Background

In January 2013, a UN agreement was reached for the establishment of a globally legally binding Convention on Mercury “The Minamata Convention on Mercury”. The Convention was adopted and opened for signature on 10 October 2013, at a Conference of Plenipotentiaries (Diplomatic Conference) in Kumamoto, Japan.

The Minamata Convention is a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury. The major highlights of the Minamata Convention on Mercury include a ban on new mercury mines, the phase-out of existing ones, control measures on air emissions, and the international regulation of the informal sector for artisanal and small-scale gold mining.

To date 128 countries have signed the Convention, while 10 countries have ratified it. The Government of Guyana signed the Convention in October 2013 and ratified it in September 2014. The Convention will enter into force 90 days after it has been ratified by 50 nations.

A Mercury Initial Assessment (MIA) will provide a basis for any further work towards implementation. As such the development of a country’s MIA will assist a country in taking its decision to notify the convention in accordance with article 7; to develop its National Implementation Plan in accordance with Article 20; and to prepare a national plan to reduce emissions of mercury in accordance with Article 8.

The Project’s objective is for the Government of Guyana to undertake a Mercury Initial Assessment (MIA) to establish a national foundation to undertake future work towards the implementation of the Convention.

The project’s expected outcomes will be a description of the following: (a) National Mercury profile, including significant sources of emissions and releases, as well as inventories of mercury and mercury compounds; (b) Structures, institutions, legislation already available to implement the Convention; (c) Barriers that would hinder or prevent implementation; and, (d) Technical and financial needs for implementation of the Convention, including resources from the GEF, national sources, bilateral sources, the private sector and others.

Therefore, the EA project has been organised into two components:
Enabling environment for decision-making on the implementation of the Minamata Convention;
Development of the National Mercury Profile and Mercury Initial Assessment Report.

Duties and Responsibilities

Key Functions

Targeted information awareness activities will be conducted on the risks of Mercury and mercury-associated impact on human health and the environment, raising awareness of targeted decision makers, the general public and population groups at risk.

• Develop public awareness activities necessary to raise awareness on mercury and the Minamata convention among the key stakeholders and target groups identified during the initial assessment;
• Implementation of public awareness activities and supervise any sub-contractors recruited for implementation;
• Maintain quality control over public awareness outputs.

Expected Output:

• Costed plan produced for awareness raising activities;
• Four public awareness raising campaign organized and executed on the health and environmental effects of mercury and how to manage wastes containing mercury properly;
• One preventive programme on occupational exposure designed and implemented;
• Report on awareness raising activities noting target groups including decision makers and population groups at risk.

Scope of Price Proposal and Schedule of Payments

The contractor will be paid according to the submission of the deliverables as per the following:

Deliverable 1 - Submission and acceptance of costed plan for awareness raising activities:

• Due date - 10 days after contract signature;
• % payment: 10%.

Deliverable 2 - Submission and acceptance of news articles and Awareness raising materials:

• Due date - 30 days after contract signature;
• % payment - 40%.

Deliverable 3 - Submission and acceptance of one preventive programme for one Government Department on occupational exposure and an implementation plan for the programme:

• Due date - 50 days after contract signature;
• % payment - 25%.

Deliverable 4 - Submission and acceptance of detailed report on all activities:

• Due date - 60 days after contract signature;
• % payment - 25%.

Note:

• Payments are directly linked to deliverables;
• Submit price proposal in an all-inclusive fee, supported by a breakdown of costs;
• Contract price is fixed regardless of change in the costs components;
• The contract signed does not involve any fees in advance at the beginning of the consultancy;
• If travel is required for field work in Guyana, the costs will be covered by the project.

Competencies

• Demonstrated ability to prepare user friendly material designed specifically to enable individual and collective learning;
• Ability to present facts in a clear, logical and interesting/attractive way of a high quality;
• Demonstrated ability to plan, organise and execute knowledge sharing sessions of a high quality;
• Demonstrated faciliation skills;
• Able to complete work within required timeframes.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Bachelor degree in Communication or relate field.

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years’ professional working experience in public awareness campaign/training in the related area;
• At least 3 years’ experience in conducting capacity building and training targeting a variety of audience in the related area;
• Previous experience in conducting a similar environmental public awareness training/campaign would be an asset;
• Sound PC user.

Language:

• Fluent in English.