Background

China signed Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer in June 1989, Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (hereinafter Montreal Protocol) in June 1991. As of May 2010, according to the Country Programme, with the support of the Multilateral Fund and international institutions, China has implemented more than 400 projects and 18 sector plans including chemical production sector, Automobile Air-conditioner Sector, Tobacco Sector, Industrial and Commercial Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, Extinguishing Sector, Solvent Sector, Household Appliance, Foam Sector etc. to phase out production and consumption of CFCs, Halons, CTC, TCA and Methyl Bromide. As of January 1st 2010, except for essential use, Chinese Government had completely eliminated the production and consumption of CFC, Halons, CTC and TCA (5 years ahead the schedule) to meet the requirement of the Montreal Protocol, which is an outstanding contribution to ozone layer protection.

The XIX Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol in September 2007, through its Decision XIX/6, adopted an accelerated phase-out schedule for HCFCs. The first control is the freeze on production and consumption of HCFCs from 01 January 2013, at the Baseline Level (average of 2009 and 2010 levels). The second control step is the reduction of 10% from the Baseline Levels on January 1, 2015. Subsequent control steps are 35% reduction by 2020, 67.5% by 2025, 97.5% by 2030 with allowance of 2.5% of baseline for period 2030-2040 and complete phase out from January 1 2040. The decision also directed the Executive Committee of the Multilateral Fund to assist Article-5 Parties in preparation of HCFC Phase-out Management Plans (HPMP).

In July 2008, the Executive Committee (ExCom) approved 9 HPMP preparation projects for China including 6 consumption sector preparation projects, a production sector preparation projects, an overarching HPMP strategy and an enabling programme. In order to meet the targets in Stage I from 2011 - 2015 in consumption sector, China reached an agreement with the Executive Committee for HCFC Phase-out Management Plan (Stage-I), covering 7 consumption sector plans in the total funding amount of US$270 million. In April 2013, the ExCom approved the HCFC Phase-out Production Sector Management Plan (HPPMP) with a total of US$95 million for the HPPMP in China (Stage-I) to meet the freeze and 10 percent reduction of baseline. Through the implementation of the HCFC Phase-out Management Plan (Stage-I) that includes 7 sector plans, China has successfully achieved the 2013 freeze target and is progressing towards 10% reduction in 2015. As of now, the first four funding tranches of the consumption sectors and the first two tranches of HPPMP have been approved and released by the Executive Committee.

With a combination of phase-out projects, policies and regulations, awareness and capacity building and monitoring mechanisms that were established for HPMP Stage-I, China is expected to successfully achieve their 2015 targets. From here, China needs to proceed seamlessly and in a systematic manner, implementing activities to achieve HCFC phase-out projects to achieve 2020 targets in HCFC production and consumption. Based on detailed consultations with different stakeholders and implementing agencies, it was noted that 2020 HPMP targets can be achieved through phase-out sector plans for all the seven sectors, as identified during Stage-I. China therefore needs to develop 7 sector-level HPMPs for Stage II covering production, PU foam, XPS foam, RAC, ICR, solvent and refrigeration servicing sectors. Development of these sector plans will require effective and efficient coordination at the national level to ensure that the phase-out targets are achieved in a timely and smooth manner.

To achieve the 35% reduction by 2020, China needs to respectively phase out 7,280 ODP tons and 4,716 ODP tons of HCFCs in the production and the consumption sectors at Stage II, which is much higher than the amount of phase out in Stage I. The unprecedented challenge faced by China in phasing out large quantities of HCFCs in a relatively very short period of time will require effective and efficient alignment of different sector plans to achieve 2020 targets in a smooth manner. Furthermore, there is a need to have an overarching project for China to integrate and coordinate preparation of all the sector plans under one umbrella at the national level. This will also ensure that the mechanisms for monitoring and reporting can be carried out in an efficient manner and reporting obligations to the Executive Committee are well fulfilled. Keeping in mind the above, overarching strategy for HPMP for achieving 2020 targets i.e., Stage-II targets, would be prepared for China.

As per the HCFCs accelerated phase-out schedule, Stage II of HPMP for the solvent sector will phase out at least 27.1% of the baseline consumption in addition to what is to be achieved in Stage I. This translates to at least 1,214 MT of HCFC-141b reduction (i.e., 35% of the baseline level in the sector). In order to properly develop the HPMP (Stage II) for the solvent sector, the preparation project will include, among others, information collection, policy review, field survey, data and technology analysis, cost calculation, exploration of project implementation modalities and formulation of HPMP.

The work will also involve coordination between the project management teams of the seven sector plans. Every sub-sector will develop the HCFC Phase-out Management Sector Plan (Stage II), the overarching HPMP will include the key results of every sector plan, such as methodologies, work schedule, overall work plans, and the policy review and amendment suggestions to achieve the phase-out targets essential for compliance with the 2020 targets. It must be noted that while preparing the HPMP Stage II for the Solvent Sector, UNDP and Government of China will discuss and coordinate with all the agencies preparing the different sector plans and would draw inputs from them while preparing the solvent sector plan.

Duties and Responsibilities

Description of Responsibilities

The Specialist will work with UNDP under the direct supervision of the UNDP China Country Office; the Foreign Economic Cooperation Office, Ministry of Environmental Protection (FECO/MEP) of China; the Montreal Protocol Unit/Chemicals Programme Coordinator in the Asia and Pacific Region; and in close collaboration and coordination with the technical staff of the project implementation partner, Peking Chemical University.

The specialist will carry out the following services:

  • Review HPMP Stage-I Solvent Sector Plan and its implementation status;
  • Utilize data collected and analyzed by the Peking Chemical University on HCFCs production, consumption, import and export, and the draft HCFC phase-out strategy of Stage–II for the solvent sector based on different scenario analysis as developed by the Peking Chemical University, review the strategy, policy and regulation framework, alternative technology selection, environmental effects, cost calculation and action plan etc. for HPMP Stage-II for the solvent sector;
  • Assess the impact of the HPMP Stage II solvent sector plan on total HCFCs consumption level and phase-out targets for the country by 2020;
  • Assess the impact/mismatch of phase-out on supply of HCFCs taking into consideration strategies proposed in the HCFC production sector phase-out plan;
  • Define monitoring mechanism for implementation of the HPMP Stage II solvent sector plan to achieve Stage-II HCFC consumption targets in the solvent sector;
  • Work in close cooperation with the Peking Chemical University in finalizing the HCFCs phase-out strategy Stage II for the solvent sector, policy and regulation framework, alternative technology selection, environmental effects, cost calculation, action plans and monitoring and evaluation mechanism etc.;
  • Provide technical consultation and information on alternative technologies used in different subsectors and provide technical guidance on prevailing alternative technology selection in the solvent sector;
  • Participate in technical workshop and coordination meetings and provide technical guidance and inputs;
  • Assist UNDP team in discussions and negotiations with the Multilateral Fund Secretariat, as required, in close consultation with FECO staff.

Expected Output:

  • Draft solvent sector plan Stage-II project document in line with Executive Committee guidelines;
  • Final solvent sector plan Stage-II project document in line with Executive Committee guidelines, ready for submission.

Duration

The contract will enter into effect upon signature of both parties and is expected to last for eleven months (20 August 2015 – 31 May 2016) with a maximum of 25 working days.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Analytical thinking:

  • Excellent technical skills.

Communication:

  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills.

Professionalism:

  • Ability to interact with a wide range of key stakeholders including government officials, institutions, industrial associations and small business owners;
  • Be familiar with UNDP and Multilateral Fund policies and procedures.

Teamwork:

  • Ability to motivate and work harmoniously with partners and colleagues.

Functional Competencies:

  • Advanced knowledge and proven expertise in ODS reduction programme in the solvent sector;
  • Demonstrated understanding and experience in the preparation and management of HCFCs phase-out management plan (HPMP) in the solvent sector;
  • Solid analytical and technical capacities to articulate HCFCs phase-out strategies;
  • Excellent management and leadership skill to coordinate with various stakeholders in the preparation of HPMP.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • Master’s Degree in chemistry, chemical engineering, business administration; or relevant degree.

Experience:

  • At least 10 years of relevant technical and managerial experience in ODS reduction activities and extensive experience in the application and use of non-ODS substitutes in the context of the Montreal Protocol;
  • Minimum 5 years work experience in actual industrial operations, or monitoring industrial operations, using CFCs, HCFCs, halons, and other ozone depleting substances;
  • Minimum 5 years work experience in developing countries, including project implementation, monitoring and evaluation activities, including interactions with Government institutions for project implementation coordination;
  • Experience in working in close cooperation with UN organizations, Governments of donor countries and developing country governments;
  • Knowledge and experience in other cross-cutting environmental conventions and mechanism such as Montreal Protocol, GEF, Kyoto Protocol, Sound Chemical Management policies etc. desirable.

Language:

  • Fluency in both written and spoken English.

Duty Station:

  • Home based with two 5 days missions in Beijing, China.

Fees:

  • The consultant will receive payment based on an all-inclusive daily rate on a maximum of 25 working days.

Documents to be included when submitting application:

Technical Proposal:

  • Explaining why you are the most suitable for the work with example/former experience demonstrating your competencies;
  • Provide a brief methodology on how you will approach and conduct the work.

Financial Proposal:

  • Please quote the daily rate for professional fee and others related;
  • If you quote in lump sum, please indicate a detailed breakdown of the cost.

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.