Chemicals specialist, UNEA 5/8 at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

In response to the resolution the UNEP Executive Director has taken immediate action to establish a Secretariat to the OEWG. Notification to member states on the establishment of the Secretariat was made in April 2022. The notification letter from the UNEP Executive director also called upon member states to nominate national focal points for the OEWG in addition to establishing a bureau of member states based on regional and gender balance. The notification also invited member states to make contribution to the cost of the OEWG and associated Secretariat if at all possible. The UNEP Executive Director (ED) has also established an Advisory Group to the ED with the aim to facilitate as broad as possible consultation with all interested affected groups to include relevant MEAs, concerned Intergovernmental Organizations, academia, industry / private sector, and civil society.

The UNEP Secretariat to the OEWG will be responsible for:

• The organization of stakeholder engagement in the lead up to each of the OEWG meetings.
• Coordination of inputs from member states and major groups to the intercessional process,
• With the Bureau and Chair of the OEWG, contribute to the development of options papers on key aspects of the operation of the new panel, to include, but not be limited to options for the scope of the panel, options for the functions of the new panel, options for the operating procedures and governance of the new panel, options for the provision of technical support to the new panel, options for budgeting and resource mobilization of the new panel, and options for secretariat support to the new panel.

It is foreseen that the consultant will support the Secretariat in the development of options papers linked to the defining the scope, functions, and provision for technical support. The consultant will also work as part of the Advisory group to the ED to support stakeholder engagement in the development of options papers.

Purpose and Scope of Assignment

Under the supervision of the Head of the OEWG Secretariat, the consultant will focus on the following duties:

Mapping of the existing chemicals, waste, and prevention of pollution landscape (50% of time):

The consultant will contribute to the review of existing literature from across a broad spectrum of stakeholders to include academia, IGOs, industry, MEAs, regional economic communities and national governments in order to contribute to a series of critical baseline INF documents to be provided to Member States in the lead up to the OEWG 1.2, 2 & 3 meetings, tentatively scheduled for January 2023, October 2023, and July 2024. This work will help inform discussions by member states on the scope and functions of the new panel.

Data sources to be examined include, but are not limited to:

• MEA (BRS, Minamata, Montreal Protocol and SAICM ) reports linked to chemicals, waste, and prevention of pollution.
• Publications by IGOs and other IOMC members linked to key areas of existing science policy interface.
• Systems for chemicals and waste management such as those employed by the European Chemicals Agency, USEPA, other national governments.
• The data from donor funded projects globally by agencies such as the EC, GEF, GIZ, JICA, World Bank and regional development banks, plus bi-lateral donor ODA.
• Global networks of academic research institutes and global, regional, and national bodies such as national societies of chemistry and waste management.

The above data sources will be vital sources of information to support the OEWG process and allow for an objective review of the existing landscape into which the new panel will have to fit. The key element will be to identify the areas of possible overlap and so avoid duplication of effort, ensuring the operation of the new panel is complimentary to existing bodies, as called for in the resolution. The details of the documents to be prepared and the contribution from the consultant will be defined in the work plan established for the consultant once he / she has commenced the assignment.

Facilitate the work Advisory Group to the UNEP Executive Director (30% of time):

The UNEP Executive Director has established an advisory body to assist the Secretariat in the development of options papers linked to the three core work areas of Chemicals, Waste and Prevention of Pollution. The Advisory Group will work to ensure that the OEWG process is inclusive and participatory. The Group will work across stakeholder groups to facilitate inputs from academia, industry / private sector (a wide and diverse group in itself), civil society, and representatives from across the other 9 Major Groups of UNEP / UNEA stakeholder (including youth, labour / unions, indigenous groups).

The consultant will work with the Chair of the Advisory Group (Sir Bob Watson) and the Head of the UNEP Secretariat to facilitate the work of the Group and to provide quality assurance on the various documents developed by the Body. The details of the documents to be prepared and the contribution from the consultant will be defined in the work plan established for the consultant once he / she has commenced the assignment.

Communications (20% of time):

The consultant will be required to work with the Head of the Secretariat and the UNEP communications teams to develop communications and awareness materials in the lead up to the planned OEWG meetings. In addition, the consultant will support the development of technical content for a planned set of webinars and regional meetings to be held as part of the intercessional process in the lead up to OEWG

The ultimate result of services is to ensure that as wide a set of data sources are taken into account from across as broad a set of stakeholders as possible. The data collected will be used to inform the set of OEWG options papers to be developed and will support the intercessional stakeholder consultation process.

Monitoring and Progress Controls

The incumbent will be under the direct supervision of the Head of the OEWG Secretariat. The incumbent will prepare a workplan for the duration of the contract during the first month of the assignment. The detailed work plan will include deliverables by month. Each quarter, in order to account for adjustment of priorities, the workplan will be reviewed jointly with the Head of the Secretariat. Report on the delivery of the workplan will be prepared at the end of each calendar month in combination with the monthly progress report to monitor and identify issues.

Qualifications/special Skills

• Academic Qualifications: Advanced university degree in a field related to Environmental Sciences (chemistry, chemical engineering, environmental studies, environmental management), or equivalent experience is required
• Experience: At least 5 years of working experience in chemicals, waste and / or pollution management at international level is required. Experience in intergovernmental processes is an asset. Working knowledge of the chemicals related MEAs and international instruments is an advantage.

Closing: 31 August 2022