Technical Specialist

Result of Service Technical support for the development and implementation of national and regional activities under the GEF CReW+ Project, including the provision of technical inputs for the design and implementation of activities under the four CReW+ components, including the promotion and management of integrated water and wastewater innovations, coordination of meetings, dissemination of information, facilitation of training, and presentations to relevant stakeholders.

Work Location Home-based

Expected duration 15 months

Duties and Responsibilities The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the United Nations system 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 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, and the Organisation of American States (OAS).

The main objective of GEF CReW+ is to implement innovative, technical small-scale solutions in the Wider Caribbean Region (WCR), using an Integrated Water and Wastewater Management (IWWM) approach and building on the sustainable financing mechanisms that were piloted through the Caribbean Regional Fund for Wastewater Management under the first CReW Project. It will include regulatory and policy reforms, feasibility studies, assessment and/or development of financing mechanisms, and pilot projects for small-scale, local, rural, peri-urban, and community-based for IWWM in the WCR. This project will build upon the frameworks and lessons learned from earlier projects, mainly the GEF CReW. The outcome of the project will be the development of national and regional solutions for the improved management of water and wastewater that can be upscaled and replicated, and to significantly reduce the negative impact of domestic wastewater on the environment and people through national and community-based solutions for watersheds and freshwater basins.

UNEP Cartagena Convention Secretariat, as the co-executing agency on behalf of UNEP, is seeking a Technical Specialist to support the overall implementation of the GEF CReW+ Project. The overall tasks and responsibilities include:

• Provide technical support to the Cartagena Convention Secretariat in overseeing and guiding national implementation of demonstration projects in the 10 countries for which the Cartagena Convention Secretariat is responsible for under Component 3.
• Support the design and coordination of GEF CReW+ training sessions including in support of webinars, execution of web-based capacity-building courses, and stakeholder sessions in coordination with the Communications Team of the GEF CReW+ Project and that of the UNEP Cartagena Convention Secretariat.
• Liaise with UNEP Cartagena Convention Secretariat, and coordinate with other executing agencies (EAs) and the Project Coordination group (PCG) to provide technical input guidance on the implementation of the project activities in accordance with the provisions of the GEF and UNEP policies. This includes travelling to project sites as needed for monitoring and evaluation in accordance with UN travel allowances.
• Advise the Regional Project Coordinator of the CReW+ Project Coordinating Group (PCG) and Marine Pollution Programme Manager of the UNEP Cartagena Secretariat including conducting technical evaluations, reviewing project documentation, and facilitating project reporting.
• Review technical submissions and final reports from consultants, national and regional partners.
• Provide technical inputs for the design and implementation of activities under the four CReW+ components, including proposing and managing innovations.
• Identify appropriate specialists to serve as consultants for the execution of the CReW+ project activities.
• Support the design and dissemination of knowledge management and communication products designed for CReW+.
• Support with participation at international conferences and water and wastewater management seminars in accordance with UN travel allowances.
• Support the preparation of relevant sections of reports by UNEP as well as reports to GEF CReW+ Project Steering Committee (PSC), Implementing Agencies Coordination Group (IACG), and GEF; and

• Represent the project, if the Regional Project Coordinator of CReW+ or the Marine Pollution Programme Manager for UNEP Cartagena Convention Secretariat is unable to attend.

  Qualifications/special skills- Bachelor’s degree(s) in Engineering or Environmental Science or related field or, - Master’s degree in Environmental Engineering, Hydrology, or a related field would be an asset. At least 4 years of work experience in the water/wastewater sector, with strong project management skills; a master’s degree in the field may be considered in lieu of 2 years of work experience. Technical skills in water and wastewater treatment systems, especially in decentralized systems, including a good balance of technical, socio-economic, and environmental expertise. Knowledge and understanding of hydrological databases and systems would be an asset. Knowledge and understanding of the water and wastewater sector in the Wider Caribbean Region is required. Knowledge and understanding of the water and wastewater sector in the Wider Caribbean Region is required.

  Languages Proficiency in oral and written English and Spanish 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.