Result of Service

Under the overall supervision of the Programme Officers of the Consumption and Production Unit in the Industry and Economy Division, the consultant will deliver the followings: Coordinate the implementation of technical work of the project in the Pacific region • Lead the technical activities in the following outputs of the project in the Pacific region: o the development of baseline assessment and list of recommended actions for countries and actors along the Pacific region to reduce plastic pollution. o the organization of knowledge-sharing and capacity building events related to the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee meetings to end plastic pollution. • Liaise with project implementing partners to regularly follow up on the progress and deliverables of the contract. • Facilitate the organisation of consultation workshops, trainings and meetings related to the project by reviewing and editing relevant meeting documents and materials. • Engage with stakeholders in Pacific countries, including national governments, the private sector, national initiatives and partnership related to the Pacific region, peer agencies, NGOs and academia. • Lead the preparation of technical documents summarising the progress of the project implementation, as well as the project terminal report. • Review communication materials of the project to ensure its technical quality. Other projects on plastic pollution in the Asia-Pacific region • Support the implementation of other relevant plastics related project in Asia-Pacific under the One Plastics Initiative (such as SEA Circular, UNPDF etc.), improve the synergies among countries along the Pacific region. • Provide an overview of all on-going plastic initiatives and projects by UNEP and other agencies. • Prepare a list of potential topics for future projects in the region. Relevant work on Chemical and Pollution Sub-programme in the Asia-Pacific region • Support the preparation of relevant assessments, briefings and technical documents related to the Chemical and Pollution Sub-programme (including the topic on air quality, environment and health, waste management, and circularity in sectors) • Support the preparation of relevant events, training and meetings related to the Chemical and Pollution Sub-programme. Indicators for evaluation of outputs • Timely delivery of outputs • Achievement of goals outlined by UNEP • Quality of work

Work Location

Office-based, in Fiji/Samoa

Expected duration

11 months

Duties and Responsibilities

The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) is the United Nations system’s designated entity for addressing environmental issues at the global and regional levels. 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. UNEP’s Industry and Economy Division works with international governments and non-governmental organizations, national and local governments, business and industry to develop and implement policies, strategies, and practices that are cleaner and safer, incorporate environmental costs, use natural resources efficiently, reduce pollution and risks for humans and the environment, and enable the implementation of conventions and international agreements. The UNEP Medium Term Strategy (MTS) 2022-2025 identifies unsustainable consumption and production as the underlying cause of the current three planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. The MTS aims to address those existential threats by working towards climate stability, living in harmony with nature, and towards a pollution-free planet. Under the Chemicals and Pollution Action of the MTS, UNEP implementing the ONE UNEP Plastics Initiative. aiming to trigger systems change to accelerate the transition towards a circular economy of plastics, with concerted actions by key stakeholders across the plastics life cycle, to end plastic pollution. The initiative galvanizes UNEP’s work on plastic pollution in a coherent, systemic, and strategic way, and will inform decision-makers and the public about plastic pollution to rallying actors across the value chain (especially the private sector) to scale up solutions. The focus of the consultancy is to support the implementation of the Project ‘Strengthening Plastic Pollution Management in Asia and the Pacific (Mekong River Basin)’ in the Pacific countries, by liaising with regional and national governmental and business stakeholders, academia, NGOs, implementing partners, and ensuring quality delivery of relevant project outputs. The consultancy is also expected to support other relevant projects on plastic pollution and chemicals and pollutions in the Asia-Pacific region. The consultant will work full time in the Fiji/Samoa duty station, under the supervision of the programme officer for the One UNEP Plastics Initiative, of the Consumption and Production Unit in the Industry and Economy Division.

Qualifications/special skills

– Advanced university degree in a field related to Social or Environmental Sciences (biology, chemistry, chemical engineering, social science, environmental studies, environmental science, environmental engineering), or equivalent experience. A first level degree with an additional two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. – At least four (4) years of work experience in managing projects related to chemicals and pollution, sustainable consumption and production, and circular economy is required; Experience on developing or managing projects on plastic pollution is desirable; – Experience in drafting project related documents, including concepts, progress reports, work plans, and financial documents (budgets and expenditure reports) is required; – Sophisticated in result-based management and its application in project development, management, and evaluation; – Very sophisticated writing skills with proven track records of developing high-quality project documents, and good verbal communication skills with proven ability to liaise with external stakeholders in governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, the private sector and NGOs; – Experience in working with national governments in developing countries is required, and working experience in the Pacific region is required; – Experience in working with the United Nations and international organisations is required; – Knowledge of the UN System is an advantage. – Excellent management of office computing tools including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and data analysis and standard statistical techniques.

Languages

Fluency in English (oral and written) is required.

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.