Result of Service
Objective
Under the supervision of the UNEP Regional Coordinator of Chemicals and Pollution Programme, LAC Office, in coordination with the relevant UNEP Divisions and units, the consultant will support the implementation of the UNEP plastics initiative and project portfolio in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Responsibilities:
- Support the delivery and visibility of the UNEP programme and project portfolio on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment:
a. Support the development, implementation and execution of UNEP GEF projects, including the GEF LAC project, to Reduce marine plastics and plastic pollution in Latin American and Caribbean cities through a circular economy approach, in Colombia, Jamaica, and Panama, in coordination with the relevant task managers, Executing Agency, and related UNEP Divisions and units.
b. Support the action planning at the national level to address plastic pollution, which may include the development of national sources inventory, and national stakeholders’ engagement.
c. Provide technical assistance to countries and relevant stakeholders in the development of plastics regulations and policies.
d. Support awareness raising, outreach, and capacity building activities, and facilitate knowledge and information exchange in the LAC region, including dissemination of UNEP knowledge products, and organization of related events.
e. Assist with monitoring, reporting, and visibility of results of UNEP activities in coordination with project managers and sub-regional and country offices.
f. Support the coordination and communication within UNEP in the implementation of the plastics initiative, including the LACO Plastics Task Team, and coordination with the different programmes, Divisions, units, and national and subregional offices. - Support to the identification of regional priorities and baseline analysis in the LAC region
a. Carry out research, analysis, and present information and data gathered from diverse sources on status of plastic pollution in the LAC region, available policies and regulations, and existing initiatives, programmes and projects.
b. Develop and maintain country profiles, which shall include key data on plastics and policy and regulatory instruments, stakeholders, as well as information on barriers and priorities of countries to transition towards a circular economy of plastics, considering the national and local contexts and resources. This will inform geographic focus of UNEP action in the LAC region.
c. Support the development of country and briefing notes, as appropriate, as well as relevant knowledge products, reports, and presentations. - Contribution to Ministerial and policy dialogues and gathering input from these dialogues to UNEP action:
a. Contribute to policy and ministerial dialogues and relevant fora in the region, bringing in the UNEP approach, including within the framework of the LAC Forum of Ministers of Environment.
b. Facilitate the implementation of UNEA resolutions and ministerial decisions, including those from the LAC Forum of Ministers of Environment, and support to identify suitable UNEP action and initiatives to respond to political resolutions and mandates.
c. Support the coordination of relevant coordination and cooperation platforms, established within the LAC Forum of Ministers, such as the Working group on marine litter and microplastics in LAC, Regional Coalition on Circular Economy – Group on plastics…), and other related initiatives. - Support the mainstreaming of the plastics agenda within the UN reform:
a. Contribute to incorporate possible elements related with plastic pollution in Common Country Analysis (CCAs) in the LAC region, and in the subsequent United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks (UNSDCF).
b. Support the liaison and work of United Nations Country Teams (UNCTs) in jointly tackling plastic pollution in the LAC countries, in coordination with relevant national authorities and stakeholders.
c. Support the joint work on plastic pollution with other UN entities, such as UN HABITAT, UNDP, FAO, PAHO, among others.
d. Support the UNEP country focal points in LAC in addressing the plastics agenda in their respective countries and UNCTs. - Resource mobilization and partnership building
a. Identify funding opportunities to address plastics pollution, and support the development of project proposals contributing to the UNEP plastics initiative, in collaboration with the relevant UNEP divisions, offices and units.
b. Facilitate partnership building and engagement of relevant stakeholders to ensure the implementation of projects, activities, and initiatives related to plastic pollution.
Work Location
UNEP Latin America and the Caribbean Office, Panama
Expected duration
6 months
Duties and Responsibilities
Purpose
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).
Plastic pollution is of major concern at a global level considering its ubiquity and growing trends. According to UNEP assessments, during the past four decades global plastic production has more than quadrupled, with the global plastic market valued at around US$ 580 billion in 2020. Under the current scenario, releases of plastic waste are projected to nearly triple by 2040 without meaningful action. Coordinated efforts and action is needed throughout the life cycle of plastics, involving the relevant stakeholders.
In this context, UNEP has established a Global Initiative for plastics, which aims to trigger systems change to accelerate the just and safe transition towards a circular economy of plastics thereby reducing plastic pollution and impacts. The initiative intends to coordinate with all relevant UNEP teams, peer-agencies and partners to mobilize resources and scale up actions, so that sufficient momentum is generated to support work at national, regional, and global levels, to invest in just and safe circular systems, solutions, and technologies, informed by the latest scientific assessments. This work will need to inform and be informed by ongoing global processes including the intergovernmental negotiating committee on plastic pollution (INC), including in the marine environment, which will provide an additional incentive for actions across the life. The initiative will tackle plastic pollution using a circular economy approach, where problematic or unnecessary plastics, additives, and products are removed in the early stage, where products are kept at their highest value for as long as possible in the value chain, and where plastic is considered a valued resource that remains circulating in the economy for as long as possible.
The initiative aims to achieve the expected objective and impacts through a programmatic approach, by implementing global projects, as well as regional and in-country projects. The implementation and execution of UNEP projects are expected to be co-developed and jointly delivered with global partners, as well as with regional, national and sub-national initiatives, governments, businesses along the value chain, NGOs and academia.
In this framework, UNEP implements and supports execution of projects and initiatives which contribute to reduce plastic pollution in different regions and countries, including in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), with funding from different donors and funds, such as the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
The issue of plastic pollution has been stated as a priority for LAC countries in different fora. During the XXII Forum of Ministers of Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean (Barbados, 1-2 February 2021), Decision 1 on Pollution was adopted, which calls for urgent action to prevent plastic pollution and promotes regional cooperation and coordination to enhance the sound management of chemicals and waste, including the prevention of marine litter and microplastics, by fostering sustainable consumption and production approaches, waste minimization, recycling, and adequate disposal.
UNEP is seeking a regional consultant to support the implementation of the plastics initiative and project portfolio in Latin America and the Caribbean. This position is located at the UNEP Latin America and the Caribbean office, at Panama Duty Station.
Qualifications/special skills
Qualifications Required
ACADEMIC:
- Master’s Degree in Economics, Business, Management, Trade, Engineering, Environmental and natural Sciences, Policy, International Law, or related areas is required.
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent 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 on project management is an asset.
PROFESSIONAL:
- At least four (4) years of professional experience in areas related to environmental management, environmental policy and regulation, sustainable consumption and production, circular economy, or environmental engineering is required.
- Experience with projects and initiatives related with plastic pollution is desired.
- Working experience in the Latin America and the Caribbean region and knowledge of regional and national stakeholders is desired.
- Knowledge of the United Nations System is an advantage.
LANGUAGE:
- Fluent in Spanish and English required.
- Knowledge of other official languages in the United Nations System is an advantage.
SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:
- Professionalism:
o Ability to develop communications knowledge management products and tools including publications, reports and communication materials.
o Ability to rapidly analyze and integrate diverse information from varied sources.
o Professional competence and mastery of subject matter; efficiency in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges.
o Good desk research and analytical skills, combining communication and good understanding on environmental issues.
o Good organizational skills and problem-solving skills. - Communication:
o Good communication skills, written and spoken as well as ability to draft or edit a variety of written reports including publications, summaries, concept notes and briefing notes.
o Ability to ask questions for clarification and interest in having two-way communication.
o Openness in sharing information and in keeping people informed. - Teamwork:
o Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve project objectives; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others, and able to work in multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment. - Software skills:
o Good command of excel, word, MS Power Point and other platforms.
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.
