Background

The GEF Council has recently approved the Project Identification Form (PIF) for the full sized project titled “Eliminating POPs through Sound Management of Chemicals” (PIMS 5918) implemented through the UNDP.  UNDP is now commencing a detailed project preparation phase expected to last 60 days.  The PIF was approved by the GEF Secretariat on 2nd May 2017. At the end of the preparation phase, UNDP will finalize a project document for approval/endorsement by the GEF CEO.

The project aims to reduce the risks of POPs on human health and the environment through strengthening institutional capacity and the policy and regulatory framework for the sound management and disposal of chemicals, POPs and wastes, and developing sustainable systems for the sound collection, labelling, storage, and disposal of hazardous chemicals and waste.

According to the National Implementation Plan (NIP) developed under the Stockholm Convention on POPs, the two highest ranking national priorities are:

1.) The implementation of measures to strengthen the institutional and regulatory framework (including: Developing legislation for chemicals management; Strengthening institutional capacity; Improving data collection and management systems and Conducting research on the effects of POPs); and

2.) Developing an action plan to eliminate PCB-containing equipment and its wastes by 2025 (including Identifying, labeling and mapping where PCBs and equipment containing PCBs are located in the country; Put in place labelling mechanism for all PCB containing equipment; Establishing adequate storage facilities for replaced equipment containing PCBs; Formulating guidelines for disposal of equipment containing PCBs; and Disposing safely of equipment containing PCBs).

Since the ratification of the Stockholm Convention in 2006, there has been no specific action towards the environmentally sound management of POPs of hazardous wastes at national level. The Environment Protection and Preservation Act (Law no. 4/93) of the Maldives has particular provisions for the sound management of hazardous waste. However, limited data, capacity, resources and a general lack of understanding related to the management of POPs and hazardous wastes have hampered the substantive realization and implementation of these specific provisions, or POPs related interventions. Now that the NIP process has been concluded and the country’s national priorities related to POPs have become more defined, the Government is committed to start addressing the most pressing POPs priorities.

In order to reduce the risks of POPs on human health and the environment and address the challenges that the Government of the Maldives faces in achieving the sound management and disposal of POPs, POPs containing wastes and reducing releases of POPs to the environment, the project proposes the following interventions:

Component 1. Strengthening the regulatory and policy framework and institutional and technical capacity for the sound management and disposal of POPs, chemicals and wastes

Component 2. Establish systems for the sound collection, labeling, storage and disposal of hazardous chemicals and wastes

Component 3. Monitoring and learning, adaptive feedback, outreach and evaluation

With this background and in order to support the efforts of the Government of Maldives to eliminate POPs through Sound Management of Chemical and Waste, UNDP in its capacity as the Implementing Agency for the GEF, requires the support of an International Specialist with technical expertise on POPs/ PCB. The consultant is requested to work together with relevant parties (PPG Phase International and National Coordinator and other team members of PPG, UNDP Country Office, Ministry of Environment and Energy, UNDP Regional Technical Advisor – BRH, Utilities companies, etc.) to provide technical input and ensure POPs/PCB outputs are incorporated in the Project Preparation Grant (PPG) phase during which the detailed preparation of a country project for Maldives will take place. The final documents must be ready for UNDP internal review by latest 30th May 2018.

In this regard UNDP Maldives is seeking to recruit a POPS/PCB Expert with experience in Project Design to assist in the development of GEF funded Full-Sized Project.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of UNDP Assistant Resident Representative (Resilience and Climate Change), UNDP Regional Technical Adviser from Bangkok Regional Hub and in close coordination with other Project Development Team members and under guidance of the Team leader, the consultant needs to propose a project specific outputs related  to formulate the project.  This will involve provision of technical support for the various tasks defined in the PPG including:

• Conduct study to estimate the amount of POPs consumed/emitted/ready for disposal used by the selected target sectors/entities
• Conduct a desk review of the latest NIP of Maldives
• Conduct field visits to undertake analysis of PCB contaminated sites, products and precursors
• If required based on the needs and requirements, to develop a framework approach/plan to refine the current PCB inventory and training of relevant handlers of PCBs and PCB equipment in the course of the project. Incorporation of PCB related data into the national information system
• Assess the challenges/barriers that might be faced adopting more sustainable technologies and management measures
• Explore potential model PCB guidelines that will cover all stages of PCB management (identification, sampling, servicing, safeguarding, and handling, storage, disposal of PCB containing equipment in service and upon retirement). These shall be refined, vetted and trialled in the course of the project;
• Review along with the Municipal Waste/Hazardous Chemicals Expert, the existing Central Chemical Management System (CCMS) to ensure it is designed/ adjusted in a way that allows the Government to monitor POPs and other hazardous chemicals of concern, and to appropriately track these substances in a quantifiable way.
• In Collaboration with Institutional / Policy Expert, review and lay the framework for revision (as necessary)  of POPs/PCB related legislation, and identify elements that can be targeted for improving regulations in the course of the project, that will act to enhance registration, labeling, tracking and status of all PCBs and PCB containing equipment in the Maldives.
• Identify a range of potential standards and methodologies for ongoing identification and assessment of PCB contaminated sites, which would be applicable to the Maldives’ context, and can be further reviewed and endorsed with key stakeholders in the course of the project.
• Feeding into the work of the Waste Management Expert, determine the  type of technical guidance, training, etc. that should be provided by the project to support enhanced management of POPs in the priority sites and the country as a whole;
• Define the POPs reduction target the project would be able to achieve for each project site;
• Develop Educational toolkit for the purpose of raising awareness on PCBs and their management for PCB holders, relevant government agencies, the academic community, affected communities,
• Working with the Institutional/Policy Expert, give inputs to relevant legislative/regulatory revision work, with a focus on what might be done to establish a labelling mechanism for all PCB containing equipment in the course of the project.
• Draft potential approaches or key elements for an action plan to eliminate PCB or for site remediation, which can then be refined and vetted in the course of the project, with perhaps a trial execution of the actions during the project.
• Undertake an assessment to determine the most environmentally sound and cost effective disposal option(s) that might be refined and vetted in the course of the project, taking into consideration availability, level of technical capacity and other areas of appropriateness to the Maldives context.
• Working closely with the Waste Management expert, develop elements to inform TORs for an EIA in the course of the project for (i) the establishment/refurbishment of a secure storage facility for the pre-disposal storage of PCB containing equipment, and hazardous chemicals and waste, at one or two sites, and (ii) the related hazmat transportation guidelines to transport materials to the storage facility for disposal.
• Using international best practice documents, and in consultation with the Municipal Waste/Hazardous Chemicals Expert, adapt such documentation for a nationally appropriate training guide and training modules for relevant private and public sector partners involved in the packaging, transportation and safe-handling of PCB wastes, which can be used during the project cycle.
• Jointly review with the Municipal Waste/Hazardous Chemicals Expert existing waste transportation guideline and provide recommendations to revise Transportation of hazardous, POPs, PCB containing waste to the centralized interim storage facility;

The Complete CEO endorsement documentation package shall include the following documents and the consultant will support to ensure all the documents are prepared and submitted for UNDP internal review no later than 30th May 2018:

• Finalized UNDP Project Document
• Finalized GEF Request for CEO Endorsement
• Finalized SESP /ESMP
• GEF Chemical and Waste Tracking Tools (such as GEF 6 Chemical and Waste Tracking Tool, GEF POPs tracking Tool)
• All Co-financing Letters

Expected Outputs/ Deliverables:

The consultant will work closely with the International Coordinator, National Coordinator and rest of PPG team to achieve the deliverables. S/he will be responsible for the timely submission of the following;

To achieve the deliverables, the consultant must liaise closely with the rest of the PPG team accordingly.  The frequency and medium of communication with rest of the team will be agreed upon signing the contract. All documents, report must be approved by the PPG Coordinator and UNDP. The Final UNDP/GEF project Document must be ready for UNDP internal review by latest 30th May 2018.

Institutional Arrangement

The consultant will be home based with travel to the Maldives, twice; one for inception workshop and one for the validation workshop. Field Visit to the Project Sites will be included during the initial mission for the inception workshop. S/He will be supervised by the Assistant Resident Representative (ARR) of Resilient and Climate Change UNDP Country Office and will work closely with the International and National Coordinator for PPG, Designated Official from Ministry of Environment and Energy, and Regional Technical Advisor in Bangkok Regional Hub (BRH). In order for the smooth implementation of the deliverables the consultant must liaise with other consultants recruited for PPG. Regular updates between the consultant and the National Coordinator must take place.  The frequency and medium of updates/feedback between the PPG team will be mutually agreed upon contract signature. He/she should carry out his/her tasks in accordance with the rules and procedures of UNDP and those of the Government of Maldives. Any other task that are not included above but during the assignment period later deemed important to ensure the quality of the deliverables could be proposed by the incumbent and shall be agreed jointly.

Duration of the Work

The Consultant will perform his/her assignment with the following timeline:

• S/he will work  60 working days within 8 months to complete the assignment
• The expected effective working date is 12 November 2017
• Delay in submitting report will impact on the completion of work and release of payment.
• The Final UNDP/GEF project Document must be ready for UNDP internal review by latest 30th May 2018.

Duty Station

The consultant will be home-based with travel to Maldives as indicated in the travel plan.

Travel Plan

The assignment foresees two missions to Maldives; one for inception workshop (tentatively set for late Nov 2017) and later for the validation workshop (tentatively set for April 2018) All travel expenses associated with the trips (tickets, accommodation DSA) will be included in the financial offer (which needs to include (i) consultancy fees and (ii) estimated travel cost) as per UNDP rules and regulations.

Below is an indicative travel plan for the duration of the assignment. There may be also unforeseen travel that will come up during the execution of the contract which will be agreed on ad-hoc basis.

Competencies

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of UN/UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting;
• Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Demonstrates good oral and written communication skills;
• Demonstrates ability to manage complexities and work under pressure, as well as conflict resolution

Required Skills and Experience

Education

• Advanced University degree (MSc, MA or PhD) in Environmental engineering, Chemical and Industrial engineering, hazardous waste management, and other relevant fields or BSc in Environmental management, Environmental science, and Environmental projects management.

Experience

• At least 10 years of experience in hazardous chemicals/waste management and disposal, chemical laboratory (including PCBs) analysis, contaminated sites assessment and management, etc;
• At least 5 years in a supervisory role of technical experts and consultants in hazardous waste management activities with GEF funded projects in particular;
• Thorough knowledge of the international benchmarks in legislation and management of hazardous waste, and specifically POPs;
• Long-term specialization in POPs and PCB management is a strong advantage;
• International experience and good knowledge of principles of chemicals management (as related to the Stockholm Convention in particular) is an asset;
• Understanding of and practical exposure to the institutional framework governing chemical and waste management in middle income countries, countries with economies in transition and Small Island Developing States would be an advantage;
• Knowledge of UNDP and GEF procedures and guidelines is an advantage.

Language Requirement

•  Fluency in English 

Application Documents

• The application must include a letter of interest to undertake this task, the CV, Personal History Form (P11), and a financial proposal (indicating the daily fee (in USD/MVR) for the assignment).
• The applicant must also submit the reference letters from past supervisors/clients. To download P11, kindly please visit the link: http://www.mv.undp.org/content/maldives/en/home/operations/jobs
• Please combine all the documents into one single file, as the system will allow for only one document to be uploaded.
• We will only accept online applications