Background

The project objective is to reduce the releases of unintentionally produced persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and other globally harmful pollutants into the environment by promoting sound healthcare waste management in Kazakhstan; and to assist the country in implementing its relevant obligations under the Stockholm Convention.
The Project consists of the following principal components:

• Stockholm Convention NIP update and improved institutional coordination on chemical MEAs;
• Assessment of overall mercury situation and preliminary plan of mercury use reduction and collection;
• Minimization of unintentional POPs and mercury releases in selected hospitals through demonstration of sound Healthcare Waste Management approaches;
• Monitoring, learning, adaptive feedback, outreach, and evaluation.

National capacity on POPs monitoring is a key condition for preliminary action plan on mercury reduction and rational healthcare waste management.

Uncontrolled incineration of medical waste is a significant source of dioxin and furan releases. The existing Kazakhstan’s legal system regulating healthcare waste was established by the introduction of sanitary-hygienic requirements by Ministry of Health in 2004, 2007, and 2012. These acts provided for prohibition of infectious waste disposal on sanitary landfills and contributed to the construction of waste incinerators in the provinces.

The changes, which were introduced into the healthcare legislation were not, though, institutionally and legally coordinated with relevant environmental regulatory measures. One current example is that sanitary requirements do not fill regulatory gaps concerning imposition of hazardous healthcare waste’s transportation rules according to the UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, and ADR agreement of which Kazakhstan is a party, and control of waste treatment operations, including emission standard for waste incineration.

Legislation of Kazakhstan does not set emission standards for waste incineration or any other technical requirements for the given process. However, waste incinerator, as any other object of waste disposal, is to be assessed in terms of its environmental impact and has to obtain a permit for waste utilization before it sets to work. The given permit includes requirements on release of some pollutants, with the exception of uPOPs and heavy metals, with the follow up payment of relevant environmental duties. However, in reality pollution test checks are not performed; the volume of incinerator emissions is estimated theoretically in the process of getting a permit for its operation and later is to be adjusted and monitored by its owner. Thus, monitoring and control over emissions resulting from waste incineration is practically inexistent. Considerable deterioration of environmental situation is observed during incineration of infectious wastes, which according to generally accepted practice, undergo bromine chlorine disinfection prior to incineration, which leads to still  greater release of dioxins and furans; chlorine compounds are released in disposal fields as well. Additional environmental problem is due to formal classification of fallouts following incineration of domestic wastes and utilization of these fallouts in disposal fields that are not meant for that.

Duties and Responsibilities

To achieve «NIP update, integration of POPs into national planning and promoting of sound healthcare waste management in Kazakhstan” Project`s objectives under Outcome 3 the following activities will be performed:

• Prepare recommendations on analysis of current situation on healthcare wastes prepared by the national expert, and recommendations on its improvement;
• Review of international experience in healthcare waste management and monitoring;
• Review of institutional relations and recommendations on their improvement;
• Prepare recommendations on adapting best available technology for use in Kazakhstan;
• Participation in arranging trainings (2) with presentation for target groups (representatives  of governmental agencies and medical institutions);
• Participation in preparation of healthcare waste management plan at regional level for local consultants for implementation of Outcome 3 of the Project;
• Participation in developing regional plans for healthcare waste management for pilot sites.
  

Competencies

Corporate competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment;
• 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.

Functional competencies:

• Strong expertise in waste management;
• Familiarity with the International Conventions addressing wastes, chemicals, mercury etc.
• Excellent written communication skills, with analytic capacity; and
• Ability to synthesize relevant collected data and findings for the preparation of quality analysis.
  

Required Skills and Experience

Academic qualification:

• Master degree in natural sciences, ecology or related fields 

Required skills and experience:

• Work experience in healthcare waste treatment not less than 7 years;
• Work experience in implementing projects on healthcare waste treatment and management in international organizations not less than 5 years;
• Work experience in implementing and monitoring projects on waste management in UNDP/GEF context.

Language requirements:

• Excellent writing English skills are essential. Knowledge of Russian would be an asset. 

NB:

Please refer to UNDP Kazakhstan web site  http://www.undp.kz/en/jobs/349.jsp to download the Terms of References, Procurement Notice & Template for confirmation of interest and submission of financial proposal.