The consultant will support the outcome of the policy document which includes the contributions of the industry, modalities to implement the industry component of the integrated approach, set key recommendation and a compilation of all documents used. The policy document will be approved by the advisory group before release to the SAICM stakeholders. The policy document is anticipated to be presented and adopted by the SAICM stakeholders at a future session of the ICCM.
Home-based
50 working days
---Venue of Workplace---
Remote
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The fees of consultants and individual contractors are expressed in gross amounts. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local laws. The United Nations does not reimburse consultants or individual contractors for any taxes, duty or other contribution payable by the consultants or individual contractors on payments made under the individual contract. The United Nations does not issue statements of earnings to consultants and individual contractors.
---Background (Org. Setting)---
--The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment.
--The overall objective of the 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.
---Purpose/Justification---
As part of the joint collaboration between UNEP and the ICCA, in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding on “SAICM Secretariat Governance and Implementation, a consultant is require to provide clarity on the current status of the implementation of the integrated approach to financing for chemicals and waste by the chemical industry, high-intensity chemicals users in the value chain and downstream retailers. Deep understanding of the needs of developing countries for the sound management of chemicals and waste, including to identify related capacity-building needs in developing countries and countries with economies in transition. Identify the role of national-level fee-based chemical regulatory systems in financing. Identify gaps and provide recommendations to further strengthen the industry involvement in developing countries. Develop modalities and guidance for implementation of the industry involvement at national, regional and global levels for the beyond 2020 SAICM instrument. Explore and evaluate the interlinkages with the other two components of the integrated approach on mainstreaming and dedicated external financing. He/she must have experience with the chemical industry, and downstream sectors, knowledge of MEAs on Chemicals and Waste including experience with capacity building in developing countries and countries with economies in transition.
---Outputs / Work assignments---
(Include the final and intermediate results and outputs of services which should be measurable; performance indicators should allow for the evaluation of the results; include details as to how the work must be delivered (e.g. electronic submission, hard copy, etc.))
The consultant will be working towards;
•Developing elements of the ‘terms of reference’ for clearing house mechanism as part of the implementation of the integrated approach to financing of chemicals and waste based on existing good practices taking into considerations other similar processes (e.g. Special Programme), including an outline of what the ToR include as well as an assessment of how it would work.
•Carrying out desk research and drafting a guidance document, including recommendations on the implementation of the industry involvement component of the integrated approach to financing. The guidance shall be developed in consultation and cooperation with the ICCA, UNEP and all relevant stakeholders.
•Consolidating all contributions of the chemical industry towards capacity building efforts by contributing to the development of a Clearing House Mechanism.
•Carrying out the necessary desk-based research relevant to the integrated approach including reviewing key background documents: the UNEP integrated approach to financing, the evaluation of the integrated approach, outcome document of the SAICM IP3, UNEA 2 report and direct input that is to be received from the ICCA and its member associations in the implementation of the industry involvement component of the integrated approach. This will also entail conducting telephone/online interviews with the ICCA and all relevant stakeholders.
•Facilitating lessons learned discussions with the ICCA and UNEP including hosting a webinar to share the first draft of the guidance and its findings.
•Compiling all documents used for producing the guidance document.
---Performance indicators---
The relevant outputs and related activities are delivered in line with the specific tasks, responsibilities and deliverables outlined below.
---Specific tasks, responsibilities and deliverables---
Phase I – Development of the methodology (total 7 days)
•Preparation of the methodology for the development of the guidance to the integrated approach to financing, the industry involvement component (3 days).
•Webinar for presenting the methodology to SAICM Secretariat, ICCA & Advisory Group (1 day).
•Adjustments of methodology upon receipt of the inputs, and comments from SAICM secretariat, ICCA and the advisory group (2 days).
•Submission of the final methodology (1 day).
Phase II – Conduct of the interviews with the key SAICM stakeholders (total 3 days)
•Selection and validation of candidates (e.g. governments, private sector, NGOs) for interviews (1 day)
•Preparation of general and customized interview protocols
Scheduling of interviews
•Conduction of up to 14 online interviews
•Timeline for delivery (activities 2 to 5, 2 days)
Phase III – Development of a terms of reference for the clearing house mechanism (total 15 days)
•Desk Research into:
Consolidating all contributions of the chemical industry towards capacity building efforts by contributing to the development of a Clearing House Mechanism. (7 days)
Developing elements of the ‘terms of reference’ for clearing house mechanism (8 days)
Phase IV - Recommendations on how to further strengthen the industry involvement component (total 15 days)
•Desk Research into:
Identify key areas which can be strengthened for the industry involvement component of the integrated approach. (5 days)
Identify key areas where the industry involvement is interlinked with the other two components of the integrated approach. (5 days)
Propose measures for keeping track of progress of implementation modalities. (5 days)
Phase V – Guidance document development (10 days)
•Draft the guidance document preparation, including the outcome of the questionnaire, the interviews, data collection, desktop research, final conclusions, recommendations and future modalities to measure the industry contributions to the integrated approach to financing and delivery of the first draft of the policy document (7 days)
•Webinar to present the first draft of the guidance document (1 day)
•Revisions, delivery of the second draft/near final document (1 days)
•Consultation period with the Advisory Board and relevant Stakeholders and incorporation of any final changes, revisions, finalization of the document (1 days)
Academic Qualifications: A master’s degree in chemistry, environmental science or politics.
Experience: The consultant should have at least 7 years of experience with the chemical industry, and downstream sectors, familiarity with the capacity building activities of the chemical industry such as Responsible Care. Knowledge of Multilateral Environmental Agreements on chemicals and waste management, the Strategic Approach, and UNEP’s integrated approach to financing of chemicals and waste would be beneficial. Understand the needs of developing countries for the sound management of chemicals and waste and experience with capacity building in developing countries and countries with economies in transition. Experience in conducting interviews with stakeholders and correctly interprets the feedback received into recommendations.
Language: Fluent written and spoken English is required.
Knowledge of another UN language would be an asset.
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