UNDP Jobs - 50354- International Consultant

International Consultant - Pollution Management Expert

Location :

Home-based with missions to Niger Basin Countries

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

01-Dec-2014

Application Deadline :

20-Oct-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

20 days

Languages Required :

English French

Expected Duration of Assignment :

20 days in the period of December 2014 to June 2015

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

The Niger River is the 3rd river in Africa by its length (4,200 km), after the Nile and the Congo and the most important in West Africa. The basin covers a surface area of about 2.2 million km2 with about 1.5 million km2 hydrologically active. The river is the pillar of the West African economy and was the cradle of great civilizations of farmers, fishermen and cattle breeders. The river has also huge potentials for: agriculture with about 2.5 million ha, 20% of which is currently exploited; an estimated hydropower potential of 30,000 GWH, with a current exploitation of the order to 6,185 GWH/year, i.e. 20.6% of the total; 3,800 km of navigable routes from the main course and its main tributaries; and a fish farming potential estimated at 7.5 tons per km of watercourse per year. In term of biodiversity, the basin is a home for a highly diversified fauna with about 36 fish families, more than 50,000 birds representing 56 species. Mammals have been recorded in Transboundary Reserves including the elephant, buffalo, western Buffon’s kob, defassa waterbuck, bohor reedbuck, Damaliscus antelope, giraffe, hippopotamus, sable antelope, lion, cheetah and a wide range of monkeys.

Despite the socio-economic potential and rich natural/cultural heritage, the Niger Basin has been under threat for more than two decades from desertification and unsustainable natural resource exploitation practices with alarming consequences. The transboundary diagnostic analysis carried out by the RLWDT/NB project revealed that most of the environmental problems are derived from: (i) land degradation (vegetal coverage and soils); (ii) water resource degradation (water shortage and pollution); (iii) loss of biodiversity (flora, fauna and biotope); and (iv) degradation of the living environment (pauperization of the populations, invading aquatic vegetal species, climate variability).

UNDP and UNEP are currently supporting the Niger Basin Authority to develop and submit to the GEF International Waters a project proposal entitled “Improving IWRM, knowledge-based management and governance of the Niger Basin and the Iullemeden-Taoudeni/Tanezrouft Aquifer System (ITTAS)”. The expected outcomes of this project are:

IWRM supported by a sound understanding of ground water resources and their linkages with surface water systems;
Local communities and Niger Basin Civil Society platforms engaged on basin resources management and conservation for better control of flood/drought/pollution, reduction of pressure on land, forest and biodiversity while improving leaving conditions of households;
Introduce systematic and integrated approach of industrial competitiveness and environmental/social responsibility through the Transfer of Environmentally Sound Technologies (TEST) to reduce wastewater discharges and pollution loads in the Niger River;
National policies and institutions, civil society platforms support Niger River ecosystem based management.

The GEF council has approved the PIF on March 2014. With the aim of developing and submitting to the GEF the detailed Full Project Document (FPD) and the Request for GEF CEO Endorsement, UNDP Country Office is seeking the services of a Pollution Management Expert.

Duties and Responsibilities

The International Consultant Expert on pollution selected for the consultancy will report to the Team Leader and the International Waters Regional Technical Advisor (RTA) of UNDP/GEF in UNDP Addis Ababa Regional Center. Task that the regional/international consultant is responsible for are related to outcome 3 and may include, but not limited to:

Review the existing data/documents on pollution (TDA) sources and loads (base line description);
Do an indicative (qualitative) hot spot analysis, define the criteria for the selection of enterprises to be short listed for pilot activities
Identify barriers for industries to have access to EST;
Agree with IAs on the goals;
Define the inputs to be provided under the TEST (Transfer of Environmentally Sound Technologies) component (different approaches for larger manufacturing industries and e.g. small scale artisanal gold miners for the later some pilot investments by the project might have to be considered);
Identify any potential sources of (subsidized) venture capital for investments in EST;
Estimate the GEB that can be achieved under the TEST component;
Contribute to the definition of the logical framework, work plan and budget for the project and clarification of the additionality of proposed outcomes and activities under component 3;
Provide the inputs regarding component 3 for the development of the FSP Request for CEO Endorsement and UNDP Prodoc.

Competencies

Excellent team player with good interpersonal skills;
Ability to manage workload with minimum supervision;
Ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines;
Ability to accommodate additional demands at short notice;
Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment;
Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing in French and English in order to communicate complex, technical information to technical and general audiences;
Strong strategic planning, results-based management and reporting capabilities;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced university degree in Environmental Sciences, Environmental Economics, or a field relevant to international development assistance.

Technical and Functional Experience:

A minimum of 10 years practical experience in the application of the TEST methodology, including working experience at the international level, involving technical cooperation in developing countries;
Exposure to the needs, conditions and problems in developing countries. Familiarity with UNIDO procedures is required.
Experience in African countries, specifically in Niger Basin Countries, is an asset.

Languages:

Fluency in written and spoken English & French is required.

Time-schedule:

The selected consultant will be contacted for the preparation of the PPG for the UNDP/GEF International Waters “Niger Basin SAP implementation” for duration of app. 20 days in the period of December 2014 – June 2015.

Costs:

Shortlisted candidates are requested to provide price offers for this assignment. UNDP is applying fair and transparent selection process that would take into account the competencies/skills of applicants (70%) as well as their financial proposals (30%).

Travel – required:

Work is to be conducted from consultant’s home-based. Work will be by Skype and email exchange. Missions are planned in Niger basin countries for the inception phase/validation of the Prodoc. Travel costs are to be provided by UNDP.