Result of Service

The Expert will be responsible for producing a detailed Capacity Needs Assessment on Wastewater Surveillance for Africa, including a structured analysis of what has been done so far in Africa regarding wastewater surveillance for environmental and public health purposes and most importantly, an assessment of what are the most relevant needs, opportunities and barriers to scale up surveillance across the continent. The Expert will also produce a work plan on how to fulfil these needs, leverage the opportunities and overcome the identified barriers.

Work Location

Home based

Expected duration

5 months

Duties and Responsibilities

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading 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 our global environment. 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. UNEP is also part of the Quadripartite Alliance, a collaboration between UNEP, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), World Health Organization (WHO) and World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) aiming to promote and coordinate a global One Health approach. Wastewater and surveillance activities are highlighted in the Under 2022 One Health Joint Plan of Action (see activity 2.1, 2.3, and 6.1.10) hence encouraging and guiding the work of the organizations in this domain. The overall objective of UNEP’s Ecosystems Division is to support countries in conserving, restoring and sustainably managing their terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems, the biodiversity they contain and the products and services they provide for human well-being and prosperity. UNEP’s Marine and Freshwater Branch promotes the protection, conservation, restoration and sustainable management of the world’s marine and coastal areas. Under this Branch, the Source to Sea Pollution Unit (SSPU) works towards ecosystem resilience and a pollution-free planet by protecting freshwater, coastal and marine ecosystems from pollution, notably from nutrients and wastewater, plastic pollution and other forms of marine litter and physical alteration and destruction of habitats (PADH). The Unit provides secretariat services for the Global Wastewater Initiative (GWWI), the Global Partnership on Nutrient Management (GPNM), and the Global Partnership on Plastic Pollution and Marine Litter (GPML). The work of the Source to Sea Pollution Unit at the Ecosystem Division is guided by its new project document “Preventing and addressing the degradation of freshwater and marine ecosystems from source to sea”, which includes these key areas of work: 1) Enhancing Wastewater, Nutrient Management and Sanitation Provision for Marginalized Coastal Communities in Sabah, Malaysia; 2) Supporting strategies, capacity and data for global wastewater and environmental surveillance in Africa. The initiative “Supporting strategies, capacity and data for global wastewater and environmental surveillance in Africa” (also referred to as the “Wastewater Surveillance for Africa – WWS for Africa”), implemented by the SSPU, aims to establish and scale up wastewater surveillance systems for environment and public health purposes across Africa. This initiative will build capacity, enable knowledge exchange, and raise awareness on wastewater surveillance systems for ecosystem and public health, involving all sub-regions of Africa. The Expert will work under direct supervision and guidance of Alex Pires Programme Management Officer responsible for wastewater at UNEP and the Project Management Officer responsible for the implementation of the wastewater surveillance in Africa project 1. Conducting a thorough assessment of existing wastewater surveillance capabilities across African countries, identifying strengths, weaknesses, and gaps. 2. Analysing the current state of infrastructure, technical expertise, and resources available for wastewater surveillance in different African regions. 3. Identifying key stakeholders and potential partners for wastewater surveillance capacity building initiatives in Africa. 4.Assessing the policy and regulatory landscape across African countries regarding wastewater surveillance and environmental monitoring. 5.Identifying opportunities for knowledge transfer and collaboration between African countries and international experts in wastewater surveillance. 6.Developing a comprehensive report outlining capacity building opportunities, challenges, and recommended strategies for enhancing environmental and wastewater surveillance in Africa. 7. Contributing to the development of training materials and capacity building programs based on the analysis findings. 8.Providing expert advice on integrating gender considerations and safeguards intocapacity building strategies for wastewater surveillance in Africa.

Qualifications/special skills

Master’s degree in public health, environmental health, wastewater, or another related field is required. PhD degree in public health, environmental health, wastewater, or another related field is highly desired. Minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience in waster -surveilliance is required and, within the 5 years, at least 3 years of relevant experience in developing capacity needs assessments (or gap analyses) is required. Comprehensive knowledge of the African context on wastewater and environmental surveillance is highly desirable Proven record of at least 3 scientific publications or technical advice on wastewater surveillance is highly desirable Experience designing and implementing roadmaps for wastewater surveillance is highly desirable. Experience with or within the UN system or in other international organizations on wastewater surveillance is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in written and oral English is required. Working knowledge of other UN official languages is desirable.

Additional Information

Not available.

No Fee

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.