a. Support to the SUN coordinator for delivering her functions as Co-Chair the HLCM sustainable procurement working group via expert support in agenda definition, meetings organisation, development of content and reporting of progress to the HLCM.
b. Queries or other ad-hoc activities related to the promotion of SP in the UN system are attended with expert advice
c. Two items in the UN Sustainable Procurement work plan are implemented such as incorporation of energy-efficiency Guidance into purchasing standards for various products (lighting, A/C, printers/multifunctioning appliances, catering appliances, etc.) and definition of modalities for circular procurement considerations (e.g. recyclability, take-back schemes, product-service systems, etc.).
d. Assistance to the UNEP co-lead, in consultation with other co-leads of the One Planet network’s SPP programme, in carrying out their responsibilities in developing and agreeing on the programme’s implementation work plan as well as in jointly managing the programme network and activities
e. The coordination workplan is agreed with UNEP co-lead, in consultation with other co-leads, including division of tasks and responsibilities, and assigned priorities are implemented.
f. Envisaged programme implementation, communication, knowledge management and reporting activities are carried out.
Remote
1August 2020 to 30 December 2020
(40 working days over the contract period for SUN and 57 Days for SPP)
Total 97 Working days over contract period
Consultancy on Sustainable Procurement for the UN: UN Environment activities for the promotion of Sustainable Procurement in the UN consist of co-chairing the UN High Level Committee on Management (HLCM) Procurement Network Working Group on Sustainable Procurement with UNOPS. The working group is composed of appointed sustainable procurement focal points in 15 UN organisations including UNICEF, ILO, WB, UNDP and others.
In May 2019, the Chief Executives Board approved the UN Sustainability strategy 2020-2030 in the area of management. The strategy includes a pillar on sustainable procurement.
A work plan for the implementation of the indicator’s framework and in support of the Procurement component of the UN 2020-2030 Sustainability strategy was finalized over spring 2020 and approved by the HLCM SP working group.
An expert consultant is required to assist the Sustainable UN team with the implementation of the SP working group work plan and the overall support in queries and activities related to the promotion of SP in the UN system. The terms of reference also include providing overall support to Sustainable UN in managing the Sustainable Procurement network.
Consultancy on Sustainable Public Procurement programme of the One Planet Network:
The One Planet network is an SDG 12 implementation mechanism and a multi-stakeholder partnership for sustainable development. It leads the shift to sustainable consumption and production, by setting the agenda, facilitating and supporting the implementation of SDG 12. As one of the six programmes of the One Planet network, the Sustainable Public Procurement programme focuses on the transition to sustainable consumption and production by setting the agenda and implementing sustainable public procurement as well as monitoring progress towards SDG12 together with the five other One Planet network programmes.
The Sustainable Public Procurement (SPP) programme of the One Planet network launched its new 4 year strategic plan in 2019. The lead organisations are ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability, the Environmental Development Centre of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (Rijkswaterstaat) of the Netherlands, and UNEP.
UNEP as one of the lead organisations of the programme jointly facilitates the implementation of the Sustainable Public Procurement programme and its strategic plan, together with the other co-leads. In this regard, a consultant will be engaged in order to facilitate the connection and collaboration among the new co-leads and to support the management of the programme’s network and activities.
Having considered the strong synergies between the work of UNEP in support of Sustainable Procurement in the UN system and on Sustainble Public procurement, and the resource efficiencies that such synergies could bring, the Sustainable UN team and the One Planet network agreed to hire a Sustainable Procurement Specialist jointly.
The consultant will work on an agreed and well-defined set of tasks for both teams.
Specific tasks and responsibilities:
a. Assist the SUN coordinator for a smooth chairing of the Sustainable Procurement working group of the UN HLCM Procurement Network including: design agenda with the chair, invite participants and develop content for sessions and preparation of input to report about the working group progress to the HLCM. Deliver meeting minutes and participants list. Attend on behalf of the Chair the meetings of the SP working group task forces (gender responsive procurement; forced labour; disabilities inclusion) and report on the development of the work streams.
b. Collect and respond to queries from UN organisations on Sustainable Procurement in consultation with the co-chairs of the SP working Group. Provide regular updates on these queries and integrate them in the SUN Team Queries Log
c. Agree with the UNEP Chair and the UN SP working group on the two most urgent items in the SP Work plan and implement them. An example of the items is Energy-efficiency Guidance for various products or guidance for circular procurement considerations.
d. Assist UNEP co-lead, in consultation with other co-leads of the One Planet network’s SPP programme, in carrying out their responsibilities in developing and agreeing on the programme’s implementation work plan as well as in jointly managing the programme network and coordinating its activities
e. Agree with UNEP co-lead, in consultation with the other co-leads of the One Planet network’s SPP programme, on priority workplan activities, division of tasks and responsibilities among co-leads, and implement these activities.
f. Undertake the envisaged implementation, communication, knowledge management and reporting activities.
Skills: Communication
• Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
Academic Qualifications: • Master’s in environmental studies or development studies, environmental science or public administration management.
Experience: • Minimum 2 years of working experience in sustainable procurement policies, analysis of international sustainable procurement practices, both in environmental and social aspects and training experience in this field.
• Working experience with UN Agencies on sustainable procurement matters is also required
Language: • English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required.
• Proven conversant in using MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint
THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.