International Consultant - Waste Trafficking and Circular Economy Expert at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

This consultancy will support the implementation of UNEP’s contribution to the project, ‘Unwaste: tackling waste trafficking to support a circular economy’ in partnership with United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The Unwaste project aims to fight trafficking in waste between the EU and Southeast Asia by promoting enhanced EU-ASEAN Member States partnerships, in support of ongoing efforts towards a circular economy transition. UNEP’s contribution falls under the Law Division umbrella project ‘Addressing Environmental Challenges through the Law’. The consultant shall work under the supervision of the Head, National Environmental Law Unit (NLU) of the Law Division or his/her designated mandated representative(s), and in close cooperation with the Regional Subprogramme Coordinator for Law and Governance, Asia and the Pacific Office.

Responsibilities

The consultant will undertake the following activities under the Unwaste project:

• Prepare a detailed methodology approach and an outline/skeleton structure for the development of: (a) a paper on the obstacles that waste trafficking poses to the development of circular economies and best practices from Europe and Asia (first paper); and (b) a paper to map the existing multilateral mechanisms in place in Southeast Asia to prevent waste trafficking (second paper) for restricted circulation;
• Collect, through desk research and interviews of key stakeholders, as needed, and analyze information for the development of the two papers described in paragraph 1 above;
• Prepare and organize two series of consultations with experts and stakeholders (including feedback sessions with UNEP and other project implementing partners) to present, review and finalize the two papers described in paragraph 1 above, including the preparation of the agenda, the proposed list of experts and identified stakeholders and participants, questionnaires, presentations, post consultation reports, and any material relating to the consultations;
• Provide drafts and finalize the two papers described in paragraph 1 above;
• Contribute to activities under the Unwaste project which require specialized inputs on waste trafficking and circular economy;
• Work in close collaboration with UNEP, UNODC and stakeholders involved, provide regular updates on the progress of the activities to UNEP.

Qualifications/special skills

• Academic Qualifications: - Advanced university degree (Masters degree or equivalent) in political science and economics, engineering, international law/ policy, comparative law, or other relevant qualifications (required).
• Experience: - A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in the field of waste management/trade (including illegal waste trade) and circular economy is required. Experience in research paper and report writing on legal and policy approaches to address waste trafficking and linkages to circular economy is desirable. Working experience in Asia and especially ASEAN Member States is desirable.
• Language: - English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of a language from an ASEAN Member State (especially Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam or Thailand) is an advantage.

Closing: 22 July 2022