Background
Management of chemicals at all stages of their life cycle is regulated by laws and other legal documents of different levels: decrees and orders of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Government Decrees of the Republic of Kazakhstan, resolutions adopted at ministerial level, as well as orders and decisions of individual ministries and departments. In the country, there is a legal system for registration and certification of chemicals and pesticides, as well as for transport of dangerous substances and the operation of production facilities. However, the current legislative and regulatory framework does not fully meet modern requirements for chemicals control and the system related to information provision and exchange is virtually undeveloped.
Decisions taken by the interagency and intersectoral committees and councils, are advisory in nature, and are rarely implemented within the framework of national, sectoral and regional programs of development. Currently, there is very weak integration of the sound management of chemicals in the sectoral and local policies and action plans. It has been recognized that there, besides mainstreaming, is a need to start registering uses of chemicals, improve monitoring systems and strengthen coordination among concerned government bodies and authorities in the regions. Priorities for actions to minimize the adverse effects of chemicals on health and the environment should be implemented. In addition, a center or agency for chemical safety is needed in the country.
The above mentioned strategic plans and documents all underline the need to understand the socio-economic aspects of environmental systems, and to view sustainable development in a holistic manner. Chemical management is mentioned in many documents, but the actual mainstreaming of sound chemicals management into development plans has not yet to take place. Many policy documents spell out this need and the possibility to implement a project on mainstreaming sound chemicals management will create favorable preconditions to achieve the goals set up in national strategies.
The project ‘Kazakhstan/UNDP/UNEP Partnership Initiative for the Integration of Sound Management of Chemicals in Development Planning and Processes’ aims at improving cross-sectoral governance for the Strategic Management of Chemicals (SMC) at the national and local levels and establish stronger SMC links with national development planning priorities, processes and plans. The project is intended to review the existing actions in the area of chemicals management in order to advance the sound management of chemicals by identifying gaps and proposing concrete projects and priorities to incorporate chemical safety issues into the development agenda of Kazakhstan. The expected outputs of the project are a National Situation Report describing governmental, institutional and political contexts and the SMC situation, an economic analysis of at least one priority SMC issue, a Road Map for mainstreaming priority chemicals management issues and a National Plan for strengthening the SMC regime.
To implement and complete all project components, detailed experts support and overall advices are required taking into account elaborated by national experts documents in the project framework.
Duties and Responsibilities
Objective:
The main objective of the Chief Technical Advaser (CTA) is to provide technical and consultative support to the project team in project implementation, including economical part of one of the priority Sound Chemical Management issue.
Scope of work:
To work closely with the Project Coordinator (PC) to secure the fulfillment of tasks in due time including:
- Consultative support in the development of the detailed project workplan for 2013;
- Support in preparation and submission of reports to UNDP on a quarterly basis;
- Support in preparation of the project progress reports (progress against planned activities, update on risks and issues, expenditures) and submission of reports to the Project Coordinator;
- To provide full support to the international and national consultants in the carrying out of works;
- To provide support in the organization of workshops, trainings and other meetings to define the gaps and needs in the measures on the strengthening of SMC-regime.
- The CTA is expected in close coordination with the PC to assist the project partners to assess:
- Gaps in the country’s approach to the management of chemicals and capacity needs in terms of sustainable development and the protection of health and the environment;
- Potential and actual country priorities for SMC in the context of cost benefits and overall national development priorities;
- Opportunities for mainstreaming SMC in development planning and policy.
The CTA will support and guide the project’s analytical team in the implementation of the project activities. He/she will share international experience, provide input for and review the main project reports and provide advice on introduction of sound chemicals and environmental management into development processes, i.e. on chemicals mainstreaming.
Specifically, the CTA’s responsibilities are (but not limited in the project framework) the following:
- Providing input into development of National Report on current situation by: National Report structure conception development, national data collection plan, including reviewing relevant data, studies and tools (country studies, country environmental assessments).
- Preparing a chapter on international experience in SMC integration into National report about current situation
Providing input into follow-up process of the SAICM project by finalizing of recommendation complex on SMC strengthening for their further inclusion into national strategic documents and/or regulations jointly with national expert by:
- Review of National report on regulation issues/gaps analysis in Kazakhstan
- Opportunities to facilitate the country's ability to on sustainable development benefits of the chemical industry
- Identification of priority directions of SMC for integration into development planning
Carrying-out of economic rationale analysis for mainstreaming the highest priority SMC issues in development plans, by:
- Review on the international review of the economic costs / benefits of specific measures for the management of chemical substances (legal, institutional, raising awareness, etc.). This analysis may include both legal and technical aspects of information and measures, etc. For example, the analysis may consider the cost / benefit for the implementation and launch of REACH, GHS in Europe, evaluation of cost / benefits of risk assessment and other. The analysis must be concise, clear and focused on the recent experience of the law in other countries and in those subjects where Kazakhstan can get the most benefit from the relatively rapid / simple control measures.
- Economic Analysis guidance development for national expert: priority topics, approaches, methods, etc.
- Carrying-out of one of the SMC most priority chemicals Economic Analysis jointly with national expert
- Provide technical oversight and review of data collection, project reports, economic analysis to ensure high-quality international analytical standards.
Assist the project team by development of informative materials on analysis for meetings, trainings and workshops, and as for the preparation of discussions with national planning authories other relevant partners.
Presentation on Economic Analysis in Workshop for priorities discussion for the SMC, National Report on the current situation, phased plan for strengthening SMC issues.
Competencies
Corporate Competencies:
- Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
- Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
- Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
- Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
- Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Advanced university degree in the field of economics, policy, public policy or administration, natural sciences, or other relevant field;
Experience:
- At least seven years relevant work experience in ecological/environmental economics and valuation, or closely related topic (especially from the chemicals point of view);
- Excellent knowledge of macro- and microeconomics, economic valuation methodologies of development policies and projects as well as ecosystem services, socio-economics of sustainable development and natural resource management required;
- Strong track record with producing high quality research and strong quantitative skills in econometrics, cost-benefit analyses and simulation/ scenario modeling, knowledge of spatial economics is an advantage;
- Knowledge of SMC and multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) on chemicals will be preferable;
- An understanding of multilateral and bilateral development agencies in environmental assessment and capacity-building, including an understanding of how international organizations work in terms of program and project planning, implementation and reporting;
- Experience in cooperation with government officials at the highest political level, including sphere of environment, health, industry, Planning Commission and Ministry of Finance
- Knowledge of the CIS and / or Central Asia - an advantage
Language Requirements:
- Fluency in English, working knowledge of the Russian language is an advantage.