Capacity Building Specialist (Chemicals and Waste)

Result of Service- Strengthening existing national institutional frameworks and coordination mechanisms for the implementation of the Stockholm Convention. - Capacity building for Focal Points based on relevant information for their full participation in Stockholm Convention meetings and Conferences of the Parties. - Compiling a compendium of best practices and lessons learned on substantive and procedural issues encountered by parties in the implementation of the convention Work LocationHomebased Expected duration4 months Duties and ResponsibilitiesBackground: The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda and promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations (UN) system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment under review and for bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. Addressing the interconnections of the various environmental challenges in a coherent and holistic manner is essential to curb their significant and far-reaching impacts on the planet and its inhabitants. Chemical pollution and waste management are major issues that need to be addressed to help tackle the three planetary environmental crises of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution in a coherent and comprehensive manner. Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) are core legal instruments for protecting the environment and securing human well-being. MEAs such as the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm (BRS) conventions are key tools for managing impacts from chemical pollution and waste management and ensure the safe and sustainable use of chemicals. New chemicals are constantly developing and being introduced into the market, and their potential impact on human health and the environment must be carefully evaluated. However, the management and control of these chemicals can be challenging for both industry and governments. Therefore, it is imperative that robust capacity building initiatives be accorded to national focal points and industry representatives for effective implementation of these MEAs. Duties and Responsibilities: The assignment falls under activity 1.3.12 of the project entitled “Enforcing Environmental Treaties in African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Countries- ACP-MEAs III Programme”, which aims to facilitate the national and institutional capacity of key stakeholders in African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) countries to implement MEAs in the biodiversity and chemicals and waste clusters and to reap the benefits of improved environmental management at the national and regional levels. Activity 1.3.12 aims at: 1) The development of new material, validation, and broad dissemination (through websites, webinars, and factsheets) of guidance materials to enhance implementation and control over new chemicals listed under the Stockholm Convention, taking into account existing guidance; 2) Develop a course curriculum on articles screening methods, best available techniques on the production, use and final disposal of new industrial Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) listed under the Stockholm Convention, and on alternatives to new industrial POPs identified by the subsidiary bodies of the Stockholm Convention, taking into account existing guidance and technical guidelines. The course will be organized as two consecutive online webinars for the national focal points of the Stockholm Convention This consultancy will be a continuation and expansion of the work done under activity 1.4.5 “conducting webinars on perfluorinated chemicals risk reduction approaches, substitution and alternatives, in English, French and Spanish” that was undertaken in 2022 under the ACP MEAs III Programme. The incumbent will be supervised by the Programme Management Officer in the Environmental Conventions and Policy Branch of the Law Division. The work will involve consultations with the BRS Secretariat, other UNEP Divisions and units relevant to the work, in particular the Chemicals and Health Branch of the Industry and Economy Division. The incumbent will be home-based. Qualifications/special skillsAdvanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in toxicology, environmental sciences or a related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with 5 additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. A minimum of eight years of progressively responsible experience in working and delivering training on issues related to the Stockholm Convention and its listed chemicals is required with a master's degree in toxicology is required. Experience conducting research and advising governments or international organizations on issues related to environmental governance is required. Experience working with developing countries in the global south is required. Experience working both on governmental and intergovernmental levels is desirable. Knowledge of the key objectives and matters of the UNEP-administered chemicals and waste-related MEAs is desirable. LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in oral and written English and French is required. Additional InformationOutput 1: Submission of an inception report including curriculum development for the 2 x 1.5 hours webinars in both English and French (4 sessions in total); A general overview of new chemicals listed in the Stockholm Convention at the last meetings of the COPs information on screening methods, best available techniques and best environmental practices (BAT/BEP) on the production, use and disposal of new industrial POPs listed in the Stockholm Convention, on risk management approached and on alternatives to new industrial POPs identified by subsidiary bodies of the Stockholm Convention; taking into account existing guidance and materials developed by the Stockholm Convention Secretariat. Estimated workdays: 18 days Output 2: Develop teaching materials including one presentation, six case studies, and one practical exercise to support the curriculum per category (English and French). Estimated workdays: 15 days. Output 3: Delivery of developed curriculum as stated in output one: one webinar series (two sessions of 1.5 hours in both English and French) for six African countries (in English and French) Estimated workdays: 15 days Output 4: Develop draft Guidelines and Recommendations to track the presence and levels of POPs in the environment and human populations (English and French) Estimated workdays: 13 days No FeeTHE 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.