Waste management policy and legislation specialist

Result of Service The objective of this consultancy is to strengthen solid waste management legal and strategic frameworks in Caribbean countries, by developing a regional guidance framework for strategic planning and national action in the waste sector, and providing support to the development of national strategic planning and legislative frameworks in target countries.

Under the overall supervision of UNEP Regional Coordinator of Chemicals and Pollution programme, LAC Office, in coordination with the head of UNEP's Sub-regional Office in the Caribbean and the UNEP Regional Coordinator of Environmental Governance, LAC Office, , and in coordination with other key partners, the consultant will be responsible for the following activities:

1. Analyse and assess solid waste management legal and strategic frameworks in the Caribbean countries, considering the provisions on waste management and the barriers and opportunities to strengthen them, as well as the circular economy approaches and linkages to related agendas, in particular climate change and NDC. This will be done considering national information as well as existing assessments, reports and publications developed by UNEP and relevant partners in this area, such as the analysis and recommendations made in the Caribbean Waste Management Action Plan (2018; 2021).

2. Development of a regional guidance on legal and strategic frameworks for the strategic planning and national action in the waste sector in Caribbean countries, based on previously conducted analysis and evaluation of the legal and strategic frameworks for solid waste management in the Caribbean countries. This document will be developed to serve as a reference for Caribbean countries, that can be tailored to specific national and local circumstances. The guidance shall include relevant sections such as legal and technical terminology, considerations of the process to develop policies and regulations, model provisions, examples and case studies with lessons learnt from the region. The guidance shall be compiled and designed in a form that will facilitate converting it into a virtual toolkit at a later stage, for ease of targeted utilization and updating.

3. Identification of five (5) pilot countries in the region to provide support to the development of national strategic planning and legislative frameworks, including the integration of circular economy approaches and the alignment with NDCs. Target countries will be selected based on a range of priority criteria, such as high-level expressed interest, policy and regulatory gaps, updating requirements, and capacity needs, amongst others, in collaboration with the other project partners.

4. Provide technical assistance to five (5) target countries to support the development of national strategic planning and legislative frameworks. Specific advice will be provided to target countries for the development of national strategic policies or plans, and the design and drafting of legislative frameworks and regulations. A holistic approach to sustainable waste management will be promoted in these policies and regulations, including the integration of the principles and elements to promote a circular economy, sustainable consumption and waste minimization, and the alignment with NDCs. Coherent institutional and enabling frameworks will also be promoted to facilitate the implementation and enforcement of policies and regulations. National dialogues and multi-stakeholder and inter-institutional platforms and processes will be facilitated as appropriate.

Expected Deliverables:

Product No. 1: Report with (a) the methodology, workplan, and preliminary outline of the design and structure of the guidance framework, and (b) the mapping of available national and regional information and assessments on waste management legal and policy frameworks in the Caribbean countries.

Product No. 2: Report with the assessment of legal, institutional and policy frameworks on waste management and circular economy in the Caribbean countries, including key gaps and recommendations, as well as a mapping of relevant stakeholders.

Product No. 3: A regional guidance document for the development or updating of waste management legal and strategic frameworks in Caribbean countries, that can be tailored to specific national and local circumstances. The guidance shall include relevant sections such as legal and technical terminology, considerations of the process to develop policies and regulations, model provisions, examples and case studies with lessons learnt from the region, and shall be compiled and designed in a form that will facilitate converting it into a virtual toolkit.

Product No. 4: A document describing (a) the five countries identified, and the justification based on the selection criteria, including the consultation process with the countries, and (b) the technical assistance work plan, including key stakeholders to be engaged.

Product No. 5.1: Report on the technical assistance provided to 2 target countries to date.

Product No. 5.2: Report on the technical assistance provided to 3 target countries to date.

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, 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 programme or 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 “strengthen solid waste management legal and strategic frameworks”, including, amongst other, the following actions:

1. Development of a regional guidance framework for strategic planning and national action in the waste sector, considering the specific conditions in Caribbean countries. 2. Provide support to the development of national strategic planning and legislative frameworks, including the integration of circular economy approaches and the alignment with NDCs.

To this end, UNEP is seeking a specialist on environmental policy and legislation, with a focus on waste management and circular economy. 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, LAC Office, in coordination with the head of UNEP's Sub-regional Office in the Caribbean and the UNEP Regional Coordinator of Environmental Governance, LAC Office.

Qualifications/special skills Education:

- Master’s Degree in Law, International Relations, Political Science, Economics, Management, or related areas. - Bachelor’s Degree 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 environmental legislation and policy is an asset.

Professional experience:

- At least five (5) years of professional experience in areas related to environmental law, Common Law, drafting legislation and public policies or plans is required. - Experience in International and Caribbean environmental law and public policy is desired. - Experience in environmental review and development legislation, particularly on waste management and circular economy, is an advantage. - Familiarity with the goals and procedures of international organizations, in particular those of the UN and EU, is an asset. - Experience in facilitating multi-stakeholder dialogues and workshops would be an asset.

Languages 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.