Circular Economy Policy Specialist (El Salvador) - Technical Specialist Environmental - Retainer Homebased

WEC Background: 

The Water, Environment and Climate (WEC) portfolio, based in Vienna, and with offices based globally is part of the UNOPS Global Portfolio Office. The Portfolio has built strong partnerships and is effectively managing a portfolio of over 500 million USD over the last 15 years to support key initiatives with fund management, project implementation and administrative support. 

WEC effectively operationalizes partners' agendas with global approaches, as well as regional and country-specific activities focused on climate action, protection and conservation of the environment. Partners profit from WEC’s ability to operationalize and/or scale up their important substantive agendas, including in support of key multilateral environmental and climate agreements, such as the Paris Agreement, the Cartagena Convention as well as the Sustainable Development Goals.

The NDC Partnership: 

The NDC Partnership is a global coalition of countries and institutions collaborating to drive transformational climate action through sustainable development. In 2015, the world endorsed the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Nations signal their commitments to the Paris Agreement through Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) - each country’s strategy to cut its own greenhouse gas emissions and build resilience against the negative effects of a changing climate. The Partnership advances the goals of the Paris Agreement by bringing together nearly 200 countries and institutions in new ways to accelerate NDC implementation and enhance ambition over time. The Partnership’s work through 120 partners supporting almost 80 countries produces many examples of impact, lessons learned and ideas for the future. The Partnership is governed by a Steering Committee, co-chaired by two country representatives. The Partnership’s work is facilitated by a Support Unit based at World Resources Institute in Washington DC and the UNFCCC Secretariat in Bonn, Germany. UNOPS supports the NDC Partnership and its Support Unit through the Water, Environment and Climate (WEC).  

Country Context

In El Salvador, according to the National Waste Diagnosis of June 2022, there is a per capita waste production of 0.82 kg per person per day and a generation of 4,226.40 tons per day, of which 3,001.0 tons are collected by the sanitation services (71% of the total) and deposited in 17 sanitary landfills. Eight of these landfills are mechanized and process 97.7% of the total waste generated. Uncollected waste (29% of all waste generated) is scattered or deposited in vacant lots, streams, riverbeds, and open dumps, with the respective effects of soil, air, and water contamination and damage to biodiversity and terrestrial and marine ecosystems. There are 13 waste transfer stations with weak technology and a need for a guarantee of adequate environmental operation. A total of 51 small-scale composting plants were identified nationwide, of which 40 were in operation. The recycling market, in general, is informal, even though some companies are making efforts and have made progress in adapting their production matrix to recycling, an essential factor for formally introducing the circular economy in waste management.

According to the 2014 National Greenhouse Gas Inventory (INGEI), about 50% of methane emissions were generated by the solid waste sector, particularly in landfills (MARN, 2018a), which dominate methane emissions at the national level. Likewise, El Salvador's 2018 biennial update report (BUR) indicated that total methane emissions (CH4) were 3,577. 7 kt CO2 equivalent represented 17.5% of El Salvador's total GHG CO2 eq. emissions in 2014.

Currently, the country has the following waste management instruments: National Waste Diagnosis, National Plan for Integrated Waste Management, the Diagnosis of the Recycling Market, the National Census of Managers, the National Policy for Waste Management and Recycling, and the Law on Integrated Waste Management and Promotion of Recycling. To strengthen this enabling framework, it is necessary to have a management tool to integrate all efforts and all actors, generate changes in the management of products in their post-consumption phase, and reduce the amount of waste generated in the process, thus contributing to mitigating greenhouse gases produced by waste.

In this context, developing two policy instruments for implementing the circular economy and extended responsibility policy is necessary. The instruments should include all actors at the national level and detail strategic actions to be carried out in the short, medium, and long term. Also, they should include defining the institutional framework that will operationalize the policy, creating conditions to implement the extended responsibility of the producer, importer, and marketer, generating a regional vision (in the territories) at the country level, promoting recycling involving the public sector, civil society, the private sector, and academia.

Output 1: National policy for the transition to a circular economy.

Output 2: National policy for extended responsibility (producer, importer, and marketer).

2.1 Carry out meetings with the MARN team to define focus, strategic lines, and other key elements.

2.2 Review information and instruments for the comprehensive management of existing waste

2.3 Review information on the extended responsibility of the region

2.4 Prepare the policy proposal.

2.5 Carry out consultations and interviews with the private sector (producers and importers) identified by MARN.

2.6 According to the MARN call, socialize the results of the two policies (circular economy and extended responsibility) in person with about 100 participants.

2.7 Review/finalization of the policy proposal.

Output 3: Roadmap for the transition to the circular economy and extended responsibility for producers, importers, and marketers.

3.1 Identify critical elements and times of a transition process to a circular economy and the implementation of extended responsibility.

3.2 Review the National Plan for Comprehensive Waste Management

3.4 Prepare a roadmap proposal.

3.4 Validate route sheet with the MARN team.

Output 4: Three sectoral guides for adopting and promoting circular economy practices in three priority sectors.

3.1 Prepare a methodological proposal for prioritizing three sectors for which the guide will be developed, ensuring alignment with the policy development process.

3.2 Prepare three sector guides.

3.3 Validate content with MARN equipment.

3.4 Socialize content in a virtual workshop with related sectors, with approximately 80 participants, according to the MARN call.

Output 5: Design and implement a process to strengthen technical capacities in circular economy and extended responsibility (producer and importer) for the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources and other related institutions (including the private sector).

5.1 Prepare a proposal to strengthen technical capacities in circular economy and extended responsibility (producer and importer), with at least 3 days of workshops with national institutions and 1 with the private sector.

5.2 Prepare workshop content.

5.3 Provide four strengthening workshops according to topics approved in the strengthening proposal. The format will include three days with national institutions in virtual format, with approximately 40 participants, and 1 day in person with the private sector, with approximately 40 participants.

In follow-up to the development of the preparation of the instruments, this Ministry, through the Solid and Hazardous Waste Management Department, will monitor, review and approve the products.

Institutional Arrangement

The documents generated will be part of the public policies for comprehensive waste management in the country; its development will allow the use and recovery of waste, reducing the amount destined for disposal and reduce pollution generated by inadequate management of these, with the involvement of public and private sectors, civil society, and academia.

The Law on Comprehensive Waste Management and Promotion of Recycling has as part of the purpose of protecting the health of people the environment and promoting a circular economy through establishing a vision systematic in the comprehensive management of waste, the determination of actors and their form of interaction, and the allocation of responsibilities to achieve changes in the population; gives leadership to the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources, monitoring the country's proper waste management is carried out through the Solid and Hazardous Waste Management, of the Water Safety Directorate, of this Ministry.

This process will be coordinated with the Director of the Solid and Hazardous Waste Management Department of the Water Safety Directorate of the MARN and will respond to the technical reference designated for this purpose.

The Circular Economy Policy Specialist will implement all tasks under the direct supervision of the NDC Partnership Country Engagement Specialist and in collaboration with the NDC Partnership Focal Point in the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Economy and Finance. The specialist will need to use their own computer equipment and software.

This is a retainer national vacancy/position for a six month period based in the MARN office in San Salvador, for a maximum of 110 working days.

• A Master's degree in sanitary engineering, diplomat or specialty solid waste management, environmental management, with knowledge in circular economy or a related field.

• Bachelor's degree in a related discipline in combination with an additional 2 years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Required

• With a Master Degree, at least 5 years of experience  in the waste sector, preparation of technical documents, plans and programs through research, management, execution or monitoring.

• Proven experience and knowledge in coordinated work and multidisciplinary groups.

• Experience and knowledge in developing national policies, strategies, or plans in the waste sector, advising processes with a sectoral strategic vision.

• Knowledge of international tools and standards related to solid waste management and the circular economy.

• Experience working with government stakeholders on national and/or regional policy development and implementation.

• Proven ability to network and develop partnerships among a variety of stakeholders. 

• Demonstrated experience in managing relationships with senior stakeholders and high-level audiences.

• Ability to research, analyze information, and provide relevant contributions.

• Proficiency in English and Spanish is required.  

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.

• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.

• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures,  languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 

• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.

• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process.  If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions 

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 

• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. For more information on a retainer contract here.

• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.

• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.