SAICM Industry Engagement Specialist

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the United Nations systems designated entity for addressing environmental issues at the global and regional level. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. The overall objective of UNEP's Economy Division is to encourage decision makers in government, local authorities and industry to develop and adopt policies, strategies and practices and technologies that promote sustainable patterns of consumption and production, make efficient use of natural resources, ensure safe management of chemicals and contribute to making trade and environment policies mutually supportive. It promotes the development, use and transfer of policies, technologies, economic instruments, managerial practices and other tools that assist in environmentally sound decision making and the building of corresponding activities

The Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) is an inclusive, voluntary global policy framework on the sound management of chemicals and waste and is hosted by UNEP, Chemicals and Health Branch in Geneva. The SAICM Secretariat is implementing Resolution IV/5 of the fourth session of the International Conference of Chemicals Management, including the intersessional process to prepare recommendations regarding the Strategic Approach and the sound management of chemicals and waste beyond 2020.The Chemicals and Health Branch of the Economy Division leads UNEP’s subprogramme on Chemicals, Waste and Air Quality. UNEP’s programme of work centers around assistance to countries and multilateral environmental agreement (MEA) secretariats to assist in technical-scientific issues related to priority chemicals and implementation of the United Nations Environment Assembly and Governing Council resolutions, in particular UNEP’s medium-term strategy 2018-2021, UNEA Resolution 1/5 on chemicals and waste V. Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management and UNEA Resolution 4/8 on the sound management of chemicals and waste.

The consultancy is to support the work of the SAICM Secretariat in accordance with the indicative budget, staffing and programme of work adopted in resolution IV/5 of the fourth session of the International Conference of Chemicals Management on 2 October 2015 and in line with the donor agreement between the International Council of Chemical Associations (ICCA) and UNEP valid until 31 July 2021.

The consultant will facilitate the role of the private sector engagement in meeting the SAICM objectives focussing on providing support to i) collaborative projects related to SAICM objectives and chemicals management and ii) the SAICM Secretariat to administer its core functions.

In line with the programme of work of the SAICM Secretariat, the consultant will carry out the following project tasks:

Task 1. Support national projects, including the coordination of the joint activities, planning, and all related to the organization and virtual implementation of the projects in one or two developing countries.

Task 2. Support the work of ICCA on the development of the clearing house mechanism that aims to consolidate and coordinate all capacity building activities conducted by the ICCA and relevant partners.

Task 3. Support coordination of the activities and meetings related to the development of the guidance document on the industry component of the integrated approach to financing the sound management of chemicals and waste.

Task 4. Support the outreach and communication of the findings for the study on the Knowledge and Information Sharing for the Sound Management of Chemicals including the development of the eLearning module.

Task 5. Support SAICM Secretariat preparations for the fourth session of the Intersessional Process and the ICCM5.

Task 6. Lead the development of the progress report of SAICM for the period 2017-2019 including the development of a summary progress report for the considerations at the ICCM5.

Task 7. Contribute to the SAICM website, particularly with respect to updates regarding the progress report for the period 2017-2019, and joint UNEP-ICCA projects. 


3. Monitoring and Progress Controls

Measurable outputs and milestones

In line with the SAICM Secretariat’s programme of work, the consultant will have the following measurable outputs and milestones, correlating with the about mentioned tasks:

● Output and milestone 1: The project proposals for the national capacity building projects in one to three developing countries are drafted, key stakeholders are identified and invited, and the projects are fully implemented virtually (by 31 July 2021).

● Output and milestone 2: The proposal by the ICCA on the clearing house mechanism is reviewed, feedback in consultation with the SAICM secretariat is provided, desktop research to support the development of the proposal is conducted and regular communications with ICCA to support the process are done (by 30 June 2021).

● Output and milestone 3: The proposal on the guidance to the integrated approach is finalized; provision of support to the Secretariat for the implementation of the proposal, including consultations with the SAICM Bureau, selection of a Steering Committee, regular calls and communications with the external consultant(s) to facilitate the delivery of the guidance are put in place (by 31 September 2020).

● Output and milestone 4: A work plan for the development of the eLearning module, initial ideas on the content and focus of the module, consultations with the developing countries to identify needs of the developing countries are done (by 15 September 2020)

● Output and milestone 5: Documents for the considerations of IP4 and ICCM5 are drafted, presentations at workshops and events are prepared including those required for the IP4 and ICCM5, desk research is completed, provision of Secretariat support during the IP4, and ICCM5 is undertaken (by 31 July 2021).

● Output and milestone 6: The SAICM progress report for the period 2017-2019 is drafted in two versions: (i) full version; and (ii) summary report providing key findings of the full version of the report (before IP4).

● Output and milestone 7: The SAICM web-ite is updated with content and updates related to the joint ICCA-UNEP projects and SAICM progress report (31 July 2021). 

Key performance indicators

●  Documents, input to national projects website, guidance document, reports in relation to tasks 1 to 7 are well written and good quality to be used by the SAICM Secretariat and stakeholders by the deadlines indicated above.

● Regular reports on the progress on national projects.

● The SAICM website is updated in a timely manner with content and updates, including industry sector information and the SAICM progress report.  

● Joint actions explored and initiated between SAICM and ICCA linked to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

a. Education

Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in environmental sciences, environmental management, economics, chemical engineering, chemistry, or a related field. A doctoral degree will be considered an asset. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.         
    

b. Work Experience

A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in project/programme management, in the field of chemicals management, including industry engagement. Experience in the field of environmental management, environmental policy implementation, and experience working on capacity building projects is required.

c. Languages

Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Knowledge of other United Nations languages (Arabic, Mandarin Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish) is an asset.

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns.
Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

Based in Geneva, the Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (ECR) supports UNOPS offices throughout the region through: management, financial and programmatic oversight of global and country-specific portfolios, clusters and operations centres, including hosting services; fund and management advisory services; project implementation; procuring goods and services; and managing human resources.

ECR ensures that projects are executed to the highest standards, providing a shared knowledge base and ensuring that best practices and lessons learned are disseminated between business units and projects across the entire region.

 ECR strategy is to:

• Strengthen UNOPS role in operationalizing the Sustainable Development Goals with particular emphasis on health, environment and economic development.
• Position UNOPS in the Balkan sub-region, the Caucasus and Central Asia.
• Strengthen the implementation of ECR global and regional programmes, with revitalized partnerships in infrastructure, procurement and project management.

ECR operates global portfolios from offices in Geneva, Brussels and New York, and country-specific programmes from its operations and project centres located in Eastern Europe and Central Asian countries.