Consultant, Policy Specialist (Chemical, Waste and Ozone) at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Responsibilities

The incumbent will be supervised by Programme Officer, in MEAs Cooperation Unit in the the Environmental Conventions and Policy Branch of the Law Division in consultation with the OzonAction Branch and the MEA Secretariats. The work will involve consultations with other UNEP Divisions and units relevant for the work. The incumbent will be home-based, with possible travel days agreed separately.

Specific Responsibilities Include

• Conduct overall global mapping of countries that are parties to all five MEAs: the Montreal Protocol, BRS Conventions and Minamata Convention.
• Based on the global mapping, select a regional representation of countries (approx. 35 countries) to conduct a detailed assessment on institutional interconnections and cooperation.
• For the selected countries, design and conduct an assessment of the entities designated at the national level pursuant to the Montreal Protocol, the BRS Conventions and Minamata Convention with responsibilities for their implementation (National Ozone Units, official contact points/national focal points/competent authorities/focal points), and identify possible linkages to the work of the SAICM focal points where relevant. The assessment includes literature review, a desk study and a multilingual online survey in three UN languages (UNEP will provide translation support as appropriate).
• Compile institutional best practices on cooperation and coordination for a number of selected countries that have experience in working across the Montreal Protocol, BRS Conventions and Minamata Convention. In this context, compile information on legal or administrative measures at the national level reflecting linkages and gaps between the Montreal Protocol, the BRS Conventions and Minamata Convention.
• Assess lessons learnt and develop recommendations for cooperation and synergistic implementation of actions between and among the Montreal Protocol, BRS Conventions and Minamata Convention as well as with SAICM where appropriate on issues of common interest.
• Produce easily understood information materials on the results of the assessment for global and regional distribution in several UN-languages (for which UNEP will provide translation support as appropriate).
• Conduct a global briefing to inform about the results of the mapping exercise introducing the nexus areas of the Montreal Protocol, the BRS and Minamata Conventions and the related best practices.
• Conduct 2 regional webinars to promote regional networking and to share region specific information on the nexus areas and the related best practices.
• Propose recommendations for future collaborative action, based on the experiences and feedback from participating countries.

Qualifications/special Skills

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in environmental sciences, environmental law or related field is required.
• A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) additional years qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in working on issues related to MEAs in the field of chemicals, waste and/or ozone 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 highly desirable.
• Experience working both on governmental and intergovernmental levels. Preferably knowledge on the key objectives and matters of the UNEP-administered chemicals and waste related MEAs is required.

Excellent Writing And Communications Skills Id Required.

• Excellent research and analytical skills is required.
• Results focused is required.
• Clear and concise communication is required.
• Demonstrated capacity to work in a consultative manner, good networking and good inter-personal skills is required

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English language (written and spoken) is required. Knowledge of French and/or Spanish is desirable