects/concepts supported by other C&W team members:

• FSP project on unintentional mercury emissions from nonferrous metals production

• FSP waste management from mercury in products in Southern Africa
• FSP chlor alkali sector in Brazil
• FSP planetGOLD Senegal
• FSP planetGOLD Costa Rica
• FSP planetGOLD Paraguay
• MSP mercury trade and management in Brazil
• Enabling activities

2) Active projects

• The incumbent will provide technical guidance and advice toward the existing portfolio of the Unit (in particular Minamata Convention related projects). The Incumbent will also provide interim task management duties and work closely with different members of the C&WU to ensure proper and timely implementation of planned activities as a GEF Agency. Activities include monitoring executing agencies and review/approval of monitoring reports of the following projects:

  Projects under direct monitoring of incumbent:

• planetGOLD global

• Medical devices project
• Dental amalgam project
• Skin lightening products project

• National Action Plans (NAPs) (Cambodia and Pakistan)

  Projects supported by other C&W team members:

• planetGOLD Mongolia/Philippines, Uganda, Congo, Guinea, Cote d'Ivoire, Zambia, Zimbabwe

• Mexico primary mining project
• Mexico chlor alkali project
• Coal MSP project
• Mercury trade in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC)
• Enabling activities

3) Continuous engagement with Global Mercury Partnership and other internal units such as the Minamata Secretariat

• Act as the main focal point for targeted technical assistance through global components of different mercury projects • Lead the periodic Unit responses to requests from Minamata Secretariat • Participate in Minamata Conference of Parties (COP) intersession and regional meetings (on as needed basis)

Qualifications/special skills

Advanced university degree in a field related to Environmental Sciences (chemistry, chemical engineering, environmental studies, environmental management), or equivalent experience.

At least 15 years of working experience in project management at international level is required.

Working knowledge of Global Environment Facility (GEF) Chemicals and Waste projects especially related to Minamata Convention on mercury (development and supervision) is required.

Languages

Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of any other UN language is desirable.

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.